e's fare.

There was a momentary sense of relief in Kate's mind, and Marion
whispered, "There, now it's all right, come along and forget all about
it."

But that was just what Kate could not do; and the longer she thought
about it, the more miserable she grew. They went for a walk in the
grand old park, which Kate would have enjoyed immensely at any other
time, but conscience was reproving her for this misspent Sabbath, and
then the loss of her money almost distracted her, for she was to
receive her salary from Mrs. Maple by the quarter, and so it would be
nearly three months before she had another penny she could call her own.

"Oh, dear, I wish I had never come," sighed Kate.

"It's no use crying over spilt milk," said Marion; "so cheer up for a
little while, and let us be jolly." And she took her cousin and led
her on to the rest of the party, for Kate had preferred to drop behind
and indulge her gloomy thoughts alone.

"Here, William!" she said, "try and cheer her up a bit, she feels dull
about losing her purse."

The young man tried to "cheer her," as he had been directed, but it was
not any easy task. He was not the sort of companion Kate had been used
to, and could talk of little but music-halls, and theatres, and the
last popular song, and singers--things which Kate knew nothing about,
and could not interest her just now; so that the afternoon passed
slowly away.

They were leaving the Park now, and Bella was declaring that she must
have some tea before she went home.

"Well, then, I'll sit down on this seat," said Kate, "and you can come
for me when you are ready to go home," and Kate went over to the seat,
but was closely followed by the rest.

"Come, come, we can't allow this, you know," said her self-constituted
guardian, William; "you are under my charge, and you must come and have
some tea."

"Oh, do please leave me alone; I shall feel better here," pleaded Kate.

"Nonsense, Kate, a cup of tea will do you good," said Bella impatiently.

"But you forget I have lost my purse, and have no money to pay for it,"
replied Kate, a little bitterly.

"But I told you that did not matter," interposed the young man again;
"my purse is at your service. I will give it you, if you like--if you
will only laugh and chat as you did on board the steamer."

Kate smiled, and thanked him, but declined to accept either purse or
tea from him.

"You are almost a stranger to me, and I feel vexed that you shoul