ideration do you owe him? He is behaving very harshly and badly to
you. We will state what is in the bank after you have drawn your check,
and offer him half--which is a great deal too much for him. Yet I should
like him to be your friend, if possible. Could you get hold of that
little girl of his? Affection for her seems to be the only human thing
about him."

"I think I should rather have nothing to do with him," murmured
Katherine.

"Well, well, we will see. Now, though we have not succeeded in coming to
any settlement with Liddell, I believe we ought not to leave Mrs.
Ormonde any longer in ignorance respecting the change which has taken
place."

"No, I am sure they ought to know. I have been troubling myself about
both the Colonel and Mrs. Ormonde," said Katherine. "This is what I
dread most." And she sighed.

"I do not see why you need. I am sure you acted with noble liberality to
Mrs. Ormonde and her boys when you thought you were the rightful owner
of the property."

"The rightful owner," repeated Katherine, with a thrill of pain. "It has
been an unfortunate ownership to me."

"It has--it has indeed, my dear young lady, but we must see how to help
you at this juncture. If Miss Trant behaves as she ought, we must put a
little more capital in that concern if it is as thriving as you believe.
It may turn out very useful to you."

"I have not seen her since my cousin came to life again, for I could not
see her and keep back my strange story. May I tell her now?"

"Certainly. It was from Colonel and Mrs. Ormonde I wished to keep back
the disastrous news till some agreement should be come to."

"You must not call my cousin's return to life and country disastrous,"
said Katherine, smiling. "I am sure, if he will only give me the chance
of keeping my boys with me, I am quite ready to welcome him to both. Now
I shall leave you, for I want to send away my letter to Ada this
evening, and it is a difficult letter to write."

"I have no doubt you will state your case clearly and well," returned
Mr. Newton, rising to shake hands with her. "Let me hear what Mrs.
Ormonde says in reply; and see your protegee, Miss Trant. I am anxious
to learn her views."

"I am quite sure I know what they will be," said Katherine.

"Don't be too sure. Human nature is a very crooked thing--more crooked
than a true heart like yours can imagine," continued the old man,
holding her hand kindly.

"Ah, Mr. Newton," she cried, with an i