Next day, however, she was considerably better, and even talked of coming downstairs in the evening when the house was shut up.  She insisted on sending her kind nurse out for air and exercise, as she was looking pallid and heavy-eyed; nor was Katherine reluctant to go, for she enjoyed being alone to meditate on the curious interweaving of fate’s warp and woof which had made Rachel the means of reconciliation between George Liddell and herself.  She ought now to take up her life again with courage and energy.  The boys provided for, she had nothing to fear, while, if the future held out no brilliant prospect of personal happiness, much quiet content probably lay in the humble sufficiency which was now hers.  The interest she would take in the careers of Cis and Charlie would renew her youth, and keep her in touch with active life, while, as the impression of her various troubles wore away under the swift-flowing stream of time, she would feel more and more the restful excellence of peace.  It was not a bad outlook, yet Katherine felt sad as she contemplated it.  Finding her self-commune less cheering than she anticipated, she turned her steps homeward, and entered the house through the window of the drawing-room which opened on a rustic veranda.  Coming from strong sunlight into comparative darkness, she took off her hat, and pushed back her hair from her brow before she perceived that a gentleman had risen from the chair where he sat reading.

“You see I have dared to take possession of the premises in your absence,” he said.

“Mr. Errington?” cried Katherine, her heart suddenly bounding, and then beating so violently she could hardly speak.  “How—­where—­did you come from?”

“From London, to enjoy a brief breathing-space from pressure of work—­welcome as it generally is!  I am sorry to find that your friend Miss Payne is invalided, as she was not visible, I ventured to wait for you.”

“I am very glad to see you,” returned Katherine, placing herself on the sofa as far from the window as she could, for she felt herself changing color in a provoking way.

“I saw Mrs. Needham yesterday, who gave me your address and sundry messages, one to the effect that she hopes to pay you a visit next Saturday; the rest I do not remember accurately, for she was much excited and not very distinct.”

“We shall be delighted to see her, she is so bright and sympathetic.  What was the immediate cause of her excitement?”

“The marriage of Miss Bradley in about a fortnight.”

“Indeed!” cried Katherine, thinking this way of announcing it rather odd, but never doubting it was his own marriage also.  “Then accept my warm congratulations; you have no well-wisher more sincere than myself.”

Errington looked up surprised.

“Why do you congratulate me?  I certainly was of some use in bringing it about, but sooner or later they would certainly have married.”