some newspapers in my room; you can add them to the
others. How soon will dinner be ready?" Katherine felt herself
dismissed.

The afternoons were much at her own disposal; and as she found a number
of old books, some of which greatly interested her, she managed to
accomplish a good deal of reading, and even did a little dreaming.
Still, though time seemed to go so slowly, the weeks, on looking back,
had flown fast.

The monotony was terrible; but a break was at hand which was not quite
unexpected.

The day following the above conversation, Katherine had retired as usual
after dinner to write to a German friend with whom she kept up a
desultory correspondence; the day was warm, and her door being open, the
unwonted sound of the front door-bell startled her.

"Who could it possibly be?" asked Katherine of herself. The next minute
a familiar voice struck her ear, and she quickly descended to the front
parlor.

There an appalling sight met her eyes. In the centre of the room, her
back to the door, stood Mrs. Fred Liddell, a little boy in either
hand--all three most carefully attired in their best garments, and
making quite a pretty group.

Facing them, Mr. Liddell sat upright in his chair, his lean, claw-like
hands grasping the arms, his eyes full of fierce astonishment.

"You see, my dear sir, as you have never invited me, I have ventured to
come unasked to make your acquaintance, and to introduce my dear boys to
you; for it is possible you have sent me a message by Katherine which
she has forgotten to deliver; so I thought--" Thus far the pretty little
widow had proceeded when the children, catching sight of their auntie,
sprang upon her with a cry of delight.

"Who--who is this?" asked Mr. Liddell, compressing his thin lips and
hissing out the words.

"My brother's widow, Mrs. Fred Liddell," returned Katherine, who was
kissing and fondling her nephews.

"Did you invite her to come here?"

"No, uncle."

"Then explain to her that I do not receive visitors, especially
relations, who have no claims upon me, and--and I particularly object to
children."

"I shall take my sister-in-law to my room for a little rest," returned
Katherine, wounded by his manner, though greatly vexed with Ada for
coming.

"Ay, do, anywhere you like."

But Mrs. Fred made a gallant attempt to stand her ground.

"My dear sir, you must not be so unkind as to turn me out, when I have
taken the trouble to come all this way on purp