"Have you money?" asked Catherine. Her big, innocent, honest eyes looked full at her friend, their expression showed bewilderment. When she looked at her in this way Beatrice suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. Then she put her arms round Catherine and kissed her two or three times. "Kate, you are the sweetest girl I ever met in all my life. You are good, you are innocent. Kitty, I would do much for you." "And Loftus is very kind," repeated Catherine; "and he's handsome, too. He often told me that girls fell in love with him." Beatrice patted Catherine's cheek. "Little puss!" she said, "he ought not to breathe such words in your innocent ears. So it is not for my money your mother and Loftus want me so badly, Kitty." "I never heard either of them breathe the subject of your money. Have you any?" "Yes, some." "That would be nice, for somehow lately we seem to be dreadfully poor." "If I were turned into a grand and patrician Bertram, and made into your sister, sweet little Kitty, you shouldn't be poor. I'd see to that. I'd dress you and pet you, and lade you with gifts." "Beatrice, how bright your eyes are." "Yes, I am excited when I think of the possible benefit I may be to you." "I only want you to be my sister, and to make my mother and Loftus happy. My mother has a hidden trouble about which I must not speak; and for some reason which I cannot in the least understand, if you marry Loftus that trouble will disappear." "And you want it to disappear?" "I would give all I possess to make my mother happy." "Good, dear, little Kitty! You don't incline then to the belief that your brother wants me for the guineas' worth!" "Beatrice, I don't think Loftus is really sordid and he loves you. Oh, how earnestly he told me that he loved you. And my mother, she often, often talks of you, and I know she cares for you, Bee." "Come into the house," said Beatrice, suddenly. "Now that you have come you must spend the evening with me. We can send a messenger to the Manor to tell them, and after tea you and I will go on the water. We'll have a happy evening together, Kate, and we won't talk any more about Loftus, no, not another word. If I do a thing I do it generously, but I will not discuss the _pros_ and _cons_ even with, you any more." CHAPTER XXII. SPARE THE POOR CHILD'S BLUSHES. It was Miss Peters who first spread the news. She heard it whispered at the fishmonger's, spoken of aloud at the butcher's, and confirmed at the baker's. She could doubt this combined testimony no longer, and hurried home to put on her best bonnet with the wallflowers in it, and go forth on a visiting tour.