“Of course he ought.  I wish he would have us alternately; it would be a great relief,” said Katherine, laughing.

“I fancy he is im-mensely rich,” continued Ada.  “Why, Mr. Errington evidently knew his name.”

“Who is Mr. Errington?” asked Mrs. Liddell, with languid curiosity.

“Did you never hear of the Calcutta Erringtons?” cried Ada, with infinite superiority.  “There are as rich as Jews, and one of the greatest houses in India.  Old Mr. Errington bought a fine place in the country lately, and this young man—­I’m sure I don’t know if he is young; he is as grave as a judge and as stiff as a poker—­at all events he is an only son.  I met him at the Burnett’s yesterday.  Well, he seemed to know Mr. Liddell’s name quite well.  Colonel Ormonde pricked up his ears too when I said you had gone to see him.  It is a great advantage to have a rich old bachelor uncle, Katherine, but you must not keep him all to yourself.”

The next few days were agitated and much occupied.  Katherine went for part of each to read and write and market for the old recluse, and he grew less formidable, but not more likable, as he became more familiar.  He was an extraordinary example of a human being converted into a money-making and accumulating machine.  He was not especially irritable; indeed his physical powers were weak and dying of every species of starvation; but his coldness was supernatural.  Fortunately for Katherine, his former housekeeper was greedy and extravagant, so that his niece’s management seemed wise and economical, and she had an excellent backer-up in Mr. Newton.

The old miser was with difficulty persuaded to see his sister-in-law; but Mrs. Liddell insisted on an interview, and Mr. Newton himself supported her through the trying ordeal.

The mother’s heart sank within her at she sight of the gloomy, desolate abode in which her bright daughter was to be immured; but she comforted herself by reflecting that it need not be for long.

Mr. Liddell did not rise from the easy-chair in which he sat crouched together, his thin gray locks escaping as usual from under the skull-cap, his long lean brown hands grasping the arms of his chair, when Mrs. Liddell came in; neither did he hold out his hand.  He looked at her fixedly with his glittering dark eyes.

“You wanted to see me?” he said.  “Why?”

“Because I thought it right to see and speak with you before committing my only child to your keeping.”

“But you have done it!—­She has agreed to the conditions, has’nt she?” turning to Newton.  “If you go back, I must have my money back.”

“Of course, my dear sir—­of course,” soothingly.

“I am glad that Katherine can be of use to you.  I do not wish to retract anything I have agreed to, but I wish to remind you that my child is young; that you must let her go in and out, and have opportunities for air and exercise.”