NEEDHAM."

When Katherine returned that afternoon she found Miss Payne was not
alone. On the sofa opposite to her sat a lady--a large, well-dressed
lady--with bright black eager eyes, and a high color. She held open on
her lap a neat black leather bag, from which she had taken some papers,
and was speaking quickly, in loud dictatorial tones, when Katherine came
in.

"Here is Miss Liddell," said Miss Payne.

"Ah! I am very glad," cried the large lady, starting up and letting the
bag fall, much of its contents scattering right and left.

"Mrs. Needham, Miss Liddell," said Miss Payne, with the sort of rigid
accent which Katherine knew expressed disapprobation.

"Oh, thank you--don't trouble!" exclaimed Mrs. Needham, as Katherine
politely bent down to collect the letters, note-book, memorandum, etc.
"So sorry! I am too careless in small matters. Now, my dear Miss
Liddell, I must explain myself. Mr. Payne and I are deeply interested in
the success of a bazar which I am trying to organize, and he suggested
that I should see you and make our objects thoroughly clear."

With much fluency and distinctness she proceeded to describe the origin
and progress of the work she advocated, showing the necessity for a new
wing to the "Children's Refuge," and entreating Katherine's assistance
at the bazar.

This Katherine gently but firmly declined. "I shall be most happy to
send you a check, but more I cannot undertake," she said.

"Well, that is very good of you; and in any case I am very pleased to
have made your acquaintance. Mr. Payne has told me how ready you are to
help in all charitable undertakings. Now in an ordinary way I don't do
much in this line; my energies have been directed to another channel. I
am not what is generally called a religious woman; I am too broad in my
views to please the orthodox; but, at the same time, religion is in our
present stage essential."

"I am sure religion is much obliged to you," observed Miss Payne. "How
do you and my brother get on?"

"Remarkably well. _I_ think him rather a fanatic; he thinks me a pagan.
But we both have common-sense enough to see that each honestly wishes to
help suffering humanity, and on that broad platform we meet. Mr. Payne
tells me you don't know much of London, Miss Liddell. I can help you to
see some of its more interesting sides. I shall be most happy, though I
am a very busy woman. I am a journalist, and my time is not my own."

"Indeed?" cried Kathe