“Here is a nice lady come to see you,” said Mrs. Dodd, in a soothing tone suited to an infant or a lunatic.

“No, no; I don’t want any lady; I would rather not see any lady,” cried a voice naturally sweet-toned, but now touched with shrill terror.  Curiously enough, this token of fear gave Katherine courage.  Here was some poor soul wanting comfort sorely.

“Do not forbid me to come in,” she said, walking boldly into the room, and addressing the inmate with a kind bright smile.  “I very much want some needle-work done, and I shall be glad if you will undertake it.”  While she spoke, Mrs. Dodd retired and softly closed the door.  Katherine found herself face to face with a ladylike-looking young woman, small and slight—­slight even to extreme thinness—­fair-skinned, with large blue eyes, delicate features, a quantity of fair hair carelessly coiled up, and with white cheeks.  The strange pallor of her trembling lips, the despair in her eyes, the shrinking, hunted look of face and figure, almost frightened her visitor.  “I hope you are not vexed with me for coming in,” faltered Katherine, deferentially; “but they said you wanted employment, and I should like to give you some.  You must be ill, you look so pale.  Can I not be of some use to you?”

The girl’s pale cheek flushed as, partially recovering herself, she stood up holding the back of her chair, her eyes fixed on the floor; she seemed endeavoring to speak, but the words did not come.  At last, in a low, hesitating voice:  “You are too good.  I have tried to find work vainly; now I do not think I have the force to do any.”  The color faded away from the poor sunken cheeks, and the eyes hid themselves persistently under the downcast lids.

“I am sure you are very weak,” returned Katherine, tenderly, for there was something inexpressibly touching in the hopelessness of the stranger’s aspect.  “But some good food and the prospect of employment will set you up, When you are a little stronger and know me better you will perhaps tell me how Mr. Payne and I can best help you.  We all want each other’s help at times; and life must not be thrown away, you know.  I do not wish to intrude upon you, but you see we are nearly of an age, and we ought to understand and help each other.  It is my turn now; it may be yours by-and-by.”

“Mine!” with unspeakable bitterness.

“Do sit down,” said Katherine, who felt her tears very near her eyes, “and I will sit by you for a little while.  Why, you are unfit to stand, and you are so cold!” She pulled off her gloves, and taking one of the poor girl’s hands in both her own soft warm ones, chafed it gently.  No doubt practically charitable people would smile indulgently at Katherine’s enthusiastic sympathy; but she was new to such work, and felt that she had to deal with no common subject.  Whether it was the tender tone or the kindly touch, but the hard desperate look softened, and big tears began to roll down, and soon she was weeping freely, quietly, while she left her hand in Katherine’s, who held it in silence, feeling how the whole slight frame shook with the effort to control herself.