“Here is Ada, just coming in.”

“What a volley of questions she will ask!  Now, mother, do not satisfy her.  Tell her my rich uncle has sent his solicitor to interview us, and that I am going to dine with him.  I wish I could have had some dinner before I went, for I am going to Hungry Hall.”

“Courage, darling!  If we can get this loan it will be a great relief.  Do not keep him waiting any longer—­there are your gloves.  Come back as soon as ever you can.”

CHAPTER IV.

“A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS.”

“Where in the world is Katherine going, and who is that man?” exclaimed the younger widow, her light blue eyes wide open in amazement, when Katherine had passed her with a smiling “Good-by for the present,” and walked down the road beside the precise lawyer.

“She is going-to her uncle, Mr. John Liddell, who expressed a wish to see her to-day, and that gentleman is Mr. Liddell’s solicitor,” returned the elder lady, smiling to think how soon she had been driven in upon the reserved force of her daughter’s suggestion.

“What! that terrible old miser poor Fred used to talk of?  Why, he will take a favorable turn, and leave everything to Katie!  Oh, dear Mrs. Liddell, that will not be fair. Do contrive to let him see Cis and Charlie.  We will declare that Cecil is his very image.  Old men like to be considered like pretty young creatures.  I always get on with crabbed old men.  Let me see him too.  Katherine must not keep the game all in her own hands.  Let me have a chance.”

“I don’t fancy Katie has much of a chance herself,” returned Mrs. Liddell, as she followed her daughter-in-law into the dining-room.  “It is an old man’s whim, and he will probably never wish to see her again.”

“Very likely.  You know dear Katherine does not do herself justice; her manners are so abrupt.  You do not mind my saying so?”

“Not in the least.”  Mrs. Liddell had a fine temper, and also a keen sense of humor.  Though fond of and indulgent to her daughter-in-law, she saw through her more clearly than Katherine did, as she gave full credit for the good that was in her, in spite of her little foibles and greediness.  “Katherine is much more abrupt than you are.”

“Exactly.  She will never be quite up to her dear mother’s mark.  Few step-mothers and daughters get on as we do, and I am sure you would look after poor Fred’s boys as if they were your own.”

“So would Katherine.  Of that you may be sure, my dear.”

“Oh yes; she is very fond of them, especially Charlie.  I do not think she is really just to Cecil.”

“Real justice is rare,” returned Mrs. Liddell, calmly.  “There is a note for you, Ada, on the chimney-piece; it came just after you went out.”