CHAPTER XXIV.
CATHERINE'S SUPREME DECISION.
The meal was almost at an end--silently, like all their hours spent together, now--before the old man sprang his _coup_.

It was characteristic of him to wait thus, to hold his fire till what he conceived to be the opportune moment; never to act prematurely, under any circumstances whatever.
"By the way, Kate," he remarked, casually, when coffee had been served and he had motioned the butlers out of the room, "by the way, I've been rather badly disappointed, today.

Did you know that ?" "No, father," she answered.

She never called him "daddy," now.

"No, I'm sorry to hear it.