involuntary sob
broke from poor Katherine.

"Nothing, nothing; only I am so sorry for you!" she cried, breaking
down a little, in spite of her efforts after self-control.

"You need not be, as you will hear in a moment; and, at any rate, I
don't look much like an object of pity," he said, with a laugh. "I
was on the docks one winter evening, wet, dark, and late, when I
saw a man robbed of his purse. I chased the thief, collared the
purse, and took it back to its owner, who proved to be one of the
richest merchants of the town. He wanted to give me money. I told
him that I wanted work. I told him, too, about my damaged
reputation, and my inability to clear myself."

"Did he believe you?" she asked eagerly.

"He did; or if he didn't then, he did afterwards. Years later he
admitted that for the first twelve months of my time with him he
paid to have me watched; but that was really to my advantage, as I
came scatheless through the ordeal."

"It was really good of him to take so much interest in you," said
Katherine.

"So I have always felt," Mr. Selincourt answered. "Christopher Ray
stood to me for employer and friend. In course of time he became
still more, for he gave me his daughter, Mary's mother, and when he
died he left me his wealth."

"It was not all a misfortune for you, then, that for a time you had
to live under a cloud," said Katherine eagerly.

"Rightly speaking it was not misfortune, but good fortune that came
to me when I lost position and character at one blow. I have often
thought that perhaps I owed my downfall to someone who either said
about me what was not true, or kept silent when a word might have
put me straight; but, if so, that person was my very good friend,
and it is to him, or to her, that I owe the first step to the
success which came after."

Poor Katherine! One desperate effort she made after self-control,
but it was of no use, and, covering her face with her hands, she
burst into tears.

CHAPTER XXV

The Rift in the Clouds

"My dear child, I can never forgive myself for having made you cry
like this!" exclaimed Mr. Selincourt; for Katherine was sobbing as
vigorously as she did most other things, and he was genuinely
distressed.

"Oh, I am glad to cry! I mean, I am so happy, because it came out
all right. And oh, please do forgive me for having been so
foolish! I wonder whatever you must think of me!" and, heaving a
deep sigh of relief, Katherine sat up