nd management of
property which she felt was her own had a large amount of
interest--real, living interest. The state of the books, the increase of
custom, the addition to the small capital which Rachel was gradually
accumulating--all these were subjects not easily exhausted. Both
partners agreed that their great object, now that the undertaking was
beginning to maintain itself, was to lay by all they could, for of
course bad debts and bad times would come.

"It is a great satisfaction to think that though people may do without
books or pictures or music, they must wear clothes; and if you fit well,
and are punctual, you are certain to have customers. Of course if you
give credit you must charge high; people are beginning to see that now.
You cannot get ready money in the dressmaking trade except for those
costumes you give for a certain fixed price; but I stand out for
quarterly accounts."

"And do you find no difficulty in getting them paid?"

"Not much; you see, I deduct five per cent. for punctual payment. Every
one tries to save that five per cent. But talking of these things has
put a curious incident out of my head, which I was longing to tell you.
You remember among my first customers were Mrs. Fairchild and her
daughters. They keep a very high class ladies' school in Inverness
Terrace, and have been excellent customers. Yesterday Miss Fairchild
called and said that she wanted an entire outfit for a little girl of
ten or eleven, who was to be with them. They did not wish for anything
fine or showy; at the same time, cost was no object. I was to furnish
everything, to save time. This morning they brought the child to be
fitted; she is very tall and thin, but lithe and supple, with dark hair,
and large, bright, dark-brown eyes. She will be very handsome. I could
not quite make her out; she is not an ordinary gentlewoman, nor is she
the very least vulgar or common. She gives me more the idea of a wild
thing not quite tamed. When all was settled I was told to address the
account to Mr. George Liddell, Grosvenor Hotel."

"Why, it must be my cousin George!" cried Katherine. "How strange that
in this huge town they should fix on you amongst the thousands of
dressmakers! You must make my little cousin look very smart, Rachel."

"She is not little. She is wonderfully mature for ten years old,
something like a panther."

"I should like to see her. I believe she is a great idol with her
father. I wish," added Kather