“Well, dear, I think it would be the best plan,” said Mrs. Frederic, amiably.  “I have not the least scruple in taking the money, because you know it ought really to be ours.”

“Exactly,” returned Katherine, with a slight smile, and she named so liberal a sum that even Mrs. Fred was satisfied.

“Well, I am sure that is very nice, dear,” she said; “and when you are of age will you settle it on my precious boys?”

“I will,” replied Katherine, deliberately; “and I hope always to see a great deal of them.”

“Of course you will, but you will not long be Katherine Liddell.  When Mr. Wright comes, my boys will get leave to stay with their mother as much as they like.”

“I do not think I shall easily forget them, even if Mr. Wright appears,” said Katherine, good-humoredly.

“What a strange girl Katie is!” pursued her sister-in-law.  “Was she never in love, Mrs. Liddell?  Had she never any admirers?”

“Not that I know of, Ada.”

“Oh!  I have been in love many times!” cried Katherine, laughing.  “Don’t you remember, mother, the Russian prince I used to dance with at Madame du Lac’s juvenile parties?—­I made quite a romance about him; and that young Austrian—­I forget his name—­whom we met at Stuttgart, Baron Holdenberg’s nephew; he was charming, to say nothing of Lohengrin and Tannhauser.  I have quite a long list of loves, Ada.  Oh, I should like to dance again!  To float round to the music of a delightful Austrian band would be charming.”

“My dear Katherine, that is all nonsense, as you will find out one day.”  Then, after some moments of evidently severe reflection, her brows knit, and her soft baby-like lips pressed together she said:  “I think I should like to move nearer town, and get a nice nursery governess for Cis and Charlie, and—­Don’t you think it would be a good plan?”

“The governess, yes, as they will lose their present one when Katherine goes.  But why not stay on here till next autumn, when the lease or agreement expires?  You will have it all to yourself in about ten days, and it will be quite large enough,” said Mrs. Liddell.

“Stay on here!” began her daughter-in-law, in a high key, and with a look of great disgust.  She stopped herself suddenly, however, smoothed her brow, and added, “Well, I will think about it,” after which, with unusual self-control, she changed the subject, and talked gravely about governesses, their salaries and qualifications, till it was time to go to bed.

A few days after this conversation the house was invaded by a host of applicants for the post of instructress to the two little boys.  Every shade of complexion, all possible accomplishments, the most varied and splendid testimonials, were presented to the bewildered little widow, in consequence of her application to a governesses’ institution.  She was fain to ask Katherine to help her in choosing, much to the latter’s satisfaction, as she did not like to offer assistance, though she wished to influence the choice of a preceptress.  Together they fixed on a quiet, kindly looking young woman, to whom both took rather a fancy, and Katherine felt very much relieved to know that this important point was settled.