ng a great success. My dear, dearest Miss Liddell,
I may be of use to you, after all. Tell me, is this Mr. Newton truly
interested in you--anxious to help you?"

"I am sure he is; he is very unhappy about me."

"Do you think he would let me call on him? I want to tell him the plans
that are coming into my head. I can explain all the business part to
him. If I can get through this year without debt, I am pretty sure of
providing you with an income--an increasing income. This is a joy I
never anticipated. And then you can keep your little nephews, and be a
real mother to them. I don't want to trouble you with the business
details of my plan; you would not understand them. But Mr. Newton will.
Pray write a line asking him to see me, to name his own time. Stay; here
are paper and pen and ink; ask him to write to me. He knows--he knows my
story. At least--" She stopped, coloring crimson.

"He knows all it is needful for me to tell," said Katherine, gravely.
"Yes, Rachel, it is better to explain all to him. He is kind and wise,
and I am strangely stupefied by this extraordinary overturn of my
fortunes. I shall be glad of your help, but do not neglect your own
future, dear Rachel."

"I shall not: I shall make enough for us both. You have indeed given me
something to live for."

CHAPTER XXVI.

COLONEL AND MRS. ORMONDE.

The moral effect of feeling in touch with some loyal, tender,
sympathizing fellow-creature is immense. It gives faith in one's self--a
belief in the possibilities for good hidden in the future; above all,
relief from that most paralyzing of mental conditions, a sense of
isolation.

Katherine walked back alone in the dark. The sooner she accustomed
herself to habits of independence the better; for the future she must
learn to stand alone, to take care of herself, unassisted by maid or
flunky. It made her a little nervous; for although in the old
impecunious days she went on all necessary errands in the morning alone,
she rarely left the house after sundown even with a companion. They were
very monotonous days, those which seemed to have fled away so far into
the soft misty gloom of the past. Yet how full of fragrance was their
memory! The castle-building, the vague bright hopes, the joy of helping
the dear mother, the utter absolute trust in her, the struggle with the
necessities of life--all were more or less sweet; and now to what an end
she had brought the simple drama of her youth! Had she r