ovidence to her mother and
herself, but trusted to Errington's sense of generosity and justice! Of
course it would have been humiliating to beg from a stranger, yet before
that stranger she had been compelled to lower herself to the dust, and--

The unwonted sound of approaching feet startled her. She turned, to see
De Burgh within speaking distance. "I am like Robinson Crusoe in my
solitude here," she said, smiling. "I turn pale at the sound of an
unexpected step, as he did at the print of Friday's foot."

"And to continue the smile," he returned, leaning against a rock near
her, "the footprint or step, as in Crusoe's case, only announces the
advent of a devoted slave." He spoke lightly, and Katherine scarce
noticed what seemed to her an idle compliment.

"I fancied you had gone to town," she said.

"No; I am not going to town; I don't know or care where I am going. Some
kind friends might say I am on my way to the dogs."

"I hope not," said Katherine, gravely. "I imagine, Mr. De Burgh, that if
you had some object of ambition--"

"I should become an Admirable Crichton? I don't think so. There are such
dreary pauses in the current of all careers!"

"Of course. You would not live in a tornado!"

"I am not so sure"--laughing. "At all events I shall never be satisfied
with still life like our friend Errington."

"Do you know anything of him? Mrs. Ormonde never mentions his name."

"Of course not; when a fellow can't keep pace with his peers, away with
him, crucify him."

"As long as a few special friends are true----"

"If they are," interrupted De Burgh; and Katherine did not resume,
hoping he would continue the theme, which he did, saying: "He has left
his big house, gone into chambers somewhere, and has I believe, taken up
literature, politics, and social subjects. So Lady Mary Vincent says. I
fancy he is a clever fellow in a cast-iron style."

"What a change for him!"

"I believe there was something coming to him out of the wreck, and I
think he is a sort of man who will float. I never liked him myself,
chiefly, I fancy, because I know he doesn't like me. Indeed, I don't
care for people in general." There was a pause, during which Katherine
glanced at her companion, and was struck by his sombre expression, the
stern compression of his lips.

"Did you call at the cottage?" she asked.

"No; you were out this morning, and I did not like to intrude again," he
laughed. "Growing modest in my sere and yello