should have drifted into communication George Liddell
seemed a most whimsical turn of the wheel of fortune to Katherine, and
she thought much of it.

Would it lead to any reconciliation between herself and her strange,
unreasonable, half-savage kinsman? She fancied she could interest
herself in his daughter, and towards himself she felt no enmity; rather
a mild description of curiosity. Why should they not be on friendly
terms?

But this and other subjects of thought were swallowed up in the
anticipated pain of removing her nephews from their school at
Sandbourne, where they had been so happy and done so well. Miss Payne's
friendly offer to take them in for a week or two had relieved Katherine
of a difficulty; and Mrs. Needham was most considerate in promising to
give her ample time to prepare them for their new school.

What a difference, poor Katherine thought, between the present and the
past! quite as great as between the price of Sandbourne and Wandsworth.
There was a certain rough and ready tone about the latter establishment
which distressed her; yet the school-master's wife seemed a kindly,
motherly woman, and the urchins she saw running about the playground
looked ruddy and happy enough. It was the best of the cheaper schools
she had seen, and to Dr. Paynter's care she resolved to commit them. As
Wandsworth was within an easy distance, she could often go to see them.

Another matter kept her somewhat on the _qui vive_. In spite of Mrs.
Ormonde's assurance that De Burgh had forgotten her, Katherine had a
strong idea that she had not seen the last of him.

Though Mrs. Needham's wide circle of acquaintances included many men and
women of rank, she knew nothing of the set to which De Burgh belonged.
Those of his class, admitted within the hospitable gate of the
Shrubberies, were usually persons of literary, artistic, or dramatic
leanings and connections, of which he was quite innocent.

It was a day or two after Katherine's last interview with Rachel Trant,
and Mrs. Needham was "at home" in a more formal way than usual.
Katherine was assisting her chief in receiving, when, in the tea-room,
she was accosted by Errington. "Have you had tea yourself?" he asked,
with his grave, sweet smile.

"Oh yes! long ago."

"Then, Miss Liddell, indulge me in a little talk. It is so long since I
have had a word with you! It seems that since we agreed to be fast
friends, founding our friendship on the injuries we have done