rine. "You mean you write for newspapers?"

"Yes; that is, I get what crumbs fall from the press_men's_ table. They
get the best work and the best pay; but I can work as well as most of
them, and sometimes mine goes in in place of what some idle,
pleasure-loving scamp has neglected. Let me see"--pulling out her
watch--"five minutes to four. I must not stay. I have to look in at Mrs.
Rayner's studio; she has a reception, and will want a mention of it.
Then there are Sir Charles Goodman's training schools for deaf-mutes and
the new Art Photography Company's rooms to run through before I go to
the House of Commons to do my 'Bird's-eye View' letter for the
Australian mail to-morrow."

"My dear Mrs. Needham, you take my breath away!" exclaimed Katherine. "I
am sure you could show me more of London--I mean what I should like to
see--than any one else."

"Very well. Let me know when you come back to town, and you shall hear a
debate if you like. I am not a society woman, but I have the _entree_ to
most places. Now good-morning--good-morning. You see your agreeable
conversation has made me forget the time." And shaking hands cordially,
she hastened away.

"_Our_ agreeable conversation," repeated Miss Payne, with a somewhat
cynical accent. "I wonder how many words you and I uttered! Why she
makes me stupid. Really Gilbert ought not to inflict such a tornado on
us."

"I like her," said Katherine; "there is something kind and true about
her. I should like to see some of the places she goes to and the work
she does. She seems happy enough, too. I must not forget to write to her
and send that check I promised."

"Hem! If you give right and left you'll not have much left for
yourself," growled Miss Payne. Katherine laughed.

"Oh, by-the-way," resumed her chaperon, "I forgot to tell you that
Colonel Ormonde arrived, shortly after you went out, with a large basket
of flowers. He was vexed at missing you. He came up about some business,
and wanted to take you to see some one. However, he could not come back.
I can't say that I think he is well mannered. He was quite rough and
brusque, and asked with such an ill-bred sneer if you were off on any
private business with my brother."

"I can't help thinking that he was annoyed because I appointed Mr. Payne
co-trustee with Mr. Newton to my deed of gift," said Katherine,
thoughtfully. "But I know I could not have chosen a better man."

"Well, I believe so," returned his sister, grac