sit."

"Pray sit down, Mr. Newton"--taking a chair as she spoke, while she read
the small, crabbed, tremulous characters written on the page presented
to her. The note contained directions to call on Mrs. Liddell and
ascertain if she really was the widow of his late brother; also what
security she could offer for a small loan.

Her color rose faintly as she read.

"You must not regard the plainness of business phraseology," said the
visitor, in dry, precise tones. "My client means no offence."

"Nor do I mean to take any," she replied, handing him back the note.
"Pray how am I to prove my own identity?"

"It would not, I suppose, be very difficult; but, as it happens, _I_ can
be your witness. I quite well remember seeing you with Mr. Liddell, your
late husband, some sixteen or seventeen years ago."

"Indeed! I am surprised that I do not recall you. I generally have a
good memory, but--"

"_I_ am not surprised. I was unhappily the bearer of an unpleasant
message, which excited Mr. Liddell considerably, and your attention was
absorbed by your efforts to calm him."

"I remember," said Mrs. Liddell, coloring deeply. "It was a trying
time."

"We will consider this inquiry answered. As regards the loan"--the door
opening to admit Katherine interrupted him; he rose and bowed formally
when her mother named her; then he resumed his sentence--"as regards
the loan, I must first know the amount it is proposed to borrow, in
order to judge of the security offered."

"I asked my uncle for thirty pounds, but I should be very glad if he
would lend us forty."

"No, Katie; I dare not take so much," interrupted her mother. "Remember,
it must be repaid; and," addressing the lawyer, she added, "the only
security I have to offer is the furniture of this house--furniture of
the simplest, as you will see."

"Have you seen Mr. Liddell?" asked Mr. Newton, a slight expression of
surprise passing over his face.

"My daughter has," said Mrs. Liddell.

"Yes; I ventured to visit him, because"--she hesitated, and then went
on, frankly--"because we wanted this money very much indeed; and I found
him in a sad condition." Katherine went on to describe the scene of
yesterday, dwelling on the desolate position of the old man. "I felt
frightened to leave him alone; he seems weak, and unfit to take care of
himself. I hope, Mr. Newton, you will go to him and induce him to have a
proper servant. I am going, because I promised in any case to go