“Susan, ma’am.”

“Well, Susan, is there any bread or anything in the larder?”

“Not a blessed scrap, miss, and I am so hungry”—­a fresh burst of tears.

“Don’t cry.  Do as I bid you, and then you had better ask your mother to come here.  Now get me some fresh water.”

“There’s only water in the tap; the filterer is broke.”

“Well, give me a jugful.  And are you too hungry to make up the fire?”

“I’ll manage that, ’m; we had a hundred of coal in yesterday morning before the row.”

“Then clear away the ashes and get as clear a fire as you can.  I will get some food.”

The desperate, deserted condition of the old man seemed to rob him of his terrors, and all Katherine’s energy was roused to save him from the ill effects of his own fury.  She hastened back to the dining-room.  Mr. Liddell was sitting up, grasping the arms of his chair.

“There is nothing downstairs.  Will you allow me to go and buy you some food?  You will be ill unless you eat.”

“Can’t that child fetch what is needful?” he said, with an effort.

“I am afraid she may not return.”

“Then you had better go.  I’ll open the door to you when you come back.”

“I will go at once.  But you must give me a little money.  I would gladly pay for the things, but I have only my omnibus fare back.”

“How much do you want?” he returned, drawing forth an old worn green porte-monnaie.

“If you will be satisfied with a chop, two shillings will get all you want,” said Katherine.

“There, then; bring me the change and account,” he returned, handing her the required sum.

Since her mother had become a housekeeper Katherine had done a good deal of the marketing and household management, and had put her heart into her work, as was natural to her.  She therefore felt quite competent to make these small purchases.

“You will want a little more wine or something,” she ventured to suggest.

“I have plenty—­plenty.  Make haste!”

Katherine called the little girl, told her she was going out, and promised to bring her back some food.  Then she sped on her way to some shops she had noticed on her way, and soon accomplished her errand.  This necessity for action put her right with herself, and gave her the courage she needed.  With a word to the fainting old miser, she descended to the chaotic kitchen, where she rejoiced the heart of the small slavey by the sight of the cold beef and bread she had brought for her.  Then she set to work to cook the chops she had purchased.  This done, to the amazement of the little servant, she looked in vain for a cloth to spread upon the only battered tray she could find.  She was obliged to be content with dusting it and placing the result of her cooking between two warm plates thereupon.  Then she carried the whole up to her starving relative.  Mr. Liddell had fallen into a doze from exhaustion, and looked quite wolfish when, rousing up, his eyes fell upon the sorely needed food.