cause furiously, and drove hither and thither, exhorting, entreating,
commanding, and really bringing in customers, somewhat to Katherine's
surprise, as she did not expect much wool from so great a cry.

Shortly before Christmas Miss Trant's establishment was in full working
order, a couple of clever assistants had been engaged, and Rachel
herself seemed to wake up to the full energy of her nature under the
spur of responsibility.

The affair was not brought to a conclusion, however, without a struggle
on the part of Mr. Newton against Katherine's resolution not to appear
in the matter. The house was bought in Rachel Trant's name, the sale was
made to her, and Miss Liddell's name never appeared. Newton declared it
to be sheer madness; even Bertie Payne considered it unwise; but
Katherine was immovable.

"I am Miss Trant's creditor," she said. "If successful, she will pay me:
if not, why, she will give up the house to me. I have full faith in her,
and I wish her to be perfectly unshackled in the undertaking. As the
owner of a house she will more readily obtain any credit she may need."

"Which means," said Mr. Newton, crossly, "that you will have to pay her
debts if you ever intend to get possession of the house."

"Well, I have made up my mind to the risk," returned Katherine, with
smiling determination; "so we will say no more about it."

The unexpected meeting with Errington haunted Katherine for many a day,
and many a night was broken by unpleasant dreams. She was filled with
regret for having so hastily refused his proffered visit. Yet had he
come she would have been uneasy in his presence. She longed to see him
again; she came home from driving or walking each day with aching eyes
and dulled heart because she had been disappointed in encountering him.
Yet she dreaded to meet him, and trembled at the idea of speaking to
him. She was dismayed at the restless dissatisfaction of her own mind.
Was she never to find peace? never to know real enjoyment in her
ill-gotten fortune? Why was it that the image of this man was
perpetually before her, the sound of his voice in her ears? Then the
answer of her inner consciousness came to overwhelm her with shame and
confusion: "Because you love him with all the strength and fervor of a
heart that has never frittered away its force in senseless flirtations
or passing fancies." This was the climax of misfortune. To know that the
one of all others she most looked up to must, i