A Crooked Path Author:Alexander Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: % CHAPTER II. BREAKING NEW GROUND. T/'ATHERINE took care that her sister-in-law J should not have an opportunity of private conversation with Mrs. Liddell,... more » that evening at least. She rolled up and arranged the disordered manuscripts, putting the small study in order, and locking away the rejected tales. Then she proposed conducting the young widow to the florist's, as the evening grew cooler, and made herself agreeable by listening attentively to the little woman's description of the luncheon party, and her repetition of all the pretty things said to her by the various gentlemen present, especially by Colonel Ormonde. "Of course I do not mind their nonsense, but however my heart may cling to dear Fred's memory, I must think of my precious boys," was her conclusion. To which Katherine answered, "Of course," as she would have answered any proposition, however wild, provided only she could save her mother from worry, at least for that evening. Next day was showery and dull. True terrier resolution, Katherine put her mother's lucubrations into their covers, and prepared to start on her projected round. " I am not sure I ought to let you go, Katie dear," said Mrs. Liddell, as her daughter came into the study in her out-door dress. " It is rather a wild-goose chase. Why should you succeed for me when I have failed for myself? Besides, personal interviews are of no avail. No editor will take work that does not suit him, however interesting the applicant." " Nevertheless I will go. I shall bring a new element into the business, and I may be lucky ! Why have you plunged into these horrid accounts? " pointing to a pile of small books, and a sheaf of backs oŁ letters scribbled over with calculations. " This is not the way to cheer yourself." "My love, it is a change o...« less