ngton opened it, and to his inexpressible surprise read as follows:

"TO MR. ERRINGTON,--Allow me to speak to you alone.
"KATHERINE LIDDELL."

"Who brought this?" asked Errington, suppressing all expression as well
as he could.

"A young person in black, sir--leastways I think she's young."

"Show her in; and, Harris, I am engaged if any one calls."

Errington went to the door to meet his most unexpected visitor. The next
moment she stood before him. He bowed with much deference. She bent her
head in silence, but did not offer to shake hands. She wore a black
dress and a very simple black straw hat, round which a white gauze veil
was tied, which effectually concealed her face.

"Pray sit down," was all Errington could think of saying, so astonished
was he at her sudden appearance.

Katherine took a seat opposite to his. She unfastened and took off her
veil, displaying a face from which her usual rich soft color had faded,
sombre eyes, and tremulous lips. Looking full at him, she said, without
greeting of any kind, "Do you think me mad _to_ come here?"

"I am a little surprised; but if I can be of any use--" Errington began
calmly. She interrupted him.

"I hope to be of use to _you_. No one except myself can explain how or
why; that is the reason I have intruded upon you."

"You do not intrude, Miss Liddell. I am quite at your service; only I
hope you are not distressing yourself on my account."

"On yours and my own." Her eyes sank, and her hands played nervously
with the handle of a small dainty leather bag she carried, as she
paused. Then, looking up steadily, and speaking in a monotonous tone, as
if she were repeating a lesson, with parched lips she went on: "I did
you a great wrong some years ago. I was sorry, but I had not the courage
to atone until I learned (only yesterday) that you had lost, or rather
given up, your fortune, and that your engagement might be broken off. (I
_must_ speak of these things. You will forgive me before I come to an
end.) Then I felt something stronger than myself that forced me to tell
you all." Her heart beat so hard that her voice could not be steadied.
She stopped to breathe.

"I fear you are exciting yourself needlessly," said Errington, quite
bewildered, and almost fearing that his visitor's brain was affected.

"Oh, listen!--do listen! My uncle, John Liddell, your father's old
friend, left all his money to you. I hid th