got out of my bed to-day. One
of my old attacks. My liver's never been the same since I caught that
bad chill at your father's funeral."

Uncle James looked at Katherine severely, as if she had been to blame
for the calamity. His feeling was natural. One way or another, the
Havilands had been the cause of calamity in the family ever since they
came into it. Family worship and the worship of the Family were
different but equally indispensable forms of the one true religion. The
stigma of schism, if not of atheism, attached to the Havilands in
departing from the old traditions and forming a little sect by
themselves. Mr. Pigott meant well by them; at any time he would have
helped them substantially, in such a manner as he thought fit. But, one
and all, the Havilands had refused to be benefited in any way but their
own; their own way, in the Pigotts' opinion, being invariably a foolish
one--"between you and me, sir, they hadn't a sound business head among
them." As for Ted and Katherine, before the day when he had washed his
hands of Ted in the office lavatory, uncle James had tried to play the
part of an overruling Providence in their affairs, and the young
infidels had signified their utter disbelief in him. Since then he had
ceased to interfere with his creatures; and latterly his finger was only
to be seen at times of marked crisis or disturbance, as in the
arrangements for a marriage or a funeral.

An astounding piece of news had come to his ears, which was the reason
of his present visitation. He hastened to the business in hand.

"What's this that I hear about Ted, eh?"

"I don't know," said Katherine, blushing violently.

"I'm told that he's taken up with some woman, nobody knows who, and that
they're seen everywhere together----"

"'Who told you this?"

"Your cousin Nettie. She's seen them--constantly--in the National
Gallery and the British Museum, carrying on all the time they're
pretending to look at those heathen gods and goddesses"--Katherine
glanced nervously round the studio. "They actually make
assignations--they meet on the steps of public places. Nettie has
noticed her hanging about waiting for him, and some young friends of
hers saw them dining together alone at the Star and Garter. Now what's
the meaning of all this?"

Katherine was too much amused to answer yet; she wanted to see what her
uncle would say next. He shook his head solemnly.

"I knew what it would be when you two had it all yo