been greatly attached to her a considerable time, and they are admirably
suited."

"Well! he is a very lucky fellow; independent of all the money Bradley
has made, this new magazine of his is a splendid property."

And Katherine, listening in silence, told herself that one chapter of
her life was closed for ever.

CHAPTER XXXII.

ILL MET.

A note from Mrs. Ormonde next morning informed Katherine that she had
returned to Castleford, and recorded her deep regret that she could not
call before leaving town, but that time was too short, although they had
delayed their departure for a couple of days.

"We met Lord de Burgh at Lady Mary Vincent's; you can't think what a
fuss she made about him. I remember when she would not let him inside
her doors. He is older and more abrupt than ever. He told me he was
going to meet you at Mrs. Needham's, and said hers was the only house in
London worth going to. I suspect there is great fortune in store for
you, Katie, and no friend will rejoice at it more warmly than I shall.
Do write and tell me all about everything; it is frightfully dull down
here.
"Your ever attached sister,
"ADA."

Beyond a passing sensation of annoyance that De Burgh should make a
display of his acquaintance with Mrs. Needham and herself, this epistle
made no impression on Katherine, who was glad to have an unusual amount
of work for Mrs. Needham, who had started--or rather promised her
assistance in starting--a new scheme for extracting wax candle out of
peat. Respecting this she was immensely sanguine, for the first time in
her life she was to be properly remunerated for her trouble, and in a
year or two would make her fortune.

The day flew past with welcome rapidity, and in the evening Katherine
was swept off to a "first-night representation," which, though by no
means first-rate, helped to draw Katherine out of herself, and helped
her to vanquish vain regrets.

"You'll make a dozen copies of those notes please, dear," said Mrs.
Needham, as she stood dressed to go out after an early luncheon the
following day, "and I'll sign them when I come in; then there is the
notice of the play for my Dullertoova letter, and be sure you send those
extracts from the _Weekly Review_ to Angela Bradley. You know all the
rest; if I am not home by seven don't wait dinner for me."

Katherine had scarcely settled to her task, when the serva