ess----"

The entrance of Miss Payne interrupted the conversation, and Bertie
immediately changing the subject, Katherine understood that he did not
as yet intend to speak to his sister of his new plans.

To Miss Payne, Katherine had again to describe her parting with her
nephews, and she, in her turn, talked comfortably of her affairs. She
thought of going abroad for a short time should she let her house, as
nothing very eligible offered in the shape of a young lady to chaperon.
Indeed she was somewhat tired of that sort of life, etc., etc. At length
Katherine bade them adieu, and returned to her present abode with a very
sad heart.

The parting with her nephews had been a sore trial. The idea of Bertie,
her kind friend, whose sympathetic companionship had helped her so much
to overcome the poignancy of her first grief for her dear mother, going
away to banishment, and perhaps death, at the hands of those whose souls
he went to save, caused her the keenest pain; and for nearly a fortnight
she had not seen Errington! She could not bring herself to ask where he
was, and no one had happened to mention him. This was really better. His
absence should be a help to forgetfulness; but somehow it was not. He
was so vividly before her eyes; his voice sounded so perpetually in her
heart.

Why could she not think thus of De Burgh, whose devotion to her was
evident, and whom, in spite of herself as it seemed, she was, to a
certain degree, encouraging?

She felt unutterably helpless and oppressed. Moreover, she was
distressed by the consciousness that the small reserve fund which she
had with difficulty preserved, could barely meet unexpected demands such
as removing the boys from school, if necessary, an attack of illness, a
dozen contingencies, any or all of which were possible, if not imminent.

Such a mood made her feel peculiarly unfit to shine at Mrs. Needham's
reception. Still it was better to be obliged to talk and to think about
others than to brood perpetually on her own troubles. So she arrayed
herself in one of the pretty soft grey demi-toilette dresses which
remained among her well-stocked wardrobe, and prepared to assist her
chief in receiving her guests, who soon flocked in so rapidly as to make
separate receptions impossible. Miss Bradley came early, arrayed in
white silk and lace with diamond stars in her coronet of thickly-plaited
red hair. She was looking radiantly well--so well and unusually animated
that