hers are
the auctioneers, and the young fellows come round and bid. Good
gracious, what a thunder-cloud! What flashing eyes! You'll see what a
famous auctioneer mother will make! What is the matter, Kitty?"

"Nothing. Good-night. I'm going to bed."

"Come back and kiss me first. Poor little Kit! Dear, handsome,
fiery-spirited little Kit! I say though, _what_ a shabby frock
you've got on!"

"Oh, don't worry me, Loftie! Any dress will do in the country."

"Right, most prudent Catherine. By the way, when did you say mother
would come back?"

"Perhaps on Monday."

"What did she go to Manchester for?"

"I can't tell you."

"Well, I trust she will be back on Monday evening, for I am due at the
Depot on Tuesday. Lucky for me I got a week's leave, but I didn't mean
to see it out. It will be uncommonly awkward if I cannot get hold of the
mater between now and Tuesday, Kate."

"Loftus--_are_ you going to ask her to give you much money?"

"My dear child, you would think the sum I want enormous, but it isn't
really. Most fellows would consider it a trifle. And I don't want her
really to give it, Kate, only to lend it. That's altogether a different
matter, isn't it? Of course I could borrow it elsewhere, but it seems a
pity to pay a lot of interest when one's mother can put one straight."

"I don't know how you are to pay the money back, Loftus."

Loftus laughed.

"There are ways and means," he said. "Am I going to take all the bloom
off that young cheek by letting its owner into the secrets of Vanity
Fair? Come Kitty, go to bed, and don't fret about me, I'll manage
somehow."

"Loftus, how much money do you want mother to lend you?"

"What a persistent child you are. You positively look frightened. Well,
three fifty will do for the present. That oughtn't to stump anyone,
ought it?"

"I suppose not," answered Kate, in a bewildered way.

She put her hand to her forehead, bade her brother good-night, and
sought her room.

"Three hundred and fifty pounds!" she murmured. "And mother won't buy
herrings more than eightpence a dozen! And we scarcely eat any meat, and
lately we have begun even to save the bread. Three hundred and fifty
pounds! Well, I won't tell Mabel. Does Mabel really know the world
better than I do, and is it wrong of me in spite of everything to love
Loftus?"

CHAPTER VI.

FOR MY PART, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY NOTICE OF THE BERTRAMS.

But notwithstanding all worries, the world in mi