"Oh, thank you--don't trouble!" exclaimed Mrs. Needham, as Katherine politely bent down to collect the letters, note-book, memorandum, etc. "So sorry! I am too careless in small matters. Now, my dear Miss Liddell, I must explain myself. Mr. Payne and I are deeply interested in the success of a bazar which I am trying to organize, and he suggested that I should see you and make our objects thoroughly clear." With much fluency and distinctness she proceeded to describe the origin and progress of the work she advocated, showing the necessity for a new wing to the "Children's Refuge," and entreating Katherine's assistance at the bazar. This Katherine gently but firmly declined. "I shall be most happy to send you a check, but more I cannot undertake," she said. "Well, that is very good of you; and in any case I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance. Mr. Payne has told me how ready you are to help in all charitable undertakings. Now in an ordinary way I don't do much in this line; my energies have been directed to another channel. I am not what is generally called a religious woman; I am too broad in my views to please the orthodox; but, at the same time, religion is in our present stage essential." "I am sure religion is much obliged to you," observed Miss Payne. "How do you and my brother get on?" "Remarkably well. _I_ think him rather a fanatic; he thinks me a pagan. But we both have common-sense enough to see that each honestly wishes to help suffering humanity, and on that broad platform we meet. Mr. Payne tells me you don't know much of London, Miss Liddell. I can help you to see some of its more interesting sides. I shall be most happy, though I am a very busy woman. I am a journalist, and my time is not my own." "Indeed?" cried Katherine. "You mean you write for newspapers?" "Yes; that is, I get what crumbs fall from the press_men's_ table. They get the best work and the best pay; but I can work as well as most of them, and sometimes mine goes in in place of what some idle, pleasure-loving scamp has neglected. Let me see"--pulling out her watch--"five minutes to four. I must not stay. I have to look in at Mrs. Rayner's studio; she has a reception, and will want a mention of it. Then there are Sir Charles Goodman's training schools for deaf-mutes and the new Art Photography Company's rooms to run through before I go to the House of Commons to do my 'Bird's-eye View' letter for the Australian mail to-morrow." "My dear Mrs. Needham, you take my breath away!" exclaimed Katherine. "I am sure you could show me more of London--I mean what I should like to see--than any one else." "Very well. Let me know when you come back to town, and you shall hear a debate if you like. I am not a society woman, but I have the _entree_ to most places. Now good-morning--good-morning. You see your agreeable conversation has made me forget the time." And shaking hands cordially, she hastened away.