ncern into the bargain. You will excuse me for running away
with Miss Liddell"--to De Burgh--"but we have some matters to discuss.
We shall meet you upstairs afterwards." She swept Katherine away, while
De Burgh stood scowling. Who was this audacious pirate who had cut out
his convoy from under the fire of his angry eyes?

"You see, my dear," commenced Mrs. Needham, in a low voice and speaking
rapidly, "there is an immense field to be cultivated in the humble
strata of the better working-class, and the paper I wish to establish
will be quite different from _The Queen_, more useful and less than
half-price. No stuff about fashionable marriages in print that is enough
to blind an eagle, but useful receipts and work patterns, domestic
information, and a story--a story is a great point--a description of any
great events, and fashion plates, etc." And she poured forth a torrent
of what she was pleased to term "facts and figures" till Katherine felt
fairly bewildered.

"It seems a great undertaking," she replied, when she could get a word
in. "I shall require a great deal of explanation before I can comprehend
it. Will you not come and see me when we shall be alone, and we can
discuss it quietly?"

"Certainly, my dear Miss Liddell--to-morrow. No; to-morrow I have about
seven or eight engagements between two and six-thirty. Let me see. I am
terribly pressed just now; I will write and fix some morning if you will
come and lunch with me. If you could see your way to taking a few shares
it would be a great help. Money--money--money. Without the filthy lucre
nothing can be begun or ended. Now tell me how you have been. I have
been coming to see you for _months_, but never get a moment to myself;
but I have heard of you from Mr. Payne. What a good fellow he is! How is
Miss Payne?" Katherine replied, and Mrs. Needham rushed on: "Nice party,
isn't it? There are several literary people here to-night. I did not
know Lady Barrington went in for literary society, but one picks up a
little of all sorts when you live abroad for a while. Here is a very
interesting man. He is coming very much to the front as a political and
philosophic writer. It is said he is to be the editor of _The Empire_,
that new monthly which they say is to take the lead of all the
magazines. I met him at Professor Kean's last week. I don't think he
sees me--Good-evening! Don't think you remember me--Mrs. Needham. Had
the pleasure of meeting you at Professor Kean's