t to look for you in the old place, I was simply told you had left,
by a stupid old woman who knew nothing. Then I called again and asked
for Miss--you know whom I mean; she is rather a brick, and told me all
about you. In the mean time I met Mrs. Ormonde. I was determined not to
ask _her_ anything--she is such a selfish little devil. Now here I am
face to face with you at last." And he drew a chair opposite her, and
was silent for a minute, gazing with a wistful look in her face.

"You have not a very high opinion of my sister-in-law," said Katherine,
beginning as far away from themselves as she could.

"She is an average woman," he said, shortly. "But tell me, what is the
matter with you? I did not think you were the sort of girl to break your
heart over the loss of a fortune."

"But I have not broken my heart!" she exclaimed, somewhat startled by
his positive tone.

"There's a look of pain in your eyes, a despondency in your very figure;
don't you think I know every turn of you? Well, I won't say more if it
annoys you. We have changed places, Katherine--I mean Miss Liddell.
Fortune has given me a turn at last, and I have been tremendously busy.
I had no idea how troublesome it is to be rich. There are compensations,
however. This doesn't seem a bad sort of place"--looking round at the
crowd of china and bric-a-brac ornaments and the comfortable chairs.
"How did you come here, and what has been settled? Don't think me
impertinent or intrusive; you know you agreed we should be friends, and
you must not send me adrift!"

"Thank you, Lord de Burgh. I am sure you could be a very loyal friend.
My story is very short." And she gave him a brief sketch of how her
affairs had been arranged.

"By George! Ormonde is a mean sneak. To think of his leaving those boys
on your hands! and he has plenty of money. I happen to know that his
wife has been dabbling in the stocks, and turned some money too. Now
where did she get the cash to do it with but from him? So I suppose you
intend to starve yourself in order to educate the poor little chaps?"

"Oh no. On the contrary, I am living on the fat of the land, with the
kindest mistress in the world."

"Mistress! Great heavens! Why _will_ you persist in such a life?"

"My dear Lord de Burgh, don't you know that it is not always easy to
judge or to act for another?

"Which means I am to mind my own business?"

"You have a very unvarnished style of stating facts."

"I know I hav