ally believed me dead. Now, cousin, I hope
you understand that I mean to take every farthing of my father's
fortune. He never did me much good in my life, nor my poor mother
either, and I am determined to get all I can out of what he has left
behind him. But I never dreamed he could pass away without taking care
that nothing should come to me. It is strange that your mother and my
uncle should make no fresh attempt to discover me."

"We had looked upon you as dead for years, and my father had died before
the news of your supposed murder reached us." Katherine could hardly
steady her voice; she was burning to get away. "I beg you will not
resent the fact of my most unconscious usurpation. I would not do
anything unjust." She stopped, remembering what she _had_ done. Surely
the punishment was coming quick upon her.

"Ay," said George Liddell, looking sternly at her. "It is a bitter pill
for a fine lady like you to swallow, to find a ragged outcast like me
thrusting you from the place you have no right to; where my poor little
wild untutored girl will take her stand in spite of you all."

"From what I have heard, I do not think my father or mother ever treated
you as an outcast," said Katherine, with quiet dignity; adding, as she
rose to leave them, "You seem so irritated against me I will leave you
with Mr. Newton, who will, I know, act as a true friend to both of us."

Mr. Newton, with a grave and troubled face, hastened after to see her
to her carriage. "This is an awful blow!" he said in a low voice.

"It is, no doubt. Do you think, as he is already rich, that he might do
something for the boys? Then I should not care."

"The boys!"--impatiently. "You need not trouble about them when he has
the power to _rob_ you even of the trifle you inherit from your father
by demanding the arrears of income since your uncle's death, as he has
the right to do. Why, he can beggar you!"

"Indeed! He looks like a hard man; he is like his father."

"Well, trust me, I will do my best for you."

"I know you will," returned Katherine, pressing the old lawyer's hand as
he leaned against the carriage door.

"Good-by! God bless you!" he returned; and Katherine was carried away
from him. Slowly and sadly the old man ascended to his office again to
confront the angry claimant, who awaited him impatiently.

Meantime Katherine was striving to think clearly, to rouse herself from
the stunned, bewildered condition into which the appearan