“I like to hear you say so.  Now I don’t often let my tongue run on as it has, but if you’ll be patient and friendly, I’ll be as mild and inoffensive as a youngster fresh from school.”

“Very well,” said Katherine, smiling and confused.  Here she was interrupted by the sudden approach of Mrs. Needham, her dark eyes gleaming with pleased recognition, and her high color heightened by the heat of the rooms.  She was gorgeous in red satin, black lace and diamonds.  “My dear Miss Liddell!  I have been looking for you everywhere!  I want so much to speak to you about a project I have for starting a new weekly paper, to be called The Woman’s Weekly.  There is an empty sofa in that little room at the other side of the hall.  Do come, and I will explain it all.  It is likely to do a great deal of good, and to be a paying concern into the bargain.  You will excuse me for running away with Miss Liddell”—­to De Burgh—­“but we have some matters to discuss.  We shall meet you upstairs afterwards.”  She swept Katherine away, while De Burgh stood scowling.  Who was this audacious pirate who had cut out his convoy from under the fire of his angry eyes?

“You see, my dear,” commenced Mrs. Needham, in a low voice and speaking rapidly, “there is an immense field to be cultivated in the humble strata of the better working-class, and the paper I wish to establish will be quite different from The Queen, more useful and less than half-price.  No stuff about fashionable marriages in print that is enough to blind an eagle, but useful receipts and work patterns, domestic information, and a story—­a story is a great point—­a description of any great events, and fashion plates, etc.”  And she poured forth a torrent of what she was pleased to term “facts and figures” till Katherine felt fairly bewildered.

“It seems a great undertaking,” she replied, when she could get a word in.  “I shall require a great deal of explanation before I can comprehend it.  Will you not come and see me when we shall be alone, and we can discuss it quietly?”

“Certainly, my dear Miss Liddell—­to-morrow.  No; to-morrow I have about seven or eight engagements between two and six-thirty.  Let me see.  I am terribly pressed just now; I will write and fix some morning if you will come and lunch with me.  If you could see your way to taking a few shares it would be a great help.  Money—­money—­money.  Without the filthy lucre nothing can be begun or ended.  Now tell me how you have been.  I have been coming to see you for months, but never get a moment to myself; but I have heard of you from Mr. Payne.  What a good fellow he is!  How is Miss Payne?” Katherine replied, and Mrs. Needham rushed on:  “Nice party, isn’t it?  There are several literary people here to-night.  I did not know Lady Barrington went in for literary society, but one picks up a little of all sorts when you live abroad for a while.  Here is a very interesting man.  He is coming very much to the front as a political and philosophic writer.  It is said he is to be the editor of The Empire, that new monthly which they say is to take the lead of all the magazines.  I met him at Professor Kean’s last week.  I don’t think he sees me—­Good-evening!  Don’t think you remember me—­Mrs. Needham.  Had the pleasure of meeting you at Professor Kean’s last Monday.  Mr. Errington, Miss Liddell!”