ou and I might go abroad sometimes together, and leave
Ormonde to his turnips and hunting. You would be sure to marry
well--quite sure."

"But I am going to settle myself in a house of my own this spring," said
Katherine, smiling.

Against this project Mrs. Ormonde exhausted herself in eloquent if
contradictory argument: but finding she made no impression, suddenly
changed the subject. "That is a very expensive school you have chosen
for the boys, Katherine. 'Duke thinks it ridiculous. Sixty pounds a year
for such a little fellow as Cis! and now Charlie will cost as much."

"It is not cheap, certainly; but it is, I think, worth the money. Cecil
has improved marvellously, and Sandbourne agrees so well with them
both."

"You will do as you think best, of course. We have the highest regard
for your opinion. But you must remember that what with clothes and
travelling and--oh, and doctors!--it all comes to more than three
hundred a year, and at Castleford I could keep them for next to nothing,
while the stingy trustees you have chosen only allow me four hundred and
fifty."

"So you have only about a hundred and fifty out of the total for your
personal expenses, eh?" said Katherine, laughing. "Then you have a
husband behind you."

"Oh, I assure you that does not count for much. 'Duke doesn't care to
spend money, and my having something of my own makes matters wonderfully
smooth. I am sure you would not like to make any unhappiness between
us."

"No, certainly not. I think it quite right, as my brother's widow, you
should have something for yourself as long as you live."

"You really have a great sense of justice, Katherine, I must say! Living
as you do, dear, you can form no idea what it costs to present an
appearance when you are in a certain set."

"I don't suppose I ever shall, though I like nice clothes too."

"And look so well in them!" added Mrs. Ormonde, who was always ready,
when she deemed it necessary, to burn the incense of flattery on her
sister-in-law's shrine. "By-the-way, that is a very pretty, well-made
costume you have on. I think you are slighter than you used to be."

"The effect of a good fit. I wish you would employ my dressmaker. She is
very moderate."

"Is she?"

A short discussion of prices followed, and Mrs. Ormonde declared she
would call on Miss Trant that very afternoon and bespeak two dresses,
for all she had were quite familiar to the eyes of her associates.

"I suppose you hav