assage
leading to the other rooms, and opening the door of his own, found
Katherine sitting by the table, a newspaper, which had evidently dropped
from her hand, lying by her on the carpet. She started up to meet her
good friend, who was struck by her pallor and the sad look in her eyes.

"Well, this is lucky!" exclaimed Newton, shaking hands with her
cordially. "I was going to write to you, as I wanted to see you, and
here you are."

"I was just beginning to fear I might be troublesome, but I have been so
anxious."

"Of course you have. And you have been very patient, on the whole.
Well"--laying aside his hat, and rubbing his hands as he sat down--"I
have just come from consulting with Messrs. Compton, and I am very happy
to tell you it is agreed that George Liddell shall withdraw his claim to
the arrears of income, but not to the savings you have effected since
your succession to the property, also the balance standing to your name
at your banker's is not to be interfered with; so I think things are
arranging themselves more favorably, on the whole, than I could have
hoped."

"They are, indeed," cried Katherine, clasping her hands together in
thankfulness. "What an immense relief! I have more than three hundred
pounds in the bank, and I have found employment for the present at
least, so I can use my little income for the boys. How can I thank you,
dear Mr. Newton, for all the trouble you have taken for me?" And she
took his hard, wrinkled hand, pressing it between both hers, and looking
with sweet loving eyes into his.

"I am sure I was quite ready to take any trouble for you, my dear young
lady; but in this matter Mr. Errington has done most of the work. He has
gained a surprising degree of influence over your cousin, who is a very
curious customer; but for him (Mr. Errington, I mean), I fear he would
have insisted on his full rights, which would have been a bad business.
However, that is over now. Nor will Mr. Liddell fare badly. Your savings
have added close on three thousand pounds to the property which falls to
him. I am surprised that he did not try at once to make friends with
you, for his little girl's sake. I hear he is in treaty for a grand
mansion in one of the new streets they are building over at South
Kensington. He is tremendously fond of this little girl of his. It seems
Liddell was awfully cut up at the death of his wife, about a year and a
half ago. He fancies that if he had known of his father