“Why, what has happened to him?  I can hardly believe my ears.”

“I am sure I could hardly believe mine.  I suppose as he grew accustomed to feel that everything was in his hands, and that I had given him no trouble, he saw that he had been unnecessarily severe.  Then his little girl took him to Rachel Trant’s, and they evidently spoke of me; probably she gave a highly colored description of my goodness, and, being an impulsive man, he said he would come and see me, whereupon she wrote to warn me.”

“That’s all possible; but somehow I feel there is more in it than I quite understand.”

“I am sure I do not care to understand the wherefore, if only my cousin carries out his good intentions as regards Cis and Charlie.”

“Just so; that is the main point.  If he does, what a burden will be lifted off your shoulders!”

“And what a change in the boys’ fortunes!” returned Katherine; adding, after a short pause, “I think I will go to town with you on Monday and pay them a visit, while you arrange your affairs with your tenant.  Mrs. Needham will put me up for a night or two.”

In truth, Katherine longed to see and talk with Rachel, to discuss the curious turn in her changeful fortunes, and build up pleasant palaces in the airy realms of the future.

The following day brought her a letter from De Burgh.  It was dated from Paris, and told her of his intention to be absent from England for some time; he pleaded earnestly for pardon with a certain rough eloquence, and repeated the arguments he had previously urged, evidently thinking that his punishment was greatly disproportionate to his offence.

Katherine was much moved by this epistle; she could not help being sorry for him, though she hoped not to meet him again.  The association of ideas was too painful; she was ashamed too to remember how near she had come to marrying him, in a sort of despair of the future.  She answered this letter at once, frankly and kindly, setting forth the unalterable nature of her decision, and begging him not to put her to unnecessary pain by trying to renew their acquaintance at any future time.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE END.

The project of going to town, however, was not carried out.  Miss Payne caught a severe cold, owing to the unusual circumstance of having forgotten her umbrella, and, in consequence, getting wet through by a sudden heavy shower.

Instead, therefore, of speeding London-wards on Monday, Miss Payne spent the weary hours in bed with a racking headache and Katherine in close attendance.