what had she known? She had seen nothing unusual of late,
nothing to make her think a crisis was approaching. Nay, she had
flattered herself that Mr. Flaxman, whom she liked, was gaining ground.

Meanwhile Robert stood pondering anxiously what could be done. Could
anything be done?

'I must go and see him,' he said presently. 'Yes, dearest, I must.
Impossible the thing should be left so! I am his old friend,--almost her
guardian. You say she is in great trouble--why, it may shadow her whole
life! No--he must explain things to us--he is bound to--he shall. It may
be something comparatively trivial in the way after all--money or
prospects or something of the sort. You have not seen the letter, you
say? It is the last marriage in the world one could have desired for
her--but if she loves him, Catherine, if she loves him----'

He turned to her--appealing, remonstrating. Catherine stood pale and
rigid. Incredible that he should think it right to intermeddle--to take
the smallest step towards reversing so plain a declaration of God's
will! She could not sympathise--she would not consent. Robert watched
her in painful indecision. He knew that she thought him indifferent to
her true reason for finding some comfort even in her sister's
trouble--that he seemed to her mindful only of the passing human misery,
indifferent to the eternal risk.

They stood sadly looking at one another. Then he snatched up his hat.

'I must go,' he said in a low voice; 'it is right.'

And he went--stepping, however, with the best intentions in the world,
into a blunder.

Catherine sat painfully struggling with herself after he had left her.
Then some one came into the room--some one with pale looks and flashing
eyes. It was Agnes.

'She just let me in to tell me, and put me out again,' said the
girl--her whole, even, cheerful self one flame of scorn and wrath. 'What
are such creatures made for, Catherine--why do they exist?'

Meanwhile, Robert had trudged off through the frosty morning streets to
Langham's lodgings. His mood was very hot by the time he reached his
destination, and he climbed the staircase to Langham's room in some
excitement. When he tried to open the door after the answer to his knock
bidding him enter, he found something barring the way. 'Wait a little,'
said the voice inside, 'I will move the case.'

With difficulty the obstacle was removed and the door opened. Seeing his
visitor, Langham stood for a moment in sombre ast