On reaching the house, Mrs. Ormonde went straight to her own apartment
to "refit," and Katherine sat down in the smaller drawing or morning
room, which looked west and was cool. She had not been there many
minutes before De Burgh was announced.

"Alone!" he exclaimed. "Where is Mrs. Ormonde?"

"She will be here immediately."

"Has she persuaded you to return with her? I wish you would. Lady G----
gives a dinner at Richmond on Thursday; it will be rather amusing. I
know most of the fellows who are going, and I think you would enjoy it.
You like good talkers, I know."

"Thank you; I have refused."

"Absolutely?"

"Absolutely."

De Burgh came over and leaned his shoulder against the side of the
window opposite to where Katherine sat.

"What are you thinking of, if I may ask, Miss Liddell?" he said. "You
have scarcely heard what I said. They are not pleasant thoughts, I
fancy."

"No," she returned, glad to put them into words that she might exorcise
them. "Ada has just reproached me with supplanting her with her boys,
and it made me feel, as Americans say 'bad.'"

"Why?" he asked. "Why should you not? I would lay long odds that you
love them more than she does. You are more a real mother to them. Why
are you always straining at gnats? You really lose a lot of time, which
might be more agreeably occupied, worrying over the rights and wrongs of
things. Follow my example: go straight ahead for whatever you desire,
provided it's not robbery, and let things balance themselves."

"Has that system made you supremely happy?"

"Happy! Oh, that is a big word. I have had some splendid spurts of
enjoyment; and now I have an object to win. It will give me a lot of
trouble; it's the heaviest stake I ever played for; but it will go hard
with me if I don't succeed."

De Burgh had been looking out at the stretch of water before him as he
spoke, but at his last words his eyes sought Katherine's with a look she
could not misunderstand. She shivered slightly, an odd passing sense of
fear chilling her for a moment as she turned to lay her hat upon the
table near, saying, in a cold, collected tone.

"You must always remember that the firmest resolution cannot insure
success."

"It goes a long way toward it, however," he replied.

"Ah, there is Cis!" cried Katherine, glad to turn the conversation,
"come back from school. Are you not earlier than usual, Cis?"--as the
boy came bounding over the grass to the open window.

"No,