must be a fool to talk about a railway inspector being independent. Fancy being seen by some of my old friends in the livery of a railway inspector! Shall I fly from my troubles there would be some consolation in that, Yes, I'll be free; but if I must live in chains, I'll take care that everybody shall know I did all in my power to break through them."

Five minutes later Dorsek was on his way to the mansion of the Countess Orlaska.

CHAPTER VII.

A QUARREL.

DORA was sitting in her little room busily engaged in working. Her eyes were red with tears and watching, but she knew that her work must be finished, and besides, when thus occupied, she found some relief from her sad thoughts.

She was plainly dressed in a black gown. Her aspect altogether was in keeping with her sombre attire; her countenance had lost its freshness; she was pale and weary, her eyes were deeply sunk in their sockets, and her once animated spirit was now subdued and broken; she had not only to bear up against the grief occasioned by her mother's death, but there was another affliction in store for her which seemed to be approaching nearer every day.

That heart, which she had so trustfully regarded as hers for life, had, she fancied, gradually grown colder and colder towards her, and although she had no direct proof of a change in its sentiments on her account, yet a sad presentiment took possession of her mind and caused her the deepest anguish.

Poor girl! there was nobody to whom she could lay open the secret forebodings of her heart and profit by the counsel she might receive. Old Mr. Scharner was, besides Oswald, her only friend, and much as she respected him, she would not have confessed anything about Dorsek to him for the world.

Three days had now passed since she had seen Oswald. Oh, how long and miserable had that interval appeared to her. But, perhaps he was ill, and as full of anxiety about her as she about him; this idea calmed her for a short time. But then she reflected he would surely have sent a servant with a note or a message, if only just to say that she still occupied his thoughts.

But Katherine held a very different opinion about him from that of her mistress. She had, in truth, never felt well-inclined to him, and now she suspected him more than ever. So, one morning she found her way to his house, and, as she had expected, found him out, while his valet was making himself as comfortable as he could.

Louis, this pattern of serving-men, was sitting in his master's chair, smoking one of his best cigars. A change had come over Dorsek, everything about him was much better now than it had been before, and Louis now regretted he was going to leave him. His last master never left cigars about, and always took care to count his money, for which substantial reason, Louis had not remained long in his service.

How did he know that his next place would be equally comfortable, and as easy as this. He thus thought, on. further reflection, he should like to stay another quarter of a year with his present master.

This comforting conclusion, aided by two glasses of curaçoa, sent him at last to sleep. So he did not hear Katherine's knock at the door; and as no one answered it, she quietly walked in, and she was not a little astonished at beholding this fastidious valet indulging in such luxurious repose. She soon roused the sleeper, however, by tapping him smartly on the shoulder, and by shouting in his ear, "Louis !"

The affrighted valet jumped up with an exclamation, and stared half stupefied at the woman before him, for he had no recollection who she was.

"Well, this is a pretty state of things. I wonder how long it will last,” muttered old Katherine, looking at him contemptuously; for she had quite forgotten the object. she had in view, which was to pump him about his master.

"Well, I declare!" suddenly exclaimed Louis, recognizing Katherine. "Pray, what do you want here? Are these the manners adopted at your house, to break into a man's room without knocking at the door?"

"But I did."

"Such a person as yourself, Katherine, has no right to come in my master's room; a respectable woman would have

Katherine could stand it no longer, so she stopped him sharply, saying,—

"Why, you saucy jackanapes; how dare you talk to a respectable woman in that way."

If Katherine had been at all intimidated by his silly rebuke, he would still have ridden the high horse. But that she should dare to retort upon him upset him altogether, and as he well knew that it was useless to contend with a woman in a war of words, he gave a more pacific turn to the conversation, by saying in a subdued manner, "Do tell me what you want, Katherine !"

"Oh yes, I'll tell you what I want, pretty soon," observed Katherine, who had not forgotten the uncouth rebuff she had just received. "I'll tell you what I want; I want a conceited stuck-up jackanapes like you to keep a civil tongue in his head; and the best thing you could have would be a sound thrashing, you impudent, idle, good-for-nothing scamp."

Louis now began to be alarmed, that as she was getting so excited she might come to blows soon, so he stopped her by saying, "My good Miss Katherine, let's have no more words. Besides, as we have nothing to do with each other, we can easily avoid each other for the future."

Poor Katherine at that instant only remembered why she had come there, and now that Louis was exasperated, she perceived that her visit would prove fruitless. Louis, who observed her bewilderment, thought it was the effect of his rebuke, so in a tone of triumph (for which, if he had heard it, his master would have kicked him down-stairs), he said to her,

“Now we have a far superior connection. We are not likely to pay any more visits in a certain quarter; and so, Miss Katherine, you will not be required to open the door for us any more."

“And your master," said Katherine inquiringly, in almost a whisper, “is—is he ill?”

"Ill!" returned Louis, laughing; "lovesick, perhaps. But for further particulars please to refer to the Countess Orlaska, the beautiful Pole, as she is called. Can I do anything else for you?"

"No; I want nothing from two such wicked, worthless

fellows as you and your master, and the sooner the devil

takes you both the better."

"Miss Katherine !" exclaimed Louis, in a threatening tone; however, she took no notice of him, but slammed the door violently as she went.

Katherine hastened home, much grieved, when she thought how the unsatisfactory news she had just heard would afflict her mistress,—news that she scarcely doubted was but too true. She met Mr. Scharner at the door, and