I wish I could write," said Katherine, with a sigh. "It must be a
charming way to earn money."

"Why don't you try? You seem to me to have plenty of brains; and I
suppose you will have to do something. I was so sorry--" Mrs. Needham
was beginning, when dinner was announced, and her sympathetic utterances
were cut short.

The repast was admirable, erring perhaps on the side of plenteousness,
and well served by two smart young women in black, with pink ribbons in
their caps. Nor was there any lack of bright talk a good deal beyond the
average. Miss Bradley was an admirable listener, and often by well-put
questions or suggestions kept the ball rolling. Dinner was soon over,
and coffee was served in the drawing-room.

"Now, Miss Payne, I should like to consult with you," said Miss Bradley,
putting her cup on the mantel-piece, and resuming her seat on the sofa,
where she invited Miss Payne by a gesture to sit beside her, "about the
daughter of an old friend of mine, who does not want her to join him in
India, as she is rather delicate, and he cannot retire for a couple of
years. It is time she left school, and the question is, where shall she
go?"

While Miss Bradley thus attacked the subject uppermost in her mind, Mrs.
Needham settled herself in an arm-chair as far as she could from the
speakers, and asked Katherine to sit down beside her.

"Let them discuss their business without us," she said, "and I want to
talk to you. Here, these are some rather interesting photographs. They
are all actors or singers on this side; you'll observe the shape of the
heads, the contour generally; these are politicians, and have quite a
different aspect. Remarkable, isn't it? But I was just saying when we
went down to dinner that I was awfully sorry to hear of all your
troubles--of course we must not regret that the man is alive; though if
he is a cross-grained creature, as he seems to be, life won't be much
good to him--and I shall be greatly interested if you care to tell me
what your plans are."

"I really have none. There are several things I could do pretty well. I
could teach music and languages, but it is so difficult to find pupils.
Then I am still in great uncertainty as to what my cousin may do."

"He is a greedy savage," said Mrs. Needham, emphatically; "but he will
not dare to demand the arrears. He would raise a howl of execration by
such conduct. Now, as you have nothing settled, and if Angela Bradley
and Miss Payne mak