e."

"Just so; that is the main point. If he does, what a burden will be
lifted off your shoulders!"

"And what a change in the boys' fortunes!" returned Katherine; adding,
after a short pause, "I think I will go to town with you on Monday and
pay them a visit, while you arrange your affairs with your tenant. Mrs.
Needham will put me up for a night or two."

In truth, Katherine longed to see and talk with Rachel, to discuss the
curious turn in her changeful fortunes, and build up pleasant palaces in
the airy realms of the future.

The following day brought her a letter from De Burgh. It was dated from
Paris, and told her of his intention to be absent from England for some
time; he pleaded earnestly for pardon with a certain rough eloquence,
and repeated the arguments he had previously urged, evidently thinking
that his punishment was greatly disproportionate to his offence.

Katherine was much moved by this epistle; she could not help being sorry
for him, though she hoped not to meet him again. The association of
ideas was too painful; she was ashamed too to remember how near she had
come to marrying him, in a sort of despair of the future. She answered
this letter at once, frankly and kindly, setting forth the unalterable
nature of her decision, and begging him not to put her to unnecessary
pain by trying to renew their acquaintance at any future time.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE END.

The project of going to town, however, was not carried out. Miss Payne
caught a severe cold, owing to the unusual circumstance of having
forgotten her umbrella, and, in consequence, getting wet through by a
sudden heavy shower.

Instead, therefore, of speeding London-wards on Monday, Miss Payne spent
the weary hours in bed with a racking headache and Katherine in close
attendance.

Next day, however, she was considerably better, and even talked of
coming downstairs in the evening when the house was shut up. She
insisted on sending her kind nurse out for air and exercise, as she was
looking pallid and heavy-eyed; nor was Katherine reluctant to go, for
she enjoyed being alone to meditate on the curious interweaving of
fate's warp and woof which had made Rachel the means of reconciliation
between George Liddell and herself. She ought now to take up her life
again with courage and energy. The boys provided for, she had nothing to
fear, while, if the future held out no brilliant prospect of personal
happiness, much quiet content