ofa, where she was half reclining beside a
bright wood fire, a tall stately figure in a long pale blue plush dress,
cut low in front, and tied loosely with a knot of blue satin ribbon,
nestling among the rich yellow white lace which fell from the edge of
the bodice. She was extremely fair, even colorless, with abundant but
somewhat sandy hair. Her features were regular and marked, a well-shaped
head was gracefully set on a firm white column-like throat, and her eyes
were clear and cold when in repose, but darkened and lit up when
speaking of whatever roused and interested her. Indeed, she looked
strong and stern when silent.

"I am very pleased to meet you," she said, in a full, pleasant voice.
"I have often heard of you from Mrs. Needham, and I think you know a
friend of mine--Mr. Errington."

"Yes; I know him," returned Katherine, feeling her face aflame.

"I have heard of you too," continued Miss Bradley, addressing Miss
Payne, "from several mutual friends, though we have never happened to
meet before. I think you had just left Rome with Miss Jennings when I
arrived there some four years ago."

"I had; and remember you were expected there."

"Miss Jennings married a relation of mine, and I see her very often, at
least often for London. She really looks younger, if possible, than
formerly," etc., etc., and their talk flowed in the Jennings channel for
a few minutes.

Meantime Mrs. Needham, passing her arm through Katherine's, led her away
to a very diminutive back room, draped and carpeted with Oriental
stuffs, then beginning to be the fashion, and crammed with all
imaginable ornaments and specimens, from bits of rare "Capo di monti" to
funny sixpenny toys. "I have just found such a treasure," she exclaimed;
"a real saucer of old Chelsea, and only a small bit out of this side.
Isn't Angela Bradley handsome? She is a very remarkable girl, or perhaps
I ought to say woman. She speaks four or five languages, and plays
divinely; then she is a capital critic. It was she who advised her
father to publish that very singular book, _The Gorgon's Head_; every
publisher in London had refused it. He took it, and has cleared--oh, I'd
be afraid to say how much money by it."

"I hope the writer got a fair share," said Katherine, smiling.

"Hum! ah, that's another matter; but I dare say Bradley will treat him
quite as fairly as any one else. She will have a big fortune one of
these days. Her father perfectly adores her."

"