“It is a great satisfaction to think that though people may do without books or pictures or music, they must wear clothes; and if you fit well, and are punctual, you are certain to have customers.  Of course if you give credit you must charge high; people are beginning to see that now.  You cannot get ready money in the dressmaking trade except for those costumes you give for a certain fixed price; but I stand out for quarterly accounts.”

“And do you find no difficulty in getting them paid?”

“Not much; you see, I deduct five per cent. for punctual payment.  Every one tries to save that five per cent.  But talking of these things has put a curious incident out of my head, which I was longing to tell you.  You remember among my first customers were Mrs. Fairchild and her daughters.  They keep a very high class ladies’ school in Inverness Terrace, and have been excellent customers.  Yesterday Miss Fairchild called and said that she wanted an entire outfit for a little girl of ten or eleven, who was to be with them.  They did not wish for anything fine or showy; at the same time, cost was no object.  I was to furnish everything, to save time.  This morning they brought the child to be fitted; she is very tall and thin, but lithe and supple, with dark hair, and large, bright, dark-brown eyes.  She will be very handsome.  I could not quite make her out; she is not an ordinary gentlewoman, nor is she the very least vulgar or common.  She gives me more the idea of a wild thing not quite tamed.  When all was settled I was told to address the account to Mr. George Liddell, Grosvenor Hotel.”

“Why, it must be my cousin George!” cried Katherine.  “How strange that in this huge town they should fix on you amongst the thousands of dressmakers!  You must make my little cousin look very smart, Rachel.”

“She is not little.  She is wonderfully mature for ten years old, something like a panther.”

“I should like to see her.  I believe she is a great idol with her father.  I wish,” added Katherine, after a pause, “he were not so unreasonably prejudiced against me.  You may think me weak, Rachel, but I have a sort of yearning for family ties.”

“Why should I think you weak?  It is a natural and I suppose a healthy feeling. I don’t understand it myself because I never had any.  Isolation is my second nature.  The only human being that ever treated me with tenderness and loyal friendship is yourself, and what you have been to me, what I feel toward you, none can know, for I can never tell.”

“Dear Rachel!  How glad I am to have been of use to you!  And you amply repay me, you are looking so much better.  Tell me, are you not feeling content and happy?”

Rachel smiled, a smile somewhat grim in spite of the soft lips it parted.  “I am resigned, and I have found an object to live for, and you know what an improvement that is compared to the condition you found me in.  But I don’t think I am really any more in love with life now than I was then.  However, I am more mistress of myself.”  She paused, and her face grew very grave as she leaned back in her chair, her arm and small hand, closely shut, resting on the table beside her.