“And extremely reckless,” put in Errington, coldly, as Katherine paused to remember some other good point.

“Certainly not calculating,” she returned.

“Probably his new responsibilities may steady him.”

“They may.  I almost wish I dare——­”

“My dear Katherine, I have been looking everywhere for you.  I want you so much to play Mrs. Grandison’s accompaniment.  She is going to sing one of your songs, and no one plays it as well as you do.  So sorry to interrupt your nice talk; but what can a wretched hostess do?”

“Oh, I am quite ready, Mrs. Needham,” said Katherine; and she rose obediently.

“Will you come, Mr. Errington?” asked the lady of the house.

“To hear Mrs. Grandison murder one of Miss Liddell’s songs, which I dare say I have heard at Castleford?  No, thank you.  I shall bid you good-night.  I am going on to Lady Barbara Bonsfield’s, where I shall not stay long.”

“Horrid woman! she robbed me of Angela Bradley to-night!” exclaimed Mrs. Needham.

With a quick “Good-night,” Katherine went to fulfil her duties in the drawing-room, and did not see Errington again for several days.

“I was vexed with you for not singing last night,” said Mrs. Needham, as she sat at luncheon with her young friend the next morning.  “You may not have a great voice, but you are much more thoroughly trained than half the amateurs whose squallings and screechings are applauded to the echo.”

“I do not know why, but I really did not feel that I could sing, Mrs. Needham.  I do not often feel miserable and choky, but I did last night.  I am so anxious and uneasy about the boys and the school they are going to, that I was afraid of making a fool of myself.  When the change is accomplished I shall be all right again, and not bore you with my sentimentality.”

“You don’t do anything of the sort.  You are a capital plucky girl.  Now I have nothing particular for you to do this afternoon, and I can’t take you with me; so just go out and call on Miss Bradley or Miss Payne to divert your——­”

“A gentleman for Miss Liddell;” said the parlor maid, placing a card beside Katherine.

“Lord de Burgh!” she exclaimed, in great surprise.

“Lord who?” asked Mrs. Needham.

“Lord de Burgh; he is a relation of Colonel Ormonde; I used to meet him at Castleford.”

Mrs. Needham eyed her curiously.  “Oh, very well, dear,” she said, with great cheerfulness.  “Go and see him, and give him some tea; only it is too early.  I am sorry I cannot put in an appearance, but I have just a hundred and one things to do before I go to Professor Maule’s scientific ‘afternoon’ at four.  Give me my bag and note-book.  I must go straight away to the ‘Incubator Company’s Office;’ I promised them a notice in my Salterton letter next week.  There, go, child; I don’t want you any more.”

“But I am in no hurry, Mrs. Needham.  Lord de Burgh is no very particular friend of mine.”