"Well, well, poor child," interrupted Reginald Tracy, to whose cheeks the phrase "_wholesome lessons_" brought a flush of crimson—for he remembered how he himself had deviated from the doctrines which he had long successfully and sincerely taught: "be consoled! I know how sad must be our lot; and I have called this morning to see if I cannot ameliorate it." "What? better my condition, sir?" exclaimed Katherine. "Oh! how is that possible?" "We will see," answered the rector, taking a chair near the young maiden. "You are not altogether so friendless as you imagine." "I am aware, sir, that through your goodness I received an education at the school which your bounty founded; and your excellent housekeeper, Mrs. Kenrick, has furnished me with needle-work. Oh! sir, I am not ignorant how much I owe to you both!" Kate raised her mild blue eyes towards the rector's countenance; but her glance drooped again instantaneously, for his looks were fixed upon her in a manner which she had never noticed in him before, and which excited a momentary feeling of embarrassment—almost of alarm—in her mind. But that feeling passed away as rapidly as it had arisen; and she blushed to think that she should have experienced such a sentiment in the presence of so holy a man and so great a benefactor. "I did not wish to remind you of any trifling services which myself or my housekeeper may have rendered you, Katherine," said Reginald. "I alluded to another friend who interests himself in you." "Another friend!" ejaculated the young girl. "Is it possible that I have _another friend_ in the whole world?" "You have," replied Mr. Tracy. "Did not a gentleman, accompanied by a police-officer, visit this house about a fortnight ago?" "Yes—I remember—late one night——" And she stopped short, being unwilling to allude to that instance of her uncle's cruelty which had led to the visit mentioned by the rector. "Well, that gentleman feels interested in you," continued Reginald. "He saw how you were treated—he knows that you are unhappy." "And do strangers thus interest themselves in the wretched?" asked Katherine, her eyes swimming in tears. "Not often," replied the rector. "But this gentleman is one of the few noble exceptions to the general rule." "He must be indeed!" exclaimed Katherine, with an enthusiasm which was almost pious. "That gentleman learnt from the policeman enough to give him a favourable impression of your character, and to render him desirous of serving you. He pondered upon the matter for some days, but could come to no determination on the subject. He heard that you were anxious to leave this house and earn your own bread." "Oh! yes—how willingly would I do so!" exclaimed Katherine fervently. "But——" "But what?" demanded Reginald, in whose eyes the young maiden had never been an object of peculiar interest until at present;—and _now_ he observed, for the first time, that her personal appearance was far—very far from disagreeable.