fault of yours. For my own part, I have
always thought it a pity to oppose it; for
if you like one another—now, don't."

"Indeed, indeed, I am very wretched,"
said Katey; "if I only knew what to do!
My poor father and family—I have
promised—and Mrs. Leader was so cruel to
him."

"Oh, as for your father, I don't know
what to say. I am afraid he is not over-
scrupulous. But it is very unfortunate.
It is driving us out of this place. We are
going away to-morrow; and as for poor
Cecil, I fear he will be made the victim,
as Mrs. Leader is determined to have the
entail cut off."

"Yes, I know; I heard. But it is not
that. I dare not go back now. I know
what would be said then! I know what is
thought of me, and what you think of me.
But I accept it all. You need blame no
one else but the scheming girl, who brought
all this about."

"You, scheming! No, indeed, my poor
child. But you must not be cast down, or
take such an utterly gloomy view of the
future. Now, sit down here, next to me.
Now, don't—don't," as Katey was breaking
into fresh hysterical sobs. "Things
are not so bad. You see Mrs. Leader has
peculiar views of her own about rank and
getting up in the world, and I am afraid"
—with a sigh—"sacrifices a little too
much to them. Now I and my dear
daughter care very little about that; all
we ask is to be happy, and to have our
walks and little enjoyments. And I
declare I don't know if we didn't enjoy
ourselves more in the little house in London,
when I went to court every day. Now I
confess to you, from the first day I saw you
coming out of the church, I took a fancy
to you, for I was sure you were gentle and
amiable, and that we should get on together
famously. But there's Mrs. Leader."
And he shook his head sadly.

These were inexpressibly comforting
words for Katey; the more comforting as
they were unexpected. She took his hand
and raised it to her lips.

"Heaven bless you for this!" she said.

"Of course, not a word to any one," he
went on; "but I will make the best fight I
can. You know, after a time it may all
blow over; when there's no help for a
thing, Mrs. Leader may think it best to
make the best of it. I'll try and do what
I can, and, as far as injuring poor Cecil's
prospects, will stave it off as long as
possible."

There was something very good natured,
though, at the same time, something
ludicrously helpless, in this candid confession
of weakness. But when Mr. Leader rose
to go away, and shaking her warmly by
the hand bade her be of good cheer, looking
round at the same time with great caution,
Katey was inexpressibly cheered, and went
home with a lighter heart.

The behaviour of the future bridegroom
might, indeed, give her more cause for
disturbance. Within these few days he had
grown brusque and sulky, and, as we have
mentioned—deeply injured. This demeanour
the Doctor had carried off by deep
commiseration for his "ailments." He was
delicate, would require great care and
nursing from Katey, &c.

It was on the very evening of this interview
of Katey with Mr. Leader that young
Leader came suddenly into the Doctor's
house, noisily and violently asking to see
its master.

"I must see him—just fetch him at
once."

The Doctor emerged suddenly from his
parlour.

"My dear boy, looking for me? Just
step in here for a moment. There! what
is it?"

"Here's a pretty thing! They're all
gone away, every one of them, and left me
here in the lurch! You said they'd give in
at the end. But they haven't, and here
am I sold, and done in every way!"

He was very excited, and the Doctor saw
"with half an eye" how the case was to be
handled.

"Well, let them go! It makes no
difference to us. They'll come back fast
enough."

"Yes, to make me a beggar. I won't
have that. I didn't bargain for that. I
am not called on to sacrifice myself in this
way. You said it was all to be made
square. But it's not fair that I should be
taken in ——"

The Doctor turned on him at once.

"Taken in, sir? Have I taken you in,
sir?"

"N—no—I don't say that. Oh, it's no
use going on that way with me; there's no
one listening."

This was a case for blistering, as the
Doctor would have said, or for surgery.

"No, you don't mean me, and you
daren't. But you mean an inoffensive girl,
that can't call you to account. That's
manly—that's generous! The girl that
you've betrayed—that you're dragging