"Now tell me all about everything," he said. "I have gathered from Gwendoline that you came down every night and had your usual success at the Easter party, and that Mordryn evidently liked you, for he told Gwen that you were the most intelligent girl that he had ever met." Katherine half smiled, a little sadly. "Yes, he may have thought so, but eventually the secretary swallowed up the guest. I do not know if he will ever speak to me again." "He felt as badly as that, did he! Poor Mordryn! No doubt you tormented him; but Mordryn is no weak creature like me. If he feels very much about you, he will either defy convention, or break away from all temptation"--then his voice changed, and he asked a little anxiously: "Katherine, do you begin to care for him?" "Yes." "How much?" "I do not know--I could care a great deal--he pleases me in every way--I love his looks and his mind--and he--he makes me feel something which I have never felt before--is it the capability for devotion?--I do not know." For the first time in their acquaintance, Mr. Strobridge saw her undecided, gentle, a little helpless even--it touched him deeply. He loved her so very dearly. He would rather see her happy if he could aid her to become so. He came over to her and leaned upon the table. "Dearest girl--everything is a sickening jumble in this world, it seems. I have a kind of premonition, though, that you will emerge triumphant, however it goes; but after to-day, Katherine, I shall not see you until late in the autumn. I am going away--to Russia this time--and I am going to try once more not to care." So even her one friend would be far from her. Well, she must not lose her nerve. She gave him her blessing for his journey, and they said good-bye. And the days went on apace. Matilda was engaged to be married to Charlie Prodgers, and was full of importance and glee, and had drifted further and further away from her sister ever since the engagement was announced. Some instinctive feminine jealousy made her feel that she would prefer Katherine to be as far as possible from her fiancé. "After all, Kitten," she said, when they met in the park to discuss the news, "you aren't one of us and we aren't one of you. I shall be moving up now into Mabel's set, and there is no use in hiding it, Mabel don't seem to dote on you." "Yes, I feel that," agreed Katherine, meekly lowering her eyes, so that her sister might not see their twinkle. "I expect we shall not meet often in the future, Tild." "Well, of course, Kitten, I'd always be very pleased to have tea with you up here now and then," and Matilda gave an uncomfortable laugh; "but it is always best to avoid awkwardness, isn't it, dearie, and you are only a paid servant, aren't you--living in--not like you were at Liv and Dev's, out on your own, and everyone starts better in considering her husband's position, don't they--and Charlie is manager in his department now, and very particular as to who I know."