“Oh yes, by George! you try and hold on to him.  The little fellows ought to have the biggest share, of course, as the nephew’s children.  Why, it would change your position altogether if your boys had ten or fifteen thou. between them.”

“Or apiece,” said Mrs. Liddell, carelessly.  She was immensely amused by the Colonel’s tone of deep interest.  “You may be very sure I shall do my best.  I know the value of money.”

“May I ask where this Mr. Liddell resides?” asked Mr. Errington, joining them, with a bow to the young widow.

“I really do not know, though he is my uncle-in-law.  Pray do you know him?”

“No; I know of him, but we are not personally acquainted.”

“And is he not supposed to be very rich?”

“That I cannot say; but I have an idea that he is well off.”

With another bow Errington retreated to say good-morning to his hostess.

“Well, whether your sister-in-law comes or not, I hope we are sure of your charming self?” said Ormonde.

“Unless I am obliged to parade my boys for their grand-uncle’s inspection, I am sure to honor you.”

“Of course everything must give away to that.  I shall come and inquire what news soon, if I may?”

“Oh yes; come when you like.”

“They are all ready, Mrs. Liddell,” remarked her hostess.

Mr. Kirby offered his arm, which was accepted with a smile, and the little widow sailed away with the sense of riding on the crest of a wave.  The ladies were packed into the carriage, the polite man out of livery whistled up a hansom for the two gentlemen, and the luncheon party was over.

It was a weary day to Mrs. Liddell—­the dowager Mrs. Liddell, as society would have called her, only she had no dower.  All she had inherited from her husband was the remnant of his debts, which she had been struggling for some years to pay off, and the care and maintenance of her boy and girl, on her own slender funds.

At present the horizon looked very dark, and she almost regretted for Katherine’s sake that she had agreed to make a home for her son’s widow and children.  Yet what would have become of them without it?

Partly to rouse herself from her fruitless reflections, partly to relieve the house-maid, who had been doing some extra scrubbing, Mrs. Liddell took her little grandsons to Kensington Gardens, and when they had selected a place to play in she sat down with a book which she had brought in the vain hope of getting out of herself.  But her sight was soon diverted from the page before her by the visions which came thronging from the thickly peopled past.