of Lord de Burgh to take so much trouble."

"It is indeed. I really don't know how to thank you enough," said
Katherine. "Mrs. Needham, I must really take them to wash their hands;
they are so terribly dirty!"

"No; ring the bell; Ford will manage them nicely, and bring them back in
a few minutes." Mrs. Needham rang energetically as she spoke, and the
young gentlemen were speedily marched off.

"I am afraid I am not a wise child's guide," said De Burgh, laughing;
"but they ran and tumbled about till they got into an awful pickle. They
are really capital little fellows, and most amusing. When do they go
back to school?"

"In about ten days--on the 25th. I assure you I quite dread their going
to this Wandsworth place. They have been asking, entreating me to let
them go back to Sandbourne, but I think Cis at last grasps the idea that
it is a question of money."

"It's an early initiation for him," observed De Burgh, as if to himself.
Then, eagerly: "You'll be sure to come with us on Friday, Miss Liddell?
The boys will enjoy the performance ever so much more if you are with
them."

Katherine looked for half a second at Mrs. Needham, who nodded and
frowned in a very energetic and affirmative way. "I shall be very glad
to enjoy it with them," she said, hesitatingly, "if Mrs. Needham can
spare me."

"Of course I can,"--briskly. "Lord de Burgh, if you care for music--not
severe classical music, you know--ballads, recitatives, and that sort of
thing--Hyacinth O'Hara, the new tenor, and Mr. Merrydew, that wonderful
mimic and singer, are coming to me next Tuesday; I shall be delighted to
see you."

"Not so delighted, I am sure, as I shall be to come," returned De Burgh,
with unusual suavity.

"Very well--half past nine. Don't be late, and don't forget."

"No danger of forgetting, I assure you."

"By-the-bye," resumed Mrs. Needham, as if seized with a happy thought,
"Angela Bradley receives on Sunday afternoons at their delightful villa
at Wimbledon all through the season. Her first 'at home' will be the
Sunday after next. I am sure she will be delighted to see any friend of
Miss Liddell's."

"If Miss Liddell will be so good as to answer for me, I shall be most
happy to present myself. To make sure of being properly backed up,
suppose I call here for Miss Liddell and yourself, and and drive you
down?

"Is it not rather far off to make arrangements?" asked Katherine,
growing somewhat uneasy at thus drifting into a