"I will indeed. I am almost afraid to stay here alone. Might I not have my mother with me?" "Do not think of it"--earnestly. "I was going to say that I believe you are decidedly gaining on your uncle; but the intrusion of Mrs. Frederic Liddell yesterday was very unfortunate. My rather peculiar client is impressed with the idea that you invited her." "Indeed I did not!" cried Katherine. "I did not suppose you did, but her appearance seems to have given Mr. Liddell a shock." Mr. Newton paused, and then asked in a slow tone, as if thinking hard, "What was your sister-in-law's maiden name?" "Sandford," said Katherine. "Sandford? That is rather a curious coincidence. The late Mrs. John Liddell was a Miss Sandford." "Is she dead, then?" "Yes; she died eight or nine years ago." "Could they have been related?" "Possibly. Some likeness seems to have struck your uncle." There was a short silence, and Mr. Newton resumed. "I trust you do not find your stay here too trying? I consider it very important that you should persevere, though it is only right to tell you that Mr. Liddell has made a will--not a just one, in my opinion--and it is extremely unlikely he will ever change it." "That does not really affect me. Of course I should be very glad if he chose to leave anything to my mother or myself, but I shall do my best for him under any circumstances. Besides, I have a sort of desire to make him speak to me and like me--perhaps it is vanity--quite apart from a sense of duty. He is so like a frozen man!" "Try, try by all means, my dear young lady." "What I do not like is the hour or half hour after market. The wolfish greed by which he clutches the change I bring back, the glare in his eyes, the fierce eagerness with which he asks the price of everything--he is not human at such times, and I almost fear him." "It is a dreadful picture, but perhaps the details may soften in time." "How shall I get money for all he wants?" asked Katherine, anxiously. "I shall impress upon Mr. Liddell the necessity of his case, and even make out that the good things he requires cost more than they do. I will beg him to allow me to supply the money during his indisposition and enter it in his account. Here, I will give you five pounds while we are alone." "Thank you so much! You see I dare not get into debt. I will keep a careful account of all expenditure, and ask him--my uncle, I mean--not to give me any money, then there will be no confusion. "Very well. I will go back to him now. He will be almost ready to come in here. Write to me frequently. I shall try to look in to-morrow for a few minutes." Katherine stirred the fire, and placed a threadbare footstool before the invalid's easy-chair, thanking Heaven in her heart for sending her such an ally as the friendly lawyer.