CHAPTER III.

THE LAWYER'S VISIT.


While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange
places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed,
a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel
Ormonde.

It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and
leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her. If she,
Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she
always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have
been able to help.

If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she
would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea,
which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.

The Colonel had given so very highly colored a description of the young
lady who was with the little boy so nearly run over on the previous
morning that the pretty widow's jealousy was aroused.

In spite of her flightiness and love of pleasure she had a very keen
sense of her own interest, and perceiving Colonel Ormonde's decided
appreciation, she had made up her mind to marry him.