ll be near the sea. But I must not keep you selfishly
all to myself. I must remember how good you have been to poor creatures
who don't feel our happiness, and who need your kindness. Perhaps I
might help you? Do you doubt it?"

"I only doubt whether I ought to let you see what I have seen; I am only
afraid of the risk of making you unhappy. You tempt me to run the risk.
The help of a woman--and of such a woman as you are--is the one thing I
have wanted. Your influence would succeed where my influence has often
failed. How good, how thoughtful you would be!"

"I only want to be worthy of you," she said, humbly. "When may I see
your Home?"

He drew her closer to him: tenderly and timidly he kissed her for the
first time. "It rests with you," he answered. "When will you be my
wife?"

She hesitated; he felt her trembling. "Is there any obstacle?" he asked.

Before she could reply, Kitty's voice was heard calling to her
mother--Kitty ran up to them.

Catherine turned cold as the child caught her by the hand, eagerly
claiming her attention. All that she should have remembered, all that
she had forgotten in a few bright moments of illusion, rose in judgment
against her, and struck her mind prostrate in an instant, when she felt
Kitty's touch.

Bennydeck saw the change. Was it possible that the child's sudden
appearance had startled her? Kitty had something to say, and said it
before he could speak.

"Mamma, I want to go where the other children are going. Susan's gone to
her supper. You take me."

Her mother was not even listening. Kitty turned impatiently to
Bennydeck. "Why won't mamma speak to me?" she asked. He quieted her by a
word. "You shall go with me." His anxiety about Catherine was more than
he could endure. "Pray let me take you back to the house," he said. "I
am afraid you are not well."

"I shall be better directly. Do me a kindness--take the child!"

She spoke faintly and vacantly. Bennydeck hesitated. She lifted her
trembling hands in entreaty. "I beg you will leave me!" Her voice, her
manner, made it impossible to disobey. He turned resignedly to Kitty and
asked which way she wanted to go. The child pointed down the path to
one of the towers of the Crystal Palace, visible in the distance. "The
governess has taken the others to see the company go away," she said; "I
want to go too."

Bennydeck looked back before he lost sight of Catherine.

She remained seated, in the attitude in which he had l