A DAUGHTER OF THE LAND

by

Gene Stratton-Porter

CONTENTS

Chapter

 I. The Wings of Morning II. An Embryo Mind Reader III. Peregrinations IV. A Question of Contracts V. The Prodigal Daughter VI. Kate's Private Pupil VII. Helping Nancy Ellen and Robert to Establish a Home VIII. The History of a Leghorn Hat IX. A Sunbonnet Girl X. John Jardine's Courtship XI. A Business Proposition XII. Two Letters XIII. The Bride XIV. Starting Married Life XV. A New Idea XVI. The Work of the Sun XVII. The Banner Hand XVIII. Kate Takes the Bit in Her Teeth XIX. "As a Man Soweth" XX. "For a Good Girl" XXI. Life's Boomerang XXII. Somewhat of Polly XXIII. Kate's Heavenly Time XXIV. Polly Tries Her Wings XXV. One More for Kate XXVI. The Winged Victory XXVII. Blue Ribbon Corn XXVIII. The Eleventh Hour

To Gene Stratton II

A DAUGHTER OF THE LAND

CHAPTER I

THE WINGS OF MORNING

"TAKE the wings of Morning. "

Kate Bates followed the narrow footpath rounding the corner of thesmall country church, as the old minister raised his voice slowly andimpressively to repeat the command he had selected for his text. Fearing that her head would be level with the windows, she bent andwalked swiftly past the church; but the words went with her, iteratingand reiterating themselves in her brain. Once she paused to glanceback toward the church, wondering what the minister would say inexpounding that text. She had a fleeting thought of slipping in, taking the back seat and listening to the sermon. The remembrance thatshe had not dressed for church deterred her; then her face twistedgrimly as she again turned to the path, for it occurred to her that shehad nothing else to wear if she had started to attend church instead ofgoing to see her brother. 

As usual, she had left her bed at four o'clock; for seven hours she hadcooked, washed dishes, made beds, swept, dusted, milked, churned, following the usual routine of a big family in the country. Then shehad gone upstairs, dressed in clean gingham and confronted her mother. 

"I think I have done my share for to-day, " she said. "Suppose you callon our lady school-mistress for help with dinner. I'm going to Adam's. "

Mrs. Bates lifted her gaunt form to very close six feet of height, looking narrowly at her daughter. 

"Well, what the nation are you going to Adam's at this time a-Sundayfor?" she demanded. 

"Oh, I have a curiosity to learn if there is one of the eighteenmembers of this family who gives a cent what becomes of me!" answeredKate, her eyes meeting and looking clearly into her mother's. 

"You are not letting yourself think he would 'give a cent' to send youto that fool normal-thing, are you?"

"I am not! But it wasn't a 'fool thing' when Mary and Nancy Ellen, andthe older girls wanted to go. You even let Mary go to college twoyears. "

"Mary had exceptional ability, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"I wonder how she convinced you of it. None of the rest of us candiscover it, " said Kate. 

"What you need is a good strapping, Miss. "

"I know it; but considering the facts that I am larger than you, andwas eighteen in September, I shouldn't advise you to attempt it. Whatis the difference whether I was born in '62 or '42? Give me the chanceyou gave Mary, and I'll prove to you that I can do anything she hasdone, without having 'exceptional ability!'"

"The difference is that I am past sixty now. I was stout as an ox whenMary wanted to go to school. It is your duty and your job to stay hereand do this work. "

"To pay for having been born last? Not a bit more than if I had beenborn first. Any girl in the family owes you as much for life as I do;it is up to the others to pay back in service, after they are of age, if it is to me. I have done my share. If Father were not the richestfarmer in the county, and one of the richest men, it would bedifferent. He can afford to hire help for you, quite as well as he canfor himself. "

"Hire help! Who would I get to do the work here?"

"You'd have to double your assistants. You could not hire two womenwho would come here and do so much work as I do in a day. That is why Idecline to give up teaching, and stay here to slave at your option, forgingham dresses and cowhide shoes, of your selection. If I were a boy, I'd work three years more and then I would be given two hundred acresof land, have a house and barn built for me, and a start of stock givenme, as every boy in this family has had at twenty-one. "

"A man is a man! He founds a family, he runs the Government! It is adifferent matter, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"It surely is; in this family. But I think, even with us, a man wouldhave rather a difficult proposition on his hands to found a familywithout a woman; or to run the Government either. "

"All right! Go on to Adam and see what you get. "

"I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that Nancy Ellen gets dinner, anyway, " said Kate as she passed through the door and followed the longpath to the gate, from there walking beside the road in the directionof her brother's home. There were many horses in the pasture andsingle and double buggies in the barn; but it never occurred to Katethat she might ride: it was Sunday and the horses were resting. Soshe followed the path beside the fences, rounded the corner of thechurch and went on her way with the text from which the pastor waspreaching, hammering in her brain. She became so absorbed in thoughtthat she scarcely saw the footpath she followed, while June flowered, and perfumed, and sang all around her. 

She was so intent upon the words she had heard that her feetunconsciously followed a well-defined branch from the main path leadinginto the woods, from the bridge, where she sat on a log, and for theunnumbered time, reviewed her problem. She had worked ever since shecould remember. Never in her life had she gotten to school before noonon Monday, because of the large washings. After the other work wasfinished she had spent nights and mornings ironing, when she longed tostudy, seldom finishing before Saturday. Summer brought an endlessround of harvesting, canning, drying; winter brought butchering, heapsof sewing, and postponed summer work. School began late in the falland closed early in spring, with teachers often inefficient; yetbecause she was a close student and kept her books where she could takea peep and memorize and think as she washed dishes and cooked, she hadthoroughly mastered all the country school near her home could teachher. With six weeks of a summer Normal course she would be as wellprepared to teach as any of her sisters were, with the exception ofMary, who had been able to convince her parents that she possessed twocollege years' worth of "ability. "

Kate laid no claim to "ability, " herself; but she knew she was asstrong as most men, had an ordinary brain that could be trained, andwhile she was far from beautiful she was equally as far from beingugly, for her skin was smooth and pink, her eyes large and blue-gray, her teeth even and white. She missed beauty because her cheekboneswere high, her mouth large, her nose barely escaping a pug; but she hada real "crown of glory" in her hair, which was silken fine, long andheavy, of sunshine-gold in colour, curling naturally around her faceand neck. Given pure blood to paint such a skin with varying emotions, enough wind to ravel out a few locks of such hair, the proportions of aVenus and perfect health, any girl could rest very well assured ofbeing looked at twice, if not oftener. 

Kate sat on a log, a most unusual occurrence for her, for she wasfamiliar only with bare, hot houses, furnished with meagre necessities;reeking stables, barnyards and vegetable gardens. She knew less of thewoods than the average city girl; but there was a soothing wind, asweet perfume, a calming silence that quieted her tense mood andenabled her to think clearly; so the review went on over years of workand petty economies, amounting to one grand aggregate that gave to eachof seven sons house, stock, and land at twenty-one; and to each of ninedaughters a bolt of muslin and a fairly decent dress when she married, as the seven older ones did speedily, for they were fine, large, upstanding girls, some having real beauty, all exceptionallywell-trained economists and workers. Because her mother had theyounger daughters to help in the absence of the elder, each girl hadbeen allowed the time and money to prepare herself to teach a countryschool; all of them had taught until they married. Nancy Ellen, thebeauty of the family, the girl next older than Kate, had taken the homeschool for the second winter. Going to school to Nancy Ellen had beenthe greatest trial of Kate's life, until the possibility of not goingto Normal had confronted her. 

Nancy Ellen was almost as large as Kate, quite as pink, her featuresassembled in a manner that made all the difference, her jet-black hairas curly as Kate's, her eyes big and dark, her lips red. As forlooking at Kate twice, no one ever looked at her at all if Nancy Ellenhappened to be walking beside her. Kate bore that without protest; itwould have wounded her pride to rebel openly; she did Nancy Ellen'sshare of the work to allow her to study and have her Normal course; sheremained at home plainly clothed to loan Nancy Ellen her best dresswhen she attended Normal; but when she found that she was doomed tofinish her last year at school under Nancy Ellen, to work double sothat her sister might go to school early and remain late, coming hometired and with lessons to prepare for the morrow, some of thespontaneity left Kate's efforts. 

She had a worse grievance when Nancy Ellen hung several new dresses anda wrapper on her side of the closet after her first pay-day, andfurnished her end of the bureau with a white hair brush and a brass boxfilled with pink powder, with a swan's-down puff for its application. For three months Kate had waited and hoped that at least "thank you"would be vouchsafed her; when it failed for that length of time she didtwo things: she studied so diligently that her father called her intothe barn and told her that if before the school, she asked Nancy Ellenanother question she could not answer, he would use the buggy whip onher to within an inch of her life. The buggy whip always had been afamiliar implement to Kate, so she stopped asking slippery questions, worked harder than ever, and spent her spare time planning what shewould hang in the closet and put on her end of the bureau when she hadfinished her Normal course, and was teaching her first term of school. 

Now she had learned all that Nancy Ellen could teach her, and much thatNancy Ellen never knew: it was time for Kate to be starting away toschool. Because it was so self-evident that she should have what theothers had had, she said nothing about it until the time came; then shefound her father determined that she should remain at home to do thehousework, for no compensation other than her board and such clothes asshe always had worn, her mother wholly in accord with him, and marvelof all, Nancy Ellen quite enthusiastic on the subject. 

Her father always had driven himself and his family like slaves, whileher mother had ably seconded his efforts. Money from the sale ofchickens, turkeys, butter, eggs, and garden truck that other women ofthe neighbourhood used for extra clothing for themselves and theirdaughters and to prettify their homes, Mrs. Bates handed to her husbandto increase the amount necessary to purchase the two hundred acres ofland for each son when he came of age. The youngest son had farmed hisland with comfortable profit and started a bank account, while hisparents and two sisters were still saving and working to finish thelast payment. Kate thought with bitterness that if this final paymenthad been made possibly there would have been money to spare for her;but with that thought came the knowledge that her father had numerousinvestments on which he could have realized and made the payments hadhe not preferred that they should be a burden on his family. 

"Take the wings of morning, " repeated Kate, with all the emphasis theold minister had used. "Hummm! I wonder what kind of wings. Those ofa peewee would scarcely do for me; I'd need the wings of an eagle toget me anywhere, and anyway it wasn't the wings of a bird I was totake, it was the wings of morning. I wonder what the wings of morningare, and how I go about taking them. God knows where my wings come in;by the ache in my feet I seem to have walked, mostly. Oh, what ARE thewings of morning?"

Kate stared straight before her, sitting absorbed and motionless. Closein front of her a little white moth fluttered over the twigs andgrasses. A kingbird sailed into view and perched on a brush-heappreparatory to darting after the moth. While the bird measured thedistance and waited for the moth to rise above the entangling grasses, with a sweep and a snap a smaller bird, very similar in shape andcolouring, flashed down, catching the moth and flying high among thebranches of a big tree. 

"Aha! You missed your opportunity!" said Kate to the kingbird. 

She sat straighter suddenly. "Opportunity, " she repeated. "Here iswhere I am threatened with missing mine. Opportunity! I wonder now ifthat might not be another name for 'the wings of morning. ' Morning iswinging its way past me, the question is: do I sit still and let itpass, or do I take its wings and fly away?"

Kate brooded on that awhile, then her thought formulated into wordsagain. 

"It isn't as if Mother were sick or poor, she is perfectly well andstronger than nine women out of ten of her age; Father can afford tohire all the help she needs; there is nothing cruel or unkind inleaving her; and as for Nancy Ellen, why does the fact that I am a fewyears younger than she, make me her servant? Why do I cook for her, and make her bed, and wash her clothes, while she earns money to spendon herself? And she is doing everything in her power to keep me at it, because she likes what she is doing and what it brings her, and shedoesn't give a tinker whether I like what I am doing or not; or whetherI get anything I want out of it or not; or whether I miss getting offto Normal on time or not. She is blame selfish, that's what she is, soshe won't like the jolt she's going to get; but it will benefit hersoul, her soul that her pretty face keeps her from developing, so Ishall give her a little valuable assistance. Mother will be furiousand Father will have the buggy whip convenient; but I am going! Idon't know how, or when, but I am GOING. 

 "Who has a thirst for knowledge, in Helicon may slake it, If he has still, the Roman will, to find a way, or make it. "

Kate arose tall and straight and addressed the surrounding woods. "Nowyou just watch me 'find a way or make it, '" she said. "I am 'takingthe wings of morning, ' observe my flight! See me cut curves andcircles and sail and soar around all the other Bates girls the Lordever made, one named Nancy Ellen in particular. It must be far pastnoon, and I've much to do to get ready. I fly!"

Kate walked back to the highway, but instead of going on she turnedtoward home. When she reached the gate she saw Nancy Ellen, dressedher prettiest, sitting beneath a cherry tree reading a book, in veryplain view from the road. As Kate came up the path: "Hello!" saidNancy Ellen. "Wasn't Adam at home?"

"I don't know, " answered Kate. "I was not there. "

"You weren't? Why, where were you?" asked Nancy Ellen. 

"Oh, I just took a walk!" answered Kate. 

"Right at dinner time on Sunday? Well, I'll be switched!" cried NancyEllen. 

"Pity you weren't oftener, when you most needed it, " said Kate, passingup the walk and entering the door. Her mother asked the same questionsso Kate answered them. 

"Well, I am glad you came home, " said Mrs. Bates. "There was no usetagging to Adam with a sorry story, when your father said flatly thatyou couldn't go. "

"But I must go!" urged Kate. "I have as good a right to my chance asthe others. If you put your foot down and say so, Mother, Father willlet me go. Why shouldn't I have the same chance as Nancy Ellen?Please Mother, let me go!"

"You stay right where you are. There is an awful summer's work beforeus, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"There always is, " answered Kate. "But now is just my chance while youhave Nancy Ellen here to help you. "

"She has some special studying to do, and you very well know that shehas to attend the County Institute, and take the summer course oftraining for teachers. "

"So do I, " said Kate, stubbornly. "You really will not help me, Mother?"

"I've said my say! Your place is here! Here you stay!" answered hermother. 

"All right, " said Kate, "I'll cross you off the docket of my hopes, andtry Father. "

"Well, I warn you, you had better not! He has been nagged until hispatience is lost, " said Mrs. Bates. 

Kate closed her lips and started in search of her father. She foundhim leaning on the pig pen watching pigs grow into money, one of hismost favoured occupations. He scowled at her, drawing his huge frameto full height. 

"I don't want to hear a word you have to say, " he said. "You are theyoungest, and your place is in the kitchen helping your mother. Wehave got the last installment to pay on Hiram's land this summer. March back to the house and busy yourself with something useful!"

Kate looked at him, from his big-boned, weather-beaten face, to hisheavy shoes, then turned without a word and went back toward the house. She went around it to the cherry tree and with no preliminaries said toher sister: "Nancy Ellen, I want you to lend me enough money to fix myclothes a little and pay my way to Normal this summer. I can pay itall back this winter. I'll pay every cent with interest, before Ispend any on anything else. "

"Why, you must be crazy!" said Nancy Ellen. 

"Would I be any crazier than you, when you wanted to go?" asked Kate. 

"But you were here to help Mother, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"And you are here to help her now, " persisted Kate. 

"But I've got to fix up my clothes for the County Institute, " saidNancy Ellen, "I'll be gone most of the summer. "

"I have just as much right to go as you had, " said Kate. 

"Father and Mother both say you shall not go, " answered her sister. 

"I suppose there is no use to remind you that I did all in my power tohelp you to your chance. "

"You did no more than you should have done, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"And this is no more than you should do for me, in the circumstances, "said Kate. 

"You very well know I can't! Father and Mother would turn me out ofthe house, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"I'd be only too glad if they would turn me out, " said Kate. "You canlet me have the money if you like. Mother wouldn't do anything buttalk; and Father would not strike you, or make you go, he alwaysfavours you. "

"He does nothing of the sort! I can't, and I won't, so there!" criedNancy Ellen. 

"'Won't, ' is the real answer, 'so there, '" said Kate. 

She went into the cellar and ate some cold food from the cupboard anddrank a cup of milk. Then she went to her room and looked over all ofher scanty stock of clothing, laying in a heap the pieces that neededmending. She took the clothes basket to the wash room, which was thefront of the woodhouse, in summer; built a fire, heated water, andwhile making it appear that she was putting the clothes to soak, asusual, she washed everything she had that was fit to use, hanging thepieces to dry in the building. 

"Watch me fly!" muttered Kate. "I don't seem to be cutting thosecurves so very fast; but I'm moving. I believe now, having exhaustedall home resources, that Adam is my next objective. He is the only onein the family who ever paid the slightest attention to me, maybe hecares a trifle what becomes of me, but Oh, how I dread Agatha!However, watch me take wing! If Adam fails me I have six remainingprospects among my loving brothers, and if none of them has any feelingfor me or faith in me there yet remain my seven dear brothers-in-law, before I appeal to the tender mercies of the neighbours; but how Idread Agatha! Yet I fly!"

CHAPTER II

AN EMBRYO MIND READER

KATE was far from physical flight as she pounded the indignation of hersoul into the path with her substantial feet. Baffled and angry, shekept reviewing the situation as she went swiftly on her way, regardlessof dust and heat. She could see no justice in being forced into aposition that promised to end in further humiliation and defeat of herhopes. If she only could find Adam at the stable, as she passed, andtalk with him alone! Secretly, she well knew that the chief source ofher dread of meeting her sister-in-law was that to her Agatha was sofunny that ridiculing her had been regarded as perfectly legitimatepastime. For Agatha WAS funny; but she had no idea of it, and could nomore avoid it than a bee could avoid being buzzy, so the manner inwhich her sisters-in-law imitated her and laughed at her, none toosecretly, was far from kind. While she never guessed what was goingon, she realized the antagonism in their attitude and stoutly resentedit. 

Adam was his father's favourite son, a stalwart, fine-appearing, bigman, silent, honest, and forceful; the son most after the desires ofthe father's heart, yet Adam was the one son of the seven who hadignored his father's law that all of his boys were to marry strong, healthy young women, poor women, working women. Each of the others atcoming of age had contracted this prescribed marriage as speedily aspossible, first asking father Bates, the girl afterward. If fatherBates disapproved, the girl was never asked at all. And the reason forthis docility on the part of these big, matured men, lay wholly in themethods of father Bates. He gave those two hundred acres of land toeach of them on coming of age, and the same sum to each for thebuilding of a house and barn and the purchase of stock; gave it to themin words, and with the fullest assurance that it was theirs to improve, to live on, to add to. Each of them had seen and handled his deed, each had to admit he never had known his father to tell a lie ordeviate the least from fairness in a deal of any kind, each had beencompelled to go in the way indicated by his father for years; but not aman of them held his own deed. These precious bits of paper remainedlocked in the big wooden chest beside the father's bed, while the landstood on the records in his name; the taxes they paid him each year he, himself, carried to the county clerk; so that he was the largestlandholder in the county and one of the very richest men. It must havebeen extreme unction to his soul to enter the county office and ask forthe assessment on those "little parcels of land of mine. " Men treatedhim very deferentially, and so did his sons. Those documents carefullylocked away had the effect of obtaining ever-ready help to harvest hishay and wheat whenever he desired, to make his least wish quicklydeferred to, to give him authority and the power for which he lived andworked earlier, later, and harder than any other man of his day andlocality. 

Adam was like him as possible up to the time he married, yet Adam wasthe only one of his sons who disobeyed him; but there was a redeemingfeature. Adam married a slender tall slip of a woman, four years hissenior, who had been teaching in the Hartley schools when he begancourting her. She was a prim, fussy woman, born of a prim father and afussy mother, so what was to be expected? Her face was narrow and set, her body and her movements almost rigid, her hair, always parted, lifted from each side and tied on the crown, fell in stiff littlecurls, the back part hanging free. Her speech, as precise as hermovements, was formed into set habit through long study of thedictionary. She was born antagonistic to whatever existed, no matterwhat it was. So surely as every other woman agreed on a dress, arecipe, a house, anything whatever, so surely Agatha thought out andfollowed a different method, the disconcerting thing about her beingthat she usually finished any undertaking with less exertion, ahead oftime, and having saved considerable money. 

She could have written a fine book of synonyms, for as certainly as anyone said anything in her presence that she had occasion to repeat, shechanged the wording to six-syllabled mouthfuls, delivered withponderous circumlocution. She subscribed to papers and magazines, which she read and remembered. And she danced! When other womenthought even a waltz immoral and shocking; perfectly stiff, her curlsexactly in place, Agatha could be seen, and frequently was seen, waltzing on the front porch in the arms of, and to a tune whistled byyoung Adam, whose full name was Adam Alcibiades Bates. In his youngerdays, when discipline had been required, Kate once had heard her say tothe little fellow: "Adam Alcibiades ascend these steps and proceedimmediately to your maternal ancestor. "

Kate thought of this with a dry smile as she plodded on toward Agatha'shome hoping she could see her brother at the barn, but she knew thatmost probably she would "ascend the steps and proceed to the maternalancestor, " of Adam Bates 3d. Then she would be forced to explain hervisit and combat both Adam and his wife; for Agatha was not a nonentitylike her collection of healthful, hard-working sisters-in-law. Agathaworked if she chose, and she did not work if she did not choose. Mostly she worked and worked harder than any one ever thought. She hada habit of keeping her house always immaculate, finishing her cleaningvery early and then reading in a conspicuous spot on the veranda whenother women were busy with their most tiresome tasks. Such was Agatha, whom Kate dreaded meeting, with every reason, for Agatha, despitecurls, bony structure, language, and dance, was the most powerfulfactor in the whole Bates family with her father-in-law; and allbecause when he purchased the original two hundred acres for Adam, andmade the first allowance for buildings and stock, Agatha slipped themoney from Adam's fingers in some inexplainable way, and spent it allfor stock; because forsooth! Agatha was an only child, and her primfather endowed her, she said so herself, with three hundred acres ofland, better in location and more fertile than that given to Adam, landhaving on it a roomy and comfortable brick house, completely furnished, a large barn and also stock; so that her place could be used to live onand farm, while Adam's could be given over to grazing herds of cattlewhich he bought cheaply, fattened and sold at the top of the market. 

If each had brought such a farm into the family with her, father Batescould have endured six more prim, angular, becurled daughters-in-law, very well indeed, for land was his one and only God. His respect forAgatha was markedly very high, for in addition to her farm he secretlyadmired her independence of thought and action, and was amazed by thefact that she was about her work when several of the blooming girls hehad selected for wives for his sons were confined to the sofa with apain, while not one of them schemed, planned, connived with her husbandand piled up the money as Agatha did, therefore she stood at the headof the women of the Bates family; while she was considered to haveworked miracles in the heart of Adam Bates, for with his exception noman of the family ever had been seen to touch a woman, either publiclyor privately, to offer the slightest form of endearment, assistance orcourtesy. "Women are to work and to bear children, " said the elderBates. "Put them at the first job when they are born, and at thesecond at eighteen, and keep them hard at it. "

At their rate of progression several of the Bates sons and daughterswould produce families that, with a couple of pairs of twins, wouldequal the sixteen of the elder Bates; but not so Agatha. She had oneson of fifteen and one daughter of ten, and she said that was all sheintended to have, certainly it was all she did have; but she furtheraggravated matters by announcing that she had had them because shewanted them; at such times as she intended to; and that she had the boyfirst and five years the older, so that he could look after his sisterwhen they went into company. Also she walked up and sat upon Adam'slap whenever she chose, ruffled his hair, pulled his ears, and kissedhim squarely on the mouth, with every appearance of having help, whilethe dance on the front porch with her son or daughter was of dailyoccurrence. And anything funnier than Agatha, prim and angular withnever a hair out of place, stiffly hopping "Money Musk" and "Turkey InThe Straw, " or the "Blue Danube" waltz, anything funnier than that, never happened. But the two Adams, Jr. And 3d, watched with reverentand adoring eyes, for she was MOTHER, and no one else on earth restedso high in their respect as the inflexible woman they lived with. Thatshe was different from all the other women of her time and location washard on the other women. Had they been exactly right, they would havebeen exactly like her. 

So Kate, thinking all these things over, her own problem acutely"advanced and proceeded. " She advanced past the closed barn, and stockin the pasture, past the garden flaming June, past the dooryard, up thesteps, down the hall, into the screened back porch dining room and"proceeded" to take a chair, while the family finished the Sunday nightsupper, at which they were seated. Kate was not hungry and she did notwish to trouble her sister-in-law to set another place, so she took theremaining chair, against the wall, behind Agatha, facing Adam, 3d, across the table, and with Adam Jr. , in profile at the head, and littleSusan at the foot. Then she waited her chance. Being tired andaggressive she did not wait long. 

"I might as well tell you why I came, " she said bluntly. "Father won'tgive me money to go to Normal, as he has all the others. He says Ihave got to stay at home and help Mother. "

"Well, Mother is getting so old she needs help, " said Adam, Jr. , as hecontinued his supper. 

"Of course she is, " said Kate. "We all know that. But what is thematter with Nancy Ellen helping her, while I take my turn at Normal?There wasn't a thing I could do last summer to help her off that Ididn't do, even to lending her my best dress and staying at home forsix Sundays because I had nothing else fit to wear where I'd be seen. "

No one said a word. Kate continued: "Then Father secured our homeschool for her and I had to spend the winter going to school to her, when you very well know that I always studied harder, and was ahead ofher, even after she'd been to Normal. And I got up early and workedlate, and cooked, and washed, and waited on her, while she got herlessons and reports ready, and fixed up her nice new clothes, and nowshe won't touch the work, and she is doing all she can to help Fatherkeep me from going. "

"I never knew Father to need much help on anything he made up his mindto, " said Adam. 

Kate sat very tense. She looked steadily at her brother, but he lookedquite as steadily at his plate. The back of her sister-in-law wasfully as expressive as her face. Her head was very erect, hershoulders stiff and still, not a curl moved as she poured Adam's teaand Susan's milk. Only Adam, 3d, looked at Kate with companionableeyes, as if he might feel a slight degree of interest or sympathy, soshe found herself explaining directly to him. 

"Things are blame unfair in our family, anyway!" she said, bitterly. "You have got to be born a boy to have any chance worth while; if youare a girl it is mighty small, and if you are the youngest, by anymischance, you have none at all. I don't want to harp things over; butI wish you would explain to me why having been born a few years afterNancy Ellen makes me her slave, and cuts me out of my chance to teach, and to have some freedom and clothes. They might as well have toldHiram he was not to have any land and stay at home and help Fatherbecause he was the youngest boy; it would have been quite as fair; butnothing like that happens to the boys of this family, it is always thegirls who get left. I have worked for years, knowing every cent Isaved and earned above barely enough to cover me, would go to help payfor Hiram's land and house and stock; but he wouldn't turn a hand tohelp me, neither will any of the rest of you. "

"Then what are you here for?" asked Adam. 

"Because I am going to give you, and every other brother and sister Ihave, the chance to REFUSE to loan me enough to buy a few clothes andpay my way to Normal, so I can pass the examinations, and teach thisfall. And when you have all refused, I am going to the neighbours, until I find someone who will loan me the money I need. A hundreddollars would be plenty. I could pay it back with two months'teaching, with any interest you say. "

Kate paused, short of breath, her eyes blazing, her cheeks red. Adamwent steadily on with his supper. Agatha appeared stiffer and moreuncompromising in the back than before, which Kate had not thoughtpossible. But the same dull red on the girl's cheeks had begun to burnon the face of young Adam. Suddenly he broke into a clear laugh. 

"Oh, Ma, you're too funny!" he cried. "I can read your face like abook. I bet you ten dollars I can tell you just word for word what youare going to say. I dare you let me! You know I can!" Still laughing, his eyes dancing, a picture to see, he stretched his arm across thetable toward her, and his mother adored him, however she strove toconceal the fact from him. 

"Ten dollars!" she scoffed. "When did we become so wealthy? I'll giveyou one dollar if you tell me exactly what I was going to say. "

The boy glanced at his father. "Oh this is too easy!" he cried. "It'slike robbing the baby's bank!" And then to his mother: "You were justopening your lips to say: 'Give it to her! If you don't, I will!'And you are even a little bit more of a brick than usual to do it. It's a darned shame the way all of them impose on Kate. "

There was a complete change in Agatha's back. Adam, Jr. , laid down hisfork and stared at his wife in deep amazement. Adam, 3d, stretched hishand farther toward his mother. "Give me that dollar!" he cajoled. 

"Well, I am not concealing it in the sleeve of my garments, " she said. "If I have one, it is reposing in my purse, in juxtaposition to theother articles that belong there, and if you receive it, it will bebestowed upon you when I deem the occasion suitable. "

Young Adam's fist came down with a smash. "I get the dollar!" hetriumphed. "I TOLD you so! I KNEW she was going to say it! Ain't I adandy mind reader though? But it is bully for you, Father, because ofcourse, if Mother wouldn't let Kate have it, you'd HAVE to; but if youDID it might make trouble with your paternal land-grabber, and endangeryour precious deed that you hope to get in the sweet by-and-by. But ifMother loans the money, Grandfather can't say a word, because it is hervery own, and didn't cost him anything, and he always agrees with heranyway! Hurrah for hurrah, Kate! Nancy Ellen may wash her ownpetticoat in the morning, while I take you to the train. You'll letme, Father? You did let me go to Hartley alone, once. I'll becareful! I won't let a thing happen. I'll come straight home. And oh, my dollar, you and me; I'll put you in the bank and let you grow tothree!"

"You may go, " said his father, promptly. 

"You shall proceed according to your Aunt Katherine's instructions, "said his mother, at the same time. 

"Katie, get your carpet-sack! When do we start?" demanded young Adam. 

"Morning will be all right with me, you blessed youngun, " said Kate, "but I don't own a telescope or anything to put what little I have in, and Nancy Ellen never would spare hers; she will want to go to CountyInstitute before I get back. "

"You may have mine, " said Agatha. "You are perfectly welcome to takeit wherever your peregrinations lead you, and return it when youplease. I shall proceed to my chamber and formulate your checkimmediately. You are also welcome to my best hat and cape, and any ofmy clothing or personal adornments you can use to advantage. "

"Oh, Agatha, I wish you were as big as a house, like me, " said Kate, joyfully. "I couldn't possibly crowd into anything you wear, but itwould almost tickle me to death to have Nancy Ellen know you let metake your things, when she won't even offer me a dud of her old stuff;I never remotely hoped for any of the new. "

"You shall have my cape and hat, anyway. The cape is new and veryfashionable. Come upstairs and try the hat, " said Agatha. 

The cape was new and fashionable as Agatha had said; it would notfasten at the neck, but there would be no necessity that it shouldduring July and August, while it would improve any dress it was wornwith on a cool evening. The hat Kate could not possibly use with herlarge, broad face and mass of hair, but she was almost as pleased withthe offer as if the hat had been most becoming. Then Agatha broughtout her telescope, in which Kate laid the cape while Agatha wrote her acheck for one hundred and twenty dollars, and told her where and how tocash it. The extra twenty was to buy a pair of new walking shoes, somehose, and a hat, before she went to her train. When they wentdownstairs Adam, Jr. , had a horse hitched and Adam, 3d, drove her toher home, where, at the foot of the garden, they took one long surveyof the landscape and hid the telescope behind the privet bush. ThenAdam drove away quietly, Kate entered the dooryard from the garden, andsoon afterward went to the wash room and hastily ironed her clothing. 

Nancy Ellen had gone to visit a neighbour girl, so Kate risked herremaining until after church in the evening. She hurried to their roomand mended all her own clothing she had laid out. Then shedeliberately went over Nancy Ellen's and helped herself to a pair ofpretty nightdresses, such as she had never owned, a white embroideredpetticoat, the second best white dress, and a most becoming sailor hat. These she made into a parcel and carried to the wash room, brought inthe telescope and packed it, hiding it under a workbench and coveringit with shavings. After that she went to her room and wrote a note, and then slept deeply until the morning call. She arose at once andwent to the wash room but instead of washing the family clothing, shetook a bath in the largest tub, and washed her hair to a stateresembling spun gold. During breakfast she kept sharp watch down theroad. When she saw Adam, 3d, coming she stuck her note under the hookon which she had seen her father hang his hat all her life, andcarrying the telescope in the clothes basket covered with a rumpledsheet, she passed across the yard and handed it over the fence to Adam, climbed that same fence, and they started toward Hartley. 

Kate put the sailor hat on her head, and sat very straight, an anxiousline crossing her forehead. She was running away, and if discovered, there was the barest chance that her father might follow, and make amost disagreeable scene, before the train pulled out. He had gone to afar field to plow corn and Kate fervently hoped he would plow untilnoon, which he did. Nancy Ellen washed the dishes, and went into thefront room to study, while Mrs. Bates put on her sunbonnet and beganhoeing the potatoes. Not one of the family noticed that Monday's washwas not on the clothes line as usual. Kate and Adam drove as fast asthey dared, and on reaching town, cashed the check, decided that NancyEllen's hat would serve, thus saving the price of a new one foremergencies that might arise, bought the shoes, and went to the depot, where they had an anxious hour to wait. 

"I expect Grandpa will be pretty mad, " said Adam. 

"I am sure there is not the slightest chance but that he will be, " saidKate. 

"Dare you go back home when school is over?" he asked. 

"Probably not, " she answered. 

"What will you do?" he questioned. 

"When I investigated sister Nancy Ellen's bureau I found a list of theSchool Supervisors of the county, so I am going to put in my spare timewriting them about my qualifications to teach their schools thiswinter. All the other girls did well and taught first-class schools, Ishall also. I am not a bit afraid but that I may take my choice ofseveral. When I finish it will be only a few days until school begins, so I can go hunt my boarding place and stay there. "

"Mother would let you stay at our house, " said Adam. 

"Yes, I think she would, after yesterday; but I don't want to maketrouble that might extend to Father and your father. I had better keepaway. "

"Yes, I guess you had, " said Adam. "If Grandfather rows, he raises aracket. But maybe he won't!"

"Maybe! Wouldn't you like to see what happens when Mother come in fromthe potatoes and Nancy Ellen comes out from the living room, and Fathercomes to dinner, all about the same time?"

Adam laughed appreciatively. 

"Wouldn't I just!" he cried. "Kate, you like my mother, don't you?"

"I certainly do! She has been splendid. I never dreamed of such athing as getting the money from her. "

"I didn't either, " said Adam, "until--I became a mind reader. "

Kate looked straight into his eyes. 

"How about that, Adam?" she asked. 

Adam chuckled. "She didn't intend to say a word. She was going to letthe Bateses fight it out among themselves. Her mouth was shut so tightit didn't look as if she could open it if she wanted to. I thought itwould be better for you to borrow the money from her, so Fatherwouldn't get into a mess, and I knew how fine she was, so I justSUGGESTED it to her. That's all!"

"Adam, you're a dandy!" cried Kate. 

"I am having a whole buggy load of fun, and you ought to go, " said he. "It's all right! Don't you worry! I'll take care of you. "

"Why, thank you, Adam!" said Kate. "That is the first time any oneever offered to take care of me in my life. With me it always has beenpretty much of a 'go-it-alone' proposition. "

"What of Nancy Ellen's did you take?" he asked. "Why didn't you getsome gloves? Your hands are so red and work-worn. Mother's never lookthat way. "

"Your mother never has done the rough field work I do, and I haven'ttaken time to be careful. They do look badly. I wish I had taken apair of the lady's gloves; but I doubt if she would have survived that. I understand that one of the unpardonable sins is putting on glovesbelonging to any one else. "

Then the train came and Kate climbed aboard with Adam's partinginjunction in her ears: "Sit beside an open window on this side!"

So she looked for and found the window and as she seated herself shesaw Adam on the outside and leaned to speak to him again. Just as thetrain started he thrust his hand inside, dropped his dollar on her lap, and in a tense whisper commanded her: "Get yourself some gloves!"Then he ran. 

Kate picked up the dollar, while her eyes dimmed with tears. 

"Why, the fine youngster!" she said. "The Jim-dandy fine youngster!"

Adam could not remember when he ever had been so happy as he wasdriving home. He found his mother singing, his father in a genialmood, so he concluded that the greatest thing in the world to make awhole family happy was to do something kind for someone else. But hereflected that there would be far from a happy family at hisgrandfather's; and he was right. Grandmother Bates came in from herhoeing at eleven o'clock tired and hungry, expecting to find the washdry and dinner almost ready. There was no wash and no odour of food. She went to the wood-shed and stared unbelievingly at the cold stove, the tubs of soaking clothes. 

She turned and went into the kitchen, where she saw no signs of Kate orof dinner, then she lifted up her voice and shouted: "Nancy Ellen!"

Nancy Ellen came in a hurry. "Why, Mother, what is the matter?" shecried. 

"Matter, yourself!" exclaimed Mrs. Bates. "Look in the wash room! Whyaren't the clothes on the line? Where is that good-for-nothing Kate?"

Nancy Ellen went to the wash room and looked. She came back pale andamazed. "Maybe she is sick, " she ventured. "She never has been; butshe might be! Maybe she has lain down. "

"On Monday morning! And the wash not out! You simpleton!" cried Mrs. Bates. 

Nancy Ellen hurried upstairs and came back with bulging eyes. 

"Every scrap of her clothing is gone, and half of mine!"

"She's gone to that fool Normal-thing! Where did she get the money?"cried Mrs. Bates. 

"I don't know!" said Nancy Ellen. "She asked me yesterday, but ofcourse I told her that so long as you and Father decided she was not togo, I couldn't possibly lend her the money. "

"Did you look if she had taken it?"

Nancy Ellen straightened. "Mother! I didn't need do that!"

"You said she took your clothes, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"I had hers this time last year. She'll bring back clothes. "

"Not here, she won't! Father will see that she never darkens thesedoors again. This is the first time in his life that a child of hishas disobeyed him. "

"Except Adam, when he married Agatha; and he strutted like a fightingcock about that. "

"Well, he won't 'strut' about this, and you won't either, even if youare showing signs of standing up for her. Go at that wash, while I getdinner. "

Dinner was on the table when Adam Bates hung his hat on its hook andsaw the note for him. He took it down and read:

FATHER: I have gone to Normal. I borrowed the money of a woman whowas willing to trust me to pay it back as soon as I earned it. NotNancy Ellen, of course. She would not even loan me a pockethandkerchief, though you remember I stayed at home six weeks lastsummer to let her take what she wanted of mine. Mother: I think youcan get Sally Whistler to help you as cheaply as any one and that shewill do very well. Nancy Ellen: I have taken your second best hat anda few of your things, but not half so many as I loaned you. I hope itmakes you mad enough to burst. I hope you get as mad and stay as madas I have been most of this year while you taught me things you didn'tknow yourself; and I cooked and washed for you so you could wear fineclothes and play the lady. KATE

Adam Bates read that note to himself, stretching every inch of his sixfeet six, his face a dull red, his eyes glaring. Then he turned to hiswife and daughter. 

"Is Kate gone? Without proper clothing and on borrowed money, " hedemanded. 

"I don't know, " said Mrs. Bates. "I was hoeing potatoes all forenoon. "

"Listen to this, " he thundered. Then he slowly read the note aloud. But someway the spoken words did not have the same effect as when heread them mentally in the first shock of anger. When he heard his ownvoice read off the line, "I hope it makes you mad enough to burst, "there was a catch and a queer gurgle in his throat. Mrs. Bates gazedat him anxiously. Was he so surprised and angry he was choking? Mightit be a stroke? It was! It was a master stroke. He got no fartherthan "taught me things you didn't know yourself, " when he lowered thesheet, threw back his head and laughed as none of his family ever hadseen him laugh in his life; laughed and laughed until his frame wasshaken and the tears rolled. Finally he looked at the dazed NancyEllen. "Get Sally Whistler, nothing!" he said. "You hustle yourstumps and do for your mother what Kate did while you were away lastsummer. And if you have any common decency send your sister as many ofyour best things as you had of hers, at least. Do you hear me?"

CHAPTER III

PEREGRINATIONS

"PEREGRINATIONS, " laughed Kate, turning to the window to hide her face. "Oh, Agatha, you are a dear, but you are too funny! Even a Fourth ofJuly orator would not have used that word. I never heard it before inall of my life outside spelling-school. "

Then she looked at the dollar she was gripping and ceased to laugh. 

"The dear lad, " she whispered. "He did the whole thing. She was goingto let us 'fight it out'; I could tell by her back, and Adam wouldn'thave helped me a cent, quite as much because he didn't want to asbecause Father wouldn't have liked it. Fancy the little chap knowinghe can wheedle his mother into anything, and exactly how to go aboutit! I won't spend a penny on myself until she is paid, and then I'llmake her a present of something nice, just to let her and Nancy Ellensee that I appreciate being helped to my chance, for I had reached thatpoint where I would have walked to school and worked in somebody'skitchen, before I'd have missed my opportunity. I could have done it;but this will be far pleasanter and give me a much better showing. "

Then Kate began watching the people in the car with eager curiosity, for she had been on a train only twice before in her life. She decidedthat she was in a company of young people and some even of middle age, going to Normal. She also noticed that most of them were looking ather with probably the same interest she found in them. Then at one ofthe stations a girl asked to sit with her and explained that she wasgoing to Normal, so Kate said she was also. The girl seemed to haveseveral acquaintances on the car, for she left her seat to speak withthem and when the train stopped at a very pleasant city and the carbegan to empty itself, on the platform Kate was introduced by this girlto several young women and men near her age. A party of four, going toboard close the school, with a woman they knew about, invited Kate togo with them and because she was strange and shaken by her experiencesshe agreed. All of them piled their luggage on a wagon to bedelivered, so Kate let hers go also. Then they walked down a longshady street, and entered a dainty and comfortable residence, a placethat seemed to Kate to be the home of people of wealth. She wasassigned a room with another girl, such a pleasant girl; but a vagueuneasiness had begun to make itself felt, so before she unpacked shewent back to the sitting room and learned that the price of board waseight dollars a week. Forty-eight dollars for six weeks! She wouldnot have enough for books and tuition. Besides, Nancy Ellen hadboarded with a family on Butler Street whose charge was onlyfive-fifty. Kate was eager to stay where these very agreeable youngpeople did, she imagined herself going to classes with them and havingassociation that to her would be a great treat, but she never woulddare ask for more money. She thought swiftly a minute, and then madeher first mistake. 

Instead of going to the other girls and frankly confessing that shecould not afford the prices they were paying, she watched her chance, picked up her telescope and hurried down the street, walking swiftlyuntil she was out of sight of the house. Then she began inquiring herway to Butler Street and after a long, hot walk, found the place. Therooms and board were very poor, but Kate felt that she could endurewhatever Nancy Ellen had, so she unpacked, and went to the NormalSchool to register and learn what she would need. On coming from thebuilding she saw that she would be forced to pass close by the group ofgirls she had deserted and this was made doubly difficult because shecould see that they were talking about her. Then she understood howfoolish she had been and as she was struggling to summon courage toexplain to them she caught these words plainly:

"Who is going to ask her for it?"

"I am, " said the girl who had sat beside Kate on the train. "I don'tpropose to pay it myself!"

Then she came directly to Kate and said briefly: "Fifty cents, please!"

"For what?" stammered Kate. 

"Your luggage. You changed your boarding place in such a hurry youforgot to settle, and as I made the arrangement, I had to pay it. "

"Do please excuse me, " said Kate. "I was so bewildered, I forgot. "

"Certainly!" said the girl and Kate dropped the money into the extendedhand and hurried past, her face scorched red with shame, for one ofthem had said: "That's a good one! I wouldn't have thought it of her. "

Kate went back to her hot, stuffy room and tried to study, but shesucceeded only in being miserable, for she realized that she had losther second chance to have either companions or friends, by not sayingthe few words of explanation that would have righted her in the opinionof those she would meet each day for six weeks. It was not a goodbeginning, while the end was what might have been expected. A youngman from her neighbourhood spoke to her and the girls seeing, asked himabout Kate, learning thereby that her father was worth more money thanall of theirs put together. Some of them had accepted the explanationthat Kate was "bewildered" and had acted hastily; but when the youngman finished Bates history, they merely thought her mean, and left herseverely to herself, so her only recourse was to study so diligently, and recite so perfectly that none of them could equal her, and this shedid. 

In acute discomfort and with a sore heart, Kate passed her first sixweeks away from home. She wrote to each man on the list of schooldirectors she had taken from Nancy Ellen's desk. Some answered thatthey had their teachers already engaged, others made no reply. Onebright spot was the receipt of a letter from Nancy Ellen saying she wassending her best dress, to be very careful of it, and if Kate would lether know the day she would be home she would meet her at the station. Kate sent her thanks, wore the dress to two lectures, and wrote theletter telling when she would return. 

As the time drew nearer she became sickeningly anxious about a school. What if she failed in securing one? What if she could not pay backAgatha's money? What if she had taken "the wings of morning, " andfallen in her flight? In desperation she went to the Superintendent ofthe Normal and told him her trouble. He wrote her a fine letter ofrecommendation and she sent it to one of the men from whom she had notheard, the director of a school in the village of Walden, seven mileseast of Hartley, being seventeen miles from her home, thus seeming toKate a desirable location, also she knew the village to be pretty andthe school one that paid well. Then she finished her work the best shecould, and disappointed and anxious, entered the train for home. 

When the engine whistled at the bridge outside Hartley Kate arose, lifted her telescope from the rack overhead, and made her way to thedoor, so that she was the first person to leave the car when itstopped. As she stepped to the platform she had a distinct shock, forher father reached for the telescope, while his greeting and his facewere decidedly friendly, for him. As they walked down the street Katewas trying wildly to think of the best thing to say when he asked ifshe had a school. But he did not ask. Then she saw in the pocket ofhis light summer coat a packet of letters folded inside a newspaper, and there was one long, official-looking envelope that stood above theothers far enough that she could see "Miss K--" of the address. Instantly she decided that it was her answer from the School Directorof Walden and she was tremblingly eager to see it. She thought aninstant and then asked: "Have you been to the post office?"

"Yes, I got the mail, " he answered. 

"Will you please see if there are any letters for me?" she asked. 

"When we get home, " he said. "I am in a hurry now. Here's a list ofthings Ma wants, and don't be all day about getting them. "

Kate's lips closed to a thin line and her eyes began to grow steelcoloured and big. She dragged back a step and looked at the looselyswaying pocket again. She thought intently a second. As they passedseveral people on the walk she stepped back of her father and gentlyraised the letter enough to see that the address was to her. Instantlyshe lifted it from the others, slipped it up her dress sleeve, andagain took her place beside her father until they reached the storewhere her mother did her shopping. Then he waited outside while Katehurried in, and ripping open the letter, found a contract ready for herto sign for the Walden school. The salary was twenty dollars a monthmore than Nancy Ellen had received for their country school theprevious winter and the term four months longer. 

Kate was so delighted she could have shouted. Instead she went withall speed to the stationery counter and bought an envelope to fit thecontract, which she signed, and writing a hasty note of thanks shemailed the letter in the store mail box, then began her mother'spurchases. This took so much time that her father came into the storebefore she had finished, demanding that she hurry, so in feverish hasteshe bought what was wanted and followed to the buggy. On the road homeshe began to study her father; she could see that he was well pleasedover something but she had no idea what could have happened; she hadexpected anything from verbal wrath to the buggy whip, so she wassurprised, but so happy over having secured such a good school, athigher wages than Nancy Ellen's, that she spent most of her timethinking of herself and planning as to when she would go to Walden, where she would stay, how she would teach, and Oh, bliss unspeakable, what she would do with so much money; for two month's pay would morethan wipe out her indebtedness to Agatha, and by getting the verycheapest board she could endure, after that she would have over threefourths of her money to spend each month for books and clothes. Shewas intently engaged with her side of the closet and her end of thebureau, when she had her first glimpse of home; even preoccupied as shewas, she saw a difference. Several loose pickets in the fence had beennailed in place. The lilac beside the door and the cabbage roses hadbeen trimmed, so that they did not drag over the walk, while the yardhad been gone over with a lawn-mower. 

Kate turned to her father. "Well, for land's sake!" she said. "Iwanted a lawn-mower all last summer, and you wouldn't buy it for me. Iwonder why you got it the minute I was gone. "

"I got it because Nancy Ellen especially wanted it, and she has been amighty good girl all summer, " he said. 

"If that is the case, then she should be rewarded with the privilege ofrunning a lawn-mower, " said Kate. 

Her father looked at her sharply; but her face was so pleasant hedecided she did not intend to be saucy, so he said: "No doubt she willbe willing to let you help her all you want to. "

"Not the ghost of a doubt about that, " laughed Kate, "and I alwayswanted to try running one, too. They look so nice in pictures, and howone improves a place! I hardly know this is home. Now if we only hada fresh coat of white paint we could line up with the neighbours. "

"I have been thinking about that, " said Mr. Bates, and Kate glanced athim, doubting her hearing. 

He noticed her surprise and added in explanation: "Paint every sooften saves a building. It's good economy. "

"Then let's economize immediately, " said Kate. "And on the barn, too. It is even more weather-beaten than the house. "

"I'll see about it the next time I go to town, " said Mr. Bates; so Kateentered the house prepared for anything and wondering what it all meantfor wherever she looked everything was shining the brightest thatscrubbing and scouring could make it shine, the best of everything wasout and in use; not that it was much, but it made a noticeabledifference. Her mother greeted her pleasantly, with a new tone ofvoice, while Nancy Ellen was transformed. Kate noticed that, immediately. She always had been a pretty girl, now she was beautiful, radiantly beautiful, with a new shining beauty that dazzled Kate as shelooked at her. No one offered any explanation while Kate could seenone. At last she asked: "What on earth has happened? I don'tunderstand. "

"Of course you don't, " laughed Nancy Ellen. "You thought you ran thewhole place and did everything yourself, so I thought I'd just show youhow things look when I run them. "

"You are a top-notcher, " said Kate. "Figuratively and literally, Ioffer you the palm. Let the good work go on! I highly approve; but Idon't see how you found time to do all this and go to Institute. "

"I didn't go to Institute, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"You didn't! But you must!" cried Kate. 

"Oh must I? Well, since you have decided to run your affairs as youplease, in spite of all of us, just suppose you let me run mine thesame way. Only, I rather enjoy having Father and Mother approve ofwhat I do. "

Kate climbed the stairs with this to digest as she went; so while sheput away her clothing she thought things over, but saw no light. Shewould go to Adam's to return the telescope to-morrow, possibly he couldtell her. As she hung her dresses in the closet and returned NancyEllen's to their places she was still more amazed, for there hung threepretty new wash dresses, one of a rosy pink that would make Nancy Ellenappear very lovely. 

What was the reason, Kate wondered. The Bates family never didanything unless there was some purpose in it, what was the purpose inthis? And Nancy Ellen had not gone to Institute. She evidently hadworked constantly and hard, yet she was in much sweeter frame of mindthan usual. She must have spent almost all she had saved from herschool on new clothes. Kate could not solve the problem, so shedecided to watch and wait. She also waited for someone to saysomething about her plans, but no one said a word, so after waiting allevening Kate decided that they would ask before they learned anythingfrom her. She took her place as usual, and the work went on as if shehad not been away; but she was happy, even in her bewilderment. 

If her father noticed the absence of the letter she had slipped fromhis pocket he said nothing about it as he drew the paper and lettersforth and laid them on the table. Kate had a few bad minutes whilethis was going on, she was sure he hesitated an instant and lookedclosely at the letters he sorted; but when he said nothing, shebreathed deeply in relief and went on being joyous. It seemed to herthat never had the family been in such a good-natured state since Adamhad married Agatha and her three hundred acres with house, furniture, and stock. She went on in ignorance of what had happened until afterSunday dinner the following day. Then she had planned to visit Agathaand Adam. It was very probable that it was because she was dressingfor this visit that Nancy Ellen decided on Kate's enlightenment, forshe could not have helped seeing that her sister was almost stunned attimes. 

Kate gave her a fine opening. As she stood brushing her wealth of goldwith full-length sweeps of her arm, she was at an angle that broughther facing the mirror before which Nancy Ellen sat training waves andpinning up loose braids. Her hair was beautiful and she slowly smiledat her image as she tried different effects of wave, loose curl, braidshigh piled or flat. Across her bed lay a dress that was a reproductionof one that she had worn for three years, but a glorified reproduction. The original dress had been Nancy Ellen's first departure from thebrown and gray gingham which her mother always had purchased because itwould wear well, and when from constant washing it faded to an exactdirt colour it had the advantage of providing a background that did notshow the dirt. Nancy Ellen had earned the money for a new dress byraising turkeys, so when the turkeys went to town to be sold, for thefirst time in her life Nancy Ellen went along to select the dress. Noone told her what kind of dress to get, because no one imagined thatshe would dare buy any startling variation from what always had beenprovided for her. 

But Nancy Ellen had stood facing a narrow mirror when she reached thegingham counter and the clerk, taking one look at her fresh, beautifulface with its sharp contrasts of black eyes and hair, rose-tinted skinthat refused to tan, and red cheeks and lips, began shaking outdelicate blues, pale pinks, golden yellows. He called them chambray;insisted that they wore for ever, and were fadeless, which waspractically the truth. On the day that dress was like to burst itswaist seams, it was the same warm rosy pink that transformed NancyEllen from the disfiguration of dirt-brown to apple and peach bloom, wild roses and swamp mallow, a girl quite as pretty as a girl evergrows, and much prettier than any girl ever has any business to be. The instant Nancy Ellen held the chambray under her chin and in anoblique glance saw the face of the clerk, the material was hers nomatter what the cost, which does not refer to the price, by any means. Knowing that the dress would be an innovation that would set her motherstorming and fill Kate with envy, which would probably culminate in thedemand that the goods be returned and exchanged for dirt-brown, whenshe reached home Nancy Ellen climbed from the wagon and told her fatherthat she was going on to Adam's to have Agatha cut out her dress sothat she could begin to sew on it that night. Such commendableindustry met his hearty approval, so he told her to go and he would seethat Kate did her share of the work. Wise Nancy Ellen came home andsat her down to sew on her gorgeous frock, while the storm she hadfeared raged in all its fury; but the goods was cut, and could not bereturned. Yet, through it, a miracle happened: Nancy Ellen soappreciated herself in pink that the extreme care she used with thatdress saved it from half the trips of a dirt-brown one to the washboard and the ironing table; while, marvel of marvels, it did notshrink, it did not fade, also it wore like buckskin. The result wasthat before the season had passed Kate was allowed to purchase a paleblue, which improved her appearance quite as much in proportion as pinkhad Nancy Ellen's; neither did the blue fade nor shrink nor require somuch washing, for the same reason. Three years the pink dress had beenNancy Ellen's PIECE DE RESISTANCE; now she had a new one, much thesame, yet conspicuously different. This was a daring rose colour, fulland wide, peeping white embroidery trimming, and big pearl buttons, really a beautiful dress, made in a becoming manner. Kate looked at itin cheerful envy. Never mind! The coming summer she would have a bluethat would make that pink look silly. From the dress she turned toNancy Ellen, barely in time to see her bend her head and smirk, broadly, smilingly, approvingly, at her reflection in the glass. 

"For mercy sake, what IS the matter with you?" demanded Kate, ripping astrand of hair in sudden irritation. 

"Oh, something lovely!" answered her sister, knowing that this was herchance to impart the glad tidings herself; if she lost it, Agatha wouldget the thrill of Kate's surprise. So Nancy Ellen opened her drawerand slowly produced and set upon her bureau a cabinet photograph of aremarkably strong-featured, handsome young man. Then she turned toKate and smiled a slow, challenging smile. Kate walked over and pickedup the picture, studying it intently but in growing amazement. 

"Who is he?" she asked finally. 

"My man!" answered Nancy Ellen, possessively, triumphantly. 

Kate stared at her. "Honest to God?" she cried in wonderment. 

"Honest!" said Nancy Ellen. 

"Where on earth did you find him?" demanded Kate. 

"Picked him out of the blackberry patch, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"Those darn blackberries are always late, " said Kate, throwing thepicture back on the bureau. "Ain't that just my luck! You wouldn'ttouch the raspberries. I had to pick them every one myself. But theminute I turn my back, you go pick a man like that, out of theblackberry patch. I bet a cow you wore your pink chambray, and carriedgrandmother's old blue bowl. "

"Certainly, " said Nancy Ellen, "and my pink sun-bonnet. I think maybethe bonnet started it. "

Kate sat down limply on the first chair and studied the toes of hershoes. At last she roused and looked at Nancy Ellen, waiting insmiling complaisance as she returned the picture to her end of thebureau. 

"Well, why don't you go ahead?" cried Kate in a thick, rasping voice. "Empty yourself! Who is he? Where did he come from? WHY was he INour blackberry patch? Has he really been to see you, and is hecourting you in earnest?--But of COURSE he is! There's the lilac bush, the lawn-mower, the house to be painted, and a humdinger dress. Is hea millionaire? For Heaven's sake tell me--"

"Give me some chance! I did meet him in the blackberry patch. He's anephew of Henry Lang and his name is Robert Gray. He has just finisheda medical course and he came here to rest and look at Hartley for alocation, because Lang thinks it would be such a good one. And sincewe met he has decided to take an office in Hartley, and he has money tofurnish it, and to buy and furnish a nice house. "

"Great Jehoshaphat!" cried Kate. "And I bet he's got wings, too! I dohave the rottenest luck!"

"You act for all the world as if it were a foregone conclusion that ifyou had been here, you'd have won him!"

Nancy Ellen glanced in the mirror and smiled, while Kate saw the smile. She picked up her comb and drew herself to full height. 

"If anything ever was a 'foregone conclusion, '" she said, "it is a'foregone conclusion' that if I HAD been here, I'd have picked theblackberries, and so I'd have had the first chance at him, at least. "

"Much good it would have done you!" cried Nancy Ellen. "Wait until hecomes, and you see him!"

"You may do your mushing in private, " said Kate. "I don't need ademonstration to convince me. He looks from the picture like a man whowould be as soft as a frosted pawpaw. "

Nancy Ellen's face flamed crimson. "You hateful spite-cat!" she cried. 

Then she picked up the picture and laid it face down in her drawer, while two big tears ran down her cheeks. Kate saw those also. Instantly she relented. 

"You big silly goose!" she said. "Can't you tell when any one isteasing? I think I never saw a finer face than the one in thatpicture. I'm jealous because I never left home a day before in all mylife, and the minute I do, here you go and have such luck. Are youreally sure of him, Nancy Ellen?"

"Well, he asked Father and Mother, and I've been to visit his folks, and he told them; and I've been with him to Hartley hunting a house;and I'm not to teach this winter, so I can have all my time to make myclothes and bedding. Father likes him fine, so he is going to give memoney to get all I need. He offered to, himself. "

Kate finished her braid, pulled the combings from the comb and slowlywrapped the end of her hair as she digested these convincing facts. She swung the heavy braid around her head, placed a few pins, thencrossed to her sister and laid a shaking hand on her shoulder. Herface was working strongly. 

"Nancy Ellen, I didn't mean one ugly word I said. You gave me an awfulsurprise, and that was just my bald, ugly Bates way of taking it. Ithink you are one of the most beautiful women I ever have seen, aliveor pictured. I have always thought you would make a fine marriage, andI am sure you will. I haven't a doubt that Robert Gray is all youthink him, and I am as glad for you as I can be. You can keep house inHartley for two with scarcely any work at all, and you can have all thepretty clothes you want, and time to wear them. Doctors always getrich if they are good ones, and he is sure to be a good one, once hegets a start. If only we weren't so beastly healthy there are enoughBates and Langs to support you for the first year. And I'll help yousew, and do all I can for you. Now wipe up and look your handsomest!"

Nancy Ellen arose and put her arms around Kate's neck, a stunninglyunusual proceeding. "Thank you, " she said. "That is big and fine ofyou. But I always have shirked and put my work on you; I guess nowI'll quit, and do my sewing myself. "

Then she slipped the pink dress over her head and stood slowlyfastening it as Kate started to leave the room. Seeing her go: "I wishyou would wait and meet Robert, " she said. "I have told him about whata nice sister I have. "

"I think I'll go on to Adam's now, " said Kate. "I don't want to waituntil they go some place, and I miss them. I'll do better to meet yourman after I become more accustomed to bare facts, anyway. By the way, is he as tall as you?"

"Yes, " said Nancy Ellen, laughing. "He is an inch and a half taller. Why?"

"Oh, I hate seeing a woman taller than her husband and I've alwayswondered where we'd find men to reach our shoulders. But if they canbe picked at random from the berry patch--"

So Kate went on her way laughing, lifting her white skirts high fromthe late August dust. She took a short cut through the woods and at asmall stream, with sure foot, crossed the log to within a few steps ofthe opposite bank. There she stopped, for a young man rounded thebushes and set a foot on the same log; then he and Kate looked straightinto each other's eyes. Kate saw a clean-shaven, forceful young face, with strong lines and good colouring, clear gray eyes, sandy brownhair, even, hard, white teeth, and broad shoulders a little above herown. The man saw Kate, dressed in her best and looking her best. Slowly she extended her hand. 

"I bet a picayune you are my new brother, Robert, " she said. 

The young man gripped her hand firmly, held it, and kept on looking inrather a stunned manner at Kate. 

"Well, aren't you?" she asked, trying to withdraw the hand. 

"I never, never would have believed it, " he said. 

"Believed what?" asked Kate, leaving the hand where it was. 

"That there could be two in the same family, " said he. 

"But I'm as different from Nancy Ellen as night from day, " said Kate, "besides, woe is me, I didn't wear a pink dress and pick you from theberry patch in a blue bowl. "

Then the man released her hand and laughed. "You wouldn't have had theslightest trouble, if you had been there, " he said. 

"Except that I should have inverted my bowl, " said Kate, calmly. "I amlooking for a millionaire, riding a milk-white steed, and he must bemuch taller than you and have black hair and eyes. Good-bye, brother!I will see you this evening. "

Then Kate went down the path to deliver the telescope, render herthanks, make her promise of speedy payment, and for the first time tellher good news about her school. She found that she was very happy asshe went and quite convinced that her first flight would prove entirelysuccessful. 

CHAPTER IV

A QUESTION OF CONTRACTS

"HELLO, Folks!" cried Kate, waving her hand to the occupants of theveranda as she went up the walk. "Glad to find you at home. "

"That is where you will always find me unless I am forced away onbusiness, " said her brother as they shook hands. 

Agatha was pleased with this, and stiff as steel, she bent the lengthof her body toward Kate and gave her a tight-lipped little peck on thecheek. 

"I came over, as soon as I could, " said Kate as she took the chair herbrother offered, "to thank you for the big thing you did for me, Agatha, when you lent me that money. If I had known where I was going, or the help it would be to me, I should have gone if I'd had to walkand work for my board. Why, I feel so sure of myself! I've learned somuch that I'm like the girl fresh from boarding school: 'The onlywonder is that one small head can contain it all. ' Thank you over andover and I've got a good school, so I can pay you back the very firstmonth, I think. If there are things I must have, I can pay part thefirst month and the remainder the second. I am eager for pay-day. Ican't even picture the bliss of having that much money in my fingers, all my own, to do with as I please. Won't it be grand?"

In the same breath said Agatha: "Procure yourself some clothes!" SaidAdam: "Start a bank account!"

Said Kate: "Right you are! I shall do both. "

"Even our little Susan has a bank account, " said Adam, Jr. , proudly. 

"Which is no reflection whatever on me, " laughed Kate. "Susan did nothave the same father and mother I had. I'd like to see a girl of mybranch of the Bates family start a bank account at ten. "

"No, I guess she wouldn't, " admitted Adam, dryly. 

"But have you heard that Nancy Ellen has started?" cried Kate. "Onlythink! A lawn-mower! The house and barn to be painted! All the dingepossible to remove scoured away, inside! She must have worn herfingers almost to the bone! And really, Agatha, have you seen the man?He's as big as Adam, and just fine looking. I'm simply consumed withenvy. "

"Miss Medira, Dora, Ann, cast her net, and catched a man!" recitedSusan from the top step, at which they all laughed. 

"No, I have not had the pleasure of casting my optics upon theindividual of Nancy Ellen's choice, " said Agatha primly, "but MissAmelia Lang tells me he is a very distinguished person, of quitesuperior education in a medical way. I shall call him if I ever havethe misfortune to fall ill again. I hope you will tell Nancy Ellenthat we shall be very pleased to have her bring him to see us someevening, and if she will let me know a short time ahead I shall takegreat pleasure in compounding a cake and freezing custard. "

"Of course I shall tell her, and she will feel a trifle more stuck upthan she does now, if that is possible, " laughed Kate in deep amusement. 

She surely was feeling fine. Everything had come out so splendidly. That was what came of having a little spirit and standing up for yourrights. Also she was bubbling inside while Agatha talked. Katewondered how Adam survived it every day. She glanced at him to see ifshe could detect any marks of shattered nerves, then laughed outright. 

Adam was the finest physical specimen of a man she knew. He was goodlooking also, and spoke as well as the average, better in fact, forfrom the day of their marriage, Agatha sat on his lap each night andsaid these words: "My beloved, to-day I noted an error in your speech. It would put a former teacher to much embarrassment to have this occurin public. In the future will you not try to remember that you shouldsay, 'have gone, ' instead of 'have went?'" As she talked Agatharumpled Adam's hair, pulled off his string tie, upon which sheinsisted, even when he was plowing; laid her hard little face againsthis, and held him tight with her frail arms, so that Adam being parthuman as well as part Bates, held her closely also and said thesewords: "You bet your sweet life I will!" And what is more he did. Hefollowed a furrow the next day, softly muttering over to himself:"Langs have gone to town. I have gone to work. The birds have gone tobuilding nests. " So Adam seldom said: "have went, " or made any othererror in speech that Agatha had once corrected. 

As Kate watched him leaning back in his chair, vital, a study inwell-being, the supremest kind of satisfaction on his face, she notedthe flash that lighted his eye when Agatha offered to "freeze acustard. " How like Agatha! Any other woman Kate knew would have said, "make ice cream. " Agatha explained to them that when they beat upeggs, added milk, sugar, and corn-starch it was custard. When theyused pure cream, sweetened and frozen, it was iced cream. Personally, she preferred the custard, but she did not propose to call it custardcream. It was not correct. Why persist in misstatements andinaccuracies when one knew better? So Agatha said iced cream when shemeant it, and frozen custard, when custard it was, but every otherwoman in the neighbourhood, had she acted as she felt, would haveslapped Agatha's face when she said it: this both Adam and Kate wellknew, so it made Kate laugh despite the fact that she would not haveoffended Agatha purposely. 

"I think--I think, " said Agatha, "that Nancy Ellen has much upon whichto congratulate herself. More education would not injure her, but shehas enough that if she will allow her ambition to rule her and study inprivate and spend her spare time communing with the best writers, shecan make an exceedingly fair intellectual showing, while she surely isa handsome woman. With a good home and such a fine young professionalman as she has had the good fortune to attract, she should immediatelyput herself at the head of society in Hartley and become its leader toa much higher moral and intellectual plane than it now occupies. "

"Bet she has a good time, " said young Adam. "He's awful nice. "

"Son, " said Agatha, "'awful, ' means full of awe. A cyclone, acloudburst, a great conflagration are awful things. By no stretch ofthe imagination could they be called nice. "

"But, Ma, if a cyclone blew away your worst enemy wouldn't it be nice?"

Adam, Jr. , and Kate laughed. Not the trace of a smile crossed Agatha'spale face. 

"The words do not belong in contiguity, " she said. "They arediametrically opposite in meaning. Please do not allow my ears to beoffended by hearing you place them in propinquity again. "

"I'll try not to, Ma, " said young Adam; then Agatha smiled on himapprovingly. "When did you meet Mr. Gray, Katherine?" she asked. 

"On the foot-log crossing the creek beside Lang's line fence. Near thespot Nancy Ellen first met him I imagine. "

"How did you recognize him?"

"Nancy Ellen had just been showing me his picture and telling me abouthim. Great Day, but she's in love with him!"

"And so he is with her, if Lang's conclusions from his behaviour can bedepended upon. They inform me that he can be induced to converse on noother subject. The whole arrangement appeals to me as distinctlyadmirable. "

"And you should see the lilac bush and the cabbage roses, " said Kate. "And the strangest thing is Father. He is peaceable as a lamb. She isnot to teach, but to spend the winter sewing on her clothes andbedding, and Father told her he would give her the necessary money. She said so. And I suspect he will. He always favoured her becauseshe was so pretty, and she can come closer to wheedling him than any ofthe rest of us excepting you, Agatha. "

"It is an innovation, surely!"

"Mother is nearly as bad. Father furnishing money for clothes andpainting the barn is no more remarkable than Mother letting her turnthe house inside out. If it had been I, Father would have told me toteach my school this winter, buy my own clothes and linen with themoney I had earned, and do my sewing next summer. But I am not jealous. It is because she is handsome, and the man fine-looking and with suchgood prospects. "

"There you have it!" said Adam emphatically. "If it were you, marryingJim Lang, to live on Lang's west forty, you WOULD pay your own way. But if it were you marrying a fine-looking young doctor, who will soonbe a power in Hartley, no doubt, it would tickle Father's vanity untilhe would do the same for you. "

"I doubt it!" said Kate. "I can't see the vanity in Father. "

"You can't?" said Adam, Jr. , bitterly. "Maybe not! You have not beenwith him in the Treasurer's office when he calls for 'the tax on thoselittle parcels of land of mine. ' He looks every inch of six feet sixthen, and swells like a toad. To hear him you would think sixteenhundred and fifty acres of the cream of this county could be tied in abandanna and carried on a walking stick, he is so casual about it. Andthose men fly around like buttons on a barn door to wait on him andit's 'Mister Bates this' and 'Mister Bates that, ' until it turns mystomach. Vanity! He rolls in it! He eats it! He risks losing ourland for us that some of us have slaved over for twenty years, to feedthat especial vein of his vanity. Where should we be if he letanything happen to those deeds?"

"How refreshing!" cried Kate. "I love to hear you grouching! I hearnothing else from the women of the Bates family, but I didn't even knowthe men had a grouch. Are Peter, and John, and Hiram, and the otherboys sore, too?"

"I should say they are! But they are too diplomatic to say so. Theyare afraid to cheep. I just open my head and say right out loud inmeeting that since I've turned in the taxes and insurance for all theseyears and improved my land more than fifty per cent. , I'd like to ownit, and pay my taxes myself, like a man. "

"I'd like to have some land under any conditions, " said Kate, "butprobably I never shall. And I bet you never get a flipper on that deeduntil Father has crossed over Jordan, which with his health andstrength won't be for twenty-five years yet at least. He's performinga miracle that will make the other girls rave, when he gives NancyEllen money to buy her outfit; but they won't dare let him hear awhisper of it. They'll take it all out on Mother, and she'll be afraidto tell him. "

"Afraid? Mother afraid of him? Not on your life. She is hand inglove with him. She thinks as he does, and helps him in everything heundertakes. "

"That's so, too. Come to think of it, she isn't a particle afraid ofhim. She agrees with him perfectly. It would be interesting to hearthem having a private conversation. They never talk a word before us. But they always agree, and they heartily agree on Nancy Ellen's man, that is plainly to be seen. "

"It will make a very difficult winter for you, Katherine, " said Agatha. "When Nancy Ellen becomes interested in dresses and table linen andbedding she will want to sew all the time, and leave the cooking anddishes for you as well as your schoolwork. "

Kate turned toward Agatha in surprise. "But I won't be there! I toldyou I had taken a school. "

"You taken a school!" shouted Adam. "Why, didn't they tell you thatFather has signed up for the home school for you?"

"Good Heavens!" said Kate. "What will be to pay now?"

"Did you contract for another school?" cried Adam. 

"I surely did, " said Kate slowly. "I signed an agreement to teach thevillage school in Walden. It's a brick building with a janitor tosweep and watch fires, only a few blocks to walk, and it pays twentydollars a month more than the home school where you can wade snow threemiles, build your own fires, and freeze all day in a little framebuilding at that. I teach the school I have taken. "

"And throw our school out of a teacher? Father could be sued, andprobably will be, " said Adam. "And throw the housework Nancy Ellenexpected you to do on her, " said Agatha, at the same time. 

"I see, " said Kate. "Well, if he is sued, he will have to settle. Hewouldn't help me a penny to go to school, I am of age, the debt is myown, and I don't owe it to him. He's had all my work has been worthall my life, and I've surely paid my way. I shall teach the school Ihave signed for. "

"You will get into a pretty kettle of fish!" said Adam. 

"Agatha, will you sell me your telescope for what you paid for it, andget yourself a new one the next time you go to Hartley? It is only afew days until time to go to my school, it opens sooner than in thecountry, and closes later. The term is four months longer, so I earnthat much more. I haven't gotten a telescope yet. You can add it tomy first payment. "

"You may take it, " said Agatha, "but hadn't you better reconsider, Katherine? Things are progressing so nicely, and this will upseteverything for Nancy Ellen. "

"That taking the home school will upset everything for me, doesn't seemto count. It is late, late to find teachers, and I can be heldresponsible if I break the contract I have made. Father can stand theracket better than I can. When he wouldn't consent to my going, he hadno business to make plans for me. I had to make my own plans and go inspite of him; he might have known I'd do all in my power to get aschool. Besides, I don't want the home school, or the home work piledon me. My hands look like a human being's for the first time in mylife; then I need all my time outside of school to study and map outlessons. I am going to try for a room in the Hartley schools nextyear, or the next after that, surely. They sha'n't change my plans andboss me, I am going to be free to work, and study, and help myself, like other teachers. "

"A grand row this will be, " commented young Adam. "And as usual Katewill be right, while all of them will be trying to use her to theiradvantage. Ma has done her share. Now it is your turn, Pa. Ain't yougoing to go over and help her?"

"What could I do?" demanded his father. "The mischief is done now. "

"Well, if you can't do anything to help, you can let me have the buggyto drive her to Walden, if they turn her out. "

"'Forcibly invite her to proceed to her destination, ' you mean, son, "said Agatha. 

"Yes, Ma, that is exactly what I mean, " said young Adam. "Do I get thebuggy?"

"Yes, you may take my private conveyance. But do nothing to publishthe fact. There is no need to incur antagonism if it can be avoided. "

"Kate, I'll be driving past the privet bush about nine in the morning. If you need me, hang a white rag on it, and I'll stop at the corner ofthe orchard. "

"I shall probably be standing in the road waiting for you, " said Kate. 

"Oh, I hope not, " said Agatha. 

"Looks remarkably like it to me, " said Kate. 

Then she picked up the telescope, said good-bye to each of them, and inacute misery started back to her home. This time she followed thefootpath beside the highway. She was so busy with her indignantthought that she forgot to protect her skirts from the dust of waysideweeds, while in her excitement she walked so fast her face was red andperspiring when she approached the church. 

"Oh, dear, I don't know about it, " said Kate to the small, silentbuilding. "I am trying to follow your advice, but it seems to me thatlife is very difficult, any way you go at it. If it isn't one thing, it is another. An hour ago I was the happiest I have ever been in mylife; only look at me now! Any one who wants 'the wings of morning'may have them for all of me. It seems definitely settled that I walk, carry a load, and fight for the chance to do even that. "

A big tear rolled down either side of Kate's nose and her face twistedin self-pity for an instant. But when she came in sight of home hershoulders squared, the blue-gray of her eyes deepened to steel, and herlips set in a line that was an exact counterpart of her father's whenhe had made up his mind and was ready to drive his family, with theirconsent or without it. As she passed the vegetable garden--there wasno time or room for flowers in a Bates garden--Kate, looking ahead, could see Nancy Ellen and Robert Gray beneath the cherry trees. Shehoped Nancy Ellen would see that she was tired and dusty, and shouldhave time to brush and make herself more presentable to meet astranger, and so Nancy Ellen did; for which reason she immediatelyarose and came to the gate, followed by her suitor whom she at onceintroduced. Kate was in no mood for words; one glance at her proved toRobert Gray that she was tired and dusty, that there were tear marksdried on her face. They hastily shook hands, but neither mentioned theprevious meeting. Excusing herself Kate went into the house saying shewould soon return. 

Nancy Ellen glanced at Robert, and saw the look of concern on his face. 

"I believe she has been crying, " she said. "And if she has, it'ssomething new, for I never saw a tear on her face before in my life. "

"Truly?" he questioned in amazement. 

"Why, of course! The Bates family are not weepers. "

"So I have heard, " said the man, rather dryly. 

Nancy Ellen resented his tone. 

"Would you like us better if we were?"

"I couldn't like you better than I do, but because of what I have heardand seen, it naturally makes me wonder what could have happened thathas made her cry. "

"We are rather outspoken, and not at all secretive, " said Nancy Ellen, carelessly, "you will soon know. "

Kate followed the walk around the house and entered at the side door, finding her father and mother in the dining room reading the weeklypapers. Her mother glanced up as she entered. 

"What did you bring Agatha's telescope back with you for?" sheinstantly demanded. 

For a second Kate hesitated. It had to come, she might as well get itover. Possibly it would be easier with them alone than if Nancy Ellenwere present. 

"It is mine, " she said. "It represents my first purchase on my ownhook and line. "

"You are not very choicy to begin on second-hand stuff. Nancy Ellenwould have had a new one. "

"No doubt!" said Kate. "But this will do for me. "

Her father lowered his paper and asked harshly: "What did you buy thatthing for?"

Kate gripped the handle and braced herself. 

"To pack my clothes in when I go to my school next week, " she saidsimply. 

"What?" he shouted. "What?" cried her mother. 

"I don't know why you seem surprised, " said Kate. "Surely you knew Iwent to Normal to prepare myself to teach. Did you think I couldn'tfind a school?"

"Now look here, young woman, " shouted Adam Bates, "you are done takingthe bit in your teeth. Nancy Ellen is not going to teach this winter. I have taken the home school for you; you will teach it. That issettled. I have signed the contract. It must be fulfilled. "

"Then Nancy Ellen will have to fulfill it, " said Kate. "I also havesigned a contract that must be fulfilled. I am of age, and you had noauthority from me to sign a contract for me. "

For an instant Kate thought there was danger that the purple rush ofblood to her father's head might kill him. He opened his mouth, but nodistinct words came. Her face paled with fright, but she was of hisblood, so she faced him quietly. Her mother was quicker of wit, andsharper of tongue. 

"Where did you get a school? Why didn't you wait until you got home?"she demanded. 

"I am going to teach the village school in Walden, " said Kate. "It is abrick building, has a janitor, I can board reasonably, near my work, and I get twenty dollars more a month than our school pays, while theterm is four months longer. "

"Well, it is a pity about that; but it makes no difference, " said hermother. "Our home school has got to be taught as Pa contracted, andNancy Ellen has got to have her chance. "

"What about my chance?" asked Kate evenly. "Not one of the girls, evenExceptional Ability, ever had as good a school or as high wages tostart on. If I do well there this winter, I am sure I can get in theHartley graded schools next fall. "

"Don't you dare nickname your sister, " cried Mrs. Bates, shrilly. "Youstop your impudence and mind your father. "

"Ma, you leave this to me, " said Adam Bates, thickly. Then he glaredat Kate as he arose, stretching himself to full height. "You've signeda contract for a school?" he demanded. 

"I have, " said Kate. 

"Why didn't you wait until you got home and talked it over with us?" hequestioned. 

"I went to you to talk over the subject to going, " said Kate. "Youwould not even allow me to speak. How was I to know that you wouldhave the slightest interest in what school I took, or where. "

"When did you sign this contract?" he continued. 

"Yesterday afternoon, in Hartley, " said Kate. 

"Aha! Then I did miss a letter from my pocket. When did you get to bea thief?" he demanded. 

"Oh, Father!" cried Kate. "It was my letter. I could see my name onthe envelope. I ASKED you for it, before I took it. "

"From behind my back, like the sneak-thief you are. You are not fit toteach in a school where half the scholars are the children of yourbrothers and sisters, and you are not fit to live with honest people. Pack your things and be off!"

"Now? This afternoon?" asked Kate. 

"This minute!" he cried. 

"All right. You will be surprised at how quickly I can go, " said Kate. 

She set down the telescope and gathered a straw sunshade and an apronfrom the hooks at the end of the room, opened the dish cupboard, andtook out a mug decorated with the pinkest of wild roses and the reddestand fattest of robins, bearing the inscription in gold, "For a GoodGirl" on a banner in its beak. Kate smiled at it grimly as she took thetelescope and ran upstairs. It was the work of only a few minutes togather her books and clothing and pack the big telescope, then she wentdown the front stairs and left the house by the front door carrying inher hand everything she possessed on earth. As she went down the walkNancy Ellen sprang up and ran to her while Robert Gray followed. 

"You'll have to talk to me on the road, " said Kate. "I am forbiddenthe house which also means the grounds, I suppose. "

She walked across the road, set the telescope on the grass under a bigelm tree, and sat down beside it. 

"I find I am rather tired, " she said. "Will you share the sofa withme?"

Nancy Ellen lifted her pink skirt and sat beside Kate. Robert Graystood looking down at them. 

"What in the world is the matter?" asked Nancy Ellen. 

"You know, of course, that Father signed a contract for me to teach thehome school this winter, " explained Kate. "Well, I am of age, and hehad no authority from me, so his contract isn't legal. None of youwould lift a finger to help me get away to Normal, how was I to knowthat you would take any interest in finding me a school while I wasgone? I thought it was all up to me, so I applied for the school inWalden, got it, and signed the contract to teach it. It is a betterschool, at higher wages. I thought you would teach here--I can't breakmy contract. Father is furious and has ordered me out of the house. So there you are, or rather here I am. "

"Well, it isn't much of a joke, " said Nancy Ellen, thinking intently. 

What she might have said had they been alone, Kate always wondered. What she did say while her betrothed looked at her with indignant eyeswas possibly another matter. It proved to be merely: "Oh, Kate, I amso sorry!"

"So am I, " said Kate. "If I had known what your plans were, of courseI should gladly have helped you out. If only you had written me andtold me. "

"I wanted to surprise you, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"You have, " said Kate. "Enough to last a lifetime. I don't see howyou figured. You knew how late it was. You knew it would be nip andtuck if I got a school at all. "

"Of course we did! We thought you couldn't possibly get one, thislate, so we fixed up the scheme to let you have my school, and let mesew on my linen this winter. We thought you would be as pleased as wewere. "

"I am too sorry for words, " said Kate. "If I had known your plan, Iwould have followed it, even though I gave up a better school at ahigher salary. But I didn't know. I thought I had to paddle my owncanoe, so I made my own plans. Now I must live up to them, because mycontract is legal, while Father's is not. I would have taught theschool for you, in the circumstances, but since I can't, so far as I amconcerned, the arrangement I have made is much better. The thing thatreally hurts the worst, aside from disappointing you, is that Fathersays I was not honest in what I did. "

"But what DID you do?" cried Nancy Ellen. 

So Kate told them exactly what she had done. 

"Of course you had a right to your own letter, when you could see theaddress on it, and it was where you could pick it up, " said Robert Gray. 

Kate lifted dull eyes to his face. 

"Thank you for so much grace, at any rate, " she said. 

"I don't blame you a bit, " said Nancy Ellen. "In the same place I'dhave taken it myself. "

"You wouldn't have had to, " said Kate. "I'm too abrupt--too much likethe gentleman himself. You would have asked him in a way that wouldhave secured you the letter with no trouble. "

Nancy Ellen highly appreciated these words of praise before her lover. She arose immediately. 

"Maybe I could do something with him now, " she said. "I'll go and see. "

"You shall do nothing of the kind, " said Kate. "I am as much Bates ashe is. I won't be taunted afterward that he turned me out and that Isent you to him to plead for me. "

"I'll tell him you didn't want me to come, that I came of my ownaccord, " offered Nancy Ellen. 

"And he won't believe you, " said Kate. 

"Would you consent for me to go?" asked Robert Gray. 

"Certainly not! I can look out for myself. "

"What shall you do?" asked Nancy Ellen anxiously. 

"That is getting slightly ahead of me, " said Kate. "If I had beendiplomatic I could have evaded this until morning. Adam, 3d, is to beover then, prepared to take me anywhere I want to go. What I have toface now is a way to spend the night without letting the neighboursknow that I am turned out. How can I manage that?"

Nancy Ellen and Robert each began making suggestions, but Katepreferred to solve her own problems. 

"I think, " she said, "that I shall hide the telescope under the privetbush, there isn't going to be rain to-night; and then I will go down toHiram's and stay all night and watch for Adam when he passes in themorning. Hiram always grumbles because we don't come oftener. "

"Then we will go with you, " said Nancy Ellen. "It will be a pleasantevening walk, and we can keep you company and pacify my twin brother atthe same time. "

So they all walked to the adjoining farm on the south and when NancyEllen and Robert were ready to start back, Kate said she was tired andshe believed she would stay until morning, which was agreeable to Hiramand his wife, a girlhood friend of Kate's. As Nancy Ellen and Robertwalked back toward home: "How is this going to come out?" he asked, anxiously. 

"It will come out all right, " said Nancy Ellen, serenely. "Kate hasn'ta particle of tact. She is Father himself, all over again. It willcome out this way: he will tell me that Kate has gone back on him andI shall have to teach the school, and I will say that is the ONLYsolution and the BEST thing to do. Then I shall talk all evening abouthow provoking it is, and how I hate to change my plans, and say I amafraid I shall lose you if I have to put off our wedding to teach theschool, and things like that, " Nancy Ellen turned a flushed sparklingface to Robert, smiling quizzically, "and to-morrow I shall go early tosee Serena Woodruff, who is a fine scholar and a good teacher, butmissed her school in the spring by being so sick she was afraid tocontract for it. She is all right now, and she will be delighted tohave the school, and when I know she will take it then I shall justhappen to think of her in a day or two and I'll suggest her, after I'vewailed a lot more; and Father will go to see her of his own accord, andit will all be settled as easy as falling off a chunk, only I shall notget on so fast with my sewing, because of having to help Mother; but Ishall do my best, and everything will be all right. "

The spot was secluded. Robert Gray stopped to tell Nancy Ellen what awonderful girl she was. He said he was rather afraid of suchdiplomacy. He foresaw clearly that he was going to be a managed man. Nancy Ellen told him of course he was, all men were, the thing was notto let them know it. Then they laughed and listened to a wood robinsinging out his little heart in an evening song that was almost asmelodious as his spring performances had been. 

CHAPTER V

THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER

EARLY in the morning Kate set her young nephew on the gate-post towatch for his cousin, and he was to have a penny for calling at hisapproach. When his lusty shout came, Kate said good-bye to hersister-in-law, paid the penny, kissed the baby, and was standing in theroad when Adam stopped. He looked at her inquiringly. 

"Well, it happened, " she said. "He turned me out instanter, with noremarks about when I might return, if ever, while Mother cordiallyseconded the motion. It's a good thing, Adam, that you offered to takecare of me, because I see clearly that you are going to have it to do. "

"Of course I will, " said Adam promptly. "And of course I can. Do youwant to go to Hartley for anything? Because if you don't, we can cutacross from the next road and get to Walden in about fifteen miles, while it's seventeen by Hartley; but if you want to go we can, for Ineedn't hurry. I've got a box of lunch and a feed for my horse in theback of the buggy. Mother said I was to stay with you until I saw yousettled in your room, if you had to go; and if you do, she is angrywith Grandpa, and she is going to give him a portion of her mentalitythe very first time she comes in contact with him. She said so. "

"Yes, I can almost hear her, " said Kate, struggling to choke down arising laugh. "She will never know how I appreciate what she has donefor me, but I think talking to Father will not do any good. Home hasn'tbeen so overly pleasant. It's been a small, dark, cramped house, dingyand hot, when it might have been big, airy, and comfortable, wellfurnished and pretty as Father's means would allow, and as all theneighbours always criticize him for not having it; it's meant hard workand plenty of it ever since I was set to scouring the tinware withrushes at the mature age of four, but it's been home, all the home Ihave had, and it hurts more than I can tell you to be ordered out of itas I was, but if I do well and make a big success, maybe he will let mecome back for Christmas, or next summer's vacation. "

"If he won't, Ma said you could come to our house, " said Adam. 

"That's kind of her, but I couldn't do it, " said Kate. 

"She SAID you could, " persisted the boy. 

"But if I did it, and Father got as mad as he was last night and toreup your father's deed, then where would I be?" asked Kate. 

"You'd be a sixteenth of two hundred acres better off than you arenow, " said Adam. 

"Possibly, " laughed Kate, "but I wouldn't want to become a land sharkthat way. Look down the road. "

"Who is it?" asked Adam. 

"Nancy Ellen, with my telescope, " answered Kate. "I am to go, allright. "

"All right, then we will go, " said the boy, angrily. "But it is ablame shame and there is no sense to it, as good a girl as you havebeen, and the way you have worked. Mother said at breakfast there wasneither sense nor justice in the way Grandpa always has acted and shesaid she would wager all she was worth that he would live to regret it. She said it wasn't natural, and when people undertook tocontrovert--ain't that a peach? Bet there isn't a woman in ten milesusing that word except Ma--nature they always hurt themselves worsethan they hurt their victims. And I bet he does, too, and I, for one, don't care. I hope he does get a good jolt, just to pay him up forbeing so mean. "

"Don't, Adam, don't!" cautioned Kate. 

"I mean it!" cried the boy. 

"I know you do. That's the awful thing about it, " said Kate. "I amafraid every girl he has feels the same way, and from what your fathersaid yesterday, even the sons he favours don't feel any too good towardhim. "

"You just bet they don't! They are every one as sore as boiled owls. Pa said so, and he knows, for they all talk it over every time theymeet. He said they didn't feel like men, they felt like a lot of'spanked school-boys. '"

"They needn't worry, " said Kate. "Every deed is made out. Fatherreads them over whenever it rains. They'll all get their land when hedies. It is only his way. "

"Yes, and THIS is only his way, too, and it's a dern poor way, " saidAdam. "Pa isn't going to do this way at all. Mother said he could goand live on his land, and she'd stay home with Susan and me, if hetried it. And when I am a man I am going to do just like Pa and Mabecause they are the rightest people I know, only I am not going tosave QUITE so close as Pa, and if I died for it, I never could converseor dance like Ma. "

"I should hope not!" said Kate, and then added hastily, "it's all rightfor a lady, but it would seem rather sissy for a man, I believe. "

"Yes, I guess it would, but it is language let me tell you, when Macuts loose, " said Adam. 

"Hello, Nancy Ellen, " said Kate as Adam stopped the buggy. "Put mytelescope in the back with the horse feed. Since you have it, I don'tneed ask whether I am the Prodigal Daughter or not. I see clearly Iam. "

Nancy Ellen was worried, until she was pale. 

"Kate, " she said, "I never have seen Father so angry in all my life. Ithought last night that in a day or two I could switch the school overto Serena Woodruff, and go on with my plans, but Father said atbreakfast if the Bates name was to stand for anything approachinghonour, a Bates would teach that school this winter or he'd know thereason why. And you know how easy it is to change him. Oh, Kate, won't you see if that Walden trustee can't possibly find anotherteacher, and let you off? I know Robert will be disappointed, for he'srented his office and bought a house and he said last night to getready as soon after Christmas as I could. Oh, Kate, won't you see ifyou can't possibly get that man to hire another teacher?"

"Why, Nancy Ellen--" said Kate. 

Nancy Ellen, with a twitching face, looked at Kate. 

"If Robert has to wait months, there in Hartley, handsome as he is, andhe has to be nice to everybody to get practice, and you know how thoseHartley girls are--"

"Yes, Nancy Ellen, I know, " said Kate. "I'll see what I can do. Is itunderstood that if I give up the school and come back and take ours, Father will let me come home?"

"Yes, oh, yes!" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"Well, nothing goes on guess-work. I'll hear him say it, myself, " saidKate. 

She climbed from the buggy. Nancy Ellen caught her arm. 

"Don't go in there! Don't you go there, " she cried. "He'll throw thefirst thing he can pick up at you. Mother says he hasn't been asleepall night. "

"Pooh!" said Kate. "How childish! I want to hear him say that, andhe'll scarcely kill me. "

She walked swiftly to the side door. 

"Father, " she said, "Nancy Ellen is afraid she will lose Robert Gray ifshe has to put off her marriage for months--"

Kate stepped back quickly as a chair crashed against the door facing. She again came into view and continued--"so she asked me if I would getout of my school and come back if I could"--Kate dodged another chair;when she appeared again--"To save the furniture, of which we have nonetoo much, I'll just step inside, " she said. When her father startedtoward her, she started around the dining table, talking as fast as shecould, he lunging after her like a furious bull. "She asked me to comeback and teach the school--to keep her from putting off herwedding--because she is afraid to-- If I can break my contractthere--may I come back and help her out here?"

The pace was going more swiftly each round, it was punctuated at thatinstant by a heavy meat platter aimed at Kate's head. She saw itpicked up and swayed so it missed. 

"I guess that is answer enough for me, " she panted, racing on. "Alovely father you are--no wonder your daughters are dishonest throughfear of you--no wonder your wife has no mind of her own--no wonder yoursons hate you and wish you would die--so they could have their deedsand be like men--instead of 'spanked school-boys' as they feel now--nowonder the whole posse of us hate you. "

Directly opposite the door Kate caught the table and drew it with herto bar the opening. As it crashed against the casing half the dishesflew to the floor in a heap. When Adam Bates pulled it from his pathhe stepped in a dish of fried potatoes and fell heavily. Kate reachedthe road, climbed in the buggy, and said the Nancy Ellen: "You'dbetter hide! Cut a bundle of stuff and send it to me by Adam and I'llsew my fingers to the bone for you every night. Now drive like sin, Adam!"

As Adam Bates came lurching down the walk in fury the buggy dashed pastand Kate had not even time to turn her head to see what happened. 

"Take the first turn, " she said to Adam. "I've done an awful thing. "

"What did you do?" cried the boy. 

"Asked him as nicely as I could; but he threw a chair at me. Somethingfunny happened to me, and I wasn't afraid of him at all. I dodged it, and finished what I was saying, and another chair came, so the twoBates went at it. "

"Oh, Kate, what did you do?" cried Adam. 

"Went inside and ran around the dining table while I told him what allhis sons and daughters think of him. 'Spanked school-boys' and all--"

"Did you tell him my father said that?" he demanded. 

"No. I had more sense left than that, " said Kate. "I only said allhis boys FELT like that. Then I pulled the table after me to block thedoor, and smashed half the dishes and he slipped in the fried potatoesand went down with a crash--"

"Bloody Murder!" cried young Adam, aghast. 

"Me, too!" said Kate. "I'll never step in that house again while helives. I've spilled the beans, now. "

"That you have, " said Adam, slacking his horse to glance back. "He isstanding in the middle of the road shaking his fist after you. "

"Can you see Nancy Ellen?" asked Kate. 

"No. She must have climbed the garden fence and hidden behind theprivet bush. "

"Well, she better make it a good long hide, until he has had plenty oftime to cool off. He'd have killed me if he had caught me, after hefell--and wasted all those potatoes already cooked----"

Kate laughed a dry hysterical laugh, but the boy sat white-faced andawed. 

"Never mind, " said Kate, seeing how frightened he was. "When he hashad plenty of time he'll cool off; but he'll never get over it. I hopehe doesn't beat Mother, because I was born. "

"Oh, drat such a man!" said young Adam. "I hope something worse thatthis happens to him. If ever I see Father begin to be the least bitlike him as he grows older I shall----"

"Well, what shall you do?" asked Kate, as he paused. 

"Tell Ma!" cried young Adam, emphatically. 

Kate leaned her face in her hands and laughed. When she could speakshe said: "Do you know, Adam, I think that would be the very bestthing you could do. "

"Why, of course!" said Adam. 

They drove swiftly and reached Walden before ten o'clock. There theyinquired their way to the home of the Trustee, but Kate said nothingabout giving up the school. She merely made a few inquiries, asked forthe key of the schoolhouse, and about boarding places. She wasdirected to four among which she might choose. 

"Where would you advise me to go?" she asked the Trustee. 

"Well, now, folks differ, " said he. "All those folks is neighbours ofmine and some might like one, and some might like another, best. ICOULD say this: I think Means would be the cheapest, Knowls thedearest, but the last teacher was a good one, an' she seemed wellsatisfied with the Widder Holt. "

"I see, " said Kate, smiling. 

Then she and young Adam investigated the schoolhouse and found it farbetter than any either of them had ever been inside. It promised everycomfort and convenience, compared with schools to which they had beenaccustomed, so they returned the keys, inquired about the cleaning ofthe building, and started out to find a boarding place. First theywent to the cheapest, but it could be seen at a glance that it was toocheap, so they eliminated that. Then they went to the most expensive, but it was obvious from the house and grounds that board there would bemore than Kate would want to pay. 

"I'd like to save my digestion, and have a place in which to study, where I won't freeze, " said Kate, "but I want to board as cheaply as Ican. This morning changes my plans materially. I shall want to go toschool next summer part of the time, but the part I do not, I shallhave to pay my way, so I mustn't spend money as I thought I would. Notone of you will dare be caught doing a thing for me. To make you safeI'll stay away, but it will cost me money that I'd hoped to have forclothes like other girls. "

"It's too bad, " said Adam, "but I'll stick to you, and so will Ma. "

"Of course you will, you dear boy, " said Kate. "Now let's try ourthird place; it is not far from here. "

Soon they found the house, but Kate stopped short on sight of it. 

"Adam, there has been little in life to make me particular, " she said, "but I draw the line at that house. I would go crazy in a housepainted bright red with brown and blue decoration. It should beprohibited by law. Let us hunt up the Widder Holt and see how hertaste in colour runs. "

"The joke is on you, " said Adam, when they had found the house. 

It was near the school, on a wide shady street across which big mapleslocked branches. There was a large lot filled with old fruit trees andlong grass, with a garden at the back. The house was old and low, having a small porch in front, but if it ever had seen paint, it didnot show it at that time. It was a warm linty gray, the shingles ofthe old roof almost moss-covered. 

"The joke IS on me, " said Kate. "I shall have no quarrel with thepaint here, and will you look at that?"

Adam looked where Kate pointed across the street, and nodded. 

"That ought to be put in a gold frame, " he said. 

"I think so, too, " said Kate. "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if Istay where I can see it. "

They were talking of a deep gully facing the house and running to alevee where the street crossed. A stream ran down it, dipped under aculvert, turned sharply, and ran away to a distant river, spanningwhich they could see the bridge. Tall old forest trees lined thebanks, shrubs and bushes grew in a thicket. There were swaying, clambering vines and a babel of bird notes over the seed and berrybearing bushes. 

"Let's go inside, and if we agree, then we will get some water and feedthe horse and eat our lunch over there, " said Kate. 

"Just the thing!" said young Adam. "Come and we will proceed to theresidence of Mrs. Holt and investigate her possibilities. How do youlike that?"

"That is fine, " said Kate gravely. 

"It is, " said Adam, promptly, "because it is Ma. And whatever is Ma, isright. "

"Good for you!" cried Kate. "I am going to break a Bates record andkiss you good-bye, when you go. I probably shan't have another inyears. Come on. "

They walked up the grassy wooden walk, stepped on the tiny, vine-covered porch, and lifted and dropped a rusty old iron knocker. Almost at once the door opened, to reveal a woman of respectableappearance, a trifle past middle age. She made Kate think of driedsage because she had a dried-out look and her complexion, hair, andeyes were all that colour. She was neat and clean while the hall intowhich she invited them was clean and had a wholesome odour. Kateexplained her errand. Mrs. Holt breathed a sigh of relief. 

"Well, thank goodness I was before-handed, " she said. "The teacherstayed here last year and she was satisfied, so I ast the Trustee tomention me to the new teacher. Nobody was expecting you until the lastof the week, but I says to myself, 'always take time by the fetlock, Samantha, always be ready'; so last week I put in scouring my spareroom to beat the nation, and it's all ready so's you can walk right in. "

"Thank you, " said Kate, rather resenting the assumption that she was tohave no option in the matter. "I have four places on my list wherethey want the teacher, so I thought I would look at each of them andthen decide. "

"My, ain't we choicey!" said Mrs. Holt in sneering tones. Then shechanged instantly, and in suave commendation went on: "That's exactlyright. That's the very thing fer you to do. After you have seen whatWalden has to offer, then a pretty young thing like you can make upyour mind where you will have the most quiet fer your work, the bestroom, and be best fed. One of the greatest advantages here fer ateacher is that she can be quiet, an' not have her room rummaged. Every place else that takes boarders there's a lot of children; herethere is only me and my son, and he is grown, and will be off to hismedical work next week fer the year, so all your working time here, you'd be alone with me. This is the room. "

"That surely would be a great advantage, because I have much studyingto do, " said Kate as they entered the room. 

With one glance, she liked it. It was a large room with low ceiling, quaintly papered in very old creamy paper, scattered with delicatelycut green leaves, but so carefully had the room been kept, that it wasstill clean. There were four large windows to let in light and air, freshly washed white curtains hanging over the deep green shades. Thefloor was carpeted with a freshly washed rag carpet stretched overstraw, the bed was invitingly clean and looked comfortable, there was awash stand with bowl and pitcher, soap and towels, a small table with alamp, a straight-backed chair and a rocking chair. Mrs. Holt opened alarge closet having hooks for dresses at one end and shelves at theother. On the top of these there were a comfort and a pair of heavyblankets. 

"Your winter covers, " said Mrs. Holt, indicating these, "and there is agood stove I take out in summer to make more room, and set up as soonas it gets cold, and that is a wood box. "

She pointed out a shoe box covered with paper similar to that on thewalls. 

Kate examined the room carefully, the bed, the closet, and tried thechairs. Behind the girl, Mrs. Holt, with compressed lips, forgettingAdam's presence, watched in evident disapproval. 

"I want to see the stove, " said Kate. 

"It is out in the woodhouse. It hasn't been cleaned up for the winteryet. "

"Then it won't be far away. Let's look at it. "

Almost wholly lacking experience, Kate was proceeding by instinct inexactly the same way her father would have taken through experience. Mrs. Holt hesitated, then turned: "Oh, very well, " she said, leadingthe way down the hall, through the dining room, which was older infurnishing and much more worn, but still clean and wholesome, as werethe small kitchen and back porch. From it there was only a step to thewoodhouse, where on a little platform across one end sat two smallstoves for burning wood, one so small as to be tiny. Kate walked tothe larger, lifted the top, looked inside, tried the dampers and draftsand turning said: "That is very small. It will require more wood thana larger one. "

Mrs. Holt indicated dry wood corded to the roof. 

"We git all our wood from the thicket across the way. That littlestrip an' this lot is all we have left of father's farm. We kept thisto live on, and sold the rest for town lots, all except that gully, which we couldn't give away. But I must say I like the trees and birdsbetter than mebby I'd like people who might live there; we always gitour wood from it, and the shade an' running water make it the coolestplace in town. "

"Yes, I suppose they do, " said Kate. 

She took one long look at everything as they returned to the hall. 

"The Trustee told me your terms are four dollars and fifty cents aweek, furnishing food and wood, " she said, "and that you allowed thelast teacher to do her own washing on Saturday, for nothing. Is thatright?"

The thin lips drew more tightly. Mrs. Holt looked at Kate from head tofoot in close scrutiny. 

"I couldn't make enough to pay the extra work at that, " she said. "Iought to have a dollar more, to really come out even. I'll have to sayfive-fifty this fall. "

"If that is the case, good-bye, " said Kate. "Thank you very much forshowing me. Five-fifty is what I paid at Normal, it is more than I canafford in a village like this. "

She turned away, followed by Adam. They crossed the street, wateredthe horse at the stream, placed his food conveniently for him, andtaking their lunch box, seated themselves on a grassy place on the bankand began eating. 

"Wasn't that a pretty nice room?" asked Adam. "Didn't you kind of hateto give it up?"

"I haven't the slightest intention of giving it up, " answered Kate. "That woman is a skin-flint and I don't propose to let her beat me. Nodoubt she was glad to get four-fifty last fall. She's only trying tosee if she can wring me for a dollar more. If I have to board all nextsummer, I shall have to watch every penny, or I'll not come out even, let alone saving anything. I'll wager you a nickel that before weleave, she comes over here and offers me the room at the same price shegot last winter. "

"I hope you are right, " said Adam. "How do you like her?"

"Got a grouch, nasty temper, mean disposition; clean house, good room, good cook--maybe; lives just on the edge of comfort by daily skimping, "summarized Kate. 

"If she comes, are you going to try it?" asked Adam. 

"Yes, I think I shall. It is nearest my purse and requirements and ifthe former teacher stayed there, it will seem all right for me; but sheisn't going to put that little stove in my room. It wouldn't heat thecloset. How did you like her?"

"Not much!" said Adam, promptly. "If glaring at your back could havekilled you, you would have fallen dead when you examined the closet, and bedding, and stove. She honeyed up when she had to, but she wasmad as hops. I nearly bursted right out when she talked about 'takingtime by the fetlock. ' I wanted to tell her she looked like she had, and almost got the life kicked out of her doing it, but I thought I'dbetter not. "

Kate laughed. "Yes, I noticed, " she said, "but I dared not look atyou. I was afraid you'd laugh. Isn't this a fine lunch?"

"Bet your life it is, " said Adam. "Ma never puts up any other kind. "

"I wish someone admired me as much as you do your mother, Adam, " saidKate. 

"Well, you be as nice as Ma, and somebody is sure to, " said he. 

"But I never could, " said Kate. 

"Oh, yes, you could, " said Adam, "if you would only set yourself to doit and try with all your might to be like her. Look, quick! That mustbe her 'Medical Course' man!"

Kate glanced across the way and saw a man she thought to be aboutthirty years of age. He did not resemble his mother in any particular, if he was the son of Mrs. Holt. He was above the average man inheight, having broad, rather stooping shoulders, dark hair and eyes. He stopped at the gate and stood a few seconds looking at them, so theycould not very well study him closely, then he went up the walk withloose, easy stride and entered the house. 

"Yes, that is her son, " said Kate. "That is exactly the way a manenters a house that belongs to him. "

"That isn't the way I am going to enter my house, " said Adam. "Now whatshall we do?"

"Rest half an hour while they talk it over, and then get ready to govery deliberately. If she doesn't come across, literally andfiguratively, we hunt another boarding place. "

"I half believe she will come, " said Adam. "She is watching us; I cansee her pull back the blind of her room to peep. "

"Keep looking ahead. Don't let her think you see her. Let's go up thecreek and investigate this ravine. Isn't it a lovely place?"

"Yes. I'm glad you got it, " said Adam, "that is, if she come across. I will think of you as having it to look at in summer; and thiswinter--my, what rabbit hunting there will be, and how pretty it willlook!"

So they went wandering up the ravine, sometimes on one bank, sometimescrossing stepping-stones or logs to the other, looking, talking, untila full hour had passed when they returned to the buggy. Adam beganchanging the halter for the bridle while Kate shook out the lap robe. 

"Nickel, please, " whispered Kate. 

Adam glanced across the street to see Mrs. Holt coming. She approachedthem and with no preliminaries said: "I have been telling my son aboutyou an' he hates so bad to go away and leave me alone for the winter, that he says to take you at the same as the last teacher, even if I dolose money on it. "

"Oh, you wouldn't do that, Mrs. Holt, " said Kate, carelessly. "Ofcourse it is for you to decide. I like the room, and if the board wasright for the other teacher it will be for me. If you want me to stay, I'll bring my things over and take the room at once. If not, I'll lookfarther. "

"Come right over, " said Mrs. Holt, cordially. "I am anxious to git onthe job of mothering such a sweet young lady. What will you have foryour supper?"

"Whatever you are having, " said Kate. "I am not accustomed to orderingmy meals. Adam, come and help me unpack. "

In half an hour Kate had her dresses on the hooks, her underclothing onthe shelves, her books on the table, her pencils and pen in the robincup, and was saying goodbye to Adam, and telling him what to tell hisfather, mother, and Nancy Ellen--if he could get a stolen interviewwith her on the way home. He also promised to write Kate what happenedabout the home school and everything in which she would be interested. Then she went back to her room, sat in the comfortable rocking chair, and with nothing in the world she was obliged to do immediately, shestared at the opposite wall and day by day reviewed the summer. Shesat so long and stared at the wall so intently that gradually itdissolved and shaped into the deep green ravine across the way, whichsank into soothing darkness and the slowly lightened until a peep ofgold came over the tree tops; and then, a red sun crept up having a bigwonderful widespread wing on each side of it. Kate's head fell with ajerk which awakened her, so she arose, removed her dress, washed andbrushed her hair, put on a fresh dress and taking a book, she crossedthe street and sat on the bank of the stream again, which she watchedinstead of reading, as she had intended. 

CHAPTER VI

KATE'S PRIVATE PUPIL

AT FIRST Kate merely sat in a pleasant place and allowed her nerves tosettle, after the short nap she had enjoyed in the rocking chair. Itwas such a novel experience for her to sit idle, that despite theattractions of growing things, running water, and singing birds, shesoon veered to thoughts of what she would be doing if she were at home, and that brought her to the fact that she was forbidden her father'shouse; so if she might not go there, she was homeless. As she hadknown her father for nearly nineteen years, for she had a birthanniversary coming in a few days, she felt positive that he never wouldvoluntarily see her again, while with his constitution, he would livefor years. She might as well face the fact that she was homeless; andprepare to pay her way all the year round. She wondered why she feltso forlorn and what made the dull ache in her throat. 

She remembered telling Nancy Ellen before going away to Normal that shewished her father would drive her from home. Now that wasaccomplished. She was away from home, in a place where there was notone familiar face, object, or plan of life, but she did not wish for itat all. She devoutly wished that she were back at home even if shewere preparing supper, in order that Nancy Ellen might hem towels. Shewondered what they were saying: her mind was crystal clear as to whatthey were doing. She wondered if Nancy Ellen would send Adam, 3d, witha parcel of cut-out sewing for her to work on. She resolved to sewquickly and with stitches of machine-like evenness, if it came. Shewondered if Nancy Ellen would be compelled to put off her wedding andteach the home school in order that it might be taught by a Bates, asher father had demanded. She wondered if Nancy Ellen was forced tothis uncongenial task, whether it would sour the wonderful sweetnessdeveloped by her courtship, and make her so provoked that she would notwrite or have anything to do with her. They were nearly the same age;they had shared rooms, and, until recently, beds, and whatever lifebrought them; now Kate lifted her head and ran her hand against herthroat to ease the ache gathering there more intensely every minute. With eyes that did not see, she sat staring at the sheer walls of theravine as it ran toward the east, where the water came tumbling andleaping down over stones and shale bed. When at last she arose she hadlearned one lesson, not in the History she carried. No matter what itsdisadvantages are, having a home of any kind is vastly preferable tohaving none. And the casualness of people so driven by the demands ofliving and money making that they do not take time even to be slightlycourteous and kind, no matter how objectionable it may be, still that, even that, is better than their active displeasure. So she satbrooding and going over and over the summer, arguing her side of thecase, honestly trying to see theirs, until she was mentally exhaustedand still had accomplished nothing further than arriving at theconclusion that if Nancy Ellen was forced to postpone her wedding shewould turn against her and influence Robert Gray in the same feeling. 

Then Kate thought of Him. She capitalized him in her thought, forafter nineteen years of Bates men Robert Gray would seem a deifiedcreature to their women. She reviewed the scene at the crossing log, while her face flushed with pleasure. If she had remained at home andhad gone after the blackberries, as it was sure as fate that she wouldhave done, then she would have met him first, and he would have courtedher instead of Nancy Ellen. Suddenly Kate shook herself savagely andsat straight. "Why, you big fool!" she said. "Nancy Ellen went to theberry patch in a pink dress, wearing a sunbonnet to match, and carryinga blue bowl. Think of the picture she made! But if I had gone, I'dhave been in a ragged old dirt-coloured gingham, Father's boots, andhis old straw hat jammed down to my ears; I'd have been hot and in asurly temper, rebelling because I had the berries to pick. He wouldhave taken one look at me, jumped the fence, and run to Lang's for dearlife. Better cut that idea right out!"

So Kate "cut that idea out" at once, but the operation was painful, because when one turns mental surgeon and operates on the ugly spots inone's disposition, there is no anaesthetic, nor is the work done withskilful hands, so the wounds are numerous and leave ugly scars; butKate was ruthless. She resolved never to think of that brook sceneagain. In life, as she had lived it, she would not have profited byhaving been first at the berry patch. Yet she had a right to think ofRobert Gray's face, grave in concern for her, his offers to help, theinfluence he would have in her favour with Nancy Ellen. Of course ifhe was forced to postpone his wedding he would not be pleased; but itwas impossible that the fears which were tormenting Nancy Ellen wouldmaterialize into action on his part. No sane man loved a woman asbeautiful as her sister and cast her aside because of a few months'enforced waiting, the cause of which he so very well knew; but it wouldmake both of them unhappy and change their beautiful plans, after heeven had found and purchased the house. Still Nancy Ellen said thather father was making it a point of honour that a Bates should teachthe school, because he had signed the contract for Kate to take theplace Nancy Ellen had intended to fill, and then changed her plans. Hehad sworn that a Bates should teach the school. Well, Hiram had takenthe county examination, as all pupils of the past ten years had whenthey finished the country schools. It was a test required to provewhether they had done their work well. Hiram held a certificate for ayear, given him by the County Superintendent, when he passed theexaminations. He had never used it. He could teach; he was NancyEllen's twin. School did not begin until the first of November. Hecould hire help with his corn if he could not finish alone. He couldarise earlier than usual and do his feeding and milking; he could cleanthe stables, haul wood on Saturday and Sunday, if he must, for theBates family looked on Sunday more as a day of rest for the horses andphysical man than as one of religious observances. They always workedif there was anything to be gained by it. Six months being the term, he would be free by the first of May; surely the money would be anattraction, while Nancy Ellen could coach him on any new methods shehad learned at Normal. Kate sprang to her feet, ran across the street, and entering the hall, hurried to her room. She found Mrs. Holt therein the act of closing her closet door. Kate looked at her withastonished eyes. 

"I was just telling my son, " Mrs. Holt said rather breathlessly, "thatI would take a peep and see if I had forgot to put your extra covers onthe shelf. "

Kate threw her book on the bed and walked to the table. She hadexperienced her share of battle for the day. "No children to rummage, "passed through her brain. It was the final week of hot, dry Augustweather, while a point had been made of calling her attention to theextra cover when the room had been shown her. She might have said thesethings, but why say them? The shamed face of the woman convicted herof "rummaging, " as she had termed it. Without a word Kate sat downbeside the table, drew her writing material before her, and beganaddressing an envelope to her brother Hiram. Mrs. Holt left the room, disliking Kate more than if she had said what the woman knew shethought. 

Kate wrote briefly, convincingly, covering every objection and everyadvantage she could conceive, and then she added the strongest plea shecould make. What Hiram would do, she had no idea. As with all Batesmen, land was his God, but it required money to improve it. He wouldfeel timid about making a first attempt to teach after he was marriedand a father of a child, but Nancy Ellen's marriage would furnishplausible excuse; all of the family had done their school work asperfectly as all work they undertook; he could teach if he wanted to;would he want to? If he did, at least, she would be sure of thecontinued friendship of her sister and Robert Gray. Suddenly Kateunderstood what that meant to her as she had not realized before. Shewas making long strides toward understanding herself, which is the mostimportant feature of any life. 

She sent a line of pleading to her sister-in-law, a word of love to thebaby, and finishing her letter, started to post it, as she rememberedthe office was only a few steps down the street. In the hall itoccurred to her that she was the "Teacher" now, and so should be anexample. Possibly the women of Walden did not run bareheaded down thestreet on errands. She laid the letter on a small shelf of an oldhatrack, and stepped back to her room to put on her hat. Her returnwas so immediate that Mrs. Holt had the letter in her fingers when Katecame back, and was reading the address so intently, that with extendedhand, the girl said in cold tones: "My letter, please!" before thewoman realized she was there. Their eyes met in a level look. Mrs. Holt's mouth opened in ready excuse, but this time Kate's temperovercame her better judgment. 

"Can you read it clearly, without your glasses?" she asked politely. "I wouldn't for the world have you make a mistake as to whom my letteris addressed. It goes to my brother Hiram Bates, youngest son of AdamBates, Bates Corners, Hartley, Indiana. "

"I was going to give it to my son, so that he could take it to theoffice, " said Mrs. Holt. 

"And I am going to take it myself, as I know your son is down town andI want it to go over on the evening hack, so it will be sure to go outearly in the morning. "

Surprise overcame Mrs. Holt's discomfiture. 

"Land sakes!" she cried. "Bates is such a common name it didn't mean athing to me. Be you a daughter of Adam Bates, the Land King, of BatesCorners?"

"I be, " said Kate tersely. 

"Well, I never! All them hundreds of acres of land an' money in thebank an' mortgages on half his neighbours. Whut the nation! An' nomore of better clo's an' you got! An' teachin' school! I never heard ofthe like in all my days!"

"If you have Bates history down so fine, you should know that everygirl of the entire Bates family has taught from the time she finishedschool until she married. Also we never buy more clothing than weneed, or of the kind not suitable for our work. This may explain why weown some land and have a few cents in the Bank. My letter, please. "

Kate turned and went down the street, a dull red tingeing her face. "Icould hate that woman cordially without half trying, " she said. 

The house was filled with the odour of cooking food when she returnedand soon she was called to supper. As she went to the chair indicatedfor her, a step was heard in the hall. Kate remained standing and whena young man entered the room Mrs. Holt at once introduced her son, George. He did not take the trouble to step around the table and shakehands, but muttered a gruff "howdy do?" and seating himself, at oncepicked up the nearest dish and began filling his plate. 

His mother would have had matters otherwise. "Why, George, " shechided. "What's your hurry? Why don't you brush up and wait on MissBates first?"

"Oh, if she is going to be one of the family, " he said, "she will haveto learn to get on without much polly-foxing. Grub is to eat. We canall reach at a table of this size. "

Kate looked at George Holt with a searching glance. Surely he wasalmost thirty, of average height, appeared strong, and as if he mighthave a forceful brain; but he was loosely jointed and there was a traceof domineering selfishness on his face that was repulsive to her. "Icould hate that MAN cordially, without half trying, " she thought toherself, smiling faintly at the thought. 

The sharp eyes of Mrs. Holt detected the smile. She probably wouldhave noticed it, if Kate had merely thought of smiling. 

"Why do you smile, my dear?" she asked in melting tone. 

"Oh, I was feeling so at home, " answered Kate, suavely. "Father and theboys hold exactly those opinions and practise them in precisely thesame way; only if I were to think about it at all, I should think thata man within a year of finishing a medical course would beginexercising politeness with every woman he meets. I believe a doctordepends on women to be most of his patients, and women don't like arude doctor. "

"Rot!" said George Holt. 

"Miss Bates is exactly right, " said his mother. "Ain't I been tellin'you the whole endurin' time that you'd never get a call unless youpractised manners as well as medicine? Ain't I, now?"

"Yes, you have, " he said, angrily. "But if you think all of a suddenthat manners are so essential, why didn't you hammer some into me whenyou had the whip hand and could do what you pleased? You didn't findany fault with my manners, then. "

"How of all the world was I to know that you'd grow up and go in fordoctorin'? I s'pos'd then you'd take the farm an' run it like your padid, stead of forcin' me to sell it off by inches to live, an' then youwastin' half the money. "

"Go it, Mother, " said George Holt, rudely. "Tell all you know, andthen piece out with anything you can think of that you don't. "

Mrs. Holt's face flushed crimson. She looked at Kate and saidvindictively: "If you want any comfort in life, never marry and bringa son inter the world. You kin humour him, and cook for him, an workyour hands to the bone fur him, and sell your land, and spend all youcan raise educatin' him for half a dozen things, an' him never stickinto none or payin' back a cent, but sass in your old age--"

"Go it, Mother, you're doing fine!" said George. "If you keep on MissBates will want to change her boarding place before morning. "

"It will not be wholly your mother's fault, if I do, " said Kate. "Iwould suggest that if we can't speak civilly, we eat our supper insilence. This is very good food; I could enjoy it, if I had a chance. "

She helped herself to another soda biscuit and a second piece of friedchicken and calmly began eating them. 

"That's a good idy!" said Mrs. Holt. 

"Then why don't you practice it?" said her son. 

Thereupon began a childish battle for the last word. Kate calmlyarose, picked up her plate, walked from the room, down the hall, andentering her own room, closed the door quietly. 

"You fool! You great big dunderheaded fool!" cried Mrs. Holt. "Now youhave done it, for the thousandth time. She will start out in less thanno time to find some place else to stay, an' who could blame her?Don't you know who she is? Ain't you sense in your head? If there wasever a girl you ort to go after, and go quick an' hard, there she is!"

"What? That big beef! What for?" asked George. 

"You idjit! You idjit! Don't you sense that she's a daughter of AdamBates? Him they call the Land King. Ain't you sense ner reason?Drive her from the house, will you? An' me relyin' on sendin' you halfher board money to help you out? You fool!"

"Why under the Heavens didn't you tell me? How could I know? Nodanger but the bowl is upset, and it's all your fault. She should beworth ten thousand, maybe twenty!"

"I never knew till jist before supper. I got it frum a letter shewrote to her brother. I'd no chanct to tell you. Course I meant to, first chanct I had; but you go to work an upset everything before I geta chanct. You never did amount to anything, an' you never will. "

"Oh, well, now stop that. I didn't know. I thought she was justcommon truck. I'll fix it up with her right after supper. Now shutup. "

"You can't do it! It's gone too far. She'll leave the house insidefifteen minutes, " said Mrs. Holt. 

"Well, I'll just show you, " he boasted. 

George Holt pushed back his plate, wiped his mouth, brushed his teethat the washing place on the back porch, and sauntered around the houseto seat himself on the front porch steps. Kate saw him there andremained in her room. When he had waited an hour he arose and tappedon her door. Kate opened it. 

"Miss Bates, " he said. "I have been doing penance an hour. I am verysorry I was such a boor. I was in earnest when I said I didn't get thegad when I needed it. I had a big disappointment to-day, and I came insore and cross. I am ashamed of myself, but you will never see me thatway again. I know I will make a failure of my profession if I don't bemore polite than Mother ever taught me to be. Won't you let me be yourscholar, too? Please do come over to the ravine where it is cool andgive me my first lesson. I need you dreadfully. "

Kate was desperately in need of human companionship in that instant, herself, someone who could speak, and sin, and suffer, and repent. Asshe looked straight in the face of the man before her she saw, not himbeing rude and quarrelling pettily with his mother, but herself racingaround the dining table pursued by her father raving like an insaneman. Who was she to judge or to refuse help when it was asked? Shewent with him; and Mrs. Holt, listening and peering from the side ofthe window blind of her room across the hall, watched them cross theroad and sit beside each other on the bank of the ravine in what seemedpolite and amicable conversation. So she heaved a deep sigh of reliefand went to wash the dishes and plan breakfast. "Better feed her uppretty well 'til she gits the habit of staying here and mebby the restwho take boarders will be full, " she said to herself. "Time enough togo at skimpin' when she's settled, and busy, an' I get the whip hand. "

But in planning to get the "whip hand" Mrs. Holt reckoned without Kate. She had been under the whip hand all her life. Her dash to freedom hadnot been accomplished without both mental and physical hurt. She wasdoing nothing but going over her past life minutely, and as sherealized more fully with each review how barren and unlovely it hadbeen, all the strength and fresh young pride in her arose in imperativedemand for something better in the future. She listened with interestto what George Holt said to her. All her life she had been driven by aman of inflexible will, his very soul inoculated with greed forpossessions which would give him power; his body endowed with unfailingstrength to meet the demands he made on it, and his heart whollylacking in sentiment; but she did not propose to start her new life byspeaking of her family to strangers. George Holt's experiences hadbeen those of a son spoiled by a weak woman, one day petted, the nextbribed, the next nagged, again left to his own devices for days, withstrong inherited tendencies to be fought, tendencies to what he did notsay. Looking at his heavy jaw and swarthy face, Kate supplied "temper"and "not much inclination to work. " He had asked her to teach him, shewould begin by setting him an example in the dignity of self-control;then she would make him work. How she would make that big, strong manwork! As she sat there on the bank of the ravine, with a background ofdelicately leafed bushes and the light of the setting sun on her faceand her hair, George Holt studied her closely, mentally and physically, and would have given all he possessed if he had not been so hasty. Hesaw that she had a good brain and courage to follow her convictions, while on closer study he decided that she was moulded on the finestphysical lines of any woman he ever had seen, also his study ofmedicine taught him to recognize glowing health, and to set a rightestimate on it. Truly he was sorry, to the bottom of his soul, but hedid not believe in being too humble. He said as much in apology as hefelt forced, and then set himself the task of calling out and paradingthe level best he could think up concerning himself, or life ingeneral. He had tried farming, teaching, merchandise, and law beforehe had decided his vocation was medicine. 

On account of Robert Gray, Kate was much interested in this, but whenshe asked what college he was attending, he said he was going to aschool in Chicago that was preparing to revolutionize the world ofmedicine. Then he started on a hobby that he had ridden for months, paying for the privilege, so Kate learned with surprise and no smalldismay that in a few months a man could take a course in medicine thatwould enable him "to cure any ill to which the human flesh is heir, " ashe expressed it, without knowing anything of surgery, or drugs, orusing either. Kate was amazed and said so at once. Shedisconcertingly inquired what he would do with patients who hadsustained fractured skulls, developed cancers, or been exposed tosmallpox. But the man before her proposed to deal with none of thosedisagreeable things, or their like. He was going to make fame andfortune in the world by treating mental and muscular troubles. He wasgoing to be a Zonoletic Doctor. He turned teacher and spelled it forher, because she never had heard the word. Kate looked at George Holtlong and with intense interest, while her mind was busy with newthoughts. On her pillow that night she decided that if she were a man, driven by a desire to heal the suffering of the world, she would be theman who took the long exhaustive course of training that enabled him todeal with accidents, contagions, and germ developments. 

He looked at her with keen appreciation of her physical freshness andmental strength, and manoeuvred patiently toward the point where hewould dare ask blankly how many there were in her family, and onexactly how many acres her father paid tax. He decided it would not dofor at least a week yet; possibly he could raise the subject casuallywith someone down town who would know, so that he need never ask her atall. Whatever the answer might be, it was definitely settled in hisown mind that Kate was the best chance he had ever had, or probablyever would have. He mapped out his campaign. This week, before hemust go, he would be her pupil and her slave. The holiday week hewould be her lover. In the spring he would propose, and in the fall hewould marry her, and live on the income from her land ever afterward. It was a glowing prospect; so glowing that he seriously consideredstopping school at once so that her could be at the courting part ofhis campaign three times a day and every evening. He was afraid toleave for fear people of the village would tell the truth about him. He again studied Kate carefully and decided that during the week thatwas coming, by deft and energetic work he could so win her approvalthat he could make her think that she knew him better than outsidersdid. So the siege began. 

Kate had decided to try making him work, to see if he would, or wasaccustomed to it. He was sufficiently accustomed to it that he coulddo whatever she suggested with facility that indicated practice, andthere was no question of his willingness. He urged her to makesuggestions as to what else he could do, after he had made all theneeded repairs about the house and premises. Kate was enjoying herselfimmensely, before the week was over. She had another row of woodcorded to the shed roof, in case the winter should be severe. She hadthe stove she thought would warm her room polished and set up while hewas there to do it. She had the back porch mended and the loose boardin the front walk replaced. She borrowed buckets and cloths andimpressed George Holt for the cleaning of the school building which shesuperintended. Before the week was over she had every child of schoolage who came to the building to see what was going on, scouring outdesks, blacking stoves, raking the yard, even cleaning the streetbefore the building. 

Across the street from his home George sawed the dead wood from thetrees and then, with three days to spare, Kate turned her attention tothe ravine. She thought that probably she could teach better there inthe spring than in the school building. She and George talked it over. He raised all the objections he could think of that the townspeoplewould, while entirely agreeing with her himself, but it was of no use. She over-ruled the proxy objections he so kindly offered her, so he wasobliged to drag his tired body up the trees on both banks for severalhundred yards and drop the dead wood. Kate marshalled a corps of boyswho would be her older pupils and they dragged out the dry branches, saved all that were suitable for firewood, and made bonfires from theremainder. They raked the tin cans and town refuse of years from thewater and banks and induced the village delivery man to haul the stuffto the river bridge and dump it in the deepest place in the stream. They cleaned the creek bank to the water's edge and built rustic seatsdown the sides. They even rolled boulders to the bed and set themwhere the water would show their markings and beat itself to foamagainst them. Mrs. Holt looked on in breathless amazement andprivately expressed to her son her opinion of him in terse and vigorouslanguage. He answered laconically: "Has a fish got much to say aboutwhat happens to it after you get it out of the water?"

"No!" snapped Mrs. Holt, "and neither have you, if you kill yourself toget it. "

"Do I look killed?" inquired her son. 

"No. You look the most like a real man I ever saw you, " she conceded. 

"And Kate Bates won't need glasses for forty years yet, " he said as hewent back to his work in the ravine. 

Kate was in the middle of the creek helping plant a big stone. Hestood a second watching her as she told the boys surrounding her howbest to help her, then he turned away, a dull red burning his cheek. "I'll have her if I die for it, " he muttered, "but I hope to Heaven shedoesn't think I am going to work like this for her every day of mylife. "

As the villagers sauntered past and watched the work of the newteacher, many of them thought of things at home they could do thatwould improve their premises greatly, and a few went home and beganwork of like nature. That made their neighbours' places look sounkempt that they were forced to trim, and rake, and mend in turn, soby the time the school began, the whole village was busy in a crusadethat extended to streets and alleys, while the new teacher was the mostpopular person who had ever been there. Without having heard of such athing, Kate had started Civic Improvement. 

George Holt leaned against a tree trunk and looked down at her as herested. 

"Do you suppose there is such a thing as ever making anything out ofthis?" he asked. 

"A perfectly lovely public park for the village, yes; money, selling itfor anything, no! It's too narrow a strip, cut too deeply with thewater, the banks too steep. Commercially, I can't see that it is worthten cents. "

"Cheering! It is the only thing on earth that truly and wholly belongsto me. The road divided the land. Father willed everything on thesouth side to Mother, so she would have the house, and the land on thisside was mine. I sold off all I could to Jasper Linn to add to hisfarm, but he would only buy to within about twenty rods of the ravine. The land was too rocky and poor. So about half a mile of this comprisesmy earthly possessions. "

"Do you keep up the taxes?" she asked. 

"No. I've never paid them, " he said carelessly. 

"Then don't be too sure it is yours, " she said. "Someone may have paidthem and taken the land. You had better look it up. "

"What for?" he demanded. 

"It is beautiful. It is the shadiest, coolest place in town. Having ithere doubles the value of your mother's house across the street. Insome way, some day, it might turn out to be worth something. "

"I can't see how, " he said. 

"Some of the trees may become valuable when lumber gets scarcer, as itwill when the land grows older. Maybe a stone quarry could be openedup, if the stone runs back as far as you say. A lot of things mightmake it valuable. If I were you I would go to Hartley, quietly, to-morrow, and examine the records, and if there are back taxes I'd paythem. "

"I'll look it up, anyway, " he agreed. "You surely have made anotherplace of it. It will be wonderful by spring. "

"I can think of many uses for it, " said Kate. "Here comes your motherto see how we are getting along. "

Instead, she came to hand Kate a letter she had brought from the postoffice while doing her marketing. Kate took the letter, saw at aglance that it was from Nancy Ellen, and excusing herself, she went toone of the seats they had made, and turning her face so that it couldnot be seen, she read:

DEAR KATE: You can prepare yourself for the surprise of your life. Two Bates men have done something for one of their women. I hope youwill survive the shock; it almost finished me and Mother is stillspeechless. I won't try to prepare you. I could not. Here it is. Father raged for three days and we got out of his way like scaredrabbits. I saw I had to teach, so I said I would, but I had not toldRobert, because I couldn't bear to. Then up came Hiram and offered totake the school for me. Father said no, I couldn't get out of it thatway. Hiram said I had not seen him or sent him any word, and I couldprove by mother I hadn't been away from the house, so Father believedhim. He said he wanted the money to add two acres to his land from theSimms place; that would let his stock down to water on the far side ofhis land where it would be a great convenience and give him a betterarrangement of fields so he could make more money. You know Father. He shut up like a clam and only said: "Do what you please. If a Batesteaches the school it makes my word good. " So Hiram is going to teachfor me. He is brushing up a little nights and I am helping him on"theory, " and I am wild with joy, and so is Robert. I shall haveplenty of time to do all my sewing and we shall be married at, orafter, Christmas. Robert says to tell you to come to see him if youever come to Hartley. He is there in his office now and it islonesome, but I am busy and the time will soon pass. I might as welltell you that Father said right after you left that you should neverenter his house again, and Mother and I should not speak your namebefore him. I do hope he gets over it before the wedding. Write mehow you like your school, and where you board. Maybe Robert and I canslip off and drive over to see you some day. But that would make Fatherso mad if he found out that he would not give me the money he promised;so we had better not, but you come to see us as soon as we get in ourhome. Love from both, NANCY ELLEN. 

Kate read the joyful letter slowly. It contained all she hoped for. She had not postponed Nancy Ellen's wedding. That was all she asked. She had known she would not be forgiven so soon, there was slight hopeshe ever would. Her only chance, thought Kate, lay in marrying afarmer having about a thousand acres of land. If she could do that, herfather would let her come home again sometime. She read the letterslowly over, then tearing it in long strips she cross tore them andsifted the handful of small bits on the water, where they started adashing journey toward the river. Mrs. Holt, narrowly watching her, turned with snaky gleaming eyes to her son and whispered: "A-ha! MissSmart Alec has a secret!"

CHAPTER VII

HELPING NANCY ELLEN AND ROBERT TO ESTABLISH A HOME

THE remainder of the time before leaving, George Holt spent in the verystrongest mental and physical effort to show Kate how much of a man hewas. He succeeded in what he hoped he might do. He so influenced herin his favour that during the coming year whenever any one showed signsof criticising him, Kate stopped them by commendation, based upon whatshe supposed to be knowledge of him. 

With the schoolhouse and grounds cleaned as they never had been before, the parents and pupils naturally expected new methods. During the weekspent in becoming acquainted with the teacher, the parents heartilyendorsed her, while the pupils liked her cordially. It could be seenat a glance that she could pick up the brawniest of them, and drop himfrom the window, if she chose. The days at the stream had taught themher physical strength, while at the same time they had glimpses of hermental processes. The boys learned many things: that they must not lieor take anything which did not belong to them; that they must beconsiderate and manly, if they were to be her friends; yet not one wordhad been said on any of these subjects. As she spoke to them, theyanswered her, and soon spoke in the same way to each other. She wasvery careful about each statement she made, often adducing convenientproof, so they saw that she was always right, and never exaggerated. The first hour of this made the boys think, the second they imitated, the third they instantly obeyed. She started in to interest and educatethese children; she sent them home to investigate more subjects thefirst day than they had ever carried home in any previous month. Boyssuddenly began asking their fathers about business; girls questionedtheir mothers about marketing and housekeeping. 

The week of Christmas vacation was going to be the hardest; everyoneexpected the teacher to go home for the Holidays. Many of them knewthat her sister was marrying the new doctor of Hartley. When Kate waswondering how she could possibly conceal the rupture with her family, Robert Gray drove into Walden and found her at the schoolhouse. Shewas so delighted to see him that she made no attempt to conceal herjoy. He had driven her way for exercise and to pay her a call. Whenhe realized from her greeting how she had felt the separation from herfamily, he had an idea that he at once propounded: "Kate, I have cometo ask a favour of you, " he said. 

"Granted!" laughed Kate. "Whatever can it be?"

"Just this! I want you to pack a few clothes, drive to Hartley with meand do what you can to straighten out the house, so there won't be suchconfusion when Nancy Ellen gets there. "

Kate stared at him in a happy daze. "Oh, you blessed Robert Gray! Whata Heavenly idea!" she cried. "Of course it wouldn't be possible for meto fix Nancy Ellen's house the way she would, but I could puteverything where it belonged, I could arrange well enough, and I couldhave a supper ready, so that you could come straight home. "

"Then you will do it?" he asked. 

"Do it?" cried Kate. "Do it! Why, I would be willing to pay you forthe chance to do it. How do you think I'm to explain my not going homefor the Holidays, and to my sister's wedding, and retain myself-respect before my patrons?"

"I didn't think of it in that way, " he said. 

"I'm crazy, " said Kate. "Take me quickly! How far along are you?"

"House cleaned, blinds up, stoves all in, coal and wood, cellarstocked, carpets down, and furniture all there, but not unwrapped or inplace. Dishes delivered but not washed; cooking utensils there, butnot cleaned. "

"Enough said, " laughed Kate. "You go marry Nancy Ellen. I shall havethe house warm, arranged so you can live in it, and the first mealready when you come. Does Nancy Ellen know you are here?"

"No. I have enough country practice that I need a horse; I'm tryingthis one. I think of you often so I thought I'd drive out. How are youmaking it, Kate?"

"Just fine, so far as the school goes. I don't particularly like thewoman I board with. Her son is some better, yes, he is much better. And Robert, what is a Zonoletic Doctor?"

"A poor fool, too lazy to be a real doctor, with no conscience abouttaking people's money for nothing, " he said. 

"As bad as THAT?" asked Kate. 

"Worse! Why?" he said. 

"Oh, I only wondered, " said Kate. "Now I am ready, here; but I mustrun to the house where I board a minute. It's only a step. You watchwhere I go, and drive down. "

She entered the house quietly and going back to the kitchen she said:"The folks have come for me, Mrs. Holt. I don't know exactly when Ishall be back, but in plenty of time to start school. If George goesbefore I return, tell him 'Merry Christmas, ' for me. "

"He'll be most disappointed to death, " said Mrs. Holt. 

"I don't see why he should, " said Kate, calmly. "You never have hadthe teacher here at Christmas. "

"We never had a teacher that I wanted before, " said Mrs. Holt; whileKate turned to avoid seeing the woman's face as she perjured herself. "You're like one of the family, George is crazy about you. He wrote meto be sure to keep you. Couldn't you possibly stay over Sunday?"

"No, I couldn't, " said Kate. 

"Who came after you?" asked Mrs. Holt. 

"Dr. Gray, " answered Kate. 

"That new doctor at Hartley? Why, be you an' him friends?"

Mrs. Holt had followed down the hall, eagerly waiting in the doorway. Kate glanced at her and felt sudden pity. The woman was warped. Everything in her life had gone wrong. Possibly she could not avoidbeing the disagreeable person she was. Kate smiled at her. 

"Worse than that, " she said. "We be relations in a few days. He'sgoing to marry my sister Nancy Ellen next Tuesday. "

Kate understood the indistinct gurgle she heard to be approving, so sheadded: "He came after me early so I could go to Hartley and help gettheir new house ready for them to live in after the ceremony. "

"Did your father give them the house?" asked Mrs. Holt eagerly. 

"No. Dr. Gray bought his home, " said Kate. 

"How nice! What did your father give them?"

Kate's patience was exhausted. "You'll have to wait until I comeback, " she said. "I haven't the gift of telling about things beforethey have happened. "

Then she picked up her telescope and saying "good-bye, " left the house. 

As they drove toward Hartley: "I'm anxious to see your house, " saidKate. "Did you find one in a good neighbourhood?"

"The very best, I think, " said the doctor. "That is all one couldoffer Nancy Ellen. "

"I'm so glad for her! And I'm glad for you, too! She'll make you abeautiful wife in every way. She's a good cook, she knows how toeconomize, and she's too pretty for words, if she IS my sister. "

"I heartily agree with you, " said the doctor. "But I notice you putthe cook first and the beauty last. "

"You will, too, before you get through with it, " answered Kate. 

"Here we are!" said he, soon after they entered Hartley. "I'll drivearound the block, so you can form an idea of the location. " Kateadmired every house in the block, the streets and trees, the one houseRobert Gray had selected in every particular. They went inside andbuilt fires, had lunch together at the hotel, and then Kate rolled upher sleeves and with a few yards of cheese-cloth for a duster, beganunwrapping furniture and standing it in the room where it belonged. Robert moved the heavy pieces, then he left to call on a patient andspend the evening with Nancy Ellen. 

So Kate spent several happy days setting Nancy Ellen's new home inorder. From basement to garret she had it immaculate and shining. NoBates girl, not even Agatha, ever had gone into a home having so manycomforts and conveniences. 

Kate felt lonely the day she knew her home was overcrowded with alltheir big family; she sat very still thinking of them during the hourof the ceremony; she began preparing supper almost immediately, becauseRobert had promised her that he would not eat any more of the weddingfeast than he could help, and he would bring Nancy Ellen as soonafterward as possible. Kate saw them drive to the gate and come up thewalk together. As they entered the door Nancy Ellen was saying: "Why, how does the house come to be all lighted up? Seems to me I smellthings to eat. Well, if the table isn't all set!"

There was a pause and then Nancy Ellen's clear voice called: "Kate!Kate! Where are you? Nobody else would be THIS nice to me. You deargirl, where are you?"

"I'll get to stay until I go back to school!" was Kate's mental commentas she ran to clasp Nancy Ellen in her arms, while they laughed andvery nearly cried together, so that the doctor felt it incumbent uponhim to hug both of them. Shortly afterward he said: "There is a fineshow in town to-night, and I have three tickets. Let's all go. "

"Let's eat before we go, " said Nancy Ellen, "I haven't had time to eata square meal for a week and things smell deliciously. "

They finished their supper leisurely, stacked the dishes and went tothe theatre, where they saw a fair performance of a good play, whichwas to both of the girls a great treat. When they returned home, Kateleft Nancy Ellen and Robert to gloat over the carpets they hadselected, as they appeared on their floors, to arrange the furnitureand re-examine their wedding gifts; while she slipped into the kitchenand began washing the dishes and planning what she would have forbreakfast. But soon they came to her and Nancy Ellen insisted onwiping the dishes, while Robert carried them to the cupboard. Afterward, they sat before their fireplace and talked over events sincethe sisters' separation. 

Nancy Ellen told about getting ready for her wedding, life at home, theschool, the news of the family; the Kate drew a perfect picture of theWalden school, her boarding place, Mrs. Holt, the ravine, the town andthe people, with the exception of George Holt--him she never mentioned. 

After Robert had gone to his office the following morning, Kate said toNancy Ellen: "Now I wish you would be perfectly frank with me--"

"As if I could be anything else!" laughed the bride. 

"All right, then, " said Kate. "What I want is this: that these daysshall always come back to you in memory as nearly perfect as possible. Now if my being here helps ever so little, I like to stay, and I'll beglad to cook and wash dishes, while you fix your house to suit you. But if you'd rather be alone, I'll go back to Walden and be satisfiedand happy with the fine treat this has been. I can look everyone inthe face now, talk about the wedding, and feel all right. "

Nancy Ellen said slowly: "I shan't spare you until barely time toreach your school Monday morning. And I'm not keeping you to work forme, either! We'll do everything together, and then we'll plan how tomake the house pretty, and go see Robert in his office, and goshopping. I'll never forgive you if you go. "

"Why, Nancy Ellen--!" said Kate, then fled to the kitchen too happy tospeak further. 

None of them ever forgot that week. It was such a happy time that allof them dreaded its end; but when it came they parted cheerfully, andeach went back to work, the better for the happy reunion. Kate did notreturn to Walden until Monday; then she found Mrs. Holt in an eviltemper. Kate could not understand it. She had no means of knowing thatfor a week George had nagged his mother unceasingly because Kate wasgone on his return, and would not be back until after time for him togo again. The only way for him to see her during the week he hadplanned to come out openly as her lover, was to try to find her at herhome, or at her sister's. He did not feel that it would help him to gowhere he never had been asked. His only recourse was to miss a fewdays of school and do extra work to make it up; but he detested nothingin life as he detested work, so the world's happy week had been to themone of constant sparring and unhappiness, for which Mrs. Holt blamedKate. Her son had returned expecting to court Kate Bates strenuously;his disappointment was not lightened by his mother's constant nagging. Monday forenoon she went to market, and came in gasping. 

"Land sakes!" she cried as she panted down the hall. "I've got a goodone on that impident huzzy now!"

"You better keep your mouth shut, and not gossip about her, " he said. "Everyone likes her!"

"No, they don't, for I hate her worse 'n snakes! If it wa'n't for hermoney I'd fix her so's 'at she'd never marry you in kingdom come. "

George Holt clenched his big fist. 

"Just you try it!" he threatened. "Just you try that!"

"You'll live to see the day you'd thank me if I did. She ain't beenhome. Mind you, she ain't been HOME! She never seen her sistermarried at all! Tilly Nepple has a sister, living near the Bates, whoworked in the kitchen. She's visitin' at Tilly's now. MissHigh-and-Mighty never seen her sister married at all! An' it lookedmighty queer, her comin' here a week ahead of time, in the fall. Lookslike she'd done somepin she don't DARE go home. No wonder she tearsevery scrap of mail she gets to ribbons an' burns it. I told you shehad a secret! If ever you'd listen to me. "

"Why, you're crazy!" he exclaimed. "I did listen to you. What youtold me was that I should go after her with all my might. So I did it. Now you come with this. Shut it up! Don't let her get wind of it forthe world!"

"And Tilly Nepple's sister says old Land King Bates never give hisdaughter a cent, an' he never gives none of his girls a cent. It's upto the men they marry to take keer of them. The old skin-flint! Whatyou want to do is to go long to your schoolin', if you reely are goingto make somepin of yourself at last, an' let that big strap of a girlbe, do--"

"Now, stop!" shouted George Holt. "Scenting another scandal, are you?Don't you dare mar Kate Bates' standing, or her reputation in thistown, or we'll have a time like we never had before. If old Batesdoesn't give his girls anything when they marry, they'll get more whenhe dies. And so far as money is concerned, this has gone PAST moneywith me. I'm going to marry Kate Bates, as soon as ever I can, andI've got to the place where I'd marry her if she hadn't a cent. If Ican't take care of her, she can take care of me. I am crazy about her, an' I'm going to have her; so you keep still, an' do all you can tohelp me, or you'll regret it. "

"It's you that will regret it!" she said. 

"Stop your nagging, I tell you, or I'll come at you in a way you won'tlike, " he cried. 

"You do that every day you're here, " said Mrs. Holt, starting to thekitchen to begin dinner. 

Kate appeared in half an hour, fresh and rosy, also prepared; for oneof her little pupils had said: "Tilly Nepple's sister say you wasn'tat your sister's wedding at all. Did you cry 'cause you couldn't go?"

Instantly Kate comprehended what must be town gossip, so she gave thechild a happy solution of the question bothering her, and went to herboarding house forewarned. She greeted both Mrs. Holt and her soncordially, then sat down to dinner, in the best of spirits. Theinstant her chance came, Mrs. Holt said: "Now tell us all about thelovely wedding. "

"But I wasn't managing the wedding, " said Kate cheerfully. "I was onthe infare job. Mother and Nancy Ellen put the wedding through. Youknow our house isn't very large, and close relatives fill it tobursting. I've seen the same kind of wedding about every eighteenmonths all my life. I had a NEW job this time, and one I liked better. "

She turned to George: "Of course your mother told you that Dr. Graycame after me. He came to ask me as an especial favour to go to hisnew house in Hartley, and do what I could to arrange it, and to have asupper ready. I was glad. I'd seen six weddings that I can remember, all exactly alike--there's nothing to them; but brushing those newcarpets, unwrapping nice furniture and placing it, washing pretty newdishes, untying the loveliest gifts and arranging them--THAT wassomething new in a Bates wedding. Oh, but I had a splendid time!"

George Holt looked at his mother in too great disgust to conceal hisfeelings. 

"ANOTHER gilt-edged scandal gone sky high, " he said. Then he turned toKate. "One of the women who worked in your mother's kitchen isvisiting here, and she started a great hullabaloo because you were notat the wedding. You probably haven't got a leg left to stand on. Isuspect the old cats of Walden have chewed them both off, and all thewhile you were happy, and doing the thing any girl would much ratherhave done. Lord, I hate this eternal picking! How did you come back, Kate?"

"Dr. Gray brought me. "

"I should think it would have made talk, your staying there with him, "commented Mrs. Holt. 

"Fortunately, the people of Hartley seem reasonably busy attendingtheir own affairs, " said Kate. "Doctor Gray had been boarding at thehotel all fall, so he just went on living there until after thewedding. "

George glared at his mother, but she avoided his eyes, and laughing ina silly, half-confused manner she said: "How much money did yourfather give the bride?"

"I can't tell you, in even dollars and cents, " said Kate. "Nancy Ellendidn't say. "

Kate saw the movement of George's foot under the table, and knew thathe was trying to make his mother stop asking questions; so she begantalking to him about his work. As soon as the meal was finished hewalked with her to school, visiting until the session began. Heremained three days, and before he left he told Kate he loved her, andasked her to be his wife. She looked at him in surprise and said:"Why, I never thought of such a thing! How long have you been thinkingabout it?"

"Since the first instant I saw you!" he declared with fervour. 

"Hum! Matter of months, " said Kate. "Well, when I have had that muchtime, I will tell you what I think about it. "

CHAPTER VIII

THE HISTORY OF A LEGHORN HAT

Kate finished her school in the spring, then went for a visit withNancy Ellen and Robert, before George Holt returned. She was thankfulto leave Walden without having seen him, for she had decided, withoutgiving the matter much thought, that he was not the man she wanted tomarry. In her heart she regretted having previously contracted for theWalden school another winter because she felt certain that with theinfluence of Dr. Gray, she could now secure a position in Hartley thatwould enable her either to live with, or to be near, her sister. Withthis thought in mind, she tried to make the acquaintance of teachers inthe school who lived in Hartley and she soon became rather intimatewith one of them. 

It was while visiting with this teacher that Kate spoke of attendingNormal again in an effort to prepare herself still better for the workof the coming year. Her new friend advised against it. She said thecourse would be only the same thing over again, with so little changeor advancement, that the trip was not worth the time and money it wouldcost. She proposed that Kate go to Lake Chautauqua and take theteachers' course, where all spare time could be put in attendinglectures, and concerts, and studying the recently devised methods ofeducation. Kate went from her to Nancy Ellen and Robert, determined atheart to go. 

She was pleased when they strongly advised her to, and offered to helpher get ready. Aside from having paid Agatha, and for her board, Katehad spent almost nothing on herself. She figured the probable expensesof the trip for a month, what it would cost her to live until schoolbegan again, if she were forced to go to Walden, and then spent all herremaining funds on the prettiest clothing she had ever owned. Each ofthe sisters knew how to buy carefully; then the added advantage ofbeing able to cut and make their own clothes, made money go twice asfar as where a dressmaker had to be employed. When everything they hadplanned was purchased, neatly made, and packed in a trunk, into whichNancy Ellen slipped some of her prettiest belongings, Kate made a tripto a milliner's shop to purchase her first real hat. 

She had decided on a big, wide-brimmed Leghorn, far from cheap. Whileshe was trying the effect of flowers and ribbon on it, the wilymilliner slipped up and with the hat on Kate's golden crown, looped infront a bow of wide black velvet ribbon and drooped over the brim along, exquisitely curling ostrich plume. Kate had one good view ofherself, before she turned her back on the temptation. 

"You look lovely in that, " said the milliner. "Don't you like it?"

"I certainly do, " said Kate. "I look the best in that hat, with theblack velvet and the plume, I ever did, but there's no use to looktwice, I can't afford it. "

"Oh, but it is very reasonable! We haven't a finer hat in the store, nor a better plume, " said the milliner. 

She slowly waved it in all its glory before Kate's beauty-hungry eyes. Kate turned so she could not see it. 

"Please excuse one question. Are you teaching in Walden this winter?"asked the milliner. 

"Yes, " said Kate. "I have signed the contract for that school. "

"Then charge the hat and pay for it in September. I'd rather wait formy money than see you fail to spend the summer under that plume. Itreally is lovely against your gold hair. "

"'Get thee behind me, Satan, '" quoted Kate. "No. I never had anythingcharged, and never expect to. Please have the black velvet put on andlet me try it with the bows set and sewed. "

"All right, " said the milliner, "but I'm sorry. "

She was so sorry that she carried the plume to the work room, and whenshe walked up behind Kate, who sat waiting before the mirror, andcarefully set the hat on her head, at exactly the right angle, the longplume crept down one side and drooped across the girl's shoulder. 

"I will reduce it a dollar more, " she said, "and send the bill to youat Walden the last week of September. "

Kate moved her head from side to side, lifted and dropped her chin. Then she turned to the milliner. 

"You should be killed!" she said. 

The woman reached for a hat box. 

"No, I shouldn't!" she said. "Waiting that long, I'll not make much onthe hat, but I'll make a good friend who will come again, and bring herfriends. What is your name, please?"

Kate took one look at herself--smooth pink cheeks, gray eyes, goldhair, the sweeping wide brim, the trailing plume. 

"Miss Katherine Eleanor Bates, " she said. "Bates Corners, Hartley, Indiana. Please call my carriage?"

The milliner laughed heartily. "That's the spirit of '76, " shecommended. "I'd be willing to wager something worth while that thisvery hat brings you the carriage before fall, if you show yourself init in the right place. It's a perfectly stunning hat. Shall I send it, or will you wear it?"

Kate looked in the mirror again. "You may put a fresh blue band on thesailor I was wearing, and send that to Dr. Gray's when it is finished, "she said. "And put in a fancy bow, for my throat, of the same velvetas the hat, please. I'll surely pay you the last week of September. And if you can think up an equally becoming hat for winter----"

"You just bet I can, young lady, " said the milliner to herself as Katewalked down the street. 

From afar, Kate saw Nancy Ellen on the veranda, so she walked slowly tolet the effect sink in, but it seemed to make no impression until shelooked up at Nancy Ellen's very feet and said: "Well, how do you likeit?"

"Good gracious!" cried Nancy Ellen. "I thought I was having a stylishcaller. I didn't know you! Why, I never saw YOU walk that way before. "

"You wouldn't expect me to plod along as if I were plowing, with athing like this on my head, would you?"

"I wouldn't expect you to have a thing like that on your head; butsince you have, I don't mind telling you that you are stunning in it, "said Nancy Ellen. 

"Better and better!" laughed Kate, sitting down on the step. "Themilliner said it was a stunning HAT. "

"The goose!" said Nancy Ellen. "You become that hat, Kate, quite asmuch as the hat becomes you. "

The following day, dressed in a linen suit of natural colour, with theblack bow at her throat, the new hat in a bandbox, and the renewedsailor on her head, Kate waved her farewells to Nancy Ellen and Roberton the platform, then walked straight to the dressing room of the car, and changed the hats. Nancy Ellen had told her this was NOT the thingto do. She should travel in a plain untrimmed hat, and when the dustand heat of her journey were past, she should bathe, put on freshclothing, and wear such a fancy hat only with her best frocks, in theafternoon. Kate need not have been told that. Right instincts andBates economy would have taught her the same thing, but she had aperverse streak in her nature. She had SEEN herself in the hat. 

The milliner, who knew enough of the world and human nature to know howto sell Kate the hat, when she never intended to buy it, and knew sheshould not in the way she did, had said that before fall it would bringher a carriage, which put into bald terms meant a rich husband. NowKate liked her school and she gave it her full attention; she had done, and still intended to keep on doing, first-class work in the future;but her school, or anything pertaining to it, was not worth mentioningbeside Nancy Ellen's HOME, and the deep understanding and strongfeeling that showed so plainly between her and Robert Gray. Kateexpected to marry by the time she was twenty or soon after; all Batesgirls had, most of them had married very well indeed. She franklyenvied Nancy Ellen, while it never occurred to her that any one wouldcriticise her for saying so. Only one thing could happen to her thatwould surpass what had come to her sister. If only she could have aman like Robert Gray, and have him on a piece of land of their own. Kate was a girl, but no man of the Bates tribe ever was more deeplybitten by the lust for land. She was the true daughter of her father, in more than one way. If that very expensive hat was going to producethe man why not let it begin to work from the very start? If her manwas somewhere, only waiting to see her, and the hat would help him tospeedy recognition, why miss a change?

She thought over the year, and while she deplored the estrangement fromhome, she knew that if she had to go back to one year ago, giving upthe present and what it had brought and promised to bring, for areconciliation with her father, she would not voluntarily return to theold driving, nagging, overwork, and skimping, missing every realcomfort of life to buy land, in which she never would have any part. 

"You get your knocks 'taking the wings of morning, '" thought Kate toherself, "but after all it is the only thing to do. Nancy Ellen saysSally Whistler is pleasing Mother very well, why should I miss mychance and ruin my temper to stay at home and do the work done by awoman who can do nothing else?"

Kate moved her head slightly to feel if the big, beautiful hat that sather braids so lightly was still there. "Go to work, you beauty, "thought Kate. "Do something better for me than George Holt. I'll havehim to fall back on if I can't do better; but I think I can. Yes, I'mvery sure I can! If you do your part, you lovely plume, I KNOW I can!"

Toward noon the train ran into a violent summer storm. The sky grewblack, the lightning flashed, the wind raved, the rain fell in gusts. The storm was at its height when Kate quit watching it and arose, preoccupied with her first trip to a dining car, thinking about howlittle food she could order and yet avoid a hunger headache. Thetwisting whirlwind struck her face as she stepped from the day coach togo to the dining car. She threw back her head and sucked her lungsfull of the pure, rain-chilled air. She was accustomed to being out instorms, she liked them. One second she paused to watch the galesweeping the fields, the next a twitch at her hair caused her to throwup her hands and clutch wildly at nothing. She sprang to the steprailing and leaned out in time to see her wonderful hat whirl againstthe corner of the car, hold there an instant with the pressure of thewind, then slide down, draw under, and drop across the rail, wherepassing wheels ground it to pulp. 

Kate stood very still a second, then she reached up and tried to patthe disordered strands of hair into place. She turned and went backinto the day coach, opened the bandbox, and put on the sailor. Sheresumed her old occupation of thinking things over. All the joy hadvanished from the day and the trip. Looking forward, it had seemed allright to defy custom and Nancy Ellen's advice, and do as she pleased. Looking backward, she saw that she had made a fool of herself in theestimation of everyone in the car by not wearing the sailor, which wassuitable for her journey, and would have made no such mark for awhirling wind. 

She found travelling even easier than any one had told her. Eachstation was announced. When she alighted, there were conveyances totake her and her luggage to a hotel, patronized almost exclusively byteachers, near the schools and lecture halls. Large front suites androoms were out of the question for Kate, but luckily a tiny corner roomat the back of the building was empty and when Kate specified how longshe would remain, she secured it at a less figure than she had expectedto pay. She began by almost starving herself at supper in order tosave enough money to replace her hat with whatever she could find thatwould serve passably, and be cheap enough. That far she proceededstoically; but when night settled and she stood in her dressing jacketbrushing her hair, something gave way. Kate dropped on her bed andcried into her pillow, as she never had cried before about anything. It was not ALL about the hat. While she was at it, she shed a fewtears about every cruel thing that had happened to her since she couldremember that she had borne tearlessly at the time. It was a delugethat left her breathless and exhausted. When she finally sat up, shefound the room so close, she gently opened her door and peeped into thehall. There was a door opening on an outside veranda, running acrossthe end of the building and the length of the front. 

As she looked from her door and listened intently, she heard the soundof a woman's voice in choking, stifled sobs, in the room having a doordirectly across the narrow hall from hers. 

"My Lord! THERE'S TWO OF US!" said Kate. 

She leaned closer, listening again, but when she heard a short groanmingled with the sobs, she immediately tapped on the door. Instantlythe sobs ceased and the room became still. Kate put her lips to thecrack and said in her off-hand way: "It's only a school-marm, roomingnext you. If you're ill, could I get anything for you?"

"Will you please come in?" asked a muffled voice. 

Kate turned the knob, and stepping inside, closed the door after her. She could dimly see her way to the dresser, where she found matches andlighted the gas. On the bed lay in a tumbled heap a tiny, elderly, Dresden-china doll-woman. She was fully dressed, even to her wrap, bonnet, and gloves; one hand clutched her side, the other held ahandkerchief to her lips. Kate stood an instant under the light, studying the situation. The dark eyes in the narrow face lookedappealingly at her. The woman tried to speak, but gasped for breath. Kate saw that she had heart trouble. 

"The remedy! Where is it?" she cried. 

The woman pointed to a purse on the dresser. Kate opened it, took outa small bottle, and read the directions. In a second, she was holdinga glass to the woman's lips; soon she was better. She looked at Kateeagerly. 

"Oh, please don't leave me, " she gasped. 

"Of course not!" said Kate instantly. "I'll stay as long as you wantme. "

She bent over the bed and gently drew the gloves from the frail hands. She untied and slipped off the bonnet. She hunted keys in the purse, opened a travelling bag, and found what she required. Then slowly andcarefully, she undressed the woman, helped her into a night robe, andstooping she lifted her into a chair until she opened the bed. Aftergiving her time to rest, Kate pulled down the white wavy hair andbrushed it for the night. As she worked, she said a word ofencouragement now and again; when she had done all she could see to do, she asked if there was more. The woman suddenly clung to her hand andbegan to sob wildly. Kate knelt beside the bed, stroked the white hair, patted the shoulder she could reach, and talked very much as she wouldhave to a little girl. 

"Please don't cry, " she begged. "It must be your heart; you'll surelymake it worse. "

"I'm trying, " said the woman, "but I've been scared sick. I mostcertainly would have died if you hadn't come to me and found themedicine. Oh, that dreadful Susette! How could she?"

The clothing Kate had removed from the woman had been of finest clothand silk. Her hands wore wonderful rings. A heavy purse was in herbag. Everything she had was the finest that money could buy, while sheseemed as if a rough wind never had touched her. She appeared so frailthat Kate feared to let her sleep without knowing where to locate herfriends. 

"She should be punished for leaving you alone among strangers, " saidKate indignantly. 

"If I only could learn to mind John, " sighed the little woman. "Henever liked Susette. But she was the very best maid I ever had. Shewas like a loving daughter, until all at once, on the train, amongstrangers, she flared out at me, and simply raved. Oh, it was dreadful!"

"And knowing you were subject to these attacks, she did the thing thatwould precipitate one, and then left you alone among strangers. Howwicked! How cruel!" said Kate in tense indignation. 

"John didn't want me to come. But I used to be a teacher, and I camehere when this place was mostly woods, with my dear husband. Then afterhe died, through the long years of poverty and struggle, I would readof the place and the wonderful meetings, but I could never afford tocome. Then when John began to work and made good so fast I was dizzyhalf the time with his successes, I didn't think about the place. Butlately, since I've had everything else I could think of, somethingpossessed me to come back here, and take a suite among the women andmen who are teaching our young people so wonderfully; and to sail onthe lake, and hear the lectures, and dream my youth over again. Ithink that was it most of all, to dream my youth over again, to try torelive the past. "

"There now, you have told me all about it, " said Kate, stroking thewhite forehead in an effort to produce drowsiness, "close your eyes andgo to sleep. "

"I haven't even BEGUN to tell you, " said the woman perversely. "If Italked all night I couldn't tell you about John. How big he is, andhow brave he is, and how smart he is, and how he is the equal of anybusiness man in Chicago, and soon, if he keeps on, he will be worth asmuch as some of them--more than any one of his age, who has had a lotof help instead of having his way to make alone, and a sick old motherto support besides. No, I couldn't tell you in a week half about John, and he didn't want me to come. If I would come, then he wanted me towait a few days until he finished a deal so he could bring me, but theminute I thought of it I was determined to come; you know how you get. "

"I know how badly you want to do a thing you have set your heart on, "admitted Kate. 

"I had gone places with Susette in perfect comfort. I think thetrouble was that she tried from the first to attract John. About thetime we started, he let her see plainly that all he wanted of her wasto take care of me; she was pretty and smart, so it made her furious. She was pampered in everything, as no maid I ever had before. John isyoung yet, and I think he is very handsome, and he wouldn't pay anyattention to her. You see when other boys were going to school andgetting acquainted with girls by association, even when he was a littlebit of a fellow in knee breeches, I had to let him sell papers, andthen he got into a shop, and he invented a little thing, and then abigger, and bigger yet, and then he went into stocks and things, and hedoesn't know anything about girls, only about sick old women like me. He never saw what Susette was up to. You do believe that I wasn't uglyto her, don't you?"

"You COULDN'T be ugly if you tried, " said Kate. 

The woman suddenly began to sob again, this time slowly, as if herforces were almost spent. She looked to Kate for the sympathy shecraved and for the first time really saw her closely. 

"Why, you dear girl, " she cried. "Your face is all tear stained. You've been crying, yourself. "

"Roaring in a pillow, " admitted Kate. 

"But my dear, forgive me! I was so upset with that dreadful woman. Forgive me for not having seen that you, too, are in trouble. Won'tyou please tell me?"

"Of course, " said Kate. "I lost my new hat. "

"But, my dear! Crying over a hat? When it is so easy to get another?How foolish!" said the woman. 

"Yes, but you didn't see the hat, " said Kate. "And it will be far fromeasy to get another, with this one not paid for yet. I'm only oneseason removed from sunbonnets, so I never should have bought it atall. "

The woman moved in bed, and taking one of Kate's long, crinkly braids, she drew the wealth of gold through her fingers repeatedly. 

"Tell me about your hat, " she said. 

So to humour this fragile woman, and to keep from thinking of her owntrouble, Kate told the story of her Leghorn hat and ostrich plume, andmany things besides, for she was not her usual terse self with her newfriend who had to be soothed to forgetfulness. 

Kate ended: "I was all wrong to buy such a hat in the first place. Icouldn't afford it; it was foolish vanity. I'm not reallygood-looking; I shouldn't have flattered myself that I was. Losing itbefore it was paid for was just good for me. Never again will I be sofoolish. "

"Why, my dear, don't say such things or think them, " chided the littlewoman. "You had as good a right to a becoming hat as any girl. Nowlet me ask you one question, and then I'll try to sleep. You said youwere a teacher. Did you come here to attend the Summer School forTeachers?"

"Yes, " said Kate. 

"Would it make any great difference to you if you missed a few days?"she asked. 

"Not the least, " said Kate. 

"Well, then, you won't be offended, will you, if I ask you to remainwith me and take care of me until John comes? I could send him amessage to-night that I am alone, and bring him by this time to-morrow;but I know he has business that will cause him to lose money should heleave, and I was so wilful about coming, I dread to prove him right soconclusively the very first day. That door opens into a room reservedfor Susette, if only you'd take it, and leave the door unclosedto-night, and if only you would stay with me until John comes I couldwell afford to pay you enough to lengthen your stay as long as you'dlike; and it makes me so happy to be with such a fresh young creature. Will you stay with me, my dear?"

"I certainly will, " said Kate heartily. "If you'll only tell me what Ishould do; I'm not accustomed to rich ladies, you know. "

"I'm not myself, " said the little woman, "but I do seem to take tobeing waited upon with the most remarkable facility!"

CHAPTER IX

A SUNBONNET GIRL

WITH the first faint light of morning, Kate slipped to the door to findher charge still sleeping soundly. It was eight o'clock when she hearda movement in the adjoining room and went again to the door. This timethe woman was awake and smilingly waved to Kate as she called: "Goodmorning! Come right in. I was wondering if you were regretting yourhasty bargain. "

"Not a bit of it!" laughed Kate. "I am here waiting to be told what todo first. I forgot to tell you my name last night. It is Kate Bates. I'm from Bates Corners, Hartley, Indiana. "

The woman held out her hand. "I'm so very glad to meet you, MissBates, " she said. "My name is Mariette Jardine. My home is inChicago. "

They shook hands, smiling at each other, and then Kate said: "Now, Mrs. Jardine, what shall I do for you first?"

"I will be dressed, I think, and then you may bring up the manageruntil I have an understanding with him, and give him a message I wantsent, and an order for our breakfast. I wonder if it wouldn't be niceto have it served on the corner of the veranda in front of our rooms, under the shade of that big tree. "

"I think that would be famous, " said Kate. 

They ate together under the spreading branches of a giant maple tree, where they could see into the nest of an oriole that brooded in a longpurse of gray lint and white cotton cord. They could almost reach outand touch it. The breakfast was good, nicely served by a neat maid, evidently doing something so out of the ordinary that she was ratherstunned; but she was a young person of some self-possession, for whenshe removed the tray, Mrs. Jardine thanked her and gave her a coin thatbrought a smiling: "Thank you very much. If you want your dinnerserved here and will ask for Jennie Weeks, I'd like to wait on youagain. "

"Thank you, " said Mrs. Jardine, "I shall remember that. I don't likechanging waiters each meal. It gives them no chance to learn what Iwant or how I want it. "

Then she and Kate slowly walked the length of the veranda severaltimes, while she pointed out parts of the grounds they could see thatremained as she had known them formerly, and what were improvements. 

When Mrs. Jardine was tired, they returned to the room and she lay onthe bed while they talked of many things; talked of things with whichKate was familiar, and some concerning which she unhesitatingly askedquestions until she felt informed. Mrs. Jardine was so dainty, sodelicate, yet so full of life, so well informed, so keen mentally, thatas she talked she kept Kate chuckling most of the time. She talked ofher home life, her travels, her friends, her son. She talked ofpolitics, religion, and education; then she talked of her son again. She talked of social conditions, Civic Improvement, and Woman's Rights, then she came back to her son, until Kate saw that he was the realinterest in the world to her. The mental picture she drew of him waspeculiar. One minute Mrs. Jardine spoke of him as a man among men, pushing, fighting, forcing matters to work to his will, so Kateimagined him tall, broad, and brawny, indefatigable in hisundertakings; the next, his mother was telling of such thoughtfulness, such kindness, such loving care that Kate's mental picture shifted to aneat, exacting little man, purely effeminate as men ever can be; butwhatever she thought, some right instinct prevented her from making acomment or asking a question. 

Once she sat looking far across the beautiful lake with such anexpression on her face that Mrs. Jardine said to her: "What are youthinking of, my dear?"

Kate said smilingly: "Oh, I was thinking of what a wonderful school Ishall teach this winter. "

"Tell me what you mean, " said Mrs. Jardine. 

"Why, with even a month of this, I shall have riches stored for everyday of the year, " said Kate. "None of my pupils ever saw a lake, thatI know of. I shall tell them of this with its shining water, itsrocky, shady, sandy shore lines; of the rowboats and steam-boats, andthe people from all over the country. Before I go back, I can tellthem of wonderful lectures, concerts, educational demonstrations here. I shall get much from the experiences of other teachers. I shalldelight my pupils with just you. "

"In what way?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

"Oh, I shall tell them of a dainty little woman who know everything. From you I shall teach my girls to be simple, wholesome, tender, andkind; to take the gifts of God thankfully, reverently, yet withself-respect. From you I can tell them what really fine fabrics are, and about laces, and linens. When the subjects arise, as they alwaysdo in teaching, I shall describe each ring you wear, each comb and pin, even the handkerchiefs you carry, and the bags you travel with. Toteach means to educate, and it is a big task; but it is almostpainfully interesting. Each girl of my school shall go into life agentler, daintier woman, more careful of her person and speech becauseof my having met you. Isn't that a fine thought?"

"Why, you darling!" cried Mrs. Jardine. "Life is always having lovelythings in store for me. Yesterday I thought Susette's leaving me asshe did was the most cruel thing that ever happened to me. To-day Iget from it this lovely experience. If you are straight fromsunbonnets, as you told me last night, where did you get these advancedideas?"

"If sunbonnets could speak, many of them would tell of surprising headsthey have covered, " laughed Kate. "Life deals with women much the sameas with men. If we go back to where we start, history can prove to youthat there are ten sunbonnets to one Leghorn hat, in the high places ofthe world. "

"Not to entertain me, but because I am interested, my dear, will youtell me about your particular sunbonnet?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

Kate sat staring across the blue lake with wide eyes, a queer smiletwisting her lips. At last she said slowly: "Well, then, my sunbonnetis in my trunk. I'm not so far away from it but that it still travelswith me. It's blue chambray, made from pieces left from my firstpretty dress. It is ruffled, and has white stitching. I made itmyself. The head that it fits is another matter. I didn't make that, or its environment, or what was taught it, until it was of age, and hadworked out its legal time of service to pay for having been a head atall. But my head is now free, in my own possession, ready to go asfast and far on the path of life as it develops the brains to carry it. You'd smile if I should tell you what I'd ask of life, if I could havewhat I want. "

"I scarcely think so. Please tell me. "

"You'll be shocked, " warned Kate. 

"Just so it isn't enough to set my heart rocking again, " said Mrs. Jardine. 

"We'll stop before that, " laughed Kate. "Then if you will have it, Iwant of life by the time I am twenty a man of my stature, dark eyes andhair, because I am so light. I want him to be honest, forceful, hardworking, with a few drops of the milk of human kindness in his heart, and the same ambitions I have. "

"And what ARE your ambitions?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

"To own, and to cultivate, and to bring to the highest state ofefficiency at least two hundred acres of land, with convenient andattractive buildings and pedigreed stock, and to mother at least twelveperfect physical and mental boys and girls. "

"Oh, my soul!" cried Mrs. Jardine, falling back in her chair, her mouthagape. "My dear, you don't MEAN that? You only said that to shock me. "

"But why should I wish to shock you? I sincerely mean it, " persistedKate. 

"You amazing creature! I never heard a girl talk like that before, "said Mrs. Jardine. 

"But you can't look straight ahead of you any direction you turnwithout seeing a girl working for dear life to attract the man shewants; if she can't secure him, some other man; and in lieu of him, anyman at all, in preference to none. Life shows us woman on the age-oldquest every day, everywhere we go; why be so secretive about it? Whynot say honestly what we want, and take it if we can get it? At anyrate, that is the most important thing inside my sunbonnet. I knewyou'd be shocked. "

"But I am not shocked at what you say, I agree with you. What I amshocked at is your ideals. I thought you'd want to educate yourself tosuch superiority over common woman that you could take the platform, and backed by your splendid physique, work for suffrage or lecture toeducate the masses. "

"I think more could be accomplished with selected specimens, by beingsteadily on the job, than by giving an hour to masses. I'm not muchinterested in masses. They are too abstract for me; I prefer one sternreality. And as for Woman's Rights, if anybody gives this woman theright to do anything more than she already has the right to do, there'll surely be a scandal. "

Mrs. Jardine lay back in her chair laughing. 

"You are the most refreshing person I have met in all my travels. Thento put it baldly, you want of life a man, a farm, and a family. "

"You comprehend me beautifully, " said Kate. "All my life I've workedlike a towhead to help earn two hundred acres of land for someone else. I think there's nothing I want so much as two hundred acres of land formyself. I'd undertake to do almost anything with it, if I had it. Iknow I could, if I had the shoulder-to-shoulder, real man. You noticeit will take considerable of a man to touch shoulders with me; I'm ahead taller than most of them. "

Mrs. Jardine looked at her speculatively. "Ummm!" she murmured. Katelaughed. 

"For eighteen years I have been under marching orders, " said Kate. "Over a year ago I was advised by a minister to 'take the wings ofmorning' so I took wing. I started on one grand flight and fellker-smash in short order. Life since has been a series of battering mywings until I have almost decided to buy some especially heavy boots, and walk the remainder of the way. As a concrete example, I startedout yesterday morning wearing a hat that several very reliable partiesassured me would so assist me to flight that I might at least have acarriage. Where, oh, where are my hat and my carriage now? Thecarriage, non est! The hat--I am humbly hoping some little countrygirl, who has lived a life as barren as mine, will find the remains andretrieve the velvet bow for a hair-ribbon. As for the man that Leghornhat was supposed to symbolize, he won't even look my way when I appearin my bobby little sailor. He's as badly crushed out of existence asmy beautiful hat. "

"You never should have been wearing such a hat to travel in, my dear, "murmured Mrs. Jardine. 

"Certainly not!" said Kate. "I knew it. My sister told me that. Common sense told me that! But what has that got to do with the factthat I WAS wearing the hat? I guess I have you there!"

"Far from it!" said Mrs. Jardine. "If you're going to start out inlife, calmly ignoring the advice of those who love you, and thedictates of common sense, the result will be that soon the wheels oflife will be grinding you, instead of a train making bag-rags of yourhat. "

"Hummm!" said Kate. "There IS food for reflection there. But wasn'tit plain logic, that if the hat was to bring the man, it should be wornwhere at any minute he might see it?"

"But my dear, my dear! If such a man as a woman like you should have, had seen you wearing that hat in the morning, on a railway train, hewould merely have thought you prideful and extravagant. You would havebeen far more attractive to any man I know in your blue sunbonnet. "

"I surely have learned that lesson, " said Kate. "Hereafter, sailors orsunbonnets for me in the morning. Now what may I do to add to yourcomfort?"

"Leave me for an hour until I take a nap, and then we'll have lunch andgo to a lecture. I can go to-day, perfectly well, after an hour'srest. "

So Kate went for a very interesting walk around the grounds. When shereturned Mrs. Jardine was still sleeping so she wrote Nancy Ellen, telling all about her adventure, but not a word about losing her hat. Then she had a talk with Jennie Weeks whom she found lingering in thehall near her door. When at last that nap was over, a new woman seemedto have developed. Mrs. Jardine was so refreshed and interested theremainder of the day that it was easier than before for Kate to see howshocked and ill she had been. As she helped dress her for lunch, Katesaid to Mrs. Jardine: "I met the manager as I was going to post aletter to my sister, so I asked him always to send you the same waiter. He said he would, and I'd like you to pay particular attention to herappearance, and the way she does her work. "

"Why?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

"I met her in the hall as I came back from posting my letter, so we'visited' a little, as the country folks say. She has taught onewinter of country school, a small school in an out county. She's herewaiting table two hours three times a day, to pay for her room andboard. In the meantime, she attends all the sessions and studies asmuch as she can; but she's very poor material for a teacher. I pityher pupils. She's a little thing, bright enough in her way, but shehas not much initiative, not strong enough for the work, and she hasnot enough spunk. She'll never lead the minds of school childrenanywhere that will greatly benefit them. "

"And your deduction is--"

"That she would make you a kind, careful, obedient maid, who is capableenough to be taught to wash your hair and manicure you with deftness, and who would serve you for respect as well as hire. I think it wouldbe a fine arrangement for you and good for her. "

"This surely is kind of you, " said Mrs. Jardine. "I'll keep strictwatch of Jennie Weeks. If I could find a really capable maid here andnot have to wire John to bring one, I'd be so glad. It does so goagainst the grain to prove to a man that he has a right to be moreconceited than he is naturally. "

As they ate lunch Kate said to Mrs. Jardine: "I noticed one thing thismorning that is going to be balm to my soul. I passed many teachersand summer resorters going to the lecture halls and coming from them, and half of them were bareheaded, so my state will not be remarkable, until I can get another hat. "

"'God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform, '" laughinglyquoted Mrs. Jardine. "You thought losing that precious hat was acalamity; but if you hadn't lost it, you probably would have sleptsoundly while I died across the hall. My life is worth the price of awhole millinery shop to me; I think you value the friendship we aredeveloping; I foresee I shall get a maid who will not disgrace my inpublic; you will have a full summer here; now truly, isn't all thisworth many hats?"

"Of course! It's like a fairy tale, " said Kate. "Still, you didn'tsee the hat!"

"But you described it in a truly graphic manner, " said Mrs. Jardine. 

"When I am the snowiest of great-grandmothers, I shall still be tellingsmall people about the outcome of my first attempt at vanity, " laughedKate. 

The third morning dawned in great beauty, a "misty, moisty morning, "Mrs. Jardine called it. The sun tried to shine but could not quitepierce the intervening clouds, so on every side could be seen exquisitepictures painted in delicate pastel colours. Kate, fresh and rosy, wearing a blue chambray dress, was a picture well worth seeing. Mrs. Jardine kept watching her so closely that Kate asked at last: "Haveyou made up your mind, yet?"

"No, and I am afraid I never shall, " answered Mrs. Jardine. "You arerather an astonishing creature. You're so big, so vital; you absorbknowledge like a sponge takes water--"

"And for the same purpose, " laughed Kate. "That it may be used for thebenefit of others. Tell me some more about me. I find me such aninteresting subject. "

"No doubt!" admitted Mrs. Jardine. "Not a doubt about that! We areall more interested in ourselves than in any one else in this world, until love comes; then we soon learn to a love man more than life, andwhen a child comes we learn another love, so clear, so high, sopurifying, that we become of no moment at all, and live only for thosewe love. "

"You speak for yourself, and a class of women like you, " answered Kategravely. "I'm very well acquainted with many women who have marriedand borne children, and who are possibly more selfish than before. TheGreat Experience never touched them at all. "

There was a tap at the door. Kate opened it and delivered to Mrs. Jardine a box so big that it almost blocked the doorway. 

Mrs. Jardine lifted from the box a big Leghorn hat of weave so whiteand fine it almost seemed like woven cloth instead of braid. There wasa bow in front, but the bow was nested in and tied through a web offlowered gold lace. One velvet end was slightly long and concealed awire which lifted one side of the brim a trifle, beneath which wasfastened a smashing big, pale-pink velvet rose. There was an ostrichplume even longer than the other, broader, blacker, as wonderful afeather as ever dropped from the plumage of a lordly bird. Mrs. Jardine shook the hat in such a way as to set the feather lifting andwaving after the confinement of the box. With slender, sure fingersshe set the bow and lace as they should be, and touched the petals ofthe rose. She inspected the hat closely, shook it again, and held ittoward Kate. 

"A very small price to pay for the breath of life, which I was rapidlylosing, " she said. "Do me the favour to accept it as casually as Ioffer it. Did I understand your description anywhere near right? Isthis your hat?"

"Thank you, " said Kate. "It is just 'the speaking image' of my hat, but it's a glorified, sublimated, celestial image. What I describedwas merely a hat. This is what I think I have lately heard Nancy Ellenmention as a 'creation. ' Wheuuuuuu!"

She went to the mirror, arranged her hair, set the hat on her head, andturned. 

"Gracious Heaven!" said Mrs. Jardine. "My dear, I understand NOW whyyou wore that hat on your journey. "

"I wore that hat, " said Kate, "as an ascension stalk wears its crown ofwhite lilies, as a bobolink wears its snowy courting crest, as a bridewears her veil; but please take this from me to-night, lest I sleep init!"

That night Mrs. Jardine felt tired enough to propose resting in herroom, with Jennie Weeks where she could be called; so for the firsttime Kate left her, and, donning her best white dress and the hat, attended a concert. At its close she walked back to the hotel withsome of the other teachers stopping there, talked a few minutes in thehall, went to the office desk for mail, and slowly ascended the stairs, thinking intently. What she thought was: "If I am not mistaken, my hatdid a small bit of execution to-night. " She stepped to her room tolock the door and stopped a few minutes to arrange the clothing she haddiscarded when she dressed hurriedly before going to the concert, then, the letters in her hand, she opened Mrs. Jardine's door. 

A few minutes before, there had been a tap on that same door. 

"Come in, " said Mrs. Jardine, expecting Kate or Jennie Weeks. Sheslowly lifted her eyes and faced a tall, slender man standing there. 

"John Jardine, what in the world are you doing here?" she demandedafter the manner of mothers, "and what in this world has happened toyou?"

"Does it show on me like that?" he stammered. 

"Was your train in a wreck? Are you in trouble?" she asked. "Somethingshows plainly enough, but I don't understand what it is. "

"Are you all right, Mother?" He advanced a step, looking intently ather. 

"Of course I'm all right! You can see that for yourself. The questionis, what's the matter with you?"

"If you will have it, there is something the matter. Since I saw youlast I have seen a woman I want to marry, that's all; unless I add thatI want her so badly that I haven't much sense left. Now you have it!"

"No, I don't have it, and I won't have it! What designing creature hasbeen trying to intrigue you now?" she demanded. 

"Not any one. She didn't see me, even. I saw her. I've beenfollowing her for nearly two hours instead of coming straight to you, as I always have. So you see where I am. I expect you won't forgiveme, but since I'm here, you must know that I could only come on theevening train. "

He crossed the room, knelt beside the chair, and took it and itscontents in his arms. 

"Are you going to scold me?" he asked. 

"I am, " she said. "I am going to take you out and push you into thedeepest part of the lake. I'm so disappointed. Why, John, for thefirst time in my life I've selected a girl for you, the very mostsuitable girl I ever saw, and I hoped and hoped for three days thatwhen you came you'd like her. Of course I wasn't so rash as to say aword to her! But I've thought myself into a state where I'm going tobe sick with disappointment. "

"But wait, Mother, wait until I can manage to meet the girl I've seen. Wait until I have a chance to show her to you!" he begged. 

"I suppose I shall be forced, " she said. "I've always dreaded it, nowhere it comes. Oh, why couldn't it have been Kate? Why did she go tothat silly concert? If only I'd kept her here, and we'd walked down tothe station. I'd half a mind to!"

Then the door opened, and Kate stepped into the room. She stood still, looking at them. John Jardine stood up, looking at her. His mother satstaring at them in turn. Kate recovered first. 

"Please excuse me, " she said. 

She laid the letters on a small table and turned to go. John caughthis mother's hand closer, when he found himself holding it. 

"If you know the young lady, Mother, " he said, "why don't you introduceus?"

"Oh, I was so bewildered by your coming, " she said. "Kate, dear, letme present my son. "

Kate crossed the room, and looking straight into each other's eyes theyshook hands and found chairs. 

"How was your concert, my dear?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

"I don't think it was very good, " said Kate. "Not at all up to myexpectations. How did you like it, Mr. Jardine?"

"Was that a concert?" he asked. 

"It was supposed to be, " said Kate. 

"Thank you for the information, " he said. "I didn't see it, I didn'thear it, I don't know where I was. "

"This is most astonishing, " said Kate. 

Mrs. Jardine looked at her son, her eyes two big imperative questionmarks. He nodded slightly. 

"My soul!" she cried, then lay back in her chair half-laughing, half-crying, until Kate feared she might have another attack of hearttrouble. 

CHAPTER X

JOHN JARDINE'S COURTSHIP

THE following morning they breakfasted together under the branches ofthe big maple tree in a beautiful world. Mrs. Jardine was so happy shecould only taste a bite now and then, when urged to. Kate was trying tokeep her head level, and be natural. John Jardine wanted to think ofeverything, and succeeded fairly well. It seemed to Kate that he couldinvent more ways to spend money, and spend it with freer hand, than anyman she ever had heard of, but she had to confess that the men she hadheard about were concerned with keeping their money, not scattering it. 

"Did you hear unusual sounds when John came to bid me good-night?"asked Mrs. Jardine of Kate. 

"Yes, " laughed Kate, "I did. And I'm sure I made a fairly accurateguess as to the cause. "

"What did you think?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

"I thought Mr. Jardine had missed Susette, and you'd had to tell him, "said Kate. 

"You're quite right. It's a good thing she went on and lost herself inNew York. I'm not at all sure that he doesn't contemplate starting outto find her yet. "

"Let Susette go!" said Kate. "We're interested in forgetting her. There's a little country school-teacher here, who wants to take herplace, and it will be the very thing for your mother and for her, too. She's the one serving us; notice her in particular. "

"If she's a teacher, how does she come to be serving us?" he asked. 

"I'm a teacher; how do I come to be dining with you?" said Kate. "Thisis such a queer world, when you go adventuring in it. Jennie had asmall school in an out county, a widowed mother and a big family tohelp support; so she figured that the only way she could come here totry to prepare herself for a better school was to work for her room andboard. She serves the table two hours, three times a day, and studiesbetween times. She tells me that almost every waiter in the dininghall is a teacher. Please watch her movements and manner and see ifyou think her suitable. Goodness knows she isn't intended for ateacher. "

"I like her very much, " said John Jardine. "I'll engage her as soon aswe finish. "

Kate smiled, but when she saw the ease and dexterity with which heended Jennie Weeks' work as a waiter and installed her as his mother'smaid, making the least detail all right with his mother, with Jennie, with the manager, she realized that there had been nothing for her tosmile about. Jennie was delighted, and began her new undertakingearnestly, with sincere desire to please. Kate helped her all shecould, while Mrs. Jardine developed a fund of patience commensuratewith the need of it. She would have endured more inconvenience thanresulted from Jennie's inexperienced hands because of the realizationthat her son and the girl she had so quickly learned to admire were onthe lake, rambling the woods, or hearing lectures together. 

When she asked him how long he could remain, he said as long as shedid. When she explained that she was enjoying herself thoroughly andhad no idea how long she would want to stay, he said that was allright; he had only had one vacation in his life; it was time he washaving another. When she marvelled at this he said: "Now, look here, Mother, let's get this business straight, right at the start. I toldyou when I came I'd seen the woman I wanted. If you want me to go backto business, the way to do it is to help me win her. "

"But I don't want you 'to go back to business'; I want you to have along vacation, and learn all you can from the educational advantageshere. "

"It's too late for me to learn more than I get every day by knockingaround and meeting people. I've tried books two or three times, andI've given them up; I can't do it. I've waited too long, I've no wayto get down to it, I can't remember to save my soul. "

"But you can remember anything on earth about a business deal, " sheurged. 

"Of course I can. I was born with a business head. It was remember, or starve, and see you starve. If I'd had the books at the time theywould have helped; now it's too late, and I'll never try it again, that's settled. Much as I want to marry Miss Bates, she'll have totake me or leave me as I am. I can't make myself over for her or foryou. I would if I could, but that's one of the things I can't do, andI admit it. If I'm not good enough for her as I am, she'll have thechance to tell me so the very first minute I think it's proper to askher. "

"John, you are good enough for the best woman on earth. There neverwas a better lad, it isn't that, and you know it. I am so anxious thatI can scarcely wait; but you must wait. You must give her time and goslowly, and you must be careful, oh, so very careful! She's a teacherand a student; she came here to study. "

"I'll fix that. I can rush things so that there'll be no time tostudy. "

"You'll make a mistake if you try it. You'd far better let her go herown way and only appear when she has time for you, " she advised. 

"That's a fine idea!" he cried. "A lot of ice I'd cut, sitting backwaiting for a signal to run after a girl, like a poodle. The way to dois the same as with any business deal. See what you want, overcomeanything in your way, and get it. I'd go crazy hanging around likethat. You've always told me I couldn't do the things in business Isaid I would; and I've always proved to you that I could, by doingthem. Now watch me do this. "

"You know I'll do anything to help you, John. You know how proud I amof you, how I love you! I realize now that I've talked volumes to Kateabout you. I've told her everything from the time you were a littleboy and I slaved for you, until now, when you slave for me. "

"Including how many terms I'd gone to school?"

"Yes, I even told her that, " she said. 

"Well, what did she seem to think about it?" he asked. 

"I don't know what she thought, she didn't say anything. There wasnothing to say. It was a bare-handed fight with the wolf in thosedays. I'm sure I made her understand that, " she said. 

"Well, I'll undertake to make her understand this, " he said. "Are yousure that Jennie Weeks is taking good care of you?"

"Jennie is well enough and is growing better each day, now be off toyour courting, but if you love me, remember, and be careful, " she said. 

"Remember--one particular thing--you mean?" he asked. 

She nodded, her lips closed. 

"You bet I will!" he said. "All there is of me goes into this. Isn'tshe a wonder, Mother?"

Mrs. Jardine looked closely at the big man who was all the world toher, so like her in mentality, so like his father with his dark hairand eyes and big, well-rounded frame; looked at him with the eyes oflove, then as he left her to seek the girl she had learned to love, sheshut her eyes and frankly and earnestly asked the Lord to help her sonto marry Kate Bates. 

One morning as Kate helped Mrs. Jardine into her coat and gloves, preparing for one of their delightful morning drives, she said to her:"Mrs. Jardine, may I ask you a REAL question?"

"Of course you may, " said Mrs. Jardine, "and I shall give you a 'real'answer if it lies in my power. "

"You'll be shocked, " warned Kate. 

"Shock away, " laughed Mrs. Jardine. "By now I flatter myself that I amso accustomed to you that you will have to try yourself to shock me. "

"It's only this, " said Kate: "If you were a perfect stranger, standingback and looking on, not acquainted with any of the parties, merelyseeing things as they happen each day, would it be your honestopinion--would you say that I am being COURTED?"

Mrs. Jardine laughed until she was weak. When she could talk, shesaid: "Yes, my dear, under the conditions, and in the circumstancesyou mention, I would cheerfully go on oath and testify that you arebeing courted more openly, more vigorously, and as tenderly as I everhave seen woman courted in all my life. I always thought that John'sfather was a master hand at courting, but John has him beaten in manyways. Yes, my dear, you certainly are being courted assiduously. "

"Now, then, on that basis, " said Kate, "just one more question andwe'll proceed with our drive. From the same standpoint: would you sayfrom your observation and experience that the mother of the man had anyinsurmountable objection to the proceedings?"

Mrs. Jardine laughed again. Finally she said: "No, my dear. It's myfirm conviction that the mother of the man in the case would be sodelighted if you should love and marry her son that she would probablyhave a final attack of heart trouble and pass away from sheer joy. "

"Thank you, " said Kate. "I wasn't perfectly sure, having had noexperience whatever, and I didn't want to make a mistake. "

That drive was wonderful, over beautiful country roads, through dells, and across streams and hills. They stopped where they pleased, gathering flowers and early apples, visiting with people they met, lunching wherever they happened to be. 

"If it weren't for wishing to hear John A. Logan to-night, " said Kate, "I'd move that we drive on all day. I certainly am having the grandesttime. "

She sat with her sailor hat filled with Early Harvest apples, a bigbunch of Canadian anemones in her belt, a little stream at her feet, July drowsy fullness all around her, congenial companions; taking the"wings of morning" paid, after all. 

"Why do you want to hear him so much?" asked John. 

Kate looked up at him in wonder. 

"Don't you want to see and hear him?" she asked. 

He hesitated, a thoughtful expression on his face. Finally he said:"I can't say that I do. Will you tell me why I should?"

"You should because he was one of the men who did much to preserve ourUnion, he may tell us interesting things about the war. Where were youwhen it was the proper time for you to be studying the speech ofLogan's ancestor in McGuffey's Fourth?"

"That must have been the year I figured out the improved coupling pinin the C. N. W. Shops, wouldn't you think, Mother?"

"Somewhere near, my dear, " she said. 

So they drove back as happily as they had set out, made themselvesfresh, and while awaiting the lecture hour, Kate again wrote to Robertand Nancy Ellen, telling plainly and simply all that had occurred. Sheeven wrote "John Jardine's mother is of the opinion that he is courtingme. I am so lacking in experience myself that I scarcely dare venturean opinion, but it has at times appealed to me that if he isn't really, he certainly must be going through the motions. "

Nancy Ellen wrote: I have read over what you say about John Jardineseveral times. Then I had Robert write Bradstreet's and look him up. He is rated so high that if he hasn't a million right now, he soon willhave. You be careful, and do your level best. Are your clothes goodenough? Shall I send more of my things? You know I'll do anything tohelp you. Oh, yes, that George Holt from your boarding place was herethe other day hunting you. He seemed determined to know where you wereand when you would be back, and asked for your address. I didn't thinkyou had any time for him and I couldn't endure him or his foolish talkabout a new medical theory; so I said you'd no time for writing andwere going about so much I had no idea if you'd get a letter if he sentone, and I didn't give him what he wanted. He'll probably try generaldelivery, but you can drop it in the lake. I want you to be sure tochange your boarding place this winter, if you teach; but I haven't anidea you will. Hadn't you better bring matters to a close if you can, and let the Director know? Love from us both, NANCY ELLEN. 

Kate sat very still, holding this letter in her hand, when John Jardinecame up and sat beside her. She looked at him closely. He was quite asgood looking as his mother thought him, in a brawny masculine way; butKate was not seeking the last word in mental or physical refinement. She was rather brawny herself, and perfectly aware of the fact. Shewanted intensely to learn all she could, she disliked the idea that anywoman should have more stored in her head than she, but she had no timeto study minute social graces and customs. She wanted to be kind, tobe polite, but she told Mrs. Jardine flatly the "she didn't give a flipabout being overly nice, " which was the exact truth. That requiredsubtleties beyond Kate's depth, for she was at times alarmingly casual. So she held her letter and thought about John Jardine. As she thought, she decided that she did not know whether she was in love with him ornot; she thought she was. She liked being with him, she liked all hedid for her, she would miss him if he went away, she would be proud tobe his wife, but she did wish that he were interested in land, insteadof inventions and stocks and bonds. Stocks and bonds were almost asevanescent as rainbows to Kate. Land was something she couldunderstand and handle. Maybe she could interest him in land; if shecould, that would be ideal. What a place his wealth would buy and fitup. She wondered as she studied John Jardine, what was in his head; ifhe truly intended to ask her to be his wife, and since reading NancyEllen's letter, when? She should let the Trustee know if she were notgoing to teach the school again; but someway, she rather wanted toteach the school. When she started anything she did not know how tostop until she finished. She had so much she wanted to teach herpupils the coming winter. 

Suddenly John asked: "Kate, if you could have anything you wanted, what would you have?"

"Two hundred acres of land, " she said. 

"How easy!" laughed John, rising to find a seat for his mother who wasapproaching them. "What do you think of that, Mother? A girl whowants two hundred acres of land more than anything else in the world. "

"What is better?" asked Mrs. Jardine. 

"I never heard you say anything about land before. "

"Certainly not, " said his mother, "and I'm not saying anything about itnow, for myself; but I can see why it means so much to Kate, why it'sher natural element. "

"Well, I can't, " he said. "I meet many men in business who started onland, and most of them were mighty glad to get away from it. What'sthe attraction?"

Kate waved her hand toward the distance. 

"Oh, merely sky, and land, and water, and trees, and birds, andflowers, and fruit, and crops, and a few other things scarcely worthmentioning, " she said, lightly. "I'm not in the mood to talk bushels, seed, and fertilization just now; but I understand them, they are in myblood. I think possibly the reason I want two hundred acres of landfor myself is because I've been hard on the job of getting them forother people ever since I began to work, at about the age of four. "

"But if you want land personally, why didn't you work to get it foryourself?" asked John Jardine. 

"Because I happened to be the omega of my father's system, " answeredKate. 

Mrs. Jardine looked at her interestedly. She had never mentioned herhome or parents before. The older woman did not intend to ask a word, but if Kate was going to talk, she did not want to miss one. Kateevidently was going to talk, for she continued: "You see my father island mad, and son crazy. He thinks a BOY of all the importance in theworld; a GIRL of none whatever. He has the biggest family of any onewe know. From birth each girl is worked like a man, or a slave, fromfour in the morning until nine at night. Each boy is worked exactlythe same way; the difference lies in the fact that the girls get plainfood and plainer clothes out of it; the boys each get two hundred acresof land, buildings and stock, that the girls have been worked to thelimit to help pay for; they get nothing personally, worth mentioning. I think I have two hundred acres of land on the brain, and I think thisis the explanation of it. It's a pre-natal influence at our house;while we nurse, eat, sleep, and above all, WORK it, afterward. "

She paused and looked toward John Jardine calmly: "I think, " she said, "that there's not a task ever performed on a farm that I haven't had myshare in. I have plowed, hoed, seeded, driven reapers and bound wheat, pitched hay and hauled manure, chopped wood and sheared sheep, andboiled sap; if you can mention anything else, go ahead, I bet a dollarI've done it. "

"Well, what do you think of that?" he muttered, looking at herwonderingly. 

"If you ask me, and want the answer in plain words, I think it's ashame!" said Kate. "If it were ONE HUNDRED acres of land, and thegirls had as much, and were as willing to work it as the boys are, welland good. But to drive us like cattle, and turn all we earn into landfor the boys, is another matter. I rebelled last summer, borrowed themoney and went to Normal and taught last winter. I'm going to teachagain this winter; but last summer and this are the first of my lifethat I haven't been in the harvest fields, at this time. Women in theharvest fields of Land King Bates are common as men, and wagons, andhorses, but not nearly so much considered. The women always walk onSunday, to save the horses, and often on week days. "

"Mother has it hammered into me that it isn't polite to ask questions, "said John, "but I'd like to ask one. "

"Go ahead, " said Kate. "Ask fifty! What do I care?"

"How many boys are there in your family?"

"There are seven, " said Kate, "and if you want to use them as a basisfor a land estimate add two hundred and fifty for the home place. Sixteen hundred and fifty is what Father pays tax on, besides thenumerous mortgages and investments. He's the richest man in the countywe live in; at least he pays the most taxes. "

Mother and son looked at each other in silence. They had been thinkingher so poor that she would be bewildered by what they had to offer. But if two hundred acres of land were her desire, there was apossibility that she was a women who was not asking either ease orluxury of life, and would refuse it if it were proffered. 

"I hope you will take me home with you, and let me see all that land, and how it is handled, " said John Jardine. "I don't own an acre. Inever even have thought of it, but there is no reason why I, or anymember of my family shouldn't have all the land they want. Mother, doyou feel a wild desire for two hundred acres of land? Same kind of adesire that took you to come here?"

"No, I don't, " said Mrs. Jardine. "All I know about land is that Iknow it when I see it, and I know if I think it's pretty; but I can seewhy Kate feels that she would like that amount for herself, afterhaving helped earn all those farms for her brothers. If it's land shewants, I hope she speedily gets all she desires in whatever locationshe wants it; and then I hope she lets me come to visit her and watchher do as she likes with it. "

"Surely, " said Kate, "you are invited right now; as soon as I ever getthe land, I'll give you another invitation. And of course you may gohome with me, Mr. Jardine, and I'll show you each of what Father calls'those little parcels of land of mine. ' But the one he lives on weshall have to gaze at from afar, because I'm a Prodigal Daughter. WhenI would leave home in spite of him for the gay and riotous life of aschool-marm, he ordered me to take all my possessions with me, which Idid in one small telescope. I was not to enter his house again whilehe lived. I was glad to go, he was glad to have me, while I don'tthink either of us has changed our mind since. Teaching school isn'texactly gay, but I'll fill my tummy with quite a lot of symbolicalhusks before he'll kill the fatted calf for me. They'll be glad to seeyou at my brother Adam's, and my sister, Nancy Ellen, would greatlyenjoy meeting you. Surely you may go home with me, if you'd like. "

"I can think of only one thing I'd like better, " he said. "We've beensuch good friends here and had such a good time, it would be the thingI'd like best to take you home with us, and show you where and how welive. Mother, did you ever invite Kate to visit us?"

"I have, often, and she has said that she would, " replied Mrs. Jardine. "I think it would be nice for her to go from here with us; and then youcan take her home whenever she fails to find us interesting. How wouldthat suit you for a plan, my dear?"

"I think that would be a perfect ending to a perfect summer, " saidKate. "I can't see an objection in any way. Thank you very much. "

"Then we'll call that settled, " said John Jardine. 

CHAPTER XI

A BUSINESS PROPOSITION

MID-AUGUST saw them on their way to Chicago. Kate had taken care ofMrs. Jardine a few days while Jennie Weeks went home to see her motherand arrange for her new work. She had no intention of going back toschool teaching. She preferred to brush Mrs. Jardine's hair, buttonher shoes, write her letters, and read to her. 

In a month, Jennie had grown so deft at her work and made herself soappreciated, that she was practically indispensable to the elderlywoman, and therefore the greatest comfort to John. Immediately he sawthat his mother was properly cared for, sympathetically and evenlovingly, he made it his business to smooth Jennie's path in every waypossible. In turn she studied him, and in many ways made herselfuseful to him. Often she looked at him with large and speculative eyesas he sat reading letters, or papers, or smoking. 

The world was all right with Kate when they crossed the sand dunes asthey neared the city. She was sorry about the situation in her home, but she smiled sardonically as she thought how soon her father wouldforget his anger when he heard about the city home and the kind of farmshe could have, merely by consenting to take it. She was that sure ofJohn Jardine; yet he had not asked her to marry him. He had seemed onthe verge of it a dozen times, and then had paused as if betterjudgment told him it would be wise to wait a little longer. Now Katehad concluded that there was a definite thing he might be waiting for, since that talk about land. 

She thought possibly she understood what it was. He was a businessman; he knew nothing else; he said so frankly. He wanted to show herhis home, his business, his city, his friends, and then he required--hehad almost put it into words--that he be shown her home and her people. Kate not only acquiesced, she approved. She wanted to know as much ofa man she married as Nancy Ellen had known, and Robert had taken her tohis home and told his people she was his betrothed wife before hemarried her. 

Kate's eyes were wide open and her brain busy, as they entered a finelyappointed carriage and she heard John say: "Rather sultry. Home downthe lake shore, George. " She wished their driver had not been named"George, " but after all it made no difference. There could not be acommoner name than John, and she knew of but one that she liked better. For the ensuing three days she lived in a Lake Shore home of wealth. She watched closely not to trip in the heavy rugs and carpets. Shelooked at wonderful paintings and long shelves of books. She never hadtouched such china, or tasted such food or seen so good service. Sheunderstood why John had opposed his mother's undertaking the tripwithout him, for everyone in the house seemed busy serving the littlewoman. 

Jennie Weeks was frankly enchanted. 

"My sakes!" she said to Kate. "If I'm not grateful to you for gettingme into a place like this. I wouldn't give it up for all theschool-teaching in the world. I'm going to snuggle right in here, andmake myself so useful I won't have to leave until I die. I hope youwon't turn me out when to come to take charge. "

"Don't you think you're presuming?" said Kate. 

Jennie drew back with a swift apology, but there was a flash in thelittle eyes and a spiteful look on the small face as she withdrew. 

Then Kate was shown each of John's wonderful inventions. To her theyseemed almost miracles, because they were so obvious, so simple, yetbrought such astounding returns. She saw offices and heard theexplanation of big business; but did not comprehend, farther than thatwhen an invention was completed, the piling up of money began. Beforethe week's visit was over, Kate was trying to fit herself and her aimsand objects of life into the surroundings, with no success whatever. She felt housed in, cribbed, confined, frustrated. When she realizedthat she was becoming plainly cross, she began keen self-analysis andsoon admitted to herself that she did not belong there. 

Kate watched with keen eyes. Repeatedly she tried to imagine herselfin such surroundings for life, a life sentence, she expressed it, forsoon she understood that it would be to her, a prison. The only wayshe could imagine herself enduring it at all was to think of thepromised farm, and when she began to think of that on Jardine terms, she saw that it would mean to sit down and tell someone else what shewanted done. There would be no battle to fight. Her mind kept harkingback to the day when she had said to John that she hoped there would bea lake on the land she owned, and he had answered casually: "If thereisn't a lake, make one!" Kate thought that over repeatedly. "Makeone!" Make a lake? It would have seemed no more magical to her if hehad said, "Make a cloud, " "Make a star, " or "Make a rainbow. " "What onearth would I do with myself, with my time, with my life?" ponderedKate. 

She said "Good-bye" to Mrs. Jardine and Jennie Weeks, and started homewith John, still pondering. When the train pulled into Hartley, NancyEllen and Robert were on the platform to meet them. From that time, Kate was on solid ground. She was reckoning in terms she couldcomprehend. All her former assurance and energy came back to her. Shealmost wished the visit were over, and that she were on the way toWalton to clean the school-house. She was eager to roll her sleevesand beat a tub of soapy clothes to foam, and boil them snowy white. She had a desire she could scarcely control to sweep, and dust, andcook. She had been out of the environment she thought she disliked andfound when she returned to it after a wider change than she could haveimagined, that she did not dislike it at all. It was her element, herwork, what she knew. She could attempt it with sure foot, capablehand, and certain knowledge. 

Sunday morning she said to Nancy Ellen as they washed the breakfastdishes, while the men smoked on the veranda: "Nancy Ellen, I don'tbelieve I was ever cut out for a rich woman! If I have got a chance, Iwish YOU had it, and I had THIS. This just suits my style to a T. "

"Tell me about it, " said Nancy Ellen. 

Kate told all she could remember. 

"You don't mean to say you didn't LIKE it?" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"I didn't say anything, " said Kate, "but if I were saying exactly whatI feel, you'd know I despise it all. "

"Why, Kate Barnes!" cried the horrified Nancy Ellen, "Whatever do youmean?"

"I haven't thought enough to put it to you clearly, " said Kate, "butsomeway the city repels me. Facilities for manufacturing somethingstart a city. It begins with the men who do the work, and the men whoprofit from that work, living in the same coop. It expands, and goeson, and grows, on that basis. It's the laborer, living on his hire, and the manufacturer living on the laborer's productions, coming indaily contact. The contrast is too great, the space is too small. Somebody is going to get the life crowded out of him at every turn, andit isn't always the work hand in the factory. The money kings eat eachother for breakfast every day. As for work, we always thought weworked. You should take a peep into the shops and factories I've seenthis week. Work? Why, we don't know what work is, and we waste enoughfood every day to keep a workman's family, and we're dressed likedqueens, in comparison with them right now. "

"Do you mean to say if he asks you--?" It was a small explosion. 

"I mean to say if he asks me, 'buy me that two hundred acres of landwhere I want it, build me the house and barns I want, and guaranteethat I may live there as I please, and I'll marry you to-morrow. ' Ifit's Chicago--Never! I haven't stolen, murdered, or betrayed, whoshould I be imprisoned?"

"Why, you hopeless anarchist!" said Nancy Ellen, "I am going to tellJohn Jardine on you. "

"Do!" urged Kate. "Sound him on the land question. It's our only hopeof a common foundation. Have you send Agatha word that we will be outthis afternoon?"

"I have, " said Nancy Ellen. "And I don't doubt that now, even now, sheis in the kitchen--how would she put it?"

"'Compounding a cake, '" said Kate, "while Adam is in the cellar'freezing a custard. ' Adam, 3d, will be raking the yard afresh andSusan will be sweeping the walks steadily from now until they sight uscoming down the road. What you bet Agatha asked John his intentions?I almost wish she would, " she added. "He has some, but there is astring to them in some way, and I can't just make out where, or why itis. "

"Not even a guess?" asked Nancy Ellen. 

"Not even a guess, with any sense to it. I've thought it was comingrepeatedly; but I've got a stubborn Bates streak, and I won't lift afinger to help him. He'll speak up, loud and plain, or there will beno 'connubial bliss' for us, as Agatha says. I think he has ideasabout other things than freight train gear. According to his programmewe must have so much time to become acquainted, I must see his home andpeople, he must see mine. If there's more after that, I'm notinformed. Like as not there is. It may come after we get backto-night, I can't say. "

"Have you told him--?" asked Nancy Ellen. 

"Not the details, but the essentials. He knows that I can't go home. It came up one day in talking about land. I guess they had thoughtbefore, that my people were poor as church mice. I happened to mentionhow much land I had helped earn for my brothers, and they seemed sointerested I finished the job. Well, after they had heard about theLand King, it made a noticeable difference in their treatment of me. Not that they weren't always fine, but it made, I scarcely know how toput it, it was so intangible--but it was a difference, an addedrespect. You bet money is a power! I can see why Father hangs on tothose deeds, when I get out in the world. They are his compensationfor his years of hard work, the material evidence that he has succeededin what he undertook. He'd show them to John Jardine with the samefeeling John showed me improved car couplers, brakes, and air cushions. They stand for successes that win the deference of men. Out in thelittle bit of world I've seen, I notice that men fight, bleed, and diefor even a tiny fraction of deference. Aren't they funny? What wouldI care--?"

"Well, I'D care a lot!" said Nancy Ellen. 

Kate surveyed her slowly. "Yes, I guess you would. "

They finished the dishes and went to church, because Robert wasaccustomed to going. They made a remarkable group. Then they went tothe hotel for dinner, so that the girls would not have to prepare it, and then in a double carriage Robert had secured for the occasion, theydrove to Bates Corners and as Kate said, "Viewed the landscape o'er. "Those eight pieces of land, none under two hundred acres, some slightlyover, all in the very highest state of cultivation, with modern houses, barns, outbuildings, and fine stock grazing in the pastures, made animpressive picture. It was probably the first time that any of theBates girls had seen it all at once, and looked on it merely as aspectacle. They stopped at Adam's last, and while Robert was busy withthe team and John had alighted to help him, Nancy Ellen, revealingtight lips and unnaturally red cheeks, leaned back to Kate. 

"This is about as mean a trick, and as big a shame as I've ever seen, "she said, hotly. "You know I was brought up with this, and I neverlooked at it with the eyes of a stranger before. If ever I get myfingers on those deeds, I'll make short work of them!"

"And a good job, too!" assented Kate, instantly. "Look out! Therecomes Adam. "

"I'd just as soon tell him so as not!" whispered Nancy Ellen. 

"Which would result in the deeds being recorded to-morrow and spoilingour trip to-day, and what good would it do you?" said Kate. 

"None, of course! Nothing ever does a Bates girl any good, unless shegets out and does it for herself, " retorted Nancy Ellen spitefully. 

"There, there, " said Robert as he came to help Nancy Ellen protect herskirts in alighting. "I was afraid this trip would breed discontent. "

"What's the trouble?" asked John, as he performed the same service forKate. 

"Oh, the girls are grouching a little because they helped earn allthis, and are to be left out of it, " explained Robert in a low voice. 

"Let's get each one of them a farm that will lay any of thesecompletely in the shade, " suggested John. 

"All right for you, if you can do it, " said Robert, laughing, "but I'vegone my limit for the present. Besides, if you gave each of them twohundred acres of the Kingdom of Heaven, it wouldn't stop them fromfeeling that they had been defrauded of their birthright here. "

"How would you feel if you was served the same way?" asked John, andeven as she shook hands with Adam, and introduced John Jardine, Katefound herself wishing that he had said "were. "

As the girls had predicted, the place was immaculate, the yard shadyand cool from the shelter of many big trees, the house comfortable, convenient, the best of everything in sight. Agatha and Susan were innew white dresses, while Adam Jr. And 3d wore tan and white stripedseersucker coats, and white duck trousers. It was not difficult to feela glow of pride in the place and people. Adam made them cordiallywelcome. 

"You undoubtedly are blessed with good fortune, " said Agatha. "Won'tyou please enlighten us concerning your travels, Katherine?"

So Kate told them everything she could think of that she thought wouldinterest and amuse them, even outlining for Agatha speeches she hadheard made by Dr. Vincent, Chaplain McCabe, Jehu DeWitt Miller, anumber of famous politicians, teachers, and ministers. Then all of themtalked about everything. Adam took John and Robert to look over thefarm, whereupon Kate handed over her hat for Agatha to finger and tryon. 

"And how long will it be, my dear, " said Agatha to Kate, "before youenter connubial bliss?"

"My goodness! I'm glad you asked me that while the men are at thebarn, " said Kate. "Mr. Jardine hasn't said a word about it himself, soplease be careful what you say before him. "

Agatha looked at Kate in wonder. 

"You amaze me, " she said. "Why, he regards you as if he would devouryou. He hasn't proposed for your hand, you say? Surely you're notgiving him proper encouragement!"

"She isn't giving him any, further than allowing him to be around, "said Nancy Ellen. 

"Do enlighten me!" cried the surprised Agatha. "How astonishing! Why, Kate, my dear, there is a just and proper amount of encouragement thatMUST be given any self-respecting youth, before he makes hisdeclarations. You surely know that. "

"No, I do not know it!" said Kate. "I thought it was a man's place tospeak up loud and plain and say what he had to propose. "

"Oh, dear!" wailed Agatha, wringing her thin hands, her face a mirrorof distress. "Oh, dear, I very much fear you will lose him. Why, Katherine, after a man has been to see you a certain number of times, and evidenced enough interest in you, my dear, there are a thousandstrictly womanly ways in which you can lend his enterprise a little, only a faint amount of encouragement, just enough to allow him torecognize that he is not--not--er--repulsive to you. "

"But how many times must he come, and how much interest must heevince?" asked Kate. 

"I can scarcely name an exact number, " said Agatha. "That is personal. You must decide for yourself what is the psychological moment at whichhe is to be taken. Have you even signified to him that you--thatyou--that you could be induced, even to CONTEMPLATE marriage?"

"Oh, yes, " said Kate, heartily. "I told his mother that it was theheight of my ambition to marry by the time I'm twenty. I told her Iwanted a man as tall as I am, two hundred acres of land, and at leasttwelve babies. "

Agatha collapsed suddenly. She turned her shocked face toward NancyEllen. 

"Great Day of Rest!" she cried. "No wonder the man doesn't propose!"

When the men returned from their stroll, Agatha and Susan served themwith delicious frozen custard and Angel's food cake. Then they resumedtheir drive, passing Hiram's place last. At the corner Roberthesitated and turned to ask: "Shall we go ahead, Kate?"

"Certainly, " said Kate. "I want Mr. Jardine to see where I was bornand spent my time of legal servitude. I suppose we daren't stop. Idoubt if Mother would want to see me, and I haven't the slightest doubtthat Father would NOT; but he has no jurisdiction over the road. It'sthe shortest way--and besides, I want to see the lilac bush and thecabbage roses. "

As they approached the place Nancy Ellen turned. 

"Father's standing at the gate. What shall we do?"

"There's nothing you can do, but drive straight ahead and you andRobert speak to him, " said Kate. "Go fast, Robert. "

He touched the team and at fair speed they whirled past the whitehouse, at the gate of which, stiffly erect, stood a brawny man of sixfeet six, his face ruddy and healthy in appearance. He was dressed ashe prepared himself to take a trip to pay his taxes, or to go to Court. He stood squarely erect, with stern, forbidding face, looking directlyat them. Robert spoke to him, and Nancy Ellen leaned forward andwaved, calling "Father, " that she might be sure he knew her, but hegave not the slightest sign of recognition. They carried away adistinct picture of him, at his best physically and in appearance; athis worst mentally. 

"There you have it!" said Kate, bitterly. "I'd be safe in wagering athousand dollars, if I had it, that Agatha or the children told, atHiram's or to Mother's girl, that we were coming. They knew we wouldpass about this time. Mother was at the side door watching, and Fatherwas in his Sunday best, waiting to show us what would happen if westopped, and that he never changes his mind. It didn't happen byaccident that he was standing there dressed that way. What do youthink, Nancy Ellen?"

"That he was watching for us!" said Nancy Ellen. 

"But why do you suppose that he did it?" asked Kate. 

"He thought that if he were NOT standing guard there, we might stop inthe road and at least call Mother out. He wanted to be seen, and seenat his best; but as always, in command, showing his authority. "

"Don't mind, " said John Jardine. "It's easy to understand thesituation. "

"Thank you, " said Kate. "I hope you'll tell your mother that. I can'tbear her to think that the trouble is wholly my fault. "

"No danger of that, " he said. "Mother thinks there's nobody in all theworld like you, and so do I. "

Nancy Ellen kicked Robert's shin, to let him know that she heard. Katewas very depressed for a time, but she soon recovered and they spent afinal happy evening together. When John had parted from Robert andNancy Ellen, with the arrangement that he was to come again thefollowing Saturday evening and spend Sunday with them, he asked Kate towalk a short distance with him. He seemed to be debating someproposition in his mind, that he did not know how to approach. Finallyhe stopped abruptly and said: "Kate, Mother told me that she told youhow I grew up. We have been together most of every day for six weeks. I have no idea how a man used to women goes at what I want, so I canonly do what I think is right, and best, and above all honest, andfair. I'd be the happiest I've ever been, to do anything on earth I'vegot the money to do, for you. There's a question I'm going to ask youthe next time I come. You can think over all you know of me, and ofMother, and of what we have, and are, and be ready to tell me how youfeel about everything next Sunday. There's one question I want to askyou before I go. In case we can plan for a life together next Sunday, what about my mother?"

"Whatever pleases her best, of course, " said Kate. "Any arrangementthat you feel will make her happy, will be all right with me; in theevent we agree on other things. "

He laughed, shortly. 

"This sounds cold-blooded and business-like, " he said. "But Mother'sbeen all the world to me, until I met you. I must be sure about her, and one other thing. I'll write you about that this week. If that isall right with you, you can get ready for a deluge. I've held in aslong as I can. Kate, will you kiss me good-bye?"

"That's against the rules, " said Kate. "That's getting the cart beforethe horse. "

"I know it, " he said. "But haven't I been an example for six weeks?Only one. Please?"

They were back at Dr. Gray's gate, standing in the deep shelter of abig maple. Kate said: "I'll make a bargain with you. I'll kiss youto-night, and if we come to an agreement next Sunday night, you shallkiss me. Is that all right?"

The reply was so indistinct Kate was not sure of it; but she took hisface between her hands and gave him exactly the same kind of kiss shewould have given Adam, 3d. She hesitated an instant, then gave him asecond. "You may take that to your mother, " she said, and fled up thewalk. 

CHAPTER XII

TWO LETTERS

NANCY ELLEN and Robert were sitting on the side porch, not seeming inthe least sleepy, when Kate entered the house. As she stepped out tothem, she found them laughing mysteriously. 

"Take this chair, Kate, " said Nancy Ellen. "Come on, Robert, let's gostand under the maple tree and let her see whether she can see us. "

"If you're going to rehearse any momentous moment of your existence, "said Kate, "I shouldn't think of even being on the porch. I shall keepdiscreetly in the house, even going at once to bed. Good-night!Pleasant dreams!"

"Now we've made her angry, " said Robert. 

"I think there WAS 'a little touch of asperity, ' as Agatha would say, in that, " said Nancy Ellen, "but Kate has a good heart. She'll get overit before morning. "

"Would Agatha use such a common word as 'little'?" asked Robert. 

"Indeed, no!" said Nancy Ellen. "She would say 'infinitesimal. ' Butall the same he kissed her. "

"If she didn't step up and kiss him, never again shall I trust myeyes!" said the doctor. 

"Hush!" cautioned Nancy Ellen. "She's provoked now; if she hears that, she'll never forgive us. "

Kate did not need even a hint to start her talking in the morning. Theday was fine, a snappy tinge of autumn in the air, her head and heartwere full. Nancy Ellen would understand and sympathize; of course Katetold her all there was to tell. 

"And even at that, " said Nancy Ellen, "he hasn't just come out rightsquare and said 'Kate, will you marry me?' as I understand it. "

"Same here, " laughed Kate. "He said he had to be sure about hismother, and there was 'one other thing' he'd write me about this week, and he'd come again next Sunday; then if things were all right withme--the deluge!"

"And what is 'the other thing?'" asked Nancy Ellen. 

"There he has me guessing. We had six, long, lovely weeks of dailyassociation at the lake, I've seen his home, and his inventions, and asmuch of his business as is visible to the eye of a woman who doesn'tknow a tinker about business. His mother has told me minutely of hislife, every day since he was born, I think. She insists that he neverpaid the slightest attention to a girl before, and he says the same, sothere can't be any hidden ugly feature to mar my joy. He isthoughtful, quick, kind, a self-made business man. He looks wellenough, he acts like a gentleman, he seldom makes a mistake in speech--"

"He doesn't say enough to MAKE any mistakes. I haven't yet heard himtalk freely, give an opinion, or discuss a question, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"Neither have I, " said Kate. "He's very silent, thinking out moreinventions, maybe. The worst thing about him is a kind of hard-headedself-assurance. He got it fighting for his mother from boyhood. Heknew she would freeze and starve if he didn't take care of her; he HADto do it. He soon found he could. It took money to do what he had todo. He got the money. Then he began performing miracles with it. Helifted his mother out of poverty, he dressed her 'in purple and finelinen, ' he housed her in the same kind of home other rich men of theLake Shore Drive live in, and gave her the same kind of service. Asmost men do, when things begin to come their way, he lived for makingmoney alone. He was so keen on the chase he wouldn't stop to educateand culture himself; he drove headlong on, and on, piling up more, farmore than any one man should be allowed to have; so you can see that itisn't strange that he thinks there's nothing on earth that money can'tdo. You can see THAT sticking out all over him. At the hotel, onboats, on the trains, anywhere we went, he pushed straight for the mostconspicuous place, the most desirable thing, the most expensive. Ialmost prayed sometimes that in some way he would strike ONE SINGLETHING that he couldn't make come his way with money; but he never did. No. I haven't an idea what he has in his mind yet, but he's going towrite me about it this week, and if I agree to whatever it is, he iscoming Sunday; then he has threatened me with a 'deluge, ' whatever hemeans by that. "

"He means providing another teacher for Walden, taking you to Chicagoshopping for a wonderful trousseau, marrying you in his Lake Shorepalace, no doubt. "

"Well, if that's what he means by a 'deluge, '" said Kate, "he'll findthe flood coming his way. He'll strike the first thing he can't dowith money. I shall teach my school this winter as I agreed to. Ishall marry him in the clothes I buy with what I earn. I shall marryhim quietly, here, or at Adam's, or before a Justice of the Peace, ifneither of you wants me. He can't pick me up, and carry me away, anddress me, and marry me, as if I were a pauper. "

"You're RIGHT about it, " said Nancy Ellen. "I don't know how we cameto be so different. I should do at once any way he suggested to getsuch a fine-looking man and that much money. That it would be ahumiliation to me all my after life, I wouldn't think about until thehumiliation began, and then I'd have no way to protect myself. You'reright! But I'd get out of teaching this winter if I could. I'd loveto have you here. "

"But I must teach to the earn money for my outfit. I'll have to goback to school in the same old sailor. "

"Don't you care, " laughed Nancy Ellen. "We know a secret!"

"That we do!" agreed Kate. 

Wednesday Kate noticed Nancy Ellen watching for the boy Robert hadpromised to send with the mail as soon as it was distributed, becauseshe was, herself. Twice Thursday, Kate hoped in vain that the suspensewould be over. It had to end Friday, if John were coming Saturdaynight. She began to resent the length of time he was waiting. It waslike him to wait until the last minute, and then depend on money tocarry him through. 

"He is giving me a long time to think things over, " Kate said to NancyEllen when there was no letter in the afternoon mail Thursday. 

"It may have been lost or delayed, " said Nancy Ellen. "It will cometo-morrow, surely. "

Both of them saw the boy turn in at the gate Friday morning. Each sawthat he carried more than one letter. Nancy Ellen was on her feet andnearer to the door; she stepped to it, and took the letters, givingthem a hasty glance as she handed them to Kate. 

"Two, " she said tersely. "One, with the address written in the clear, bold hand of a gentleman, and one, the straggle of a countryclod-hopper. "

Kate smiled as she took the letters: "I'll wager my hat, which is mymost precious possession, " she said, "that the one with the beautifullywritten address comes from the 'clod-hopper, ' and the 'straggle' fromthe 'gentleman. '"

She glanced at the stamping and addresses and smiled again: "So itproves, " she said. "While I'm about it, I'll see what the'clod-hopper' has to say, and then I shall be free to give my wholeattention to the 'gentleman. '"

"Oh, Kate, how can you!" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"Way I'm made, I 'spect, " said Kate. "Anyway, that's the way this isgoing to be done. "

She dropped the big square letter in her lap and ran her finger underthe flap of the long, thin, beautifully addressed envelope, and drewforth several quite as perfectly written sheets. She read them slowlyand deliberately, sometimes turning back a page and going over a partof it again. When she finished, she glanced at Nancy Ellen whileslowly folding the sheets. "Just for half a cent I'd ask you to readthis, " she said. 

"I certainly shan't pay anything for the privilege, but I'll read it, if you want me to, " offered Nancy Ellen. 

"All right, go ahead, " said Kate. "It might possibly teach you thatyou can't always judge a man by appearance, or hastily; though just whyGeorge Holt looks more like a 'clod-hopper' than Adam, or Hiram, orAndrew, it passes me to tell. "

She handed Nancy Ellen the letter and slowly ripped open the flap ofthe heavy white envelope. She drew forth the sheet and sat an instantwith it in her fingers, watching the expression of Nancy Ellen's face, while she read the most restrained yet impassioned plea that a man ofGeorge Holt's nature and opportunities could devise to make to a womanafter having spent several months in the construction of it. It was amasterly letter, perfectly composed, spelled, and written; for amonghis other fields of endeavour, George Holt had taught several terms ofcountry school, and taught them with much success; so that he mighthave become a fine instructor, had it been in his blood to stick toanything long enough to make it succeed. After a page as she turnedthe second sheet Nancy Ellen glanced at Kate, and saw that she had notopened the creased page in her hands. She flamed with suddenirritation. 

"You do beat the band!" she cried. "You've watched for two days andbeen provoked because that letter didn't come. Now you've got it, there you sit like a mummy and let your mind be so filled with thisidiotic drivel that you're not ever reading John Jardine's letter thatis to tell you what both of us are crazy to know. "

"If you were in any mood to be fair and honest, you'd admit that younever read a finer letter than THAT, " said Kate. "As for THIS, I neverwas so AFRAID in all my life. Look at that!"

She threw the envelope in Nancy Ellen's lap. 

"That is the very first line of John Jardine's writing I have everseen, " she said. "Do you see anything about it to ENCOURAGE me to gofarther?"

"You Goose!" cried the exasperated Nancy Ellen. "I suppose hetransacts so much business he scarcely ever puts pen to paper. What'sthe difference how he writes? Look at what he is and what he does! Goon and read his letter. "

Kate arose and walked to the window, turning her back to Nancy Ellen, who sat staring at her, while she read John Jardine's letter. OnceNancy Ellen saw Kate throw up her head and twist her neck as if shewere choking; then she heard a great gulping sob down in her throat;finally Kate turned and stared at her with dazed, incredulous eyes. Slowly she dropped the letter, deliberately set her foot on it, andleaving the room, climbed the stairs. Nancy Ellen threw George Holt'sletter aside and snatched up John Jardine's. She read:

MY DEREST KATE: I am a day late with this becos as I told you I haveno schooling and in writing a letter is where I prove it, so I neverwrite them, but it was not fare to you for you not to know what kind ofa letter I would write if I did write one, so here it is very bad nodout but the best I can possably do which has got nothing at all to dowith my pashion for you and the aughful time I will have till I herefrom you. If you can stand for this telagraf me and I will come firsttrain and we will forget this and I will never write another letter. With derest love from Mother, and from me all the love of my hart. Forever yours only, JOHN JARDINE. 

The writing would have been a discredit to a ten-year-old schoolboy. Nancy Ellen threw the letter back on the floor; with a stiffly extendedfinger, she poked it into the position in which she thought she hadfound it, and slowly stepped back. 

"Great God!" she said amazedly. "What does the man mean? Where doesthat dainty and wonderful little mother come in? She must be a regularparasite, to take such ease and comfort for herself out of him, and notsee that he had time and chance to do better than THAT for himself. Kate will never endure it, never in the world! And by the luck of thevery Devil, there comes that school-proof thing in the same mail, fromthat abominable George Holt, and Kate reads it FIRST. It's too bad! Ican't believe it! What did his mother mean?"

Suddenly Nancy Ellen began to cry bitterly; between sobs she could hearKate as she walked from closet and bureau to her trunk which she waspacking. The lid slammed heavily and a few minutes later Kate enteredthe room dressed for the street. 

"Why are you weeping?" she asked casually. 

Her eyes were flaming, her cheeks scarlet, and her lips twitching. Nancy Ellen sat up and looked at her. She pointed to the letter: "Iread that, " she said. 

"Well, what do I care?" said Kate. "If he has no more respect for methan to write me such an insult as that, why should I have the respectfor him to protect him in it? Publish it in the paper if you want to. "

"Kate, what are you going to do?" demanded Nancy Ellen. 

"Three things, " said Kate, slowly putting on her long silk gloves. "First, I'm going to telegraph John Jardine that I never shall see himagain, if I can possibly avoid it. Second, I'm going to send a draymanto get my trunk and take it to Walden. Third, I'm going to start outand walk miles, I don't know or care where; but in the end, I'm goingto Walden to clean the schoolhouse and get ready for my winter term ofschool. "

"Oh, Kate, you are such a fine teacher! Teach him! Don't be sohurried! Take more time to think. You will break his heart, " pleadedNancy Ellen. 

Kate threw out both hands, palms down. 

"P-a-s-h, a-u-g-h, h-a-r-t, d-o-u-t, d-e-r-e, " she slowly spelled outthe letters. "What about my heart and my pride? Think I can respectthat, or ask my children to respect it? But thank you and Robert, andcome after me as often as you can, as a mercy to me. If John persistsin coming, to try to buy me, as he thinks he can buy anything he wants, you needn't let him come to Walden; for probably I won't be there untilI have to, and I won't see him, or his mother, so he needn't try tobring her in. Say good-bye to Robert for me. "

She walked from the house, head erect, shoulders squared, and so downthe street from sight. In half an hour a truckman came for her trunk, so Nancy Ellen made everything Kate had missed into a bundle to sendwith it. When she came to the letters, she hesitated. 

"I guess she didn't want them, " she said. "I'll just keep them awhileand if she doesn't ask about them, the next time she comes, I'll burnthem. Robert must go after her every Friday evening, and we'll keepher until Monday, and do all we can to cheer her; and this very day hemust find out all there is to know about that George Holt. That IS thefinest letter I ever read; she does kind of stand up for him; and inthe reaction, impulsive as she is and self-confident--of course shewouldn't, but you never can tell what kind of fool a girl will make ofherself, in some cases. "

Kate walked swiftly, finished two of the errands she set out to do, then her feet carried her three miles from Hartley on the Walden road, before she knew where she was, so she proceeded to the village. 

Mrs. Holt was not at home, but the house was standing open. Kate foundher room cleaned, shining, and filled with flowers. She paid thedrayman, opened her trunk, and put away her dresses, laying out all thethings which needed washing; then she bathed, put on heavy shoes, andold skirt and waist, and crossing the road sat in a secluded place inthe ravine and looked stupidly at the water. She noticed thateverything was as she had left it in the spring, with many fresherimprovements, made, no doubt, to please her. She closed her eyes, leaned against a big tree, and slow, cold and hot shudders alternatedin shaking her frame. 

She did not open her eyes when she heard a step and her name called. She knew without taking the trouble to look that George had come home, found her luggage in her room, and was hunting for her. She heard himcome closer and knew when he seated himself that he was watching her, but she did not care enough even to move. Finally she shifted herposition to rest herself, opened her eyes, and looked at him without aword. He returned her gaze steadily, smiling gravely. She had neverseen him looking so well. He had put in the summer grooming himself, he had kept up the house and garden, and spent all his spare time onthe ravine, and farming on the shares with his mother's sister wholived three miles east of them. At last she roused herself and againlooked at him. 

"I had your letter this morning, " she said. 

"I was wondering about that, " he replied. 

"Yes, I got it just before I started, " said Kate. "Are you surprisedto see me?"

"No, " he answered. "After last year, we figured you might come thelast of this week or the first of next, so we got your room readyMonday. "

"Thank you, " said Kate. "It's very clean and nice. "

"I hope soon to be able to offer you such a room and home as you shouldhave, " he said. "I haven't opened my office yet. It was late and hotwhen I got home in June and Mother was fussing about this winter--thatshe had no garden and didn't do her share at Aunt Ollie's, so I havefarmed most of the summer, and lived on hope; but I'll start in andmake things fly this fall, and by spring I'll be sailing around with ahorse and carriage like the best of them. You bet I am going to makethings hum, so I can offer you anything you want. "

"You haven't opened an office yet?" she asked for the sake of sayingsomething, and because a practical thing would naturally suggest itselfto her. 

"I haven't had a breath of time, " he said in candid disclaimer. 

"Why don't you ask me what's the matter?"

"Didn't figure that it was any of my business in the first place, " hesaid, "and I have a pretty fair idea, in the second. "

"But how could you have?" she asked in surprise. 

"When your sister wouldn't give me your address, she hinted that youhad all the masculine attention you cared for; then Tilly Nepplevisited town again last week and she had been sick and called Dr. Gray. She asked him about you, and he told what I fine time you had atChautauqua and Chicago, with the rich new friends you'd made. I waswatching for you about this time, and I just happened to be at thestation in Hartley last Saturday when you got off the train with yourfine gentleman, so I stayed over with some friends of mine, and I sawyou several times Sunday. I saw that I'd practically no chance withyou at all; but I made up my mind I'd stick until I saw you marry him, so I wrote just as I would if I hadn't known there was another man inexistence. "

"That was a very fine letter, " said Kate. 

"It is a very fine, deep, sincere love that I am offering you, " saidGeorge Holt. "Of course I could see prosperity sticking out all overthat city chap, but it didn't bother me much, because I knew that you, of all women, would judge a man on his worth. A rising youngprofessional man is not to be sneered at, at least until he makes hisstart and proves what he can do. I couldn't get an early start, because I've always had to work, just as you've seen me last summer andthis, so I couldn't educate myself so fast, but I've gone as fast andfar as I could. "

Kate winced. This was getting on places that hurt and to matters shewell understood, but she was the soul of candour. "You did very wellto educate yourself as you have, with no help at all, " she said. 

"I've done my best in the past, I'm going to do marvels in the future, and whatever I do, it is all for you and yours for the taking, " he saidgrandiosely. 

"Thank you, " said Kate. "But are you making that offer when you can'thelp seeing that I'm in deep trouble?"

"A thousand times over, " he said. "All I want to know about yourtrouble is whether there is anything a man of my size and strength cando to help you. "

"Not a thing, " said Kate, "in the direction of slaying a gay deceiver, if that's what you mean. The extent of my familiarities with JohnJardine consists in voluntarily kissing him twice last Sunday night forthe first and last time, once for himself, and once for his mother, whom I have since ceased to respect. "

George Holt was watching her with eyes lynx-sharp, but Kate never sawit. When she mentioned her farewell of Sunday night, a queer smileswept over his face and instantly disappeared. 

"I should thing any girl might be permitted that much, in saying afinal good-bye to a man who had shown her a fine time for weeks, " hecommented casually. 

"But I didn't know I was saying good-bye, " explained Kate. "I expectedhim back in a week, and that I would then arrange to marry him. Thatwas the agreement we made then. "

As she began to speak, George Holt's face flashed triumph at having ledher on; at what she said it fell perceptibly, but he instantlycontrolled it and said casually: "In any event, it was your ownbusiness. "

"It was, " said Kate. "I had given no man the slightest encouragement, I was perfectly free. John Jardine was courting me openly in thepresence of his mother and any one who happened to be around. Iintended to marry him. I liked him as much as any man need be liked. I don't know whether it was the same feeling Nancy Ellen had for RobertGray or not, but it was a whole lot of feeling of some kind. I wassatisfied with it, and he would have been. I meant to be a good wifeto him and a good daughter to his mother, and I could have done muchgood in the world and extracted untold pleasure from the money he wouldhave put in my power to handle. All was going 'merry as a marriagebell, ' and then this morning came my Waterloo, in the same post withyour letter. "

"Do you know what you are doing?" cried George Holt, roughly, losingself-control with hope. "YOU ARE PROVING TO ME, AND ADMITTING TOYOURSELF, THAT YOU NEVER LOVED THAT MAN AT ALL. You were flattered, and tempted with position and riches, but your heart was not his, oryou would be mighty SURE of it, don't you forget that!"

"I am not interested in analyzing exactly what I felt for him, " saidKate. "It made small difference then; it makes none at all now. Iwould have married him gladly, and I would have been to him all a goodwife is to any man; then in a few seconds I turned squarely againsthim, and lost my respect for him. You couldn't marry me to him if hewere the last and only man on earth; but it hurt terribly, let me tellyou that!"

George Holt suddenly arose and went to Kate. He sat down close besideher and leaned toward her. 

"There isn't the least danger of my trying to marry you to him, " hesaid, "because I am going to marry you myself at the very firstopportunity. Why not now? Why not have a simple ceremony somewhere atonce, and go away until school begins, and forget him, having a goodtime by ourselves? Come on, Kate, let's do it! We can go stay withAunt Ollie, and if he comes trying to force himself on you, he'll getwhat he deserves. He'll learn that there is something on earth hecan't buy with his money. "

"But I don't love you, " said Kate. 

"Neither did you love him, " retorted George Holt. "I can prove it bywhat you say. Neither did you love him, but you were going to marryhim, and use all his wonderful power of position and wealth, and trustto association to BRING love. You can try that with me. As for wealth, who cares? We are young and strong, and we have a fine chance in theworld. You go on and teach this year, and I'll get such a start thatby next year you can be riding around in your carriage, proud asPompey. "

"Of course we could make it all right, as to a living, " said Kate. "Bigand strong as we are, but--"

Then the torrent broke. At the first hint that she would consider hisproposal George Holt drew her to him and talked volumes of impassionedlove to her. He gave her no chance to say anything; he said all therewas to say himself; he urged that Jardine would come, and she shouldnot be there. He begged, he pleaded, he reasoned. Night found Katesitting on the back porch at Aunt Ollie's with a confused memory ofhaving stood beside the little stream with her hand in George Holt'swhile she assented to the questions of a Justice of the Peace, in thepresence of the School Director and Mrs. Holt. She knew thatimmediately thereafter they had walked away along a hot, dusty countryroad; she had tried to eat something that tasted like salted ashes. She could hear George's ringing laugh of exultation breaking out afreshevery few minutes; in sudden irritation at the latest guffaw sheclearly remembered one thing: in her dazed and bewildered state shehad forgotten to tell him that she was a Prodigal Daughter. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE BRIDE

ONLY one memory in the ten days that followed before her school beganever stood out clearly and distinctly with Kate. That was the morningof the day after she married George Holt. She saw Nancy Ellen andRobert at the gate so she went out to speak with them. Nancy Ellen wasdriving, she held the lines and the whip in her hands. Kate in dullapathy wondered why they seemed so deeply agitated. Both of themstared at her as if she might be a maniac. 

"Is this thing in the morning paper true?" cried Nancy Ellen in a high, shrill voice that made Kate start in wonder. She did not take thetrouble to evade by asking "what thing?" she merely made assent withher head. 

"You are married to that--that--" Nancy Ellen choked until she couldnot say what. 

"It's TIME to stop, since I am married to him, " said Kate, gravely. 

"You rushed in and married him without giving Robert time to find outand tell you what everybody knows about him?" demanded Nancy Ellen. 

"I married him for what I knew about him myself, " said Kate. "We shalldo very well. "

"Do well!" cried Nancy. "Do well! You'll be hungry and in rags therest of your life!"

"Don't, Nancy Ellen, don't!" plead Robert. "This is Kate's affair, wait until you hear what she has to say before you go further. "

"I don't care what she has to say!" cried Nancy Ellen. "I'm saying mysay right now. This is a disgrace to the whole Bates family. We maynot be much, but there isn't a lazy, gambling, drunken loafer among us, and there won't be so far as I'm concerned. "

She glared at Kate who gazed at her in wonder. 

"You really married this lout?" she demanded. 

"I told you I was married, " said Kate, patiently, for she saw thatNancy Ellen was irresponsible with anger. 

"You're going to live with him, you're going to stay in Walden tolive?" she cried. 

"That is my plan at present, " said Kate. 

"Well, see that YOU STAY THERE, " said Nancy Ellen. "You can't bringthat--that creature to my house, and if you're going to be his wife, you needn't come yourself. That's all I've got to say to you, youshameless, crazy--"

"Nancy Ellen, you shall not!" cried Robert Gray, deftly slipping thelines from her fingers, and starting the horse full speed. Kate sawNancy Ellen's head fall forward, and her hands lifted to cover herface. She heard the deep, tearing sob that shook her, and then theywere gone. She did not know what to do, so she stood still in the hotsunshine, trying to think; but her brain refused to act at her will. When the heat became oppressive, she turned back to the shade of atree, sat down, and leaned against it. There she got two things clearafter a time. She had married George Holt, there was nothing to do butmake the best of it. But Nancy Ellen had said that if she lived withhim she should not come to her home. Very well. She had to live withhim, since she had consented to marry him, so she was cut off fromRobert and Nancy Ellen. She was now a prodigal, indeed. And thosethings Nancy Ellen had said--she was wild with anger. She had beenmisinformed. Those things could not be true. 

"Shouldn't you be in here helping Aunt Ollie?" asked George's voicefrom the front step where he seated himself with his pipe. 

"Yes, in a minute, " said Kate, rising. "Did you see who came?"

"No. I was out doing the morning work. Who was it?" he asked. 

"Nancy Ellen and Robert, " she answered. 

He laughed hilariously: "Brought them in a hurry, didn't we? Whydidn't they come in?"

"They came to tell me, " said Kate, slowly, "that if I had married youyesterday, as I did, that they felt so disgraced that I wasn't to cometo their home again. "

"'Disgraced?'" he cried, his colour rising. "Well, what's the matterwith me?"

"Not the things they said, I fervently hope. "

"Well, they have some assurance to come out here and talk about me, andyou've got as much to listen, and then come and tell me about it, " hecried. 

"It was over in a minute, " said Kate. "I'd no idea what they weregoing to say. They said it, and went. Oh, I can't spare Nancy Ellen, she's all I had!"

Kate sank down on the step and covered her face. George took one longlook at her, arose, and walked out of hearing. He went into the gardenand watched from behind a honeysuckle bush until he saw her finallylift her head and wipe her eyes; then he sauntered back, and sat downon the step beside her. 

"That's right, " he said. "Cry it out, and get it over. It was prettymean of them to come out here and insult you, and tell any lie theycould think up, and then drive away and leave you; but don't mind, they'll soon get over it. Nobody ever keeps up a fuss over a weddinglong. "

"Nancy Ellen never told a lie in her life, " said Kate. "She has toomuch self-respect. What she said she THOUGHT was true. My only chanceis that somebody has told her a lie. You know best if they did. "

"Of course they did, " he broke in, glibly. "Haven't you lived in thesame house with me long enough to know me better than any one elsedoes?"

"You can live in the same house with people and know less about themthan any one else, for that matter, " said Kate, "but that's neitherhere nor there. We're in this together, we got to get on the job andpull, and make a success out of it that will make all of them proud tobe our friends. That's the only thing left for me. As I know theBates, once they make up their minds, they never change. With NancyEllen and Father both down on me, I'm a prodigal for sure. "

"What?" he cried, loudly. "What? Is your father in this, too? Did hesend you word you couldn't come home, either? This is a hell of amess! Speak up!"

Kate closed her lips, looked at him with deep scorn, and walked aroundthe corner of the house. For a second he looked after herthreateningly, then he sprang to his feet, and ran to her, catching herin his arms. 

"Forgive me, dearest, " he cried. "That took the wind out of my sailsuntil I was a brute. You'd no business to SAY a thing like that. Ofcourse we can't have the old Land King down on us. We've got to haveour share of that land and money to buy us a fine home in Hartley, andfix me up the kind of an office I should have. We'll borrow a rig anddrive over to-morrow and fix things solid with the old folks. You betI'm a star-spangled old persuader, look what I did with you--"

"You stop!" cried Kate, breaking from his hold. "You will drive mecrazy! You're talking as if you married me expecting land and moneyfrom it. I haven't been home in a year, and my father woulddeliberately kill me if I went within his reach. "

"Well, score one for little old scratchin', pickin', Mammy!" he cried. "She SAID you had a secret!"

Kate stood very still, looking at him so intently that a sense of shamemust have stirred in his breast. 

"Look here, Kate, " he said, roughly. "Mother did say you had a secret, and she hinted at Christmas that the reason you didn't go home wasbecause your folks were at outs with you, and you can ask her if Ididn't tell her to shut up and leave you alone, that I was in love withyou, and I'd marry you and we'd get along all right, even if you werebarred from home, and didn't get a penny. I just dare you to ask her. "

"It's no matter, " said Kate, wearily. "I'd rather take your word. "

"All right, you take it, for that's the truth, " he said. "But what wasthe rumpus? How did you come to have a racket with your old man?"

"Over my wanting to teach, " said Kate. Then she explained in detail. 

"Pother! Don't you fret about that!" said George. "I'm taking care ofyou now, and I'll see that you soon get home and to Grays', too; that'sall buncombe. As for your share of your father's estate, you watch meget it! You are his child, and there is law!"

"There's law that allows him to deed his land to his sons before hedies, and that is exactly what he has done, " said Kate. 

"The Devil, you say!" shouted George Holt, stepping back to stare ather. "You tell that at the Insane Asylum or the Feeble Minded Home!I've seen the records! I know to the acre how much land stands in yourfather's name. Don't try to work that on me, my lady. "

"I am not trying to work anything on you, " said Kate, dully, wonderingto herself why she listened, why she went on with it. "I'm merelytelling you. In Father's big chest at the head of his bed at home liesa deed for two hundred acres of land for each of his seven sons, allsigned and ready to deliver. He keeps the land in his name on recordto bring him distinction and feed his vanity. He makes the boys paythe taxes, and ko-tow, and help with his work; he keeps them undercontrol; but the land is theirs; none of the girls get a penny's worthof it!"

George Holt cleared his face with an effort. 

"Well, we are no worse off than the rest of them, then, " he said, trying to speak naturally and cheerfully. "But don't you ever believeit! Little old Georgie will sleep with this in his night cap awhile, and it's a problem he will solve if he works himself to death on it. "

"But that is Father's affair, " said Kate. "You had best turn yourefforts, and lie awake nights thinking how to make enough money to buysome land for us, yourself. "

"Certainly! Certainly! I see myself doing it!" laughed George Holt. "And now, knowing how you feel, and feeling none to good myself, we aregoing to take a few days off and go upstream, fishing. I'll take apack of comforts to sleep on, and the tackle and some food, and we willforget the whole bunch and go have a good time. There's a place, notso far away, where I have camped beside a spring since I was a littleshaver, and it's quiet and cool. Go get what you can't possibly existwithout, nothing more. "

"But we must dig the potatoes, " protested Kate. 

"Let them wait until we get back; it's a trifle early, anyway, " hesaid. "Stop objecting and get ready! I'll tell Aunt Ollie. We'rechums. Whatever I do is always all right with her. Come on! This isour wedding trip. Not much like the one you had planned, no doubt, butone of some kind. "

So they slipped beneath the tangle of vines and bushes, and, followingthe stream of the ravine, they walked until mid-afternoon, when theyreached a spot that was very lovely, a clear, clean spring, grassybank, a sheltered cave-in floored with clean sand, warm and golden. From the depths of the cave George brought an old frying pan and coffeepot. He spread a comfort on the sand of the cave for a bed, producedcoffee, steak, bread, butter, and fruit from his load, and told Kate tomake herself comfortable while he got dinner. They each tried to makeallowances for, and to be as decent as possible with, the other, withthe result that before they knew it, they were having a good time; atleast, they were keeping the irritating things they thought tothemselves, and saying only the pleasant ones. 

After a week, which George enjoyed to the fullest extent, while Katemade the best of everything, they put away the coffee pot and fryingpan, folded the comforts, and went back to Aunt Ollie's for dinner;then to Walden in the afternoon. Because Mrs. Holt knew they would bethere that day she had the house clean and the best supper she couldprepare ready for them. She was in a quandary as to how to begin withKate. She heartily hated her. She had been sure the girl had asecret, now she knew it; for if she did not attend the wedding of hersister, if she had not been at home all summer, if her father andmother never mentioned her name or made any answer to any one who did, there was a reason, and a good reason. Of course a man as rich as AdamBates could do no wrong; whatever the trouble was, Kate was at fault, she had done some terrible thing. 

"Hidin' in the bushes!" spat Mrs. Holt. "Hidin' in the bushes! Marry aman who didn't know he was goin' to be married an hour before, unbeknownst to her folks, an' wouldn't even come in the house, an' havea few of the neighbours in. Nice doin's for the school-ma'am! Niceprospect for George. "

Mrs. Holt hissed like a copperhead, which was a harmless littlecreature compared with her, as she scraped, and slashed, anddismembered the chicken she was preparing to fry. She had not beenable, even by running into each store in the village, and the postoffice, to find one person who would say a word against Kate. The girlhad laid her foundations too well. The one thing people could and didsay was: "How could she marry George Holt?" The worst of them couldnot very well say it to his mother. They said it frequently to eachother and then supplied the true answers. "Look how he spruced up aftershe came!" "Look how he worked!" "Look how he ran after and waited onher!" "Look how nice he has been all summer!" Plenty was being saidin Walden, but not one word of it was for the itching ears of Mrs. Holt. They had told her how splendid Kate was, how they loved her, howglad they were that she was to have the school again, how fortunate herson was, how proud she should be, until she was almost bursting withrepressed venom. 

She met them at the gate, after their week's camping. They werefeeling in splendid health, the best spirits possible in thecircumstances, but appearing dirty and disreputable. They were bothlaughing as they approached the gate. 

"Purty lookin' bride you be!" Mrs. Holt spat at Kate. 

"Yes, aren't I?" laughed Kate. "But you just give me a tub of hotsoapsuds and an hour, and you won't know me. How are you? Things lookas if you were expecting us. "

"Hump!" said Mrs. Holt. 

Kate laughed and went into the house. George stepped in front of hismother. 

"Now you look here, " he said. "I know every nasty thing your mind hasconjured up that you'd LIKE to say, and have other folks say, aboutKate. And I know as well as if you were honest enough to tell me, thatyou haven't been able to root out one living soul who would say asingle word against her. Swallow your secret! Swallow your suspicions!Swallow your venom, and forget all of them. Kate is as fine a woman asGod ever made, and anybody who has common sense knows it. She can justMAKE me, if she wants to, and she will; she's coming on fine, muchfaster and better than I hoped for. Now you drop this! Stop it! Doyou hear?"

He passed her and hurried up the walk. In an hour, both George andKate had bathed and dressed in their very best. Kate put on herprettiest white dress and George his graduation suit. Then togetherthey walked to the post office for their mail, which George had orderedheld, before they left. Carrying the bundle, they entered severalstores on trifling errands, and then went home. They stopped and spoketo everyone. Kate kissed all her little pupils she met, and told themto come to see her, and to be ready to help clean the schoolhouse inthe morning. Word flew over town swiftly. The Teacher was back, wearing the loveliest dress, and nicer than ever, and she had invitedfolks to come to see her. 

Kate and George had scarcely finished their supper, when the first pairof shy little girls came for their kisses and to bring "Teacher" abunch of flowers and a pretty pocket handkerchief from each. They camein flocks, each with flowers, most with a towel or some smallremembrance; then the elders began to come, merchants with comforts, blankets, and towels, hardware men with frying pans, flat irons, andtinware. By ten o'clock almost everyone in Walden had carried Katesome small gift, wished her joy all the more earnestly, because theyfelt the chances of her ever having it were so small, and had gonetheir way, leaving her feeling better than she had thought possible. 

She slipped into her room alone and read two letters, one a fewtypewritten lines from John Jardine, saying he had been at Hartley, also at Walden, and having found her married and gone, there wasnothing for him to do but wish that the man she married had it in hisheart to guard her life and happiness as he would have done. He wouldnever cease to love her, and if at any time in her life there wasanything he could do for her, would she please let him know. Katedropped the letter on her dresser, with a purpose, and let it liethere. The other was from Robert. He said he was very sorry, but hecould do nothing with Nancy Ellen at present. He hoped she wouldchange later. If there was ever anything he could do, to let him know. Kate locked that letter in her trunk. She wondered as she did so whyboth of them seemed to think she would need them in the future. Shefelt perfectly able to take care of herself. 

Monday morning George carried Kate's books to school for her, saw thatshe was started on her work in good shape, then went home, put on hisold clothes, and began the fall work at Aunt Ollie's. Kate, wearing herprettiest blue dress, forgot even the dull ache in her heart, as shethrew herself into the business of educating those young people. Sheworked as she never had before. She seemed to have developed freshpatience, new perception, keener penetration; she made the dullest ofthem see her points, and interested the most inattentive. She wenthome to dinner feeling better. She decided to keep on teaching a fewyears until George was well started in his practice; if he ever gotstarted. He was very slow in action it seemed to her, compared withhis enthusiasm when he talked. 

CHAPTER XIV

STARTING MARRIED LIFE

FOR two weeks Kate threw herself into the business of teaching with allher power. She succeeded in so interesting herself and her pupils thatshe was convinced she had done a wise thing. Marriage did not interferewith her teaching; she felt capable and independent so long as she hadher salary. George was working and working diligently, to prepare forwinter, whenever she was present or could see results. With her firstmonth's salary she would buy herself a warm coat, a wool suit, an extraskirt for school, and some waists. If there was enough left, she wouldhave another real hat. Then for the remainder of the year she wouldspend only for the barest necessities and save to help toward a homesomething like Nancy Ellen's. Whenever she thought of Nancy Ellen andRobert there was a choking sensation in her throat, a dull ache whereshe had been taught her heart was located. 

For two weeks everything went as well as Kate hoped: then Mrs. Holtbegan to show the results of having been partially bottled up, for thefirst time in her life. She was careful to keep to generalities whichshe could claim meant nothing, if anything she said was taken up byeither George or Kate. George was too lazy to quarrel unless he waspersonally angered; Kate thought best to ignore anything that did notcome in the nature of a direct attack. So long as Mrs. Holt could notunderstand how some folks could see their way to live off of otherfolks, or why a girl who had a chance to marry a fortune would makeherself a burden to a poor man, Kate made the mistake of ignoring her. Thus emboldened she soon became personal. It seemed as if she spenther spare time and mental force thinking up suggestive, sarcasticthings to say, where Kate could not help hearing them. She paid noattention unless the attack was too mean and premeditated; but to hersurprise she found that every ugly, malicious word the old woman saidlodged in her brain and arose to confront her at the most inopportunetimes--in the middle of a recitation or when she roused enough to turnover in her bed at night. The more vigorously she threw herself intoher school work, the more she realized a queer lassitude, creeping overher. She kept squaring her shoulders, lifting her chin, and brushingimaginary cobwebs from before her face. 

The final Friday evening of the month, she stopped at the post officeand carried away with her the bill for her Leghorn hat, mailed withnicely conceived estimate as to when her first check would be due. Kate visited the Trustee, and smiled grimly as she slipped the amountin an envelope and gave it to the hack driver to carry to Hartley onhis trip the following day. She had intended all fall to go with himand select a winter headpiece that would be no discredit to her summerchoice, but a sort of numbness was in her bones; so she decided to waituntil the coming week before going. She declined George's pressinginvitation to go along to Aunt Ollie's and help load and bring home apart of his share of their summer's crops, on the ground that she hadsome work to prepare for the coming week. 

Then Kate went to her room feeling faint and heavy. She lay there mostof the day, becoming sorrier for herself, and heavier every passinghour. By morning she was violently ill; when she tried to leave herbed, dizzy and faint. All day she could not stand. Toward evening, sheappealed to George either to do something for her himself, or to sendfor the village doctor. He asked her a few questions and then, laughing coarsely, told her that a doctor would do her no good, andthat it was very probable that she would feel far worse before she feltbetter. Kate stared at him in dumb wonder. 

"But my school!" she cried. "My school! I must be able to go toschool in the morning. Could that spring water have been infected withtyphus? I've never been sick like this before. "

"I should hope not!" said George. And then he told her bluntly whatcaused her trouble. Kate had been white to begin with, now she slowlyturned greenish as she gazed at him with incredulous eyes. Then shesprang to her feet. 

"But I can't be ill!" she cried. "I can't! There is my school! I'vegot to teach! Oh, what shall I do?"

George had a very clear conception of what she could do, but he did notintend to suggest it to her. She could think of it, and propose itherself. She could not think of anything at that minute, because shefainted, and fell half on the bed, half in his arms as he sprang toher. He laid her down, and stood a second smiling triumphantly at herunheeding face. 

"Easy snap for you this winter, Georgie, my boy!" he muttered. "Idon't see people falling over each other to get to you for professionalservices, and it's hard work anyway. Zonoletics are away above thehead of these country ignoramuses; blue mass and quinine are abouttheir limit. "

He took his time to bathe Kate's face. Presently she sat up, then fellon the pillow again. 

"Better not try that!" warned George. "You'll hurt yourself, and youcan't make it. You're out of the game; you might as well get used toit. "

"I won't be out of the game!" cried Kate. "I can't be! What willbecome of my school? Oh, George, could you possibly teach for me, onlyfor a few days, until I get my stomach settled?"

"Why, I'd like to help you, " he said, "but you see how it is with me. I've got my fall work finished up, and I'm getting ready to open myoffice next week. I'm going to rent that nice front room over the postoffice. "

"But, George, you must, " said Kate. "You've taught several terms. You've a license. You can take it until this passes. If you havewaited from June to October to open your office, you can wait a fewmore days. Suppose you OPEN the office and patients don't come, or wehaven't the school; what would we LIVE on? What would I buy thingswith, and pay doctor bills?"

"Why didn't you think of that before you got married? What was yourrush, anyway? I can't figure it to save my soul, " he said. 

"George, the school can't go, " she cried. "If what you say is true, and I suspect it is, I must have money to see me through. "

"Then set your wits to work and fix things up with your father, " hesaid casually. 

Kate arose tall and straight, standing unwaveringly as she looked athim in blazing contempt. 

"So?" she said. "This is the kind of man you are? I'm not so helplessas you think me. I have a refuge. I know where to find it. You'llteach my school until I'm able to take it myself, if the Trustee andpatrons will allow you, or I'll sever my relations with you as quicklyas I formed them. You have no practice; I have grave doubts if you canget any; this is our only chance for the money we must have thiswinter. Go ask the Trustee to come here until I can make arrangementswith him. "

Then she wavered and rolled on the bed again. George stood looking ather between narrowed eyelids. 

"Tactics I use with Mother don't go with you, old girl, " he said tohimself. "Thing of fire and tow, stubborn as an ox; won't be pushed ahair's breadth; old Bates over again--alike as two peas. But I'llbreak you, damn you, I'll break you; only, I WANT that school. Lotseasier than kneading somebody's old stiff muscles, while the money issure. Oh, I go after the Trustee, all right!"

He revived Kate, and telling her to keep quiet, and not excite herself, he explained that it was a terrible sacrifice to him to put off openinghis office any longer; she must forgive him for losing self-controlwhen he thought of it; but for her dear sake he would teach until shewas better--possibly she would be all right in a few days, and then shecould take her work again. Because she so devoutly hoped it, Kate madethat arrangement with the Trustee. Monday, she lay half starved, yetgagging and ill, while George went to teach her school. As shecontemplated that, she grew sicker than she had been before. When shesuddenly marshalled all the facts she knew of him, she stoutly refusedto think of what Nancy Ellen had said; when she reviewed his characterand disposition, and thought of him taking charge of the minds of herpupils, Kate suddenly felt she must not allow that to happen, she mustnot! Then came another thought, even more personal and terrible, athought so disconcerting she mercifully lost consciousness again. 

She sent for the village doctor, and found no consolation from her talkwith him. She was out of the school; that was settled. No harpy everwent to its meat with one half the zest Mrs. Holt found in thesituation. With Kate so ill she could not stand on her feet half thetime, so ill she could not reply, with no spirit left to appeal toGeorge, what more could be asked? Mrs. Holt could add to everygrievance she formerly had, that of a sick woman in the house for herto wait on. She could even make vile insinuations to Kate, prostrateand helpless, that she would not have dared otherwise. She couldprepare food that with a touch of salt or sugar where it was notsupposed to be, would have sickened a well person. One day George camein from school and saw a bowl of broth sitting on a chair beside Kate'sbed. 

"Can't you drink it?" he asked. "Do, if you possibly can, " he urged. "You'll get so weak you'll be helpless. "

"I just can't, " said Kate. "Things have such a sickening, sweetishtaste, or they are bitter, or sour; not a thing is as it used to be. Isimply can't!"

A curious look crept over George's face. He picked up the bowl andtasted the contents. Instantly his face went black; he started towardthe kitchen. Kate heard part of what happened, but she never liftedher head. After a while he came back with more broth and a plate ofdelicate toast. 

"Try this, " he said. "I made it myself. "

Kate ate ravenously. 

"That's good!" she cried. 

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do, " he said. "I'm going to take youout to Aunt Ollie's for a week after school to-night. Want to go?"

"Yes! Oh, yes!" cried Kate. 

"All right, " he said. "I know where I can borrow a rig for an hour. Get ready if you are well enough, if you are not, I'll help you afterschool. "

That week with Aunt Ollie remained a bright spot in Kate's memory. TheOctober days were beginning to be crisp and cool. Food was different. She could sleep, she could eat many things Aunt Ollie knew to prepareespecially; soon she could walk and be outdoors. She was so much bettershe wrote George a note, asking him to walk out and bring her sewingbasket, and some goods she listed, and in the afternoons the two womencut and sewed quaint, enticing little garments. George found Kate somuch better when he came that he proposed she remain another week. Then for the first time he talked to her about her theory of governmentand teaching, until she realized that the School Director had told himhe was dissatisfied with him--so George was trying to learn her ways. Appalled at what might happen if he lost the school, Kate made notes, talked at length, begged him to do his best, and to come at once ifanything went wrong. He did come, and brought the school books so shewent over the lessons with him, and made marginal notes of thingssuggested to her mind by the text, for him to discuss and elucidate. The next time he came, he was in such good spirits she knew his workhad been praised, so after that they went over the lessons togethereach evening. Thinking of what would help him also helped fill her day. 

He took her home, greatly improved, in much better spirits, to herroom, cleaned and ready for winter, with all of her things possible touse in place, so that it was much changed, prettier, and moreconvenient. As they drove in she said of him: "George, what about it?Did your mother purposely fix my food so I could not eat it?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, " he said. "You know neither of you isviolently attached to the other. She'll be more careful after this, I'm sure she will. "

"Why, have you been sick?" asked Kate as soon as she saw Mrs. Holt. 

She seemed so nervous and appeared so badly Kate was sorry for her; butshe could not help noticing how she kept watch on her son. She seemedto keep the width of the room and a piece of furniture between them, while her cooking was so different that it was not in the leastnecessary for George to fix things for Kate himself, as he hadsuggested. Everything was so improved, Kate felt better. She began tosew, to read, to sit for long periods in profound thought, then to takewalks that brought back her strength and colour. So through the winterand toward the approach of spring they lived in greater comfort. WithKate's help, George was doing so well with the school that he wasfrequently complimented by the parents. That he was trying to do goodwork and win the approval of both pupils and parents was evident toKate. Once he said to her that he wondered if it would be a good thingfor him to put in an application for the school the coming winter. Kate stared at him in surprise: "But your profession, " she objected. "You should be in your office and having enough practice to support usby then. "

"Yes, I should!" he said. "But this is a new thing, and you know howthese clodhoppers are. "

"If I came as near living in the country, and worked at farming as muchas you do, that's the last thing I would call any human being, " saidKate. "I certainly do know how they are, and what I know convinces methat you need not look to them for any patients. "

"You seem to think I won't have any from any source, " he said hotly. 

"I confess myself dubious, " said Kate. "You certainly are, or youwouldn't be talking of teaching. "

"Well, I'll just show you!" he cried. 

"I'm waiting, " said Kate. "But as we must live in the meantime, and itwill be so long before I can earn anything again, and so much expense, possibly it would be a good idea to have the school to fall back on, ifyou shouldn't have the patients you hope for this summer. I think youhave done well with the school. Do your level best until the termcloses, and you may have a chance. "

Laughing scornfully, he repeated his old boast: "I'll just show you!"

"Go ahead, " said Kate. "And while you are at it, be generous. Show meplenty. But in the meantime, save every penny you can, so you'll beready to pay the doctor's bills and furnish your office. "

"I love you advice; it's so Batesy, " he said. "I have money saved forboth contingencies you mention, but I'll tell you what I think, andabout this I'm the one who knows. I've told you repeatedly winter ismy best time. I've lost the winter trying to help you out; and I'velittle chance until winter comes again. It takes cold weather to makefolks feel what ails their muscles, and my treatment is mostlymuscular. To save so we can get a real start, wouldn't it be a goodidea for you to put part of your things in my room, take what you musthave, and fix Mother's bedroom for you, let her move her bed into herliving room, and spare me all you can of your things to fix up yourroom for my office this summer. That would save rent, it's only a fewsteps from downtown, and when I wasn't busy with patients, I could behandy to the garden, and to help you. "

"If your mother is willing, I'll do my share, " said Kate, "although theroom's cramped, and where I'll put the small party when he comes Idon't know, but I'll manage someway. The big objection to it is thatit will make it look to people as if it were a makeshift, instead ofstarting a real business. "

"Real, " was the wrong word. It was the red rag that started Georgeraging, until to save her self-respect, Kate left the room. Later inthe day he announced that his mother was willing, she would clean theliving room and move in that day. How Kate hated the tiny room withits one exterior wall, only one small window, its scratched woodwork, and soiled paper, she could not say. She felt physically ill when shethought of it, and when she thought of the heat of the coming summer, she wondered what she would do; but all she could do was to acquiesce. She made a trip downtown and bought a quart of white paint and a fewrolls of dainty, fresh paper. She made herself ill with turpentineodours in giving the woodwork three coats, and fell from a table almostkilling herself while papering the ceiling. There was no room for hertrunk; the closet would not hold half her clothes; her only easy chairwas crowded out; she was sheared of personal comfort at a clip, just ata time when every comfort should have been hers. George ordered anoperating table, on which to massage his patients, a few othernecessities, and in high spirits, went about fixing up his office andfinishing his school. He spent hours in the woodshed with theremainder of Kate's white paint, making a sign to hang in front of thehouse. 

He was so pathetically anxious for a patient, after he had put histable in place, hung up his sign, and paid for an announcement in thecounty paper and the little Walden sheet, that Kate was sorry for him. 

On a hot July morning Mrs. Holt was sweeping the front porch when aforlorn specimen of humanity came shuffling up the front walk and askedto see Dr. Holt. Mrs. Holt took him into the office and ran to thegarden to tell George his first patient had come. His face had beenflushed from pulling weeds, but it paled perceptibly as he started tothe back porch to wash his hands. 

"Do you know who it is, Mother?" he asked. 

"It's that old Peter Mines, " she said, "an' he looks fit to drop. "

"Peter Mines!" said George. "He's had about fifty things the matterwith him for about fifty years. "

"Then you're a made man if you can even make him think he feels enoughbetter so's he'll go round talking about it, " said Mrs. Holt, shrewdly. 

George stood with his hands dripping water an instant, thinking deeply. 

"Well said for once, old lady, " he agreed. "You are just exactlyright. "

He hurried to his room, and put on his coat. 

"A patient that will be a big boom for me, " he boasted to Kate as hewent down the hall. 

Mrs. Holt stood listening at the hall door. Kate walked around thedining room, trying to occupy herself. Presently cringing groans beganto come from the room, mingling with George's deep voice explaining, and trying to encourage the man. Then came a wild shriek and thensilence. Kate hurried out to the back walk and began pacing up anddown in the sunshine. She did not know it, but she was praying. 

A minute later George's pallid face appeared at the back door: "Youcome in here quick and help me, " he demanded. 

"What's the matter?" asked Kate. 

"He's fainted. His heart, I think. He's got everything that everailed a man!" he said. 

"Oh, George, you shouldn't have touched him, " said Kate. 

"Can't you see it will make me, if I can help him! Even Mother couldsee that, " he cried. 

"But if his heart is bad, the risk of massaging him is awful, " saidKate as she hurried after George. 

Kate looked at the man on the table, ran her hand over the heartregion, and lifted terrified eyes to George. 

"Do you think--?" he stammered. 

"Sure of it!" she said, "but we can try. Bring your camphor bottle, and some water, " she cried to Mrs. Holt. 

For a few minutes, they worked frantically. Then Kate stepped back. "I'm scared, and I don't care who knows it, " she said. "I'm going afterDr. James. "

"No, you are not!" cried George. "You just hold yourself. I'll havehim out in a minute. Begin at his feet and rub the blood up to hisheart. "

"They are swollen to a puff, he's got no circulation, " said Kate. "Oh, George, how could you ever hope to do anything for a man in this shape, with MUSCULAR treatment?"

"You keep still and rub, for God's sake, " he cried, frantically. "Can'tyou see that I am ruined if he dies on this table?"

"No, I can't, " said Kate. "Everybody would know that he waspractically dying when he came here. Nobody will blame you, only, younever should have touched him! George, I AM going after Dr. James. "

"Well, go then, " he said wildly. 

Kate started. Mrs. Holt blocked the doorway. 

"You just stop, Missy!" she cried. "You're away too smart, trying toget folks in here, and ruin my George's chances. You just stay whereyou are till I think what to do, to put the best face on this!"

"He may not be really gone! The doctor might save him!" cried Kate. 

Mrs. Holt looked long at the man. 

"He's deader 'an a doornail, " she said. "You stay where you are!"

Kate picked her up by the shoulders, set her to one side, ran from theroom and down the street as fast as possible. She found the doctor inhis office with two patients. She had no time to think or temporize. 

"Get your case and come to our house quick, doctor, " she cried. "An oldman they call Peter Mines came to see George, and his heart has failed. Please hurry!"

"Heart, eh?" said the doctor. "Well, wait a minute. No use to goabout a bad heart without digitalis. "

He got up and put on his hat, told the men he would be back soon, andwent to the nearest drug store. Kate followed. The men who had beenin the office came also. 

"Doctor, hurry!" she panted. "I'm so frightened. "

"You go to some of the neighbours, and stay away from there, " he said. 

"Hurry!" begged Kate. "Oh, do hurry!"

She was beside him as they sped down the street, and at his shoulder asthey entered the room. With one glance she lurched against the casingand then she plunged down the hall, entered her room, closed the doorbehind her, and threw herself on the bed. She had only a glance, but inthat glance she had seen Peter Mines sitting fully clothed, his hat onhis head, his stick in his hands, in her easy chair; the operatingtable folded and standing against the wall; Mrs. Holt holding thecamphor bottle to Peter's nose, while George had one hand over Peter'sheart, the other steadying his head. 

The doctor swung the table in place, and with George's help laid Peteron it, then began tearing open his clothes. As they worked the two menfollowed into the house to see if they could do anything and excitedneighbours began to gather. George and his mother explained how Peterhad exhausted himself walking two miles from the country that hotmorning, how he had entered the office, tottering with fatigue, and hadfallen in the chair in a fainting condition. Everything was plausibleuntil a neighbour woman, eager to be the centre of attention for asecond, cried: "Yes, we all see him come more'n an hour ago; and whenhe begin to let out the yells we says to each other, 'THERE! Georgehas got his first patient, sure!' An' we all kind of waited to see ifhe'd come out better. "

The doctor looked at her sharply: "More than an hour ago?" he said. "You heard cries?"

"Yes, more'n a good hour ago. Yes, we all heard him yell, jist once, good and loud!" she said. 

The doctor turned to George. Before he could speak his motherintervened. 

"That was our Kate done the yellin', " she said. "She was scart crazyfrom the start. He jest come in, and set in the chair and he's beenthere ever since. "

"You didn't give him any treatment, Holt?" asked the doctor. 

Again Mrs. Holt answered: "Never touched him! Hadn't even got time toget his table open. Wa'n't nothing he could 'a' done for him anyway. Peter was good as gone when he got here. His fool folks never ought'a' let him out this hot day, sick as he was. "

The doctor looked at George, at his mother, long at Peter. "He surelywas too sick to walk that far in this heat, " he said. "But to makesure, I'll look him over. George, you help me. Clear the room of allbut these two men. "

HE began minutely examining Peter's heart region. Then he rolled himover and started to compress his lungs. Long white streaks marked thepuffy red of the swollen, dropsical flesh. The doctor examined thelength of the body, and looked straight into George Holt's eyes. 

"No use, " he said. "Bill, go to the 'phone in my office, and tellCoroner Smith to get here from Hartley as soon as he can. All that'sleft to do here is to obey the law, and have a funeral. Better some ofthe rest of you go tell his folks. I've done all I can do. It's up tothe Coroner now. The rest of you go home, and keep still till hecomes. "

When he and George were left alone he said tersely: "Of course you andyour mother are lying. You had this man stripped, he did cry out, andhe did die from the pain of the treatment you tried to give him, in hiscondition. By the way, where's your wife? This is a bad thing for herright now. Come, let's find her and see what state she is in. "

Together they left the room and entered Kate's door. As soon as thedoctor was busy with her, George slipped back into the closed room, rolled Peter on his back and covered him, in the hope that the bloodwould settle until it would efface the marks of his work before theCoroner arrived. By that time the doctor was too busy to care muchwhat happened to Peter Mines; he was a poor old soul better off as hewas. Across Kate's unconscious body he said to George Holt: "I'mgoing to let the Coroner make what he pleases out of this, solely foryour wife's sake. But two things: take down that shingle. Take itdown now, and never put it up again if you want me to keep still. I'llgive you what you paid for that table. It's a good one. Get him outas soon as you can. Set him in another room. I've got to have Mrs. Holt where I can work. And send Sarah Nepple here to help me. Movefast! This is going to be a close call. And the other thing: I'veheard you put in an application for our school this winter. Withdrawit! Now move!"

So they set Peter in the living room, cleaned Kate's room quickly, andmoved in her bed. By the time the Coroner arrived, the doctor was toobusy to care what happened. On oath he said a few words that he hopedwould make life easier for Kate, and at the same time pass muster fortruth; told the Coroner what witnesses to call; and gave an opinion asto Peter's condition. He also added that he was sure Peter's familywould be very glad he was to suffer no more, and then he went back toKate who was suffering entirely too much for safety. Then began a longvigil that ended at midnight with Kate barely alive and Sarah Nepple, the Walden mid-wife, trying to divide a scanty wardrobe between a pairof lusty twins. 

CHAPTER XV

A NEW IDEA

KATE slowly came back to consciousness. She was conscious of her body, sore from head to foot, with plenty of pain in definite spots. Herfirst clear thought was that she was such a big woman; it seemed to herthat she filled the room, when she was one bruised ache from head toheels. Then she became conscious of a moving bundle on the bed besideher, and laid her hand on it to reassure herself. The size and shapeof the bundle were not reassuring. 

"Oh, Lord!" groaned Kate. "Haven't You any mercy at all? It was Youradvice I followed when I took wing and started out in life. "

A big sob arose in her throat, while at the same time she began tolaugh weakly. Dr. James heard her from the hall and entered hastily. At the sight of him, Kate's eyes filled with terrified remembrance. Her glance swept the room, and rested on her rocking chair. "Take thatout of here!" she cried. "Take it out, split it into kindling wood, and burn it. "

"All right, " said Dr. James calmly. "I'll guarantee that you never seeit again. Is there anything else you want?"

"You--you didn't--?"

The doctor shook his head. "Very sorry, " he said, "but there wasn't athing could be done. "

"Where is he?" she asked in a whisper. 

"His people took him home immediately after the Coroner's inquest, which found that he died from heart failure, brought on by his longwalk in the heat. "

Kate stared at him with a face pitiful to behold. 

"You let him think THAT?" she whispered again. 

"I did, " said the old doctor. "I thought, and still think, that forthe sake of you and yours, " he waved toward the bundle, "it was theonly course to pursue. "

"Thank you, " said Kate. "You're very kind. But don't you think that Iand mine are going to take a lot of shielding? The next man may not beso kindly disposed. Besides, is it right? Is it honest?"

"It is for you, " said the doctor. "You had nothing to do with it. Ifyou had, things would not have gone as they did. As for me, I feelperfectly comfortable about it in my conscience, which is my bestguide. All I had to do was to let them tell their story. I perjuredmyself only to the extent of testifying that you knew nothing about it. The Coroner could well believe that. George and his mother couldeasily manage the remainder. "

Kate waved toward the bundle: "Am I supposed to welcome and love them?"

"A poet might expect you to, " said the doctor. "In the circumstances, I do not. I shall feel that you have done your whole duty if you willtry to nurse them when the time comes. You must have a long rest, andthey must grow some before you'll discover what they mean to you. There's always as much chance that they'll resemble your people as thatthey will not. The boy will have dark hair and eyes I think, but helooks exactly like you. The girl is more Holt. "

"Where is George?" she asked. 

"He was completely upset, " said the doctor. "I suggested that he gosomewhere to rest up a few days, so he took his tackle and wentfishing, and to the farm. "

"Shouldn't he have stayed and faced it?" asked Kate. 

"There was nothing for him to face, except himself, Kate, " said thedoctor. 

Kate shook her head. She looked ghastly ill. 

"Doctor, " she said, "couldn't you have let me die?"

"And left your son and your little daughter to them?" he asked. "No, Kate, I couldn't have let you die; because you've your work in theworld under your hand right now. "

He said that because when he said "left your son and your littledaughter to them, " Kate had reached over and laid her handpossessively, defensively, on the little, squirming bundle, which wasall Dr. James asked of her. Presently she looked the doctor straightin the face. "Exactly what do you know?" she asked. 

"Everything, " said the doctor. "And you?"

"Everything, " said Kate. 

There was a long silence. Then Kate spoke slowly: "That George didn'tknow that he shouldn't have touched that man, proves him completelyincompetent, " she said. "That he did, and didn't have the courage toface the results, proves him lacking in principle. He's not fit foreither work to which he aspires. "

"You are talking too much, " said the doctor. "Nurse Nepple is incharge here, and Aunt Ollie. George's mother went to the farm to cookfor him. You're in the hands of two fine women, who will make youcomfortable. You have escaped lasting disgrace with your skirts clear, now rest and be thankful. "

"I can't rest until I know one thing, " said Kate. "You're not going toallow George to kill any one else?"

"No, " said the doctor. "I regretted telling him very much; but I hadto tell him THAT could not happen. "

"And about the school?" she asked. "I half thought he might get it. "

"He WON'T!" said the doctor. "I'm in a position to know that. Now tryto take some rest. "

Kate waved toward the babies: "Will you please take them away untilthey need me?" she asked. 

"Of course, " said the doctor. "But don't you want to see them, Kate?There isn't a mark or blemish on either of them. The boy weighs sevenpounds and the girl six; they seem as perfect as children can be. "

"You needn't worry about that, " said Kate. "Twins are a Bates habit. My mother had three pairs, always a boy and a girl, always big andsound as any children; mine will be all right, too. "

The doctor started to turn back the blanket. Kate turned her headaway: "Don't you think I have had about enough at present?" she asked. "I'd stake my life that as a little further piece of my punishment, thegirl looks exactly like Mrs. Holt. "

"By Jove, " said the doctor, "I couldn't just think who it was. "

He carried the babies from the room, lowered the blinds, and Kate triedto sleep, and did sleep, because she was so exhausted she could notkeep awake. 

Later in the evening Aunt Ollie slipped in, and said George was in thewoodhouse, almost crying himself to death, and begging to see her. 

"You tell him I'm too sick to be seen for at least a week, " said Kate. 

"But, my dear, he's so broken up; he feels so badly, " begged Aunt Ollie. 

"So do I, " said Kate. "I feel entirely too badly to be worried overseeing him. I must take the babies now. "

"I do wish you would!" persisted Aunt Ollie. 

"Well, I won't, " said Kate. "I don't care if I never see him again. He knows WHY he is crying; ask him. "

"I'll wager they ain't a word of truth in that tale they're telling, "she said. 

Kate looked straight at her: "Well, for their sakes and my sake, andthe babies' sake, don't TALK about it. "

"You poor thing!" said Aunt Ollie, "I'll do anything in the world tohelp you. If ever you need me, just call on me. I'll go start himback in a hurry. "

He came every night, but Kate steadily refused, until she felt able tosit up in a chair, to see him, or his mother when she came to see thebabies. She had recovered rapidly, was over the painful part ofnursing the babies, and had a long talk with Aunt Ollie, before sheconsented to see George. At times she thought she never could see himagain; at others, she realized her helplessness. She had her babies tonurse for a year; there was nothing she could think of she knew to do, that she could do, and take proper care of two children. She was tied"hand and foot, " as Aunt Ollie said. And yet it was Aunt Ollie whosolved her problem for her. Sitting beside the bed one day she said toKate: "My dear, do you know that I'm having a mighty good time? Iguess I was lonesomer than I thought out there all alone so much, andthe work was nigh to breaking me during the long, cold winter. I got abig notion to propose somepin' to you that might be a comfort to all ofus. "

"Propose away, " said Kate. "I'm at my wit's end. "

"Well, what would you think of you and George taking the land, workingit on the shares, and letting me have this room, an' live in Walden, awhile?"

Kate sat straight up in bed: "Oh, Aunt Ollie! Would you?" she cried. "Would you? That would be a mercy to me; it would give George everychance to go straight, if there is a straight impulse in him. "

"Yes, I will, " said Aunt Ollie, "and you needn't feel that I am gettingthe little end of the bargain, either. The only unpleasant thing aboutit will be my sister, and I'll undertake to manage her. I read a lot, an' I can always come to see you when mortal sperrits will bear her nomore. She'll be no such trial to me, as she is to you. "

"You're an angel, " said Kate. "You've given me hope where I had not aglimmer. If I have George out there alone, away from his mother, I canbring out all the good there is in him, and we can get some results outof life, or I can assure myself that it is impossible, so that I canquit with a clear conscience. I do thank you. "

"All right, then, I'll go out and begin packing my things, and seeabout moving this afternoon. I'll leave my stoves, and beds, andtables, and chairs for you; you can use your wedding things, and bedownright comfortable. I'll like living in town a spell real well. "

So once more Kate saw hope a beckoning star in the distance, andruffled the wings of the spirit preparatory to another flight: only ashort, humble flight this time, close earth; but still as full ofpromise as life seemed to hold in any direction for her. She greetedGeorge casually, and as if nothing had happened, when she was ready tosee him. 

"You're at the place where words are not of the slightest use to me, "she said. "I'm giving you one, and a final chance to ACT. This seemsall that is open to us. Go to work like a man, and we will see what wecan make of our last chance. "

Kate was so glad when she sat in the carriage that was to take her fromthe house and the woman she abominated that she could scarcely behaveproperly. She clasped Adam tightly in her arms, and felt truly hismother. She reached over and tucked the blanket closer over Polly, butshe did not carry her, because she resembled her grandmother, whileAdam was a Bates. 

George drove carefully. He was on behaviour too good to last, butfortunately both women with him knew him well enough not to expect thatit would. When they came in sight of the house, Kate could see thatthe grass beside the road had been cut, the trees trimmed, and Oh, joy, the house freshly painted a soft, creamy white she liked, with a greenroof. Aunt Ollie explained that she furnished the paint and George didthe work. He had swung oblong clothes baskets from the ceiling of abig, cheery, old-fashioned bedroom for a cradle for each baby, andestablished himself in a small back room adjoining the kitchen. Katesaid nothing about the arrangement, because she supposed it had beenmade to give her more room, and that George might sleep in peace, whileshe wrestled with two tiny babies. 

There was no doubt about the wrestling. The babies seemed of nervoustemperament, sleeping in short naps and lightly. Kate was on her feetfrom the time she reached her new home, working when she should nothave worked; so that the result developed cross babies, each attackedwith the colic, which raged every night from six o'clock until twelveand after, both frequently shrieking at the same time. George did hisshare by going to town for a bottle of soothing syrup, which Katepromptly threw in the creek. Once he took Adam and began walking thefloor with him, extending his activities as far as the kitchen. In afew minutes he had the little fellow sound asleep and he did not wakenuntil morning; then he seemed to droop and feel listless. When he tookthe baby the second time and made the same trip to the kitchen, Katelaid Polly on her bed and silently followed. She saw George lay thebaby on the table, draw a flask from his pocket, pour a spoon partlyfull, filling it the remainder of the way from the teakettle. As hewas putting the spoon to the baby's lips, Kate stepped beside him andtaking it, she tasted the contents. Then she threw the spoon into thedishpan standing near and picked up the baby. 

"I knew it!" she said. "Only I didn't know what. He acted like adrugged baby all last night and to-day. Since when did you begincarrying that stuff around with you, and feeding it to tiny babies?"

"It's a good thing. Dr. James recommended it. He said it was harmfulto let them strain themselves crying, and very hard on you. You couldsave yourself a lot, " he urged. 

"I need saving all right, " said Kate, "but I haven't a picture ofmyself saving myself by drugging a pair of tiny babies. "

He slipped the bottle back in his pocket. Kate stood looking at him solong and so intently, he flushed and set the flask on a shelf in thepantry. "It may come in handy some day when some of us have a cold, "he said. 

Kate did her best, but she was so weakened by nursing both of thebabies, by loss of sleep, and overwork in the house, that she was nohelp whatever to George in getting in the fall crops and preparing forspring. She had lost none of her ambition, but there was a limit toher capacity. 

In the spring the babies were big and lusty, eating her up, and cryingwith hunger, until she was forced to resort to artificial feeding inpart, which did not agree with either of them. As a saving of time andtrouble she decided to nurse one and feed the other. It was withoutthought on her part, almost by chance, yet the chance was that shenursed Adam and fed Polly. Then the babies began teething, so that shewas rushed to find time to prepare three regular meals a day, and asfor the garden and poultry she had planned, George did what he pleasedabout them, which was little, if anything. 

He would raise so much to keep from being hungry, he would grow so manyroots, and so much cabbage for winter, he would tend enough corn for ateam and to fatten pork; right there he stopped and went fishing, whilethe flask was in evidence on the pantry shelf only two days. Katetalked crop rotation, new seed, fertilization, until she was weary;George heartily agreed with her, but put nothing of it all intopractice. 

"As soon as the babies are old enough to be taken out, " she said, "things will be better. I just can't do justice to them and my work, too. Three pairs! My poor mother! And she's alive yet! I marvel atit. "

So they lived, and had enough to eat, and were clothed, but not onestep did they advance toward Kate's ideals of progression, economy, accumulation. George always had a little money, more than she couldsee how he got from the farming. There were a few calves and pigs tosell occasionally; she thought possibly he saved his share from them. 

For four years, Kate struggled valiantly to keep pace with what hermother always had done, and had required of her at home; but shelearned long before she quit struggling that farming with George washopeless. So at last she became so discouraged she began to drift intohis way of doing merely what would sustain them, and then reading, fishing, or sleeping the remainder of the time. She began teaching herchildren while very small, and daily they had their lessons afterdinner, while their father slept. 

Kate thought often of what was happening to her; she hated it, shefought it; but with George Holt for a partner she could not escape it. She lay awake nights, planning ways to make a start toward prosperity;she propounded her ideas at breakfast. To save time in getting himearly to work she began feeding the horses as soon as she was up, sothat George could go to work immediately after breakfast; but she soonfound she might as well save her strength. He would not start toharness until he had smoked, mostly three quarters of an hour. Thathis neighbours laughed at him and got ahead of him bothered him not atall. All they said and all Kate said, went, as he expressed it, "in atone ear, out at the other. "

One day in going around the house Kate was suddenly confronted by athing she might have seen for three years, but had not noticed. Leadingfrom the path of bare, hard-beaten earth that ran around the housethrough the grass, was a small forking path not so wide and welldefined, yet a path, leading to George's window. She stood staring atit a long time with a thoughtful expression on her face. 

That night she did not go to bed when she went to her room. Instead sheslipped out into the night and sitting under a sheltering bush shewatched that window. It was only a short time until George crawledfrom it, went stealthily to the barn, and a few minutes later she sawhim riding barebacked on one of the horses he had bridled, down thefootpath beside the stream toward town. She got up and crossing thebarnyard shut the gate after him, and closed the barn door. She wentback to the house and closed his window and lighting a lamp set it onhis dresser in front of his small clock. His door was open in themorning when she passed it on her way to the kitchen, so she gotbreakfast instead of feeding the horses. He came in slowly, furtivelywatching her. She worked as usual, saying no unpleasant word. Atlength he could endure it no longer. 

"Kate, " he said, "I broke a bolt in the plow yesterday, and I neverthought of it until just as I was getting into bed, so to save time Irode in to Walden and got another last night. Ain't I a great oldeconomist, though?"

"You are a great something, " she said. "'Economist' would scarcely bemy name for it. Really, George, can't you do better than that?"

"Better than what?" he demanded. 

"Better than telling such palpable lies, " she said. "Better thancrawling out windows instead of using your doors like a man; betterthan being the most shiftless farmer of your neighbourhood in thedaytime, because you have spend most of your nights, God and probablyall Walden know how. The flask and ready money I never couldunderstand give me an inkling. "

"Anything else?" he asked, sneeringly. 

"Nothing at present, " said Kate placidly. "I probably could findplenty, if I spent even one night in Walden when you thought I wasasleep. "

"Go if you like, " he said. "If you think I'm going to stay here, working like a dog all day, year in and year out, to support a daughterof the richest man in the county and her kids, you fool yourself. Ifyou want more than you got, call on your rich folks for it. If youwant to go to town, either night or day, go for all I care. Do whatyou damn please; that's what I am going to do in the future and I'mglad you know it. I'm tired climbing through windows and slinking likea dog. I'll come and go like other men after this. "

"I don't know what other men you are referring to, " said Kate. "Youhave a monopoly of your kind in this neighbourhood; there is none otherlike you. You crawl and slink as 'to the manner born. '"

"Don't you go too far, " he menaced with an ugly leer. 

"Keep that for your mother, " laughed Kate. "You need never try athreat with me. I am stronger than you are, and you may depend upon itI shall see that my strength never fails me again. I know now that youare all Nancy Ellen said you were. "

"Well, if you married me knowing it, what are you going to do aboutit?" he sneered. 

"I didn't know it then. I thought I knew you. I thought she had beenmisinformed, " said Kate, in self-defence. 

"Well, " he said insultingly, "if you hadn't been in such a big hurry, you could soon have found out all you wanted to know. I took advantageof it, but I never did understand your rush. "

"You never will, " said Kate. 

Then she arose and went to see if the children had wakened. All dayshe was thinking so deeply she would stumble over the chairs in herpreoccupation. George noticed it, and it frightened him. After supperhe came and sat on the porch beside her. 

"Kate, " he said, "as usual you are 'making mountains out of molehills. ' It doesn't damn a fellow forever to ride or walk, I almostalways walk, into town in the evening, to see the papers and have alittle visit with the boys. Work all day in a field is mightylonesome; a man has got the have a little change. I don't deny a glassof beer once in awhile, or a game of cards with the boys occasionally;but if you have lived with me over five years here, and never suspectedit before, it can't be so desperately bad, can it? Come now, be fair!"

"It's no difference whether I am fair or unfair, " Kate said, wearily. "It explains why you simply will not brace up, and be a real man, anddo a man's work in the world, and achieve a man's success. "

"Who can get anywhere, splitting everything in halves?" he demanded. 

"The most successful men in this neighbourhood got their start exactlythat way, " she said. 

"Ah, well, farming ain't my job, anyway, " he said. "I always did hateit. I always will. If I could have a little capital to start with, Iknow a trick that would suit you, and make us independent in no time. "

Kate said no word, and seeing she was not going to, he continued: "I'vethought about this till I've got it all down fine, and it's a greatscheme; you'll admit that, even angry as you are. It is this: getenough together to build a saw mill on my strip of ravine. A littledamming would make a free water power worth a fortune. I could hire agood man to run the saw and do the work, and I could take a horse andride, or drive around among the farmers I know, and buy up timbercheaper than most men could get it. I could just skin the eyes out ofthem. "

"Did it ever occur to you that you could do better by being honest?"asked Kate, wearily. 

"Aw, well, Smarty! you know I didn't mean that literally!" he scoffed. "You know I only meant I could talk, and jolly, and buy at bed-rockprices; I know where to get the timber, and the two best mill men inthe country; we are near the railroad; it's the dandiest scheme thatever struck Walden. What do you think about it?"

"I think if Adam had it he'd be rich from it in ten years, " she said, quietly. 

"Then you DO think it's a bully idea, " he cried. "You WOULD try it ifwe had a chance?"

"I might, " said Kate. 

"You know, " he cried, jumping up in excitement, "I've never mentionedthis to a soul, but I've got it all thought out. Would you go to seeyour brother Adam, and see if you could get him to take an interest foryoung Adam? He could manage the money himself. "

"I wouldn't go to a relative of mine for a cent, even if the childrenwere starving, " said Kate. "Get, and keep, THAT clear in your head. "

"But you think there is something in it?" he persisted. 

"I know there is, " said Kate with finality. "In the hands of the rightman, and with the capital to start. "

"Kate, you can be the meanest, " he said. 

"I didn't intend to be, in this particular instance, " she said. "Buthonestly, George, what have I ever seen of you in the way of financialsuccess in the past that would give me hope for the future?"

"I know it, " he said, "but I've never struck exactly the right thing. This is what I could make a success of, and I would make a good bigone, you bet! Kate, I'll not go to town another night. I'll stop allthat. " He drew the flask from his pocket and smashed it against theclosest tree. "And I'll stop all there ever was of that, even to aglass of beer on a hot day; if you say so, if you'll stand by me thisonce more, if I fail this time, I'll never ask you again; honest, Iwon't. "

"If I had money, I'd try it, keeping the building in my own name andkeeping the books myself; but I've none, and no way to get any, as youknow, " she said. "I can see what could be done, but I'm helpless. "

"I'M NOT!" said George. "I've got it all worked out. You see I wasdoing something useful with my head, if I wasn't always plowing as fastas you thought I should. If you'll back me, if you'll keep books, ifyou'll handle the money until she is paid back, I know Aunt Ollie willsell enough of this land to build the mill and buy the machinery. Shecould keep the house, and orchard, and barn, and a big enough piece, say forty acres, to live on and keep all of us in grub. She and Mothercould move out here--she said the other day she was tired of town andgetting homesick--and we could go to town to put the children inschool, and be on the job. I won't ever ask you and Mother to livetogether again. Kate, will you go in with me? Will you talk to AuntOllie? Will you let me show you, and explain, and prove to you?"

"I won't be a party to anything that would even remotely threaten tolose Aunt Ollie's money for her, " she said. 

"She's got nobody on earth but me. It's all mine in the end. Why notlet me have this wonderful chance with it? Kate, will you?" he begged. 

"I'll think about it, " she conceded. "If I can study out a sure, honourable way. I'll promise to think. Now go out there, and hunt thelast scrap of that glass; the children may cut their feet in themorning. "

Then Kate went in to bed. If she had looked from her window, she mighthave seen George scratching matches and picking pieces of glass fromthe grass. When he came to the bottom of the bottle with upstanding, jagged edges, containing a few drops, he glanced at her room, saw thatshe was undressing in the dark, and lifting it, he poured the liquid onhis tongue to the last drop that would fall. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE WORK OF THE SUN

BEFORE Kate awakened the following morning George was out feeding thehorses, cattle, and chickens, doing the milking, and working like theproverbial beaver. By the time breakfast was ready, he had convincedhimself that he was a very exemplary man, while he expected Kate to beconvinced also. He stood ready and willing to forgive her for everymean deceit and secret sin he ever had committed, or had it in hisheart to commit in the future. All the world was rosy with him, he wasflying with the wings of hope straight toward a wonderful achievementthat would bring pleasure and riches, first to George Holt, then to hiswife and children, then to the old aunt he really cared more for thanany one else. 

Incidentally, his mother might have some share, while he would bringsuch prosperity and activity to the village that all Walden wouldforget every bad thing it had ever thought or known of him, and delightto pay him honour. Kate might have guessed all this when she saw thepails full of milk on the table, and heard George whistling "Hail theConquering Hero Comes, " as he turned the cows into the pasture; but shehad not slept well. Most of the night she had lain staring at theceiling, her brain busy with calculations, computations, most of allwith personal values. 

She dared not be a party to anything that would lose Aunt Ollie herland; that was settled; but if she went into the venture herself, ifshe kept the deeds in Aunt Ollie's name, the bank account in hers, drewall the checks, kept the books, would it be safe? Could George buytimber as he thought; could she, herself, if he failed? The childrenwere old enough to be in school now, she could have much of the day, she could soon train Polly and Adam to do even more than sweep and runerrands; the scheme could be materialized in the Bates way, without adoubt; but could it be done in a Bates way, hampered and impeded byGeorge Holt? Was the plan feasible, after all? She entered into therosy cloud enveloping the kitchen without ever catching the faintestgleam of its hue. George came to her the instant he saw her and triedto put his arm around her. Kate drew back and looked at him intently. 

"Aw, come on now, Kate, " he said. "Leave out the heroics and be human. I'll do exactly as you say about everything if you will help me wheedleAunt Ollie into letting me have the money. "

Kate stepped back and put out her hands defensively: "A rare bargain, "she said, "and one eminently worthy of you. You'll do what I say, ifI'll do what you say, without the slightest reference as to whether itimpoverishes a woman who has always helped and befriended you. Youmake me sick!"

"What's biting you now?" he demanded, sullenly. 

Kate stood tall and straight before and above him

"If you have a good plan, if you can prove that it will work, what isthe necessity for 'wheedling' anybody? Why not state what you proposein plain, unequivocal terms, and let the dear, old soul, who has doneso much for us already, decide what she will do?"

"That's what I meant! That's all I meant!" he cried. 

"In that case, 'wheedle' is a queer word to use. "

"I believe you'd throw up the whole thing; I believe you'd let thechance to be a rich woman slip through your fingers, if it all dependedon your saying only one word you thought wasn't quite straight, " hecried, half in assertion, half in question. 

"I honour you in that belief, " said Kate. "I most certainly would. "

"Then you turn the whole thing down? You won't have anything to dowith it?" he cried, plunging into stoop-shouldered, mouth-saggingdespair. 

"Oh, I didn't SAY that!" said Kate. "Give me time! Let me think! I'vegot to know that there isn't a snare in it, from the title of the landto the grade of the creek bed. Have you investigated that? Is yourravine long enough and wide enough to dam it high enough at our outletto get your power, and yet not back water on the road, and the farmersabove you? Won't it freeze in winter? and can you get strong enoughpower from water to run a large saw? I doubt it!"

"Oh, gee! I never thought about that!" he cried. 

"And if it would work, did you figure the cost of a dam into yourestimate of the building and machinery?"

He snapped his fingers in impatience. 

"By heck!" he cried, "I forgot THAT, too! But that wouldn't cost much. Look what we did in that ravine just for fun. Why, we could build thatdam ourselves!"

"Yes, strong enough for conditions in September, but what about theJanuary freshet?" she said. 

"Croak! Croak! You blame old raven, " cried George. 

"And have you thought, " continued Kate, "that there is no room on thebank toward town to set your mill, and it wouldn't be allowed there, ifthere were?"

"You bet I have!" he said defiantly. "I'm no such slouch as you thinkme. I've even stepped off the location!"

"Then, " said Kate, "will you build a bridge across the ravine to reachit, or will you buy a strip from Linn and build a road?"

George collapsed with a groan. 

"That's the trouble with you, " said Kate. "You always build yourcastle with not even sand for a foundation. The most nebulous of rosyclouds serve you as perfectly as granite blocks. Before you goglimmering again, double your estimate to cover a dam and a bridge, anda lot of incidentals that no one ever seems able to include in abuilding contract. And whatever you do, keep a still head until we getthese things figured, and have some sane idea of what the venture wouldcost. "

"How long will it take?" he said sullenly. 

"I haven't an idea. I'd have to go the Hartley and examine the recordsand be sure that there was no flaw in the deeds to the land; but thefirst thing is to get a surveyor and know for sure if you have awater-power that will work and not infringe on your neighbours. Athing like this can't be done in a few minutes' persuasiveconversation. It will take weeks. "

It really seemed as if it would take months. Kate went to Walden thatafternoon, set the children playing in the ravine while she sketchedit, made the best estimate she could of its fall, and approved thecurve on the opposite bank which George thought could be cleared for abuilding site and lumber yard. Then she added a location for a dam anda bridge site, and went home to figure and think. The further she wentin these processes the more hopeless the project seemed. She soonlearned that there must be an engine with a boiler to run the saw. Thedam could be used only to make a pond to furnish the water needed; butat that it would be cheaper than to dig a cistern or well. She wouldnot even suggest to Aunt Ollie to sell any of the home forty. The saleof the remainder at the most hopeful price she dared estimate would notbring half the money needed, and it would come in long-time payments. Lumber, bricks, machinery, could not be had on time of any length, while wages were cash every Saturday night. 

"It simply can't be done, " said Kate, and stopped thinking about it, sofar as George knew. 

He was at once plunged into morose moping; he became sullen andindifferent about the work, ugly with Kate and the children, until shewas driven almost frantic, and projects nearly as vague as some ofGeorge's began to float through her head. 

One Saturday morning Kate had risen early and finished cleaning up herhouse, baking, and scrubbing porches. She had taken a bath to freshenand cool herself and was standing before her dresser, tucking the lastpins in her hair, when she heard a heavy step on the porch and a loudknock on the screen door. She stood at an angle where she could peep;she looked as she reached for her dress. What she saw carried her tothe door forgetful of the dress. Adam, Jr. , stood there, white andshaken, steadying himself against the casing. 

"Adam!" cried Kate. "Is Mother--?"

He shook his head. 

"Father--?" she panted. 

He nodded, seeming unable to speak. Kate's eyes darkened and widened. She gave Adam another glance and opened the door. "Come in, " she said. "When did it happen? How did he get hurt?"

In that moment she recalled that she had left her father in perfecthealth, she had been gone more than seven years. In that time he couldnot fail to illness; how he had been hurt was her first thought. Asshe asked the question, she stepped into her room and snatched up hersecond best summer dress, waiting for Adam to speak as she slipped intoit. But speaking seemed to be a very difficult thing for Adam. He wasslow in starting and words dragged and came singly:"Yesterday--tired--big dinner--awful hot--sunstroke--"

"He's gone?" she cried. 

Adam nodded in that queer way again. 

"Why did you come? Does Mother want me?" the questions leaped fromKate's lips; her eyes implored him. Adam was too stricken to heed hissister's unspoken plea. 

"Course, " he said. "All there--your place--I want you. Only one inthe family--not stark mad!"

Kate straightened tensely and looked at him again. "All right, " shesaid. "I can throw a few things in my telescope, write the children anote to take to their father in the field, and we can stop in Waldenand send Aunt Ollie out to cook for them; I can go as well as not, foras long as Mother wants me. "

"Hurry!" said Adam. 

In her room Kate stood still a second, her eyes narrow, her underlipsucked in, her heart almost stopped. Then she said aloud: "Father'ssons have wished he would die too long for his death to strike even themost tolerant of them like that. Something dreadful has happened. Iwonder to my soul--!"

She waited until they were past Hartley and then she asked suddenly:"Adam, what is the matter?"

Then Adam spoke: "I am one of a pack of seven poor fools, and everyother girl in the family has gone raving mad, so I thought I'd comeafter you, and see if you had sense, or reason, or justice, left inyou. "

"What do you want of me?" she asked dazedly. 

"I want you to be fair, to be honest, to do as you'd be done by. Youcame to me when you were in trouble, " he reminded her. 

Kate could not prevent the short laugh that sprang to her lips, norwhat she said: "And you would not lift a finger; young Adam MADE hisMOTHER help me. Why don't you go to George for what you want?"

Adam lost all self-control and swore sulphurously. 

"I thought you'd be different, " he said, "but I see you are going to bejust like the rest of the--!"

"Stop that!" said Kate. "You're talking about my sisters--and yours. Stop this wild talk, and tell me exactly what is the matter. "

"I'm telling nothing, " said Adam. "You can find out what is the matterand go it with the rest of them, when you get there. Mother said thismorning she wished you were there, because you'd be the only SANE onein the family, so I thought I'd bring you; but I wish now I hadn't doneit, for it stands to reason that you will join the pack, and run asfast as the rest of the wolves. "

"FROM a prairie fire, or TO a carcass?" asked Kate. 

"I told you, you could find out when you got there. I'm not going tohave them saying I influenced you, or bribed you, " he said. 

"Do you really think that they think you could, Adam?" asked Kate, wonderingly. 

"I have said all I'm going to say, " said Adam, and then he begandriving his horse inhumanely fast, for the heat was deep, slow, andburning. 

"Adam, is there any such hurry?" asked Kate. "You know you are abusingyour horse dreadfully. "

Adam immediately jerked the horse with all his might, and slashed thelength of its body with two long stripes that rapidly raised in highwelts, so Kate saw that he was past reasoning with and said no otherword. She tried to think who would be at home, how they would treather, the Prodigal, who had not been there in seven years; and suddenlyit occurred to Kate that, if she had known all she now knew in heryouth, and had the same decision to make again as when she knewnothing, she would have taken wing, just as she had. She had madefailures, she had hurt herself, mind and body, but her honour, herself-respect were intact. Suddenly she sat straight. She was glad thatshe had taken a bath, worn a reasonably decent dress, and had a betterone in the back of the buggy. She would cut the Gordian knot with avengeance. She would not wait to see how they treated her, she wouldtreat them! As for Adam's state, there was only one surmise she couldmake, and that seemed so incredible, she decided to wait until hermother told her all about whatever the trouble was. 

As they came in sight of the house, queer feelings took possession ofKate. She struggled to think kindly of her father; she tried to feelpangs of grief over his passing. She was too forthright and had toogood memory to succeed. Home had been so unbearable that she had takendesperate measures to escape it, but as the white house with its treeand shrub filled yard could be seen more plainly, Kate suddenly wasfilled with the strongest possessive feeling she ever had known. Itwas home. It was her home. Her place was there, even as Adam hadsaid. She felt a sudden revulsion against herself that she had stayedaway seven years; she should have taken her chances and at least goneto see her mother. She leaned from the buggy and watched for the firstglimpse of the tall, gaunt, dark woman, who had brought their big broodinto the world and stood squarely with her husband, against every oneof them, in each thing he proposed. 

Now he was gone. No doubt he had carried out his intentions. No doubtshe was standing by him as always. Kate gathered her skirts, but Adampassed the house, driving furiously as ever, and he only slackenedspeed when he was forced to at the turn from the road to the lane. Hestopped the buggy in the barnyard, got out, and began unharnessing thehorse. Kate sat still and watched him until he led it away, then shestepped down and started across the barnyard, down the lane leading tothe dooryard. As she closed the yard gate and rounded a widelyspreading snowball bush, her heart was pounding wildly. What wascoming? How would the other boys act, if Adam, the best balanced manof them all, was behaving as he was? How would her mother greet her?With the thought, Kate realized that she was so homesick for her motherthat she would do or give anything in the world to see her. Then therewas a dragging step, a short, sharp breath, and wheeling, Kate stoodfacing her mother. She had come from the potato patch back of theorchard, carrying a pail of potatoes in each hand. Her face washaggard, her eyes bloodshot, her hair falling in dark tags, her cheeksred with exertion. They stood facing each other. At the first glimpseKate cried, "Oh, Mother, " and sprang toward her. Then she stopped, while her heart again failed her, for from the astonishment on hermother's face, Kate saw instantly that she was surprised, and hadneither sent for nor expected her. She was nauseatingly disappointed. Adam had said she was wanted, had been sent for. Kate's face wastwitching, her lips quivering, but she did not hesitate more than aninstant. 

"I see you were not expecting me, " she said. "I'm sorry. Adam cameafter me. I wouldn't have come if he hadn't said you sent for me. "

Kate paused a minute hopefully. Her mother looked at her steadily. 

"I'm sorry, " Kate repeated. "I don't know why he said that. "

By that time the pain in her heart was so fierce she caught her breathsharply, and pressed her hand hard against her side. Her motherstooped, set down the buckets, and taking off her sunbonnet, wiped thesweat from her lined face with the curtain. 

"Well, I do, " she said tersely. 

"Why?" demanded Kate. 

"To see if he could use you to serve his own interests, of course, "answered her mother. "He lied good and hard when he said I sent foryou; I didn't. I probably wouldn't a-had the sense to do it. Butsince you are here, I don't mind telling you that I never was so gladto see any one in all my born days. "

Mrs. Bates drew herself full height, set her lips, stiffened her jaw, and again used the bonnet skirt on her face and neck. Kate picked upthe potatoes, to hide the big tears that gushed from her eyes, andleading the way toward the house she said: "Come over here in theshade. Why should you be out digging potatoes?"

"Oh, they's enough here, and willing enough, " said Mrs. Bates. "Slippedoff to get away from them. It was the quietest and the peacefullestout there, Kate. I'd most liked to stay all day, but it's getting onto dinner time, and I'm short of potatoes. "

"Never mind the potatoes, " said Kate. "Let the folks serve themselvesif they are hungry. "

She went to the side of the smoke house, picked up a bench turned upthere, and carrying it to the shady side of a widely spreading privetbush, she placed it where it would be best screened from both house andbarn. Then setting the potatoes in the shade, she went to her mother, put her arm around her, and drew her to the seat. She took herhandkerchief and wiped her face, smoothed back her straggled hair, andpulling out a pin, fastened the coil better. 

"Now rest a bit, " she said, "and then tell me why you are glad to seeme, and exactly what you'd like me to do here. Mind, I've been awayseven years, and Adam told me not a word, except that Father was gone. "

"Humph! All missed the mark again, " commented Mrs. Bates dryly. "Theyall said he'd gone to fill you up, and get you on his side. "

"Mother, what is the trouble?" asked Kate. "Take your time and tell mewhat has happened, and what YOU want, not what Adam wants. "

Mrs. Bates relaxed her body a trifle, but gripped her hands tightlytogether in her lap. 

"Well, it was quick work, " she said. "It all came yesterday afternoonjust like being hit by lightning. Pa hadn't failed a particle that anyone could see. Ate a big dinner of ham an' boiled dumplings, an' himan' Hiram was in the west field. It was scorchin' hot an' first Hiramsaw, Pa was down. Sam Langley was passin' an' helped get him in, an'took our horse an' ran for Robert. He was in the country but Sambrought another doctor real quick, an' he seemed to fetch Pa out of itin good shape, so we thought he'd be all right, mebby by morning, though the doctor said he'd have to hole up a day or two. He wentaway, promisin' to send Robert back, and Hiram went home to feed. Iset by Pa fanning him an' putting cloths on his head. All at once hebegan to chill. 

"We thought it was only the way a-body was with sunstroke, and pastpilin' on blankets, we didn't pay much attention. He SAID he was allright, so I went to milk. Before I left I gave him a drink, an' heasked me to feel in his pants pocket an' get the key an' hand him thedeed box, till he'd see if everything was right. Said he guessed he'dhad a close call. You know how he was. I got him the box and went todo the evening work. I hurried fast as I could. Coming back, clearacrost the yard I smelt burning wool, an' I dropped the milk an' ran. I dunno no more about just what happened 'an you do. The house wasfull of smoke. Pa was on the floor, most to the sitting-room door, hishead and hair and hands awfully burned, his shirt burned off, layingface down, and clear gone. The minute I seen the way he laid, I knewhe was gone. The bed was pourin' smoke and one little blaze about sixinches high was shootin' up to the top. I got that out, and then I sawmost of the fire was smothered between the blankets where he'd thrownthem back to get out of the bed. I dunno why he fooled with the lamp. It always stood on the little table in his reach, but it was lightenough to read fine print. All I can figure is that the light wasgoing out of his EYES, an' he thought IT WAS GETTIN' DARK, so he triedto light the lamp to see the deeds. He was fingerin' them when I left, but he didn't say he couldn't see them. The lamp was just on the bareedge of the table, the wick way up an' blackened, the chimney smashedon the floor, the bed afire. "

"Those deeds are burned?" gasped Kate. "All of them? Are they allgone?"

"Every last one, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"Well, if ONE is gone, thank God they all are, " said Kate. 

Her mother turned swiftly and caught her arm. 

"Say that again!" she cried eagerly. 

"Maybe I'm WRONG about it, but it's what I think, " said Kate. "If theboys are crazy over all of them being gone, they'd do murder if parthad theirs, and the others had not. "

Mrs. Bates doubled over on Kate's shoulder suddenly and struggled withan inward spasm. 

"You poor thing, " said Kate. "This is dreadful. All of us know howyou loved him, how you worked together. Can you think of anything Ican do? Is there any special thing the matter?"

"I'm afraid!" whispered Mrs. Bates. "Oh, Katie, I'm so afraid. Youknow how SET he was, you know how he worked himself and all of us--hehad to know what he was doing, when he fought the fire till the shirtburned off him"--her voice dropped to a harsh whisper--"what do yous'pose he's doing now?"

Any form of religious belief was a subject that never had been touchedupon or talked of in the Bates family. Money was their God, work theirreligion; Kate looked at her mother curiously. 

"You mean you believe in after life?" she asked. 

"Why, I suppose there must be SOMETHING, " she said. 

"I think so myself, " said Kate. "I always have. I think there is aGod, and that Father is facing Him now, and finding out for the firsttime in his experience that he is very small potatoes, and what heplanned and slaved for amounted to nothing, in the scheme of theuniverse. I can't imagine Father being subdued by anything on earth, but it appeals to me that he will cut a pathetic figure before thethrone of an Almighty God. "

A slow grin twisted Mrs. Bates' lips. 

"Well, wherever he went, " she said, "I guess he found out pretty quickthat he was some place at last where he couldn't be boss. "

"I'm very sure he has, " said Kate, "and I am equally sure thediscipline will be good for him. But his sons! His precious sons!What are they doing?"

"Taking it according to their bent, " said Mrs. Bates. "Adam is insane, Hiram is crying. "

"Have you had a lawyer?" asked Kate. 

"What for? We all know the law on this subject better than we know oura, b, c's. "

"Did your deed for this place go, too?" asked Kate. 

"Yes, " said Mrs. Bates, "but mine was recorded, none of the otherswere. I get a third, and the rest will be cut up and divided, shareand share alike, among ALL OF YOU, equally. I think it's going to killAdam and ruin Andrew. "

"It won't do either. But this is awful. I can see how the boys feel, and really, Mother, this is no more fair to them than things alwayshave been for the girls. By the way, what are they doing?"

"Same as the boys, acting out their natures. Mary is openly rejoicing. So is Nancy Ellen. Hannah and Bertha at least can see the boys' side. The others say one thing before the boys and another among themselves. In the end the girls will have their shares and nobody can blame them. I don't myself, but I think Pa will rise from his grave when thosefarms are torn up. "

"Don't worry, " said Kate. "He will have learned by now that graves aremerely incidental, and that he has no option on real estate where heis. Leave him to his harp, and tell me what you want done. "

"I want you to see that it was all accidental. I want you to take careof me. I want you should think out the FAIR thing for all of us to DO. I want you to keep sane and cool-headed and shame the others intobehaving themselves. And I want you to smash down hard on theireverlasting, 'why didn't you do this?' and 'why didn't you do that?' Ireckon I've been told five hundred times a-ready that I shouldn'ta-give him the deeds. Josie say it, an' then she sings it. NOT GIVETHEM TO HIM! How could I help giving them to him? He'd a-got up andgot them himself if I hadn't--"

"You have cut out something of a job for me, " said Kate, "but I'll domy best. Anyway, I can take care of you. Come on into the house now, and let me clean you up, and then I'll talk the rest of them intoreason, if you stand back of me, and let them see I'm acting for you. "

"You go ahead, " said Mrs. Bates. "I'll back whatever you say. But keepthem off of me! Keep them off of me!"

After Kate had bathed her mother, helped her into fresh clothes, andbrushed her hair, she coaxed her to lie down, and by diplomatic talkand stroking her head, finally soothed her to sleep. Then she wentdown and announced the fact, asked them all to be quiet, and beganmaking her way from group to group in an effort to restore mentalbalance and sanity. After Kate had invited all of them to go home andstay until time for the funeral Sunday morning, and all of them hademphatically declined, and eagerly had gone on straining the situationto the breaking point, Kate gave up and began setting the table. Whenany of them tried to talk or argue with her she said conclusively: "Ishall not say one word about this until Monday. Then we will talkthings over, and find where we stand, and what Mother wants. Thiswould be much easier for all of us, if you'd all go home and calm down, and plan out what you think would be the fair and just thing to do. "

Before evening Kate was back exactly where she left off, for when Mrs. Bates came downstairs, her nerves quieted by her long sleep, she askedKate what would be best about each question that arose, while Kateanswered as nearly for all of them as her judgment and common sensedictated; but she gave the answer in her own way, and she paved the wayby making a short, sharp speech when the first person said in herhearing that "Mother never should have given him the deeds. " Not oneof them said that again, while at Kate's suggestion, mentally and onscraps of paper, every single one of them figured that one third ofsixteen hundred and fifty was five hundred and fifty; subtracted fromsixteen hundred and fifty this left one thousand one hundred, which, divided by sixteen, gave sixty-eight and three fourths. This resultgave Josie the hysterics, strong and capable though she was; made Hiramviolently ill, so that he resorted to garden palings for a support;while Agatha used her influence suddenly, and took Adam, Jr. , home. 

As she came to Kate to say that they were going, Agatha was white aspossible, her thin lips compressed, a red spot burning on either cheek. 

"Adam and I shall take our departure now, Katherine, " she said, standing very stiffly, her head held higher than Kate ever had thoughtit could be lifted. Kate put her arm around her sister-in-law and gaveher a hearty hug: "Tell Adam I'll do what I think is fair and just;and use all the influence I have to get the others to do the same, " shesaid. 

"Fruitless!" said Agatha. "Fruitless! Reason and justice havedeparted from this abode. I shall hasten my pace, and take Adam wheremy influence is paramount. The state of affairs here is deplorable, perfectly deplorable! I shall not be missed, and I shall leave my maleoffspring to take the place of his poor, defrauded father. "

Adam, 3d, was now a tall, handsome young man of twenty-two, quite asfond of Kate as ever. He wiped the dishes, and when the evening workwas finished, they talked with Mrs. Bates until they knew her everywish. The children had planned for a funeral from the church, becauseit was large enough to seat the family and friends in comfort; but whenthey mentioned this to Mrs. Bates, she delivered an ultimatum on theinstant: "You'll do no such thing!" she cried. "Pa never went to thatchurch living; I'll not sanction his being carried there feet first, when he's helpless. And we'll not scandalize the neighbours by fightingover money on Sunday, either. You'll all come Monday morning, if youwant anything to say about this. If you don't, I'll put through thebusiness in short order. I'm sick to my soul of the whole thing. I'llwash my hands of it as quick as possible. "

So the families all went to their homes; Kate helped her mother to bed;and then she and Adam, 3d, tried to plan what would be best for themorrow; afterward they sat down and figured until almost dawn. 

"There's no faintest possibility of pleasing everyone, " said Kate. "Thelevel best we can do is to devise some scheme whereby everyone willcome as nearly being satisfied as possible. "

"Can Aunt Josie and Aunt Mary keep from fighting across the grave?"asked Adam. 

"Only Heaven knows, " said Kate. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE BANNER HAND

SUNDAY morning Kate arose early and had the house clean and everythingready when the first carriage load drove into the barnyard. As shehelped her mother to dress, Mrs. Bates again evidenced a rebelliousspirit. Nancy Ellen had slipped upstairs and sewed fine white ruchingin the neck and sleeves of her mother's best dress, her only dress, infact, aside from the calicoes she worked in. Kate combed her mother'shair and drew it in loose waves across her temples. As she producedthe dress, Mrs. Bates drew back. 

"What did you stick them gew-gaws onto my dress for?" she demanded. 

"I didn't, " said Kate. 

"Oh, it was Nancy Ellen! Well, I don't see why she wanted to make alaughing stock of me, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"She didn't!" said Kate. "Everyone is wearing ruching now; she wantedher mother to have what the best of them have. "

"Humph!" said Mrs. Bates. "Well, I reckon I can stand it until noon, but it's going to be a hot dose. "

"Haven't you a thin black dress, Mother?" asked Kate. 

"No, " said Mrs. Bates, "I haven't; but you can make a pretty safe betthat I will have one before I start anywhere again in such weather asthis. "

"That's the proper spirit, " said Kate. "There comes Andrew. Let meput your bonnet on. "

She set the fine black bonnet Nancy Ellen had bought on Mrs. Bates'head at the proper angle and tied the long, wide silk ribbon beneathher chin. Mrs. Bates sat in martyr-like resignation. Kate was pleasedwith her mother's appearance. 

"Look in the mirror, " she said. "See what a handsome lady you are. "

"I ain't seen in a looking-glass since I don't know when, " said Mrs. Bates. "Why should I begin now? Chances are 'at you have rigged me upuntil I'll set the neighbours laughing, or else to saying that I didn'twait until the breath was out of Pa's body to begin primping. "

"Nonsense, Mother, " said Kate. "Nobody will say or think anything. Everyone will recognize Nancy Ellen's fine Spencerian hand in thatbonnet and ruching. Now for your veil!"

Mrs. Bates arose from her chair, and stepped back. 

"There, there, Katie!" she said. "You've gone far enough. I'll besweat to a lather in this dress; I'll wear the head-riggin', becauseI've go to, or set the neighbours talkin' how mean Pa was not to let mehave a bonnet; and between the two I'd rather they'd take it out on methan on him. " She steadied herself by the chair back and looked Katein the eyes. "Pa was always the banner hand to boss everything, " shesaid. "He was so big and strong, and so all-fired sure he was right, Inever contraried him in the start, so before I knowed it, I was waitingfor him to say what to do, and then agreeing with him, even when Iknowed he was WRONG. So goin' we got along FINE, but it give me anawful smothered feeling at times. "

Kate stood looking at her mother intently, her brain racing, for shewas thinking to herself: "Good Lord! She means that to preserve theappearance of self-respect she systematically agreed with him, whethershe thought he was right or wrong; because she was not able to hold herown against him. Nearly fifty years of life like that!"

Kate tossed the heavy black crepe veil back on the bed. "Mother, " shesaid, "here alone, and between us, if I promise never to tell a livingsoul, will you tell me the truth about that deed business?" Mrs. Batesseemed so agitated Kate added: "I mean how it started. If you thoughtit was right and a fair thing to do. "

"Yes, I'll tell you that, " said Mrs. Bates. "It was not fair, and Isaw it; I saw it good and plenty. There was no use to fight him; thatwould only a-drove him to record them, but I was sick of it, an' I toldhim so. "

Kate was pinning her hat. 

"I have planned for you to walk with Adam, " she said. 

"Well, you can just change THAT plan, so far as I am concerned, " saidMrs. Bates with finality. "I ain't a-goin' with Adam. Somebody hadtold him about the deeds before he got here. He came in ravin', and hetalked to me something terrible. He was the first to say I shouldn'ta-give Pa the box. NOT GIVE IT TO HIM! An' he went farther than that, till I just rose up an' called him down proper; but I ain't feelin'good at him, an' I ain't goin' with him. I am goin' with you. I wantsomebody with me that understands me, and feels a little for me, an' Iwant the neighbours to see that the minute I'm boss, such a fine girlas you has her rightful place in her home. I'll go with you, or I'llsit down on this chair, and sit here. "

"But you didn't send for me, " said Kate. 

"No, I hadn't quite got round to it yet; but I was coming. I'd toldall of them that you were the only one in the lot who had any sense;and I'd said I WISHED you were here, and as I see it, I'd a-sent foryou yesterday afternoon about three o'clock. I was coming to it fast. I didn't feel just like standing up for myself; but I'd took about allfault-finding it was in me to bear. Just about three o'clock I'd a-sentfor you, Katie, sure as God made little apples. "

"All right then, " said Kate, "but if you don't tell them, they'llalways say I took the lead. "

"Well, they got to say something, " said Mrs. Bates. "Most of 'em woulddie if they had to keep their mouths shut awhile; but I'll tell themfast enough. "

Then she led the way downstairs. There were enough members of theimmediate family to pack the front rooms of the house, the neighboursfilled the dining room and dooryard. The church choir sang a hymn infront of the house, the minister stood on the front steps and read achapter, and told where Mr. Bates had been born, married, the size ofhis family and possessions, said he was a good father, an honestneighbour, and very sensibly left his future with his God. Then thechoir sang again and all started to their conveyances. As the breakingup began outside, Mrs. Bates arose and stepped to the foot of thecasket. She steadied herself by it and said: "Some time back, Ipromised Pa that if he went before I did, at this time in his funeralceremony I would set his black tin box on the foot of his coffin andunlock before all of you, and in the order in which they lay, beginningwith Adam, Jr. , hand each of you boys the deed Pa had made you for theland you live on. You all know WHAT happened. None of you know justHOW. It wouldn't bring the deeds BACK if you did. They're gone. But Iwant you boys to follow your father to his grave with nothing in yourhearts against HIM. He was all for the men. I don't ever want to hearany of you criticize him about this, or me, either. He did his best tomake you upstanding men in your community, his one failing being thathe liked being an upstanding man himself so well that he carried it toofar; but his intentions was the best. As for me, I'd no idea how sickhe was, and nobody else did. I minded him just like all the rest ofyou always did; the BOYS especially. From the church I want all of youto go home until to-morrow morning, and then I want my sons anddaughters by BIRTH only, to come here, and we'll talk things over, quietly, QUIETLY, mind you; and decide what to do. Katie, will youcome with me?"

It was not quite a tearless funeral. Some of the daughters-in-law weptfrom nervous excitement; and some of the little children cried withfear, but there were no tears from the wife of Adam Bates, or his sonsand daughters. And when he was left to the mercies of time, all ofthem followed Mrs. Bates' orders, except Nancy Ellen and Robert, whostopped to help Kate with the dinner. Kate slipped into her seconddress and went to work. Mrs. Bates untied her bonnet strings andunfastened her dress neck as they started home. She unbuttoned herwaist going up the back walk and pulled it off at the door. 

"Well, if I ever put that thing on in July again, " she said, "you canuse my head for a knock-maul. Nancy Ellen, can't you stop at a storeas you come out in the morning and get the goods, and you girls run meup a dress that is nice enough to go out in, and not so hot it startsme burning before my time?"

"Of course I can, " said Nancy Ellen. "About what do you want to pay, Mother?"

"Whatever it takes to get a decent and a cool dress; cool, mind you, "said Mrs. Bates, "an' any colour but black. "

"Why, Mother!" cried Nancy Ellen "it must be black!"

"No, " said Mrs. Bates. "Pa kept me in black all my life on thesupposition it showed the dirt the least. There's nothing in that. Itshows dirt worse 'an white. I got my fill of black. You can get a nicecool gray, if you want me to wear it. "

"Well, I never!" said Nancy Ellen. "What will the neighbours say?"

"What do I care?" asked Mrs. Bates. "They've talked about me all mylife, I'd be kinda lonesome if they's to quit. "

Dinner over, Kate proposed that her mother should lie down while theywashed the dishes. 

"I would like a little rest, " said Mrs. Bates. "I guess I'll goupstairs. "

"You'll do nothing of the kind, " said Kate. "It's dreadfully hot upthere. Go in the spare room, where it is cool; we'll keep quiet. I amgoing to stay Tuesday until I move you in there, anyway. It's smaller, but it's big enough for one, and you'll feel much better there. "

"Oh, Katie, I'm so glad you thought of that, " cried Mrs. Bates. "I beenthinking and thinking about it, and it just seems as if I can't eversteel myself to go into that room to sleep again. I'll never enterthat door that I don't see--"

"You'll never enter it again as your room, " said Kate. "I'll fix youup before I go; and Sally Whistler told me last evening she would comeand make her home with you if you wanted her. You like Sally, don'tyou?"

"Yes, I like her fine, " said Mrs. Bates. 

Quietly as possible the girls washed the dishes, pulled down theblinds, closed the front door, and slipped down in the orchard withRobert to talk things over. Nancy Ellen was stiffly reserved withKate, but she WOULD speak when she was spoken to, which was so muchbetter than silence that Kate was happy over it. Robert was himself. Kate thought she had never liked him so well. He seemed to grow evenkinder and more considerate as the years passed. Nancy Ellen wasprettier than Kate ever had seen her, but there was a line ofdiscontent around her mouth, and she spoke pettishly on slightprovocation, or none at all. Now she was openly, brazenly, brutally, frank in her rejoicing. She thought it was the best "JOKE" that everhappened to the boys; and she said so repeatedly. Kate found her lipsclosing more tightly and a slight feeling of revulsion growing in herheart. Surely in Nancy Ellen's lovely home, cared for and shielded inevery way, she had no such need of money as Kate had herself. She wasdelighted when Nancy Ellen said she was sleepy, and was going to theliving-room lounge for a nap. Then Kate produced her sheet of figures. She and Robert talked the situation over and carefully figured on howan adjustment, fair to all, could be made, until they were called tosupper. 

After supper Nancy Ellen and Robert went home, while Kate and hermother sat on the back porch and talked until Kate had a clearunderstanding and a definite plan in her mind, which was that muchimprovement over wearing herself out in bitter revilings, or selfishrejoicing over her brothers' misfortune. Her mother listened to allshe had to say, asked a question occasionally, objected to some things, and suggested others. They arose when they had covered everycontingency they could think of and went upstairs to bed, even thoughthe downstairs was cooler. 

As she undressed, Mrs. Bates said slowly: "Now in the morning, I'llspeak my piece first; and I'll say it pretty plain. I got thewhip-hand here for once in my life. They can't rave and fight here, and insult me again, as they did Friday night and Saturday till you gothere an' shut 'em up. I won't stand it, that's flat! I'll tell 'em so, and that you speak for me, because you can figure faster and expressyourself plainer; but insist that there be no fussing, an' I'll backyou. I don't know just what life has been doing to you, Katie, butLord! it has made a fine woman of you. "

Kate set her lips in an even line and said nothing, but her heart wasthe gladdest it had been in years. 

Her mother continued: "Seems like Nancy Ellen had all the chance. Mostfolks thought she was a lot the purtiest to start with, though I can'tsay that I ever saw so much difference. She's had leisure an' pettin', and her husband has made a mint o' money; she's gone all over thecountry with him, and the more chance she has, the narrower she grows, and the more discontenteder. One thing, she is awful disappointedabout havin' no children. I pity her about that. "

"Is it because she's a twin?" asked Kate. 

"I'm afraid so, " said Mrs. Bates. "You can't tell much about thosethings, they just seem to happen. Robert and Nancy Ellen feel awfulbad about it. Still, she might do for others what she would for herown. The Lord knows there are enough mighty nice children in the worldwho need mothering. I want to see your children, Katie. Are they nicelittle folks, straight and good looking?"

"The boy is, " said Kate. "The girl is good, with the exception ofbeing the most stubborn child I've ever seen. She looks so much like awoman it almost sickens me to think of that I have to drive myself todo her justice. "

"What a pity!" said Mrs. Bates, slowly. 

"Oh, they are healthy, happy youngsters, " said Kate. "They get as muchas we ever did, and don't expect any more. I have yet to see ademonstrative Bates. "

"Humph!" said Mrs. Bates. "Well, you ought to been here Friday night, and I thought Adam came precious near it Saturday. "

"Demonstrating power, or anger, yes, " said Kate. "I meant affection. And isn't it the queerest thing how people are made? Of all the boys, Adam is the one who has had the most softening influences, and who hasmade the most money, and yet he's acting the worst of all. It reallyseems as if failure and hardship make more of a human being of folksthan success. "

"You're right, " said Mrs. Bates. "Look at Nancy Ellen and Adam. Sometimes I think Adam has been pretty much galled with Agatha and hermoney all these years; and it just drives him crazy to think of havingstill less than she has. Have you got your figures all set down, toback you up, Katie?"

"Yes, " said Kate. "I've gone all over it with Robert, and he thinksit's the best and only thing that can be done. Now go to sleep. "

Each knew that the other was awake most of the night, but very fewwords passed between them. They were up early, dressed, and waitingwhen the first carriage stopped at the gate. Kate told her mother tostay where she would not be worried until she was needed, and went downherself to meet her brothers and sisters in the big living room. Whenthe last one arrived, she called her mother. Mrs. Bates came downlooking hollow-eyed, haggard, and grim, as none of her children everbefore had seen her. She walked directly to the little table at theend of the room, and while still standing she said: "Now I've got afew words to say, and then I'll turn this over to a younger head an'one better at figures than mine. I've said my say as to Pa, yesterday. Now I'll say THIS, for myself. I got my start, minding Pa, andagreeing with him, young; but you needn't any of you throw it in myteeth now, that I did. There is only ONE woman among you, and no MANwho ever disobeyed him. Katie stood up to him once, and got sevenyears from home to punish her and me. He wasn't RIGHT then, and I knewit, as I'd often known it before, and pretty often since; but no womanGod ever made could have lived with Adam Bates as his wife andcontraried him. I didn't mind him any quicker or any oftener than therest of you; keep that pretty clear in your heads, and don't one of youdare open your mouth again to tell me, as you did Saturday, what ISHOULD a-done, and what I SHOULDN'T. I've had the law of thisexplained to me; you all know it for that matter. By the law, I getthis place and one third of all the other land and money. I don't knowjust what money there is at the bank or in notes and mortgages, but asixteenth of it after my third is taken out ain't going to make orbreak any of you. I've told Katie what I'm willing to do on my partand she will explain it, and then tell you about a plan she has fixedup. As for me, you can take it or leave it. If you take it, well andgood; if you don't, the law will be set in motion to-day, and it willtake its course to the end. It all depends on YOU. 

"Now two things more. At the start, what Pa wanted to do seemed to meright, and I agreed with him and worked with him. But when my girlsbegan to grow up and I saw how they felt, and how they struggled andworked, and how the women you boys married went ahead of my own girls, and had finer homes, an' carriages, and easier times, I got pretty sickof it, and I told Pa so more'n once. He just raved whenever I did, an'he always carried his keys in his pocket. I never touched his chestkey in my life, till I handed him his deed box Friday afternoon. But Iagree with my girls. It's fair and right, since things have come outas they have, that they should have their shares. I would, too. 

"The other thing is just this: I'm tired to death of the wholebusiness. I want peace and rest and I want it quick. Friday andSaturday I was so scared and so knocked out I s'pose I'd 'a' took it ifone of the sucking babies had riz up and commenced to tell me what Ishould a-done, and what I shouldn't. I'm THROUGH with that. You willall keep civil tongues in your heads this morning, or I'll get up andgo upstairs, an' lock myself in a room till you're gone, an' if I go, it will mean that the law takes its course; and if it does, there willbe three hundred acres less land to divide. You've had Pa on yourhands all your lives, now you will go civil, and you will go easy, oryou will get a taste of Ma. I take no more talk from anybody. Katie, go ahead with your figures. "

Kate spread her sheet on the table and glanced around the room:

"The Milton County records show sixteen hundred and fifty acresstanding in Father's name, " she said. "Of these, Mother is heir tofive hundred and fifty acres, leaving one thousand one hundred acres tobe divided among sixteen of us, which give sixty-eight andthree-fourths acres to each. This land is the finest that properfertilization and careful handling can make. Even the poorest is thecream of the country as compared with the surrounding farms. As abasis of estimate I have taken one hundred dollars an acre as a fairselling figure. Some is worth more, some less, but that is a goodaverage. This would make the share of each of us in cash that couldeasily be realized, six thousand eight hundred and seventy-fivedollars. Whatever else is in mortgages, notes, and money can becollected as it is due, deposited in some bank, and when it is all in, divided equally among us, after deducting Mother's third. Now this isthe law, and those are the figures, but I shall venture to say thatnone of us feel RIGHT about it, or ever will. "

An emphatic murmur of approval ran among the boys, Mary and Nancy Ellenstoutly declared that they did. 

"Oh, no, you don't!" said Kate. "If God made any woman of you so thatshe feels right and clean in her conscience about this deal, he madeher WRONG, and that is a thing that has not yet been proven of God. AsI see it, here is the boys' side: from childhood they were told, bribed, and urged to miss holidays, work all week, and often on Sunday, to push and slave on the promise of this land at twenty-one. They allgot the land and money to stock it and build homes. They were told itwas theirs, required to pay the taxes on it, and also to labour at anytime and without wages for Father. Not one of the boys but has doneseveral hundred dollars' worth of work on Father's farm for nothing, tokeep him satisfied and to insure getting his deed. All these years, each man has paid his taxes, put thousands in improvements, inrebuilding homes and barns, fertilizing, and developing his land. Eachone of these farms is worth nearly twice what it was the day it wasreceived. That the boys should lose all this is no cause for rejoicingon the part of any true woman; as a fact, no true woman would allowsuch a thing to happen--"

"Speak for yourself!" cried several of the girls at once. 

"Now right here is where we come to a perfect understanding, " saidKate. "I did say that for myself, but in the main what I say, I sayfor MOTHER. Now you will not one of you interrupt me again, or thismeeting closes, and each of you stands to lose more than two thousanddollars, which is worth being civil for, for quite a while. No more ofthat! I say any woman should be ashamed to take advantage of herbrother through an accident; and rob him of years of work and money hewas perfectly justified in thinking was his. I, for one, refuse to doit, and I want and need money probably more than any of you. To tearup these farms, to take more than half from the boys, is too much. Onthe other hand, for the girls to help earn the land, to go with noinheritance at all, is even more unfair. Now in order to arrive at acompromise that will leave each boy his farm, and give each girl thenearest possible to a fair amount, figuring in what the boys have spentin taxes and work for Father, and what each girl has LOST by not havingher money to handle all these years, it is necessary to split thedifference between the time Adam, the eldest, has had his inheritance, and Hiram, the youngest, came into possession, which by taking from andadding to, gives a fair average of fifteen years. Now Mother proposesif we will enter into an agreement this morning with no words and nowrangling, to settle on this basis: she will relinquish her third ofall other land, and keep only this home farm. She even will allow thefifty lying across the road to be sold and the money put into a generalfund for the share of the girls. She will turn into this fund allmoney from notes and mortgages, and the sale of all stock, implements, etc. , here, except what she wants to keep for her use, and the sum ofthree thousand dollars in cash, to provide against old age. Thisreleases quite a sum of money, and three hundred and fifty acres ofland, which she gives to the boys to start this fund as her recompensefor their work and loss through a scheme in which she had a share inthe start. She does this only on the understanding that the boys forma pool, and in some way take from what they have saved, sell timber orcattle, or borrow enough money to add to this sufficient to pay to eachgirl six thousand dollars in cash, in three months. Now get out yourpencils and figure. Start with the original number of acres at fiftydollars an acre which is what it cost Father on an average. Balanceagainst each other what the boys have lost in tax and work, and thegirls have lost in not having their money to handle, and cross it off. Then figure, not on a basis of what the boys have made this land worth, but on what it cost Father's estate to buy, build on, and stock eachfarm. Strike the fifteen-year average on prices and profits. Figurethat the girls get all their money practically immediately, to pay forthe time they have been out of it; while each boy assumes an equalshare of the indebtedness required to finish out the six thousand, after Mother has turned in what she is willing to, if this is settledHERE AND NOW. "

"Then I understand, " said Mary, "that if we take under the law, each ofus is entitled to sixty-eight and three quarter acres; and if we takeunder Mother's proposition we are entitled to eighty-seven and a halfacres. "

"No, no, E. A. , " said Kate, the old nickname for "Exceptional Ability"slipping out before she thought. "No, no! Not so! You takesixty-eight and three quarters under the law. Mother's proposition ismade ONLY to the boys, and only on condition that they settle here andnow; because she feels responsible to them for her share in rearingthem and starting them out as she did. By accepting her proposition youlose eight hundred and seventy-five dollars, approximately. The boyslose on the same basis, figuring at fifty dollars and acre, sixthousand five hundred and sixty-two dollars and fifty cents, plus theirwork and taxes, and minus what Mother will turn in, which will beabout, let me see--It will take a pool of fifty-four thousand dollarsto pay each of us six thousand. If Mother raises thirty-five thousand, plus sale money and notes, it will leave about nineteen thousand forthe boys, which will divide up at nearly two thousand five hundred forthem to lose, as against less than a thousand for us. That should beenough to square matters with any right-minded woman, even in ourpositions. It will give us that much cash in hand, it will leave theboys, some of the younger ones, in debt for years, if they hold theirland. What more do you want?"

"I want the last cent that is coming to me, " said Mary. 

"I thought you would, " said Kate. "Yet you have the best home, and themost money, of any of the girls living on farms. I settle under thisproposition, because it is fair and just, and what Mother wants done. If she feels that this is defrauding the girls any, she can arrange toleave what she has to us at her death, which would more than squarematters in our favour--"

"You hold on there, Katie, " said Mrs. Bates. "You're going too fast!I'll get what's coming to me, and hang on to it awhile, before I decidewhich way the cat jumps. I reckon you'll all admit that in motheringthe sixteen of you, doing my share indoors and out, and living with PAfor all these years, I've earned it. I'll not tie myself up in any way. I'll do just what I please with mine. Figure in all I've told you to;for the rest--let be!"

"I beg your pardon, " said Kate. "You're right, of course. I'll signthis, and I shall expect every sister I have to do the same, quicklyand cheerfully, as the best way out of a bad business that has hurt allof us for years, and then I shall expect the boys to follow like men. It's the fairest, decentest thing we can do, let's get it over. "

Kate picked up the pen, handed it to her mother, signed afterwardherself, and then carried it to each of her sisters, leaving NancyEllen and Mary until last. All of them signed up to Nancy Ellen. Shehesitated, and she whispered to Kate: "Did Robert--?" Kate nodded. Nancy Ellen thought deeply a minute and then said slowly: "I guess itis the quickest and best we can do. " So she signed. Mary hesitatedlonger, but finally added her name. Kate passed on to the boys, beginning with Adam. Slowly he wrote his name, and as he handed backthe paper he said: "Thank you, Kate, I believe it's the sanest thingwe can do. I can make it easier than the younger boys. "

"Then HELP them, " said Kate tersely, passing on. 

Each boy signed in turn, all of them pleased with the chance. It wasso much better than they had hoped, that it was a great relief, whichmost of them admitted; so they followed Adam's example in thankingKate, for all of them knew that in her brain had originated the scheme, which seemed to make the best of their troubles. 

Then they sat closer and talked things over calmly and dispassionately. It was agreed that Adam and his mother should drive to Hartley thefollowing afternoon and arrange for him to take out papers ofadministration for her, and start the adjustment of affairs. They allwent home thinking more of each other, and Kate especially, than everbefore. Mrs. Bates got dinner while Kate and Nancy Ellen went to workon the cool gray dress, so that it would be ready for the nextafternoon. While her mother was away Kate cleaned the spare bedroomand moved her mother's possessions into it. She made it as convenientand comfortable and as pretty as she could, but the house was bare toausterity, so that her attempt at prettifying was rather a failure. Then she opened the closed room and cleaned it, after studying it mostcarefully as it stood. The longer she worked, the stronger became aconviction that was slowly working its way into her brain. When shecould do no more she packed her telescope, installed Sally Whistler inher father's room, and rode to Hartley with a neighbour. From thereshe took the Wednesday hack for Walden. 

CHAPTER XVIII

KATE TAKES THE BIT IN HER TEETH

THE hackman was obliging, for after delivering the mail and someparcels, he took Kate to her home. While she waited for him, shewalked the ravine bank planning about the mill which was now so surethat she might almost begin work. Surely she might as soon as shefinished figuring, for she had visited the Court House in Hartley andfound that George's deeds were legal, and in proper shape. Her mindwas filled with plans which this time must succeed. 

As she approached the house she could see the children playing in theyard. It was the first time she ever had been away from them; shewondered if they had missed her. She was amazed to find that they werevery decidedly disappointed to see her; but a few pertinent questionsdeveloped the reason. Their grandmother had come with her sister; shehad spent her time teaching them that their mother was cold, and hard, and abused them, by not treating them as other children were treated. So far as Kate could see they had broken every rule she had ever laiddown for them: eaten until their stomachs were out of order, andplayed in their better clothing, until it never would be nice again, while Polly shouted at her approach: "Give ME the oranges and candy. I want to divide them. "

"Silly, " said Kate. "This is too soon. I've no money yet, it will bea long time before I get any; but you shall each have an orange, somecandy, and new clothing when I do. Now run see what big fish you cancatch. "

Satisfied, the children obeyed and ran to the creek. Aunt Ollie, worried and angered, told Adam to tell his father that Mother was homeand for him to come and take her and grandmother to Walden at once. She had not been able to keep Mrs. Holt from one steady round ofmischief; but she argued that her sister could do less, with her onguard, than alone, so she had stayed and done her best; but she knewhow Kate would be annoyed, so she believed the best course was to leaveas quickly as possible. Kate walked into the house, spoke to bothwomen, and went to her room to change her clothing. Before she hadfinished, she heard George's voice in the house demanding: "Where'sour millionaire lady? I want a look at her. "

Kate was very tired, slowly relaxing from intense nerve strain, she washolding herself in check about the children. She took a tighter grip, and vowed she would not give Mrs. Holt the satisfaction of seeing herdisturbed and provoked, if she killed herself in the effort atself-control. She stepped toward the door. 

"Here, " she called in a clear voice, the tone of which brought Georgeswiftly. 

"What was he worth, anyway?" he shouted. 

"Oh, millions and millions, " said Kate, sweetly, "at least I THINK so. It was scarcely a time to discuss finances, in the face of thathorrible accident. "

George laughed. "Oh, you're a good one!" he cried. "Think you cankeep a thing like that still? The cats, and the dogs, and the chickensof the whole county know about the deeds the old Land King had made forhis sons; and how he got left on it. Served him right, too! We couldhere Andrew swear, and see Adam beat his horse, clear over here!That's right! Go ahead! Put on airs! Tell us something we don't KNOW, will you? Maybe you think I wasn't hanging pretty close around thatneighbourhood, myself!"

"Spying?" cried Kate. 

"Looking for timber, " he sneered. "And never in all my life have Iseen anything to beat it. Sixteen hundred and fifty acres of the bestland in the world. Your share of land and money together will be everycent of twelve thousand. Oh, I guess I know what you've got up yoursleeve, my lady. Come on, shell out! Let's all go celebrate. Whatdid you bring the children?"

Kate was rapidly losing patience in spite of her resolves. 

"Myself, " she said. "From their appearance and actions, goodness knowsthey needed me. I have been to my father's funeral, George; not to acircus. "

"Humph!" said George. "And home for the first time in seven years. You needn't tell me it wasn't the biggest picnic you ever had! Andsay, about those deeds burning up--wasn't that too grand?"

"Even if my father burned with them?" she asked. "George, you make mecompletely disgusted. "

"Big hypocrite!" he scoffed. "You know you're tickled silly. Why, youwill get ten times as much as you would if those deeds hadn't burned. I know what that estate amounts to. I know what that land is worth. I'll see that you get your share to the last penny that can be wrungout of it. You bet I will! Things are coming our way at last. Now wecan build the mill, and do everything we planned. I don't know as wewill build a mill. With your fifteen thousand we could start a store inHartley, and do bigger things. "

"The thing for you to do right now is to hitch up and take Aunt Ollieand your mother home, " said Kate. "I'll talk to you after supper andtell you all there is to know. I'm dusty and tired now. "

"Well, you needn't try to fix up any shenanigan for me, " he said. "Iknow to within five hundred dollars of what your share of that estateis worth, and I'll see that you get it. "

"No one has even remotely suggested that I shouldn't have my share ofthat estate, " said Kate. 

While he was gone, Kate thought intently as she went about her work. She saw exactly what her position was, and what she had to do. Theirtalk would be disagreeable, but the matter had to gone into and gottenover. She let George talk as he would while she finished supper andthey ate. When he went for his evening work, she helped the childrenscale their fish for breakfast and as they worked she talked to them, sanely, sensibly, explaining what she could, avoiding what she couldnot. She put them to bed, her heart almost sickened at what they hadbeen taught and told. Kate was in no very propitious mood for herinterview with George. As she sat on the front porch waiting for him, she was wishing with all her heart that she was back home with thechildren, to remain forever. That, of course, was out of the question, but she wished it. She had been so glad to be with her mother again, to be of service, to hear a word of approval now and then. She must beworthy of her mother's opinion, she thought, just as George stepped onthe porch, sat on the top step, leaned against a pillar, and said:"Now go on, tell me all about it. "

Kate thought intently a second. Instead of beginning with leavingFriday morning: "I was at the Court House in Hartley this morning, "she said. 

"You needn't have done that, " he scoffed. "I spent most of the daythere Monday. You bet folks shelled out the books when I told them whoI was, and what I was after. I must say you folks have some littlereason to be high and mighty. You sure have got the dough. No wonderthe old man hung on to his deeds himself. He wasn't so FAR from aKing, all right, all right. "

"You mean you left your work Monday, and went to the Court House inHartley and told who you were, and spent the day nosing into myfather's affairs, before his SONS had done anything, or you had anyidea WHAT was to be done?" she demanded. 

"Oh, you needn't get so high and mighty, " he said. "I propose to knowjust where I am, about this. I propose to have just what is coming tome--to you, to the last penny, and no Bates man will manage the affair, either. "

Suddenly Kate leaned forward. 

"I foresee that you've fixed yourself up for a big disappointment, " shesaid. "My mother and her eldest son will settle my father's estate;and when it is settled I shall have exactly what the other girls have. Then if I still think it is wise, I shall at once go to work buildingthe mill. Everything must be shaved to the last cent, must be donewith the closest economy, I MUST come out of this with enough left toprovide us a comfortable home. "

"Do that from the first profits of the mill, " he suggested. 

"I'm no good at 'counting chickens before they're hatched, '" said Kate. "Besides, the first profits from the mill, as you very well know, ifyou would ever stop to think, must go to pay for logs to work on, andthere must always be a good balance for that purpose. No. I reserveenough from my money to fix the home I want; but I shall wait to do ituntil the mill is working, so I can give all my attention to it, whileyou are out looking up timber. "

"Of course I can do all of it perfectly well, " he said. "And it's aMAN'S business. You'll make me look like fifty cents if you get outamong men and go to doing a thing no woman in this part of the countryever did. Why, it will look like you didn't TRUST me!"

"I can't help how it will look, " said Kate. "This is my last and onlydollar; if I lose it, I am out for life; I shall take no risk. I've noconfidence in your business ability, and you know it. It need not hurtyour pride a particle to say that we are partners; that I'm going tobuild the mill, while you're going to bring in the timber. It's theonly way I shall touch the proposition. I will give you two hundreddollars for the deed and abstract of the ravine. I'll give your mothereight hundred for the lot and house, which is two hundred more than itis worth. I'll lay away enough to rebuild and refurnish it, and withthe remainder I'll build the dam, bridge, and mill, just as quickly asit can be done. As soon as I get my money, we'll buy timber for themill and get it sawed and dried this winter. We can be all done andrunning by next June. "

"Kate, how are you going to get all that land sold, and the money inhand to divide up that quickly? I don't think it ever can be done. Land is always sold on time, you know, " he said. 

Kate drew a deep breath. "THIS land isn't going to be sold, " she said. "Most of the boys have owned their farms long enough to have enabledthem to buy other land, and put money in the bank. They're going toform a pool, and put in enough money to pay the girls the share theyhave agreed to take; even if they have to borrow it, as some of theyounger ones will; but the older ones will help them; so the girls areto have their money in cash, in three months. I was mighty glad of thearrangement for my part, because we can begin at once on our plans forthe mill. "

"And how much do the girls get?" he asked darkly. 

"Can't say just yet, " said Kate. "The notes and mortgages have to begone over, and the thing figured out; it will take some time. Motherand Adam began yesterday; we shall know in a few weeks. "

"Sounds to me like a cold-blooded Bates steal, " he cried. "Who figuredout what WAS a fair share for the girls; who planned that arrangement?Why didn't you insist on the thing going through court; the land belongsold, and equal divisions of all the proceeds?"

"Now if you'll agree not to say a word until I finish, I'll show youthe figures, " said Kate. "I'll tell you what the plan is, and why itwas made, and I'll tell you further that it is already recorded, and inaction. There are no minor heirs. We could make an agreement andrecord it. There was no will. Mother will administer. It's allsettled. Wait until I get the figures. "

Then slowly and clearly she went over the situation, explainingeverything in detail. When she finished he sat staring at her with asnarling face. 

"You signed that?" he demanded. "You signed that! YOU THREW AWAY ATLEAST HALF YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD! You let those lazy scoundrels ofbrothers of yours hoodwink you, and pull the wool over your eyes likethat? Are you mad? Are you stark, staring mad?"

"No, I'm quite sane, " said Kate. "It is you who are mad. You know myfigures, don't you? Those were the only ones used yesterday. Thewhole scheme was mine, with help from Mother to the extent of hergiving up everything except the home farm. "

"You crazy fool!" he cried, springing up. 

"Now stop, " said Kate. "Stop right there! I've done what I think isright, and fair, and just, and I'm happy with the results. Actdecently, I'll stay and build the mill. Say one, only one more of thenasty, insulting things in your head, and I'll go in there and wake upthe children and we will leave now and on foot. "

Confronted with Kate and her ultimatum, George arose and walked down tothe road; he began pacing back and forth in the moonlight, strugglingto regain command of himself. He had no money. He had no prospect ofany until Aunt Ollie died and left him her farm. He was, as heexpressed it, "up against it" there. Now he was "up against it" withKate. What she decided upon and proposed to do was all he could do. She might shave prices, and cut, and skimp, and haggle to buy material, and put up her building at the least possible expense. She might sitover books and figure herself blind. He would be driving over thecountry, visiting with the farmers, booming himself for a fat countyoffice maybe, eating big dinners, and being a jolly good fellowgenerally. Naturally as breathing, there came to him a scheme wherebyhe could buy at the very lowest figure he could extract; then he wouldraise the price to Kate enough to make him a comfortable income besideshis share of the business. He had not walked the road long until hisanger was all gone. 

He began planning the kind of horse he would have to drive, the buggyhe would want, and a box in it to carry a hatchet, a square, measures, an auger, other tools he would need, and by Jove! it would be a dandyidea to carry a bottle of the real thing. Many a farmer, for a goodcigar and a few swallows of the right thing, would warm up and signsuch a contract as could be got in no other manner; while he would needit on cold days himself. George stopped in the moonlight to slap hisleg and laugh over the happy thought. "By George, Georgie, my boy, " hesaid, "most days will be cold, won't they?"

He had no word to say to Kate of his change of feeling in the matter. He did not want to miss the chance of twitting her at every opportunityhe could invent with having thrown away half her inheritance; but hewas glad the whole thing was settled so quickly and easily. He was nowbusy planning how he would spend the money Kate agreed to pay him forthe ravine; but that was another rosy cloud she soon changed in colour, for she told him if he was going to be a partner he could put in whatmoney he had, as his time was no more valuable than she could make hersteaching school again--in other words, he could buy his horse and buggywith the price she paid for the location, so he was forced to agree. He was forced to do a great many things in the following months that hehated; but he had to do them or be left out of the propositionaltogether. 

Mrs. Bates and Adam administered the Bates estate promptly andefficiently. The girls had their money on time, the boys adjustedthemselves as their circumstances admitted. Mrs. Bates had to make somany trips to town, before the last paper was signed, and the lasttransfer was made, that she felt she could not go any farther, so shedid not. Nancy Ellen had reached the point where she would stop andtalk a few minutes to Kate, if she met her on the streets of Hartley, as she frequently did now; but she would not ask her to come home withher, because she would not bring herself in contact with George Holt. The day Kate went to Hartley to receive and deposit her check, andstart her bank account, her mother asked her if she had any plan as towhat she would do with her money. Kate told her in detail. Mrs. Bateslistened with grim face: "You better leave it in the bank, " she said, "and use the interest to help you live, or put it in good farmmortgages, where you can easily get ten per cent. "

Kate explained again and told how she was doing all the buying, how shewould pay all bills, and keep the books. It was no use. Mrs. Batessternly insisted that she should do no such thing. In some way shewould be defrauded. In some way she would lose the money. What shewas proposing was a man's work. Kate had most of her contracts signedand much material ordered, she could not stop. Sadly she saw hermother turn from her, declaring as she went that Kate would lose everycent she had, and when she did she need not come hanging around her. She had been warned. If she lost, she could take the consequences. For an instant Kate felt that she could not endure it then she sprangafter her mother. 

"Oh, but I won't lose!" she cried. "I'm keeping my money in my ownhands. I'm spending it myself. Please, Mother, come and see thelocation, and let me show you everything. "

"Too late now, " said Mrs. Bates grimly, "the thing is done. The timeto have told me was before you made any contracts. You're alwaystaking the bit in your teeth and going ahead. Well, go! But remember, 'as you make your bed, so you can lie. '"

"All right, " said Kate, trying to force a laugh. "Don't you worry. Next time you get into a tight place and want to borrow a few hundreds, come to me. "

Mrs. Bates laughed derisively. Kate turned away with a faint sicknessin her heart and when half an hour later she met Nancy Ellen, freshfrom an interview with her mother, she felt no better--far worse, infact--for Nancy Ellen certainly could say what was in her mind withfree and forceful directness. With deft tongue and nimble brain, sheembroidered all Mrs. Bates had said, and prophesied more evil luck inthree minutes than her mother could have thought of in a year. Kateleft them with no promise of seeing either of them again, except byaccident, her heart and brain filled with misgivings. "Must I alwayshave 'a fly in my ointment'?" she wailed to herself. "I thought thismorning this would be the happiest day of my life. I felt as if I wereflying. Ye Gods, but wings were never meant for me. Every time I takethem, down I come kerflop, mostly in a 'gulf of dark despair, ' as thehymn book says. Anyway, I'll keep my promise and give the youngsters atreat. "

So she bought each of them an orange, some candy, and goods for a newSunday outfit and comfortable school clothing. Then she took the hackfor Walden, feeling in a degree as she had the day she married GeorgeHolt. As she passed the ravine and again studied the location herspirits arose. It WAS a good scheme. It would work. She would workit. She would sell from the yards to Walden and the surroundingcountry. She would see the dealers in Hartley and talk the businessover, so she would know she was not being cheated in freight rates whenshe came to shipping. She stopped at Mrs. Holt's, laid a deed beforeher for her signature, and offered her a check for eight hundred forthe Holt house and lot, which Mrs. Holt eagerly accepted. Theyarranged to move immediately, as the children were missing school. Shehad a deed with her for the ravine, which George signed in Walden, andboth documents were acknowledged; but she would not give him the moneyuntil he had the horse and buggy he was to use, at the gate, in thespring. 

He wanted to start out buying at once, but that was going too far inthe future for Kate. While the stream was low, and the banks firm, Kate built her dam, so that it would be ready for spring, put in theabutments, and built the bridge. It was not a large dam, and not a bigbridge, but both were solid, well constructed, and would serve everypurpose. Then Kate set men hauling stone for the corner foundations. She hoped to work up such a trade and buy so much and so wisely in thesummer that she could run all winter, so she was building a real millin the Bates way, which way included letting the foundations freeze andsettle over winter. That really was an interesting and a comfortablewinter. 

Kate and George both watched the children's studies at night, workedtheir plans finer in the daytime, and lived as cheaply and carefully asthey could. Everything was going well. George was doing his best topromote the mill plan, to keep Kate satisfied at home, to steal outafter she slept, and keep himself satisfied in appetite, and some readymoney in his pockets, won at games of chance, at which he was anexpert, and at cards, which he handled like a master. 

CHAPTER XIX

"AS A MAN SOWETH"

AT THE earliest possible moment in the spring, the building of the millbegan. It was scarcely well under way when the work was stopped by aweek of heavy rains. The water filled the ravine to dangerous heightand the roaring of the dam could be heard all over town. George talkedof it incessantly. He said it was the sweetest music his ears had everheard. Kate had to confess that she like the sound herself, but shewas fearful over saying much on the subject because she was so veryanxious about the stability of the dam. There was a day or two of fineweather; then the rains began again. Kate said she had all the musicshe desired; she proposed to be safe; so she went and opened thesluiceway to reduce the pressure on the dam. The result was almostimmediate. The water gushed through, lowering the current and lesseningthe fall. George grumbled all day, threatening half a dozen times toshut the sluice; but Kate and the carpenter were against him, so hewaited until he came slipping home after midnight, his brain in amuddle from drink, smoke, and cards. As he neared the dam, he decidedthat the reason he felt so badly was because he had missed hearing itall day, but he would have it to go to sleep by. So he crossed thebridge and shut the sluice gate. Even as he was doing it the thunderpealed; lightning flashed, and high Heaven gave him warning that he wasdoing a dangerous thing; but all his life he had done what he pleased;there was no probability that he would change then. He needed the roarof the dam to quiet his nerves. 

The same roar that put him to sleep, awakened Kate. She lay wonderingat it and fearing. She raised her window to listen. The rain wasfalling in torrents, while the roar was awful, so much worse than ithad been when she fell asleep, that she had a suspicion of what mighthave caused it. She went to George's room and shook him awake. 

"Listen to the dam!" she cried. "It will go, as sure as fate. George, did you, Oh, did you, close the sluice-gate when you came home?"

He was half asleep, and too defiant from drink to take his usual course. 

"Sure!" he said. "Sweesish mushich ever hearsh. Push me shleep. "

He fell back on the pillow and went on sleeping. Kate tried again towaken him, but he struck at her savagely. She ran to her room, hurriedinto a few clothes, and getting the lantern, started toward the bridge. At the gate she stepped into water. As far as she could see above thedam the street was covered. She waded to the bridge, which was underat each end but still bare in the middle, where it was slightly higher. Kate crossed it and started down the yard toward the dam. The earthwas softer there, and she mired in places almost to her knees. At thedam, the water was tearing around each end in a mad race, carryingearth and everything before it. The mill side was lower than thestreet. The current was so broad and deep she could not see where thesluice was. She hesitated a second to try to locate it from the millbehind her; and in that instant there was a crack and a roar, a mightyrush that swept her from her feet and washed away the lantern. Nothingsaved her but the trees on the bank. She struck one, clung to it, pulled herself higher, and in the blackness gripped the tree, while sheheard the dam going gradually after the first break. 

There was no use to scream, no one could have heard her. The stormraved on; Kate clung to her tree, with each flash of lightning tryingto see the dam. At last she saw that it was not all gone. She was notmuch concerned about herself. She knew the tree would hold. Eagerlyshe strained her eyes toward the dam. She could feel the water droppinglower, while the roar subsided to a wild rush, and with flashes oflightning she could see what she thought was at least half of the damholding firm. By that time Kate began to chill. She wrapped her armsaround the tree, and pressing her cheek against the rough bark, shecried as hard as she could and did not care. God would not hear; theneighbours could not. She shook and cried until she was worn out. Bythat time the water was only a muddy flow around her ankles; if she hada light she could wade back to the bridge and reach home. But if shemissed the bridge and went into the ravine, the current would be toostrong for her. She held with one arm and tried to wipe her face withthe other hand. "What a fool to cry!" she said. "As if there were anymore water needed here!"

Then she saw a light in the house, and the figures of the children, carrying it from room to room, so she knew that one of them hadawakened for a drink, or with the storm, and they had missed her. Thenshe could see them at the front door, Adam's sturdy feet planted widelyapart, bracing him, as he held up the lamp which flickered in the wind. Then she could hear his voice shouting: "Mother!" Instantly Kateanswered. Then she was sorry she had, for both of them began to screamwildly. There was a second of that, then even the children realizedits futility. 

"She is out there in the water, WE GOT TO GET HER, " said Adam. "We gotto do it!"

He started with the light held high. The wind blew it out. They hadto go back to relight it. Kate knew they would burn their fingers, andshe prayed they would not set the house on fire. When the light showedagain, at the top of her lungs she screamed: "Adam, set the broom onfire and carry it to the end of the bridge; the water isn't deep enoughto hurt you. " She tried twice, then she saw him give Polly the lamp, and run down the hall. He came back in an instant with the broom. Polly held the lamp high, Adam went down the walk to the gate andstarted up the sidewalk. "He's using his head, " said Kate to the tree. "He's going to wait until he reaches the bridge to start his light, soit will last longer. THAT is BATES, anyway. Thank God!"

Adam scratched several matches before he got the broom well ignited, then he held it high, and by its light found the end of the bridge. Kate called to him to stop and plunging and splashing through mud andwater, she reached the bridge before the broom burned out. There sheclung to the railing she had insisted upon, and felt her way across tothe boy. His thin cotton night shirt was plastered to his sturdylittle body. As she touched him Kate lifted him in her arms, andalmost hugged the life from him. 

"You big man!" she said. "You could help Mother! Good for you!"

"Is the dam gone?" he asked. 

"Part of it, " said Kate, sliding her feet before her, as she wadedtoward Polly in the doorway. 

"Did Father shut the sluice-gate, to hear the roar?"

Kate hesitated. The shivering body in her arms felt so small to her. 

"I 'spect he did, " said Adam. "All day he was fussing after youstopped the roar. " Then he added casually: "The old fool ought-aknown better. I 'spect he was drunk again!"

"Oh, Adam!" cried Kate, setting him on the porch. "Oh, Adam! Whatmakes you say that?"

"Oh, all of them at school say that, " scoffed Adam. "Everybody knowsit but you, don't they, Polly?"

"Sure!" said Polly. "Most every night; but don't you mind, Mother, Adam and I will take care of you. "

Kate fell on her knees and gathered both of them in a crushing hug foran instant; then she helped them into to dry nightgowns and to bed. Asshe covered them she stooped and kissed each of them before she went towarm and put on dry clothes, and dry her hair. It was almost dawn whenshe walked to George Holt's door and looked in at him lying stretchedin deep sleep. 

"You may thank your God for your children, " she said. "If it hadn'tbeen for them, I know what I would have done to you. "

Then she went to her room and lay down to rest until dawn. She was upat the usual time and had breakfast ready for the children. As theywere starting to school George came into the room. 

"Mother, " said Polly, "there is a lot of folks over around the dam. What shall we tell them?"

Kate's heart stopped. She had heard that question before. 

"Tell them the truth, " said Adam scornfully, before Kate could answer. "Tell them that Mother opened the sluiceway to save the dam and Fathershut it to hear it roar, and it busted!"

"Shall I, Mother?" asked Polly. 

A slow whiteness spread over George's face; he stared down the hall tolook. 

"Tell them exactly what you please, " said Kate, "only you watchyourself like a hawk. If you tell one word not the way it was, or inany way different from what happened, I'll punish you severely. "

"May I tell them I held the lamp while Adam got you out of the water?"asked Polly. "That would be true, you know. "

George turned to listen, his face still whiter. 

"Yes, that would be true, " said Kate, "but if you tell them that, thefirst thing they will ask will be 'where was your father?' What willyou say then?"

"Why, we'll say that he was so drunk we couldn't wake him up, " saidPolly conclusively. "We pulled him, an' we shook him, an' we yelled athim. Didn't we, Adam?"

"I was not drunk!" shouted George. 

"Oh, yes, you were, " said Adam. "You smelled all sour, like it does atthe saloon door!"

George made a rush at Adam. The boy spread his feet and put up hishands, but never flinched or moved. Kate looking on felt something inher heart that never had been there before. She caught George's arm, as he reached the child. 

"You go on to school, little folks, " she said. "And for Mother's saketry not to talk at all. If people question you, tell them to askMother. I'd be so proud of you, if you would do that. "

"I WILL, if you'll hold me and kiss me again like you did last nightwhen you got out of the water, " said Polly. 

"It is a bargain, " said Kate. "How about you, Adam?"

"I will for THAT, too, " said Adam, "but I'd like awful well to tell howfast the water went, and how it poured and roared, while I held thelight, and you got across. Gee, if was awful, Mother! So black, and socrashy, and so deep. I'd LIKE to tell!"

"But you WON'T if I ask you not to?" queried Kate. 

"I will not, " said Adam. 

Kate went down on her knees again, she held out her arms and bothyoungsters rushed to her. After they were gone, she and George Holtlooked at each other an instant, then Kate turned to her work. Hefollowed: "Kate--" he began. 

"No use!" said Kate. "If you go out and look at the highest watermark, you can easily imagine what I had to face last night when I hadto cross the bridge to open the sluice-gate, or the bridge would havegone, too. If the children had not wakened with the storm, and huntedme, I'd have had to stay over there until morning, if I could haveclung to the tree that long. First they rescued me; and then theyrescued YOU, if you only but knew it. By using part of the money I hadsaved for the house, I can rebuild the dam; but I am done with you. We're partners no longer. Not with business, money, or in any otherway, will I ever trust you again. Sit down there and eat yourbreakfast, and then leave my sight. "

Instead George put on his old clothing, crossed the bridge, and workedall day with all his might trying to gather building material out ofthe water, save debris from the dam, to clear the village street. Atnoon he came over and got a drink, and a piece of bread. At night heworked until he could see no longer, and then ate some food from thecupboard and went to bed. He was up and at work before daybreak in themorning, and for two weeks he kept this up, until he had done much torepair the work of the storm. The dam he almost rebuilt himself, assoon as the water lowered to normal again. Kate knew what he wastrying to do, and knew also that in a month he had the village pityinghim, and blaming her because he was working himself to death, and shewas allowing it. 

She doggedly went on with her work; the contracts were made; she wasforced to. As the work neared completion, her faith in the enterprisegrew. She studied by the hour everything she could find pertaining tothe business. When the machinery began to arrive, George frequentlyspoke about having timber ready to begin work on, but he never reallybelieved the thing which did happen, would happen, until the first loadof logs slowly crossed the bridge and began unloading in the yards. Afew questions elicited from the driver the reply that he had sold thetimber to young Adam Bates of Bates Corners, who was out buying rightand left and paying cash on condition the seller did his owndelivering. George saw the scheme, and that it was good. Also the logswere good, while the price was less than he hoped to pay for suchtimber. His soul was filled with bitterness. The mill was his scheme. He had planned it all. Those thieving Bates had stolen his plan, andhis location, and his home, and practically separated him from his wifeand children. It was his mill, and all he was getting from it was towork with all his might, and not a decent word from morning untilnight. That day instead of working as before, he sat in the shade mostof the time, and that night instead of going to bed he went down town. 

When the mill was almost finished Kate employed two men who lived inWalden, but had been working in the Hartley mills for years. They werehonest men of much experience. Kate made the better of them foreman, and consulted with him in every step of completing the mill, andsetting up the machinery. She watched everything with sharp eyes, often making suggestions that were useful about the placing ofdifferent parts as a woman would arrange them. Some of these the menlaughed at, some they were more than glad to accept. When the enginewas set up, the big saw in place, George went to Kate. 

"See here!" he said roughly. "I know I was wrong about thesluice-gate. I was a fool to shut it with the water that high, butI've learned my lesson; I'll never touch it again; I've worked like adog for weeks to pay for it; now where do I come in? What's my job, howmuch is my share of the money, and when do I get it?"

"The trouble with you, George, is that you have to learn a new lessonabout every thing you attempt. You can't carry a lesson about onething in your mind, and apply it to the next thing that comes up. Iknow you have worked, and I know why. It is fair that you should havesomething, but I can't say what, just now. Having to rebuild the dam, and with a number of incidentals that have come up, in spite of thebest figuring I could do, I have been forced to use my money saved forrebuilding the house; and even with that, I am coming out a hundred ortwo short. I'm strapped; and until money begins to come in I have nonemyself. The first must go toward paying the men's wages, the next fortimber. If Jim Milton can find work for you, go to work at the mill, and when we get started I'll pay you what is fair and just, you maydepend on that. If he hasn't work for you, you'll have to find a jobat something else. "

"Do you mean that?" he asked wonderingly. 

"I mean it, " said Kate. 

"After stealing my plan, and getting my land for nothing, you'd throwme out entirely?" he demanded. 

"You entreated me to put all I had into your plan, you told merepeatedly the ravine was worth nothing, you were not even keeping upthe taxes on it until I came and urged you to, the dam is used merelyfor water, the engine furnishes the real power, and if you are thrownout, you have thrown yourself out. You have had every chance. "

"You are going to keep your nephew on the buying job?" he asked

"I am, " said Kate. "You can have no job that will give you a chance toinvolve me financially. "

"Then give me Milton's place. It's so easy a baby could do it, and thewages you have promised him are scandalous, " said George. 

Kate laughed. "Oh, George, " she said, "you can't mean that! Of allyour hare-brained ideas, that you could operate that saw, is thewildest. Oh course you could start the engine, and set the sawrunning--I could myself; but to regulate its speed, to control it withjudgment, you could no more do it than Polly. As for wages, Milton isworking for less than he got in Hartley, because he can be at home, andsave his hack fare, as you know. "

George went over to Jim Milton, and after doing all he could see to doand ordering Milton to do several things he thought might be done, hesaid casually: "Of course I am BOSS around this shack, but this is newto me. You fellows will have to tell me what to do until I get mybearings. As soon as we get to running, I'll be yard-master, andmanage the selling and shipping. I'm good at figures, and that wouldbe the best place for me. "

"You'll have to settle with Mrs. Holt about that, " said Jim Milton. 

"Of course, " said George. "Isn't she a wonder? With my help, we'llsoon wipe the Hartley mills off the map, and be selling till GrandRapids will get her eye peeled. With you to run the machinery, me tomanage the sales, and her to keep the books, we got a combination tobeat the world. "

"In the meantime, " said Jim Milton dryly, "you might take that scoopshovel and clean the shavings and blocks off this floor. Leave me somebefore the engine to start the first fire, and shovel the rest intothat bin there where it's handy. It isn't safe to start with so muchloose, dry stuff lying around. "

George went to work with the scoop shovel, but he watched everymovement Jim Milton made about the engine and machinery. Often hedropped the shovel and stood studying things out for himself, andasking questions. Not being sure of his position, Jim Milton answeredhim patiently, and showed him all he wanted to know; but he constantlycautioned him not to touch anything, or try to start the machineryhimself, as he might lose control of the gauge and break the saw, orlet the power run away with him. George scoffed at the idea of dangerand laughed at the simplicity of the engine and machinery. There waslittle for him to do. He hated to be seen cleaning up the debris; menwho stopped in passing kept telling what a fine fellow young Bates was, what good timber he was sending in. Several of them told Georgefrankly they thought that was to be his job. He was so ashamed ofthat, he began instant improvisation. 

"That was the way we first planned things, " he said boastfully, "butwhen it came to working out our plans, we found I would be needed heretill I learned the business, and then I'm going on the road. I amgoing to be the salesman. To travel, dress well, eat well, flirt withthe pretty girls, and take big lumber orders will just about suitlittle old Georgie. "

"Wonder you remembered to put the orders in at all, " said Jim Miltondryly. 

George glared at him. "Well, just remember whom you take orders from, "he said, pompously. 

"I take them from Mrs. Holt, and nobody else, " said Milton, with equalassurance. "And I've yet to hear her say the first word about thiswonderful travelling proposition. She thinks she will do well to fillhome orders and ship to a couple of factories she already has contractswith. Sure you didn't dream that travelling proposition, George?"

At that instant George wished he could slay Jim Milton. All day hebrooded and grew sullen and ugly. By noon he quit working and wentdown town. By suppertime he went home to prove to his wife that he wasall right. She happened to be coming across from the mill, where shehad helped Milton lay the first fire under the boiler ready to touchoff, and had seen the first log on the set carriage. It had beenagreed that she was to come over at opening time in the morning andstart the machinery. She was a proud and eager woman when she crossedthe bridge and started down the street toward the gate. From theopposite direction came George, so unsteady that he was running intotree boxes, then lifting his hat and apologizing to them for hisawkwardness. Kate saw at a glance that he might fall any instant. Heronly thought was to help him from the street, to where children wouldnot see him. 

She went to him and taking his arm started down the walk with him. Hetook off his hat to her also, and walked with wavering dignity, settinghis steps as if his legs were not long enough to reach the walk, sothat each step ended with a decided thump. Kate could see theneighbours watching at their windows, and her own children playing onthe roof of the woodshed. When the children saw their parents, theyboth stopped playing to stare at them. Then suddenly, shrill and high, arose Adam's childish voice:

 "Father came home the other night, Tried to blow out the 'lectric light, Blew and blew with all his might, And the blow almost killed Mother. "

Polly joined him, and they sang and shrilled, and shrieked it; theyjumped up and down and laughed and repeated it again and again. Kateguided George to his room and gave him a shove that landed him on hisbed. Then to hush the children she called them to supper. Theystopped suddenly, as soon as they entered the kitchen door, and sat, sorry and ashamed while she went around, her face white, her lipsclosed, preparing their food. George was asleep. The children atealone, as she could take no food. Later she cleaned the kitchen, putthe children to bed, and sat on the front porch looking at the mill, wondering, hoping, planning, praying unconsciously. When she went tobed at ten o'clock George was still asleep. 

He awakened shortly after, burning with heat and thirst. He arose andslipped to the back porch for a drink. Water was such an aggravation, he crossed the yard, went out the back gate, and down the alley. Whenhe came back up the street, he was pompously, maliciously, dangerouslydrunk. Either less or more would have been better. When he came insight of the mill, standing new and shining in the moonlight, he was alord of creation, ready to work creation to his will. He would go overand see if things were all right. But he did not cross the bridge, hewent down the side street, and entered the yard at the back. The doorswere closed and locked, but there was as yet no latch on the slidingwindows above the work bench. He could push them open from the ground. He leaned a board against the side of the mill, set his foot on it, andpulled himself up, so that he could climb on the bench. 

That much achieved, he looked around him. After a time his eyes grewaccustomed to the darkness, so that he could see his way plainly. Muddled half-thoughts began to filter through his brain. He rememberedhe was abused. He was out of it. He remembered that he was not thebuyer for the mill. He remembered how the men had laughed when he hadsaid that he was to be the salesman. He remembered that Milton hadsaid that he was not to touch the machinery. He at once slid from thebench and went to the boiler. He opened the door of the fire-box andsaw the kindling laid ready to light, to get up steam. He looked atthe big log on the set carriage. They had planned to start with asplurge in the morning. Kate was to open the throttle that started themachinery. He decided to show them that they were not so smart. Hewould give them a good surprise by sawing the log. That would be ajoke on them to brag about the remainder of his life. He took matchesfrom his pocket and started the fire. It seemed to his feveredimagination that it burned far too slowly. He shoved in more kindling, shavings, ends left from siding. This smothered his fire, so he madetrip after trip to the tinder box, piling in armloads of dry, inflammable stuff. 

Then suddenly the flames leaped up. He slammed shut the door andstarted toward the saw. He could not make it work. He jammed andpulled everything he could reach. Soon he realized the heat wasbecoming intense, and turned to the boiler to see that the fire-box wasred hot almost all over, white hot in places. 

"My God!" he muttered. "Too hot! Got to cool that down. "

Then he saw the tank and the dangling hose, and remembered that he hadnot filled the boiler. Taking down the hose, he opened the watercock, stuck in the nozzle, and turned on the water full force. Windows werebroken across the street. Parts of the fire-box, boiler, and fire fleweverywhere. The walls blew out, the roof lifted and came down, thefire raged among the new, dry timbers of the mill. 

When her windows blew in, Kate was thrown from her bed to the floor. She lay stunned a second, then dragged herself up to look across thestreet. There was nothing where the low white expanse of roof hadspread an hour before, while a red glare was creeping everywhere overthe ground. She ran to George's room and found it empty. She ran tothe kitchen, calling him, and found the back door standing open. Sherushed back to her room and began trying to put on her dress over hernightrobe. She could not control her shaking fingers, while at eachstep she cut her feet on broken glass. She reached the front door asthe children came screaming with fright. In turning to warn them aboutthe glass, she stumbled on the top step, pitched forward headlong, thenlay still. The neighbours carried her back to her bed, called thedoctor, and then saved all the logs in the yard they could. Thefollowing day, when the fire had burned itself out, the undertakerhunted assiduously, but nothing could be found to justify a funeral. 

CHAPTER XX

"FOR A GOOD GIRL"

FOR a week, Kate lay so dazed she did not care whether she lived ordied; then she slowly crept back to life, realizing that whether shecared or not, she must live. She was too young, too strong, to quitbecause she was soul sick; she had to go on. She had life to face forherself and her children. She wondered dully about her people, but asnone of the neighbours who had taken care of her said anythingconcerning them, she realized that they had not been there. At firstshe was almost glad. They were forthright people. They would have hadsomething to say; they would have said it tersely and to the point. 

Adam, 3d, had wound up her affairs speedily by selling the logs he hadbought for her to the Hartley mills, paying what she owed, anddepositing the remainder in the Hartley Bank to her credit; but thatremainder was less than one hundred dollars. That winter was a long, dreadful nightmare to Kate. Had it not been for Aunt Ollie, they wouldhave been hungry some of the time; they were cold most of it. Forweeks Kate thought of sending for her mother, or going to her; then asnot even a line came from any of her family, she realized that theyresented her losing that much Bates money so bitterly that they wishedto have nothing to do with her. Often she sat for hours staringstraight before her, trying to straighten out the tangle she had madeof her life. As if she had not suffered enough in the reality ofliving, she now lived over in day and night dreams, hour by hour, hertime with George Holt, and gained nothing thereby. 

All winter Kate brooded, barely managing to keep alive, and thechildren in school. As spring opened, she shook herself, arose, andwent to work. It was not planned, systematic, effective, Bates work. Piecemeal she did anything she saw needed the doing. The childrenhelped to make garden and clean the yard. Then all of them went out toAunt Ollie's and made a contract to plant and raise potatoes andvegetables on shares. They passed a neglected garden on the way, andlearning that the woman of the house was ill, Kate stopped and offeredto tend it for enough cords of windfall wood to pay her a fair price, this to be delivered in mid-summer. 

With food and fire assured, Kate ripped up some of George's clothing, washed, pressed, turned, and made Adam warm clothes for school. Sheeven achieved a dress for Polly by making a front and back from a pairof her father's trouser legs, and setting in side pieces, a yoke andsleeves from one of her old skirts. George's underclothing she cutdown for both of the children; then drew another check for taxes andsecond-hand books. While she was in Hartley in the fall paying taxes, she stopped at a dry goods store for thread, and heard a customerasking for knitted mittens, which were not in stock. After he hadgone, she arranged with the merchant for a supply of yarn which shecarried home and began to knit into mittens such as had been calledfor. She used every minute of leisure during the day, she worked hoursinto the night, and soon small sums began coming her way. When she hada supply of teamster's heavy mittens, she began on fancy coloured onesfor babies and children, sometimes crocheting, sometimes using needles. Soon she started both children on the rougher work with her. They wereglad to help for they had a lively remembrance of one winter of coldand hunger, with no Christmas. That there were many things she mighthave done that would have made more money with less exertion Kate neverseemed to realize. She did the obvious thing. Her brain power seemedto be on a level with that of Adam and Polly. 

When the children began to carry home Christmas talk, Kate opened hermouth to say the things that had been said to her as a child; thentightly closed it. She began getting up earlier, sitting up later, knitting feverishly. Luckily the merchant could sell all she couldfurnish. As the time drew nearer, she gathered from the talk of thechildren what was the deepest desire of their hearts. One day a heavywind driving ice-coated trees in the back yard broke quite a large limbfrom a cherry tree. Kate dragged it into the woodhouse to makefirewood. She leaned it against the wall to wait until the ice melted, and as it stood there in its silvery coat, she thought how like a smalltree the branch was shaped, and how pretty it looked. After thechildren had gone to school the next day she shaped it with the hatchetand saw, and fastened it in a small box. This she carried to herbedroom and locked the door. She had not much idea what she was goingto do, but she kept thinking. Soon she found enough time to wrap everybranch carefully with the red tissue paper her red knitting wool camein, and to cover the box smoothly. Then she thought of the countryChristmas trees she had seen decorated with popcorn and cranberries. She popped the corn at night and the following day made a trip up theravine, where she gathered all the bittersweet berries, swamp holly, and wild rose seed heads she could find. She strung the corn on finecotton cord putting a rose seed pod between each grain, then used thebittersweet berries to terminate the blunt ends of the branches, andclimb up the trunk. By the time she had finished this she was reallyinterested. She achieved a gold star for the top from a box lid and apiece of gilt paper Polly had carried home from school. With yarn endsand mosquito netting, she whipped up a few little mittens, stockings, and bags. She cracked nuts from their fall store and melting a littlesugar stirred in the kernels until they were covered with a sweet, white glaze. Then she made some hard candy, and some fancy cookieswith a few sticks of striped candy cut in circles and dotted on thetop. She polished red, yellow, and green apples and set them under thetree. 

When she made her final trip to Hartley before Christmas the spirit ofthe day was in the air. She breathed so much of it that she paid adollar and a half for a stout sled and ten cents for a dozen little redcandles, five each for two oranges, and fifteen each for two prettylittle books, then after long hesitation added a doll for Polly. Shefelt that she should not have done this, and said so, to herself; butknew if she had it to do over, she would do the same thing again. Sheshook her shoulders and took the first step toward regaining her oldself-confidence. 

"Pshaw! Big and strong as I am, and Adam getting such a great boy, wecan make it, " she said. Then she hurried to the hack and was drivenhome barely in time to rush her bundles into her room before school wasout. She could scarcely wait until the children were in bed to openthe parcels. The doll had to be dressed, but Kate was interested inChristmas by that time, and so contemplated the spider-waisted imagewith real affection. She never had owned a doll herself. She let theknitting go that night, and cut up an old waist to make whiteunder-clothing with touches of lace, and a pretty dress. Then Katewent to her room, tied the doll in a safe place on the tree, put on thebooks, and set the candles with pins. As she worked she kept bitingher lips, but when it was all finished she thought it was lovely, andso it was. As she set the sled in front of the tree she said: "There, little folks, I wonder what you will think of that! It's the best Ican do. I've a nice chicken to roast; now if only, if only Mother orNancy Ellen would come, or write a line, or merely send one word byTilly Nepple. "

Suddenly Kate lay down on the bed, buried her face in the pillow whileher shoulders jerked and shook in dry sobs for a long time. At last shearose, went to the kitchen, bathed her face, and banked the fires. "Isuppose it is the Bates way, " she said, "but it's a cold, hardproposition. I know what's the matter with all of them. They areafraid to come near me, or show the slightest friendliness, for fearI'll ask them to help support us. They needn't worry, we can take careof ourselves. "

She set her tree on the living room table, arranged everything to thebest advantage, laid a fire in the stove, and went to sleep Christmaseve, feeling more like herself than she had since the explosion. Christmas morning she had the house warm and the tree ready to lightwhile the children dressed. She slipped away their every-day clothingand laid out their best instead. She could hear them talking as theydressed, and knew the change of clothing had filled them with hope. She hastily lighted the tree, and was setting the table as they enteredthe dining room. 

"Merry Christmas, little people, " she cried in a voice they had notheard in a long time. They both rushed to her and Kate's heart stoodstill as they each hugged her tight, kissed her, and offered a tinypacket. From the size and feeling of these, she realized that theywere giving her the candy they had received the day before at school. Surprises were coming thick and fast with Kate. That one shook her toher foundations. They loved candy. They had so little! They hadnothing else to give. She held them an instant so tightly they weresurprised at her, then she told them to lay the packages on the livingroom table until after breakfast. Polly opened the door, and screamed. Adam ran, and then both of them stood silently before the brave littletree, flaming red, touched with white, its gold star shining. Theylooked at it, and then at each other, while Kate, watching at an angleacross the dining room, distinctly heard Polly say in an awed tone:"Adam, hadn't we better pray?"

Kate lifted herself full height, and drew a deep breath. "Well, Iguess I manage a little Christmas after this, " she said, "and maybe aFourth of July, and a birthday, and a few other things. I needn't besuch a coward. I believe I can make it. "

From that hour she began trying to think of something she could do thatwould bring returns more nearly commensurate with the time and strengthshe was spending. She felt tied to Walden because she owned the house, and could rely on working on shares with Aunt Ollie for winter food;but there was nothing she could do there and take care of the childrenthat would bring more than the most meagre living. Still they wereliving, each year more comfortably; the children were growing biggerand stronger; soon they could help at something, if only she couldthink what. The time flew, each day a repetition of yesterday'sdogged, soul-tiring grind, until some days Kate was close to despair. Each day the house grew shabbier; things wore out and could not bereplaced; poverty showed itself more plainly. So three more years oflife in Walden passed, setting their indelible mark on Kate. Time andagain she almost broke the spell that bound her, but she never quitereached the place where her thought cleared, her heart regained itscourage, her soul dared take wing, and try another flight. When shethought of it, "I don't so much mind the falling, " said Kate toherself; "but I do seem to select the hardest spots to light on. "

Kate sat on the back steps, the sun shone, her nearest neighbour wasspading an onion bed. She knew that presently she would get out therake and spade and begin another year's work; but at that minute shefelt too hopeless to move. Adam came and sat on the step beside her. She looked at him and was surprised at his size and apparent strength. Someway he gave her hope. He was a good boy, he had never done a mean, sneaking thing that she knew of. He was natural, normal, mischievous;but he had not an underhand inclination that she could discover. Hewould make a fine-looking, big man, quite as fine as any of the Batesmen; even Adam, 3d, was no handsomer than the fourth Adam would be. Hope arose in her with the cool air of spring on her cheek and its winein her nostrils. Then out of the clear sky she said it: "Adam, howlong are we going to stay in the beggar class?"

Adam jumped, and turned surprised eyes toward her. Kate was forced tojustify herself. 

"Of course we give Aunt Ollie half we raise, " she said, "but anybodywould do that. We work hard, and we live little if any better thanJasons, who have the County Trustee in three times a winter. I'm bigand strong, you're almost a man, why don't we DO something? Why don'twe have some decent clothes, some money for out work and"--Kate spokeat random--"a horse and carriage?"

"A horse and carriage?" repeated Adam, staring at her. 

"Why not?" said Kate, casually. 

"But how?" cried the amazed boy. 

"Why, earn the money, and buy it!" said Kate, impatiently. "I'm aboutfed up on earning cabbage, and potatoes, and skirmishing for wood. I'dprefer to have a dollar in my pocket, and BUY what we need. Can't youuse your brain and help me figure out a way to earn some MONEY?"

"I meant to pretty soon now, but I thought I had to go to school a fewyears yet, " he said. 

"Of course you do, " said Kate. "I must earn the money, but can't youhelp me think how?"

"Sure, " said Adam, sitting straight and seeming thoughtful, "but giveme a little time. What would you--could you, do?"

"I taught before I was married, " said Kate; "but methods of teachingchange so I'd have to have a Normal term to qualify for even thisschool. I could put you and Polly with Aunt Ollie this summer; but Iwouldn't, not if we must freeze and starve together--"

"Because of Grandma?" asked the boy. Kate nodded. 

"I borrowed money to go once, and I could again; but I have been awayfrom teaching so long, and I don't know what to do with you children. The thing I would LIKE would be to find a piece of land somewhere, witha house, any kind of one on it, and take it to rent. Land is about allI really know. Working for money would be of some interest. I am sodead tired working for potatoes. Sometimes I see them flying around inthe air at night. "

"Do you know of any place you would like?" asked Adam. 

"No, I don't, " said Kate, "but I am going to begin asking and I'm goingto keep my eyes open. I heard yesterday that Dr. James intends tobuild a new house. This house is nothing, but the lot is in theprettiest place in town. Let's sell it to him, and take the money, andbuy us some new furniture and a cow, and a team, and wagon, and abuggy, and go on a piece of land, and live like other people. Seems tome I'll die if I have to work for potatoes any longer. I'm heart sickof them. Don't say a word to anybody, but Oh, Adam, THINK! ThinkHARD! Can't you just help me THINK?"

"You are sure you want land?" asked the boy. 

"It is all I know, " said Kate. "How do you feel about it?"

"I want horses, and cows, and pigs--lots of pigs--and sheep, and lotsof white hens, " said Adam, promptly. 

"Get the spade and spade the onion bed until I think, " said Kate. "Andthat reminds me, we didn't divide the sets last fall. Somebody willhave to go after them. "

"I'll go, " said Adam, "but it's awful early. It'll snow again. Let mego after school Friday and stay over night. I'd like to go and stayover night with Aunt Ollie. Grandma can't say anything to me that I'lllisten to. You keep Polly, and let me go alone. Sure I can. "

"All right, " said Kate. "Spade the bed, and let it warm a day. It willbe good for it. But don't tell Polly you're going, or she'll want togo along. "

Until Friday night, Kate and Adam went around in such a daze of deepthought that they stumbled, and ran against each other; then came backto their affairs suddenly, looking at each other and smilingunderstandingly. After one of these encounters Kate said to the boy:"You may not arrive at anything, Adam, but I certainly can't complainthat you are not thinking. "

Adam grinned: "I'm not so sure that I haven't got it, " he said. 

"Tell me quick and let me think, too" said Kate. 

"But I can't tell you yet, " said Adam. "I have to find out somethingfirst. "

Friday evening he wanted to put off his trip until Saturday morning, soKate agreed. She was surprised when he bathed and put on his cleanshirt and trousers, but said not a word. She had made some study ofchild psychology, she thought making the trip alone was of so muchimportance to Adam that he was dressing for the occasion. She foresawextra washing, yet she said nothing to stop the lad. She wavedgood-bye to him, thinking how sturdy and good looking he was, as he ranout of the front door. Kate was beginning to be worried when Adam hadnot returned toward dusk Sunday evening, and Polly was cross andfretful. Finally they saw him coming down the ravine bank, carryinghis small bundle of sets. Kate felt a glow of relief; Polly ran tomeet him. Kate watched as they met and saw Adam take Polly's hand. 

"If only they looked as much alike as some twins do, I'd be thankful, "said Kate. 

Adam delivered the sets, said Aunt Ollie and Grandma were all right, that it was an awful long walk, and he was tired. Kate noticed thathis feet were dust covered, but his clothes were so clean she said tohim: "You didn't fish much. "

"I didn't fish any, " said Adam, "not like I always fish, " he added. 

"Had any time to THINK?" asked Kate. 

"You just bet I did, " said the boy. "I didn't waste a minute. "

"Neither did I, " said Kate. "I know exactly what the prettiest lot intown can be sold for. "

"Good!" cried Adam. "Fine!"

Monday Kate wanted to get up early and stick the sets, but Adaminsisted that Aunt Ollie said the sign would not be right untilWednesday. If they were stuck on Monday or Tuesday, they would allgrow to top. 

"My goodness! I knew that, " said Kate. "I am thinking so hard I'mlosing what little sense I had; but anyway, mere thinking is doing me aworld of good. I am beginning to feel a kind of rising joy inside, andI can't imagine anything else that makes it. "

Adam went to school, laughing. Kate did the washing and ironing, andworked in the garden getting beds ready. Tuesday she was at the sameoccupation, when about ten o'clock she dropped her spade andstraightened, a flash of perfect amazement crossing her face. She stoodimmovable save for swaying forward in an attitude of tense listening. 

"Hoo! hoo!"

Kate ran across the yard and as she turned the corner of the house shesaw a one-horse spring wagon standing before the gate, while a stiff, gaunt figure sat bolt upright on the seat, holding the lines. Kate wasat the wheel looking up with a face of delighted amazement. 

"Why, Mother!" she cried. "Why, Mother!"

"Go fetch a chair and help me down, " said Mrs. Bates, "this seat isgetting tarnation hard. "

Kate ran after a chair, and helped her mother to alight. Mrs. Batespromptly took the chair, on the sidewalk. 

"Just drop the thills, " she said. "Lead him back and slip on thehalter. It's there with his feed. "

Kate followed instructions, her heart beating wildly. Several timesshe ventured a quick glance at her mother. How she had aged! Howlined and thin she was! But Oh, how blessed good it was to see her!Mrs. Bates arose and they walked into the house, where she lookedkeenly around, while her sharp eyes seemed to appraise everything asshe sat down and removed her bonnet. 

"Go fetch me a drink, " she said, "and take the horse one and then I'lltell you why I came. "

"I don't care why you came, " said Kate, "but Oh, Mother, thank God youare here!"

"Now, now, don't get het up!" cautioned Mrs. Bates. "Water, I said. "

Kate hurried to obey orders; then she sank on a chair and looked at hermother. Mrs. Bates wiped her face and settled in the chair comfortably. 

"They's no use to waste words, " she said. "Katie, you're the only onein the family that has any sense, and sometimes you ain't got enoughso's you could notice it without a magnifyin' glass; but even so, you're ahead of the rest of them. Katie, I'm sick an' tired of theNeppleses and the Whistlers and being bossed by the whole endurin'Bates tribe; sick and tired of it, so I just came after you. "

"Came after me?" repeated Kate stupidly. 

"Yes, parrot, 'came after you, '" said Mrs. Bates. "I told you, you'dno great amount of sense. I'm speakin' plain, ain't I? I don't seemuch here to hold you. I want you should throw a few traps, whateveryou are beholden to, in the wagon--that's why I brought it--and come onhome and take care of me the rest of my time. It won't be so long; Iwon't interfere much, nor be much bother. I've kep' the place inorder, but I'm about fashed. I won't admit it to the rest of them; butI don't seem to mind telling you, Katie, that I am almost winded. Willyou come?"

"Of course I will, " said Kate, a tide of effulgent joy surging up inher heart until it almost choked her. "Of course I will, Mother, butmy children, won't they worry you?"

"Never having had a child about, I s'pect likely they may, " said Mrs. Bates, dryly. "Why, you little fool! I think likely it's the childrenI am pinin' for most, though I couldn't a-stood it much longer withoutYOU. Will you get ready and come with me to-day?"

"Yes, " said Kate, "if I can make it. There's very little here I carefor; I can have the second-hand man give me what he will for the rest;and I can get a good price for the lot to-day, if I say so. Dr. Jameswants it to build on. I'll go and do the very best I can, and when youdon't want me any longer, Adam will be bigger and we can look out forourselves. Yes, I'll get ready at once if you want me to. "

"Not much of a haggler, are you, Katie?" said Mrs. Bates. "Why don'tyou ask what rooms you're to have, and what I'll pay you, and how muchwork you'll have to do, and if you take charge of the farm, and how weshare up?"

Kate laughed: "Mother, " she said, "I have been going to school here, with the Master of Life for a teacher; and I've learned so many thingsthat really count, that I know now NONE of the things you mention areessential. You may keep the answers to all those questions; I don'tcare a cent about any of them. If you want me, and want the children, all those things will settle themselves as we come to them. I didn'tuse to understand you; but we got well enough acquainted at Father'sfuneral, and I do, now. Whatever you do will be fair, just, and right. I'll obey you, as I shall expect Adam and Polly to. "

"Well, for lands sakes, Katie, " said Mrs. Bates. "Life must a-beenweltin' it to you good and proper. I never expected to see you as meekas Moses. That Holt man wasn't big enough to beat you, was he?"

"The ways in which he 'beat' me no Bates would understand. I had eightyears of them, and I don't understand them yet; but I am so cooked withthem, that I shall be wild with joy if you truly mean for me to pack upand come home with you for awhile. "

"Oh, Lordy, Katie!" said Mrs. Bates. "This whipped out, take-anything-anyway style ain't becomin' to a big, fine, upstandingwoman like you. Hold up your head, child! Hold up your head, and saywhat you want, an' how you want it!"

"Honestly, Mother, I don't want a thing on earth but to go home withyou and do as you say for the next ten years, " said Kate. 

"Stiffen up!" cried Mrs. Bates. "Stiffen up!" "Don't be no brokenreed, Katie! I don't want you dependin' on ME; I came to see if youwould let ME lean on YOU the rest of the way. I wa'n't figuring thatthere was anything on this earth that could get you down; so's I wascalculatin' you'd be the very one to hold me up. Since you seem to befeeling unaccountably weak in the knees, let's see if we can brace thema little. Livin' with Pa so long must kind of given me a tendencytoward nussin' a deed. I've got one here I had executed two years ago, and I was a coming with it along about now, when 'a little bird toleme' to come to-day, so here I am. Take that, Katie. "

Mrs. Bates pulled a long sealed envelope from the front of her dressand tossed it in Kate's lap. 

"Mother, what is this?" asked Kate in a hushed voice. 

"Well, if you'd rather use your ears than your eyes, it's all the sameto me, " said Mrs. Bates. "The boys always had a mortal itchin' to gettheir fingers on the papers in the case. I can't say I don't like thedifference; and I've give you every chance, too, an you WOULDN'Tdemand, you WOULDN'T specify. Well, I'll just specify myself. I'mdead tired of the neighbours taking care of me, and all of the childrenstoppin' every time they pass, each one orderin' or insinuatin'according to their lights, as to what I should do. I've always had apurty clear idea of what I wanted to do myself. Over forty years, Isided with Pa, to keep the peace; NOW I reckon I'm free to do as Ilike. That's my side. You can tell me yours, now. "

Kate shook her head: "I have nothing to say. "

"Jest as well, " said Mrs. Bates. "Re-hashing don't do any good. Comeback, and come to-day; but stiffen up. That paper you are holding is awarrantee deed to the home two hundred to you and your children afteryou. You take possession to-day. There's money in the bank to paper, an' paint, and make any little changes you'd like, such as cuttingdoors or windows different places, floorin' the kitchen new, or thelike. Take it an' welcome. I got more 'an enough to last me all mydays; all I ask of you is my room, my food, and your company. Take thefarm, and do what you pretty please with it. "

"But, Mother!" cried Kate. "The rest of them! They'd tear me limb forlimb. I don't DARE take this. "

"Oh, don't you?" asked Mrs. Bates. "Well, I still stand for quite abit at Bates Corners, and I say you WILL take that farm, and run it asyou like. It is mine, I give it to you. We all know it wasn't yourfault you lost your money, though it was a dose it took some of us agood long time to swallow. You are the only one out of your share; yousettled things fine for the rest of them; and they all know it, andfeel it. You'll never know what you did for me the way you put methrough Pa's funeral; now if you'll just shut up, and stick that deedsomewhere it won't burn, and come home an' plant me as successfully asyou did Pa, you'll have earned all you'll get, an' something coming. Now set us out a bite to eat, and let's be off. "

Kate slowly arose and handed back the deed. 

"I'll be flying around so lively I might lose that, " she said, "you putit where you had it, till we get to Hartley, and then I'll get a placein the bank vault for it. I can't quite take this in, just yet, butyou know I'll do my best for you, Mother!"

"Tain't likely I'd be here else, " said Mrs. Bates, "and tea, Katie. Acup of good strong hot tea would fix me up about proper, right now. "

Kate went to the kitchen and began setting everything she had to eat onthe table. As she worked Polly came flying in the door crying:"Mother, who has come?" so Kate stepped toward the living room to showthe child to her grandmother and as she advanced she saw a queer thing. Adam was sitting on his grandmother's lap. Her arms were tight aroundhim, her face buried in his crisp hair, and he was patting her shoulderand telling her he would take care of her, while her voice saiddistinctly: "Of course you will, birdie!" Then the lad and the oldwoman laid their heads together and laughed almost hysterically. 

"WELL, IF THAT ISN'T QUICK WORK!" said Kate to herself. Then shepresented Polly, who followed Adam's lead in hugging the stranger firstand looking at her afterward. God bless all little children. ThenAdam ran to tell the second-hand man to come at one o'clock and Dr. James that he might have the keys at three. They ate hurriedly. Kateset out what she wished to save; the children carried things to thewagon; she packed while they ran after their books, and at threeo'clock all of them climbed into the spring wagon, and started to BatesCorners. 

Kate was the last one in. As she climbed on the seat beside her motherand took the lines, she handed Mrs. Bates a small china mug to hold forher. It was decorated with a very fat robin and on a banner floatingfrom its beak was inscribed: "For a Good Girl. "

CHAPTER XXI

LIFE'S BOOMERANG

AS THEY drove into Hartley, Mrs. Bates drew forth the deed. 

"You are right about the bank being a safe place for this, " she said. "I've had it round the house for two years, and it's a fair nervousthing to do. I wish I'd a-had sense to put it there and come after youthe day I made it. But there's no use crying over spilt milk, norfussin' with the grease spot it makes; salt it down safely now, andwhen you get it done, beings as this setting is fairly comfortable, take time to run into Harding's and pick up some Sunday-school clothesfor the children that will tally up with the rest of their relations';an' get yourself a cheap frock or two that will spruce you up a bittill you have time to decide what you really want. "

Kate passed the lines to her mother, and climbed from the wagon. Shereturned with her confidence partly restored and a new look on herface. Her mother handed her two dimes. 

"I can wait five minutes longer, " she said. "Now get two nice orangesand a dime's worth of candy. "

Kate took the money and obeyed orders. She handed the packages to hermother as she climbed into the wagon and again took the lines, headingthe horse toward the old, familiar road. Her mother twisted around onthe seat and gave each of the children an orange and a stick of candy. 

"There!" she said. "Go on and spoil yourselves past redemption. "

Kate laughed. "But, Mother, " she said, "you never did that for us. "

"Which ain't saying I never WANTED to, " said Mrs. Bates, sourly. "You're a child only once in this world; it's a little too rough tostrip childhood of everything. I ain't so certain Bates ways areright, that for the rest of my time I'm goin' to fly in the face of allcreation to prove it. If God lets me live a few years more, I want thefaces around me a little less discontenteder than those I've been usedto. If God Almighty spares me long enough, I lay out to make sure thatAdam and Polly will squeeze out a tear or two for Granny when she islaid away. "

"I think you are right, Mother, " said Kate. "It didn't cost anything, but we had a real pretty Christmas tree this year, and I believe we cando better next time. I want the children to love you, but don't BUYthem. "

"Well, I'd hardly call an orange and a stick of candy traffickin' inaffection, " said Mrs. Bates. "They'll survive it without underminin'their principles, I'll be bound, or yours either. Katie, let's make abeginning to-day. LET'S WORK WHAT IS RIGHT, AND HEALTHY, A FAIR PARTOF THE DAY, AND THEN EACH DAY, AND SUNDAY ESPECIALLY, LET'S PLAY ANDREST, JUST AS HARD AS WE WORK. IT'S BEEN ALL WORK AND NO PLAY TILLWE'VE BEEN MIGHTY 'DULL BOYS' AT OUR HOUSE; I'M FREE TO SAY THAT IHANKER FOR A CHANGE BEFORE I DIE. "

"Don't speak so often of dying, " said Kate. "You're all right. You'vebeen too much alone. You'll feel like yourself as soon as you getrested. "

"I guess I been thinking about it too much, " said Mrs. Bates. "I ain'tbeen so well as I might, an' not being used to it, it worries me some. I got to buck up. The one thing I CAN'T do is to die; but I'm mosttired enough to do it right now. I'll be glad when we get home. "

Kate drove carefully, but as fast as she dared with her load. As theyneared Bates Corners, the way became more familiar each mile. Kateforgot the children, forgot her mother, forgot ten years ofdisappointment and failure, and began a struggle to realize what washappening to her now. The lines slipped down, the horse walked slowly, the first thing she knew, big hot tears splashed on her hand. Shegathered up the lines, drew a deep breath, and glanced at her mother, meeting her eye fairly. Kate tried to smile, but her lips werequivering. 

"Glad, Katie?" asked Mrs. Bates. 

Kate nodded. 

"Me, too!" said Mrs. Bates. 

They passed the orchard. 

"There's the house, there, Polly!" cried Adam. 

"Why, Adam, how did you know the place?" asked Kate, turning. 

Adam hesitated a second. "Ain't you told us times a-plenty about thehouse and the lilac, and the snowball bush--" "Yes, and the cabbageroses, " added Polly. 

"So I have, " said Kate. "Mostly last winter when we were knitting. Yes, this will be home for all the rest of our lives. Isn't it grand?How will we ever thank Grandmother? How will we ever be good enough topay her?"

Both children thought this a hint, so with one accord they arose andfell on Mrs. Bates' back, and began to pay at once in coin of childhood. 

"There, there, " said Kate, drawing them away as she stopped the horseat the gate. "There, there, you will choke Grandmother. "

Mrs. Bates pushed Kate's arm down. 

"Mind your own business, will you?" she said. "I ain't so feeble thatI can't speak for myself awhile yet. "

In a daze Kate climbed down, and ran to bring a chair to help hermother. The children were boisterously half eating Mrs. Bates up; shehad both of them in her arms, with every outward evidence of enjoyingthe performance immensely. That was a very busy evening, for the wagonwas to be unpacked; all of them were hungry, while the stock was to befed, and the milking done. Mrs. Bates and Polly attempted supper; Kateand Adam went to the barn; but they worked very hurriedly, for Katecould see how feeble her mother had grown. 

When at last the children were bathed and in bed, Kate and her mothersat on the little front porch to smell spring a few minutes beforegoing to rest. Kate reached over and took her mother's hand. 

"There's no word I know in any language big enough to thank you forthis, Mother, " she said. "The best I can do is make each day as nearlya perfect expression of what I feel as possible. "

Mrs. Bates drew away her hand and used it to wipe her eyes; but shesaid with her usual terse perversity: "My, Kate! You're most as wordyas Agatha. I'm no glibtonguer, but I bet you ten dollars it willhustle you some to be any gladder than I am. "

Kate laughed and gave up the thanks question. 

"To-morrow we must get some onions in, " she said. "Have you made anyplans about the farm work for this year yet?"

"No, " said Mrs. Bates. "I was going to leave that till I decidedwhether I'd come after you this spring or wait until next. Since Idecided to come now, I'll just leave your farm to you. Handle it asyou please. "

"Mother, what will the other children say?" implored Kate. 

"Humph! You are about as well acquainted with them as I am. Take ashot at it yourself. If it will avoid a fuss, we might just say youhad to come to stay with me, and run the farm for me, and let them getused to your being here, and bossing things by degrees; like the manthat cut his dog's tail off an inch at a time, so it wouldn't hurt sobad. "

"But by inches, or 'at one fell swoop, ' it's going to hurt, " said Kate. 

"Sometimes it seems to me, " said Mrs. Bates, "that the more we get HURTin this world the decenter it makes us. All the boys were hurt enoughwhen Pa went, but every man of them has been a BIGGER, BETTER mansince. Instead of competing as they always did, Adam and Andrew andthe older, beforehandeder ones, took hold and helped the younger as youtold them to, and it's done the whole family a world of good. Onething is funny. To hear Mary talk now, you'd think she engineered thatplan herself. The boys are all thankful, and so are the girls. Ileave it to you. Tell them or let them guess it by degrees, it's allone to me. "

"Tell me about Nancy Ellen and Robert, " said Kate. 

"Robert stands head in Hartley. He gets bigger and broader every year. He is better looking than a man has any business to be; and I hear theHartley ladies give him plenty of encouragement in being stuck onhimself, but I think he is true to Nancy Ellen, and his heart is all inhis work. No children. That's a burning shame! Both of them feel it. In a way, and strictly between you and me, Nancy Ellen is adisappointment to me, an' I doubt if she ain't been a mite of a one tohim. He had a right to expect a good deal of Nancy Ellen. She hadsuch a good brain, and good body, and purty face. I may miss my guess, but it always strikes me that she falls SHORT of what he expected ofher. He's coined money, but she hasn't spent it in the ways he would. Likely I shouldn't say it, but he strikes me as being just a leetlemite too good for her. "

"Oh, Mother!" said Kate. 

"Now you lookey here, " said Mrs. Bates. "Suppose you was a man ofRobert's brains, and education, and professional ability, and you madeheaps of money, and no children came, and you had to see all youearned, and stood for, and did in a community spent on the SELFISHNESSof one woman. How big would you feel? What end is that for theambition and life work of a real man? How would you like it?"

"I never thought of such a thing, " said Kate. 

"Well, mark my word, you WILL think of it when you see their home, andher clothes, and see them together, " said Mrs. Bates. 

"She still loves pretty clothing so well?" asked Kate. 

"She is the best-dressed woman in the county, and the best looking, "said Mrs. Bates, "and that's all there is to her. I'm free to say withher chances, I'm ashamed of what she has, and hasn't made of herself. I'd rather stand in your shoes, than hers, this minute, Katie. "

"Does she know I'm here?" asked Kate. 

"Yes. I stopped and told her on my way out, this morning, " said Mrs. Bates. "I asked them to come out for Sunday dinner, and they arecoming. "

"Did you deliver the invitation by force?" asked Kate. 

"Now, none of your meddling, " said Mrs. Bates. "I got what I wentafter, and that was all I wanted. I've told her an' told her to cometo see you during the last three years, an' I know she WANTED to come;but she just had that stubborn Bates streak in her that wouldn't lether change, once her mind was made up. It did give us a purty severejolt, Kate, havin' all that good Bates money burn up. "

"I scarcely think it jolted any of you more than it did me, " said Katedryly. 

"No, I reckon it didn't, " said Mrs. Bates. "But they's no use haulingourselves over the coals to go into that. It's past. You went out toface life bravely enough and it throwed you a boomerang that cut acircle and brought you back where you started from. Our arrangementsfor the future are all made. Now it's up to us to live so that we getthe most out of life for us an' the children. Those are mighty nicechildren of yours, Kate. I take to that boy something amazin', and thegirl is the nicest little old lady I've seen in many a day. I think wewill like knittin' and sewin' together, to the top of our bent. "

"My, but I'm glad you like them, Mother, " said Kate. "They are allI've got to show for ten years of my life. "

"Not by a long shot, Katie, " said Mrs. Bates. "Life has made a realwoman of you. I kept watchin' you to-day comin' over; an' I wasprouder 'an Jehu of you. It's a debatable question whether you havethrown away your time and your money. I say you've got something toshow for it that I wish to God the rest of my children had. I want youshould brace your back, and stiffen your neck, and make things humhere. Get a carpenter first. Fix the house the way it will be mostconvenient and comfortable. Then paint and paper, and get what newthings you like, in reason--of course, in reason--and then I want youshould get all of us clothes so's there ain't a noticeable differencebetween us and the others when we come together here or elsewhere. Putin a telephone; they're mighty handy, and if you can scrape up aplace--I washed in Nancy Ellen's tub a few weeks ago. I never was wetall over at once before in my life, and I'm just itching to try itagain. I say, let's have it, if it knocks a fair-sized hole in afive-hundred-dollar bill. An' if we had the telephone right now, wecould call up folks an' order what we want without ever budgin' out ofour tracks. Go up ahead, Katie, I'll back you in anything you canthink of. It won't hurt my feelings a mite if you can think of one ortwo things the rest of them haven't got yet. Can't you think ofsomething that will lay the rest of them clear in the shade? I justwish you could. Now, I'm going to bed. "

Kate went with her mother, opened her bed, pulled out the pins, andbrushed her hair, drew the thin cover over her, and blew out the light. Then she went past the bed on her way to the door, and stooping, shekissed her mother for the first time since she could remember. 

Then she lighted a lamp, hunted a big sheet of wrapping paper, andsitting down beside the living room table, she drew a rough sketch ofthe house. For hours she pored over it, and when at last she went tobed, on the reverse of the sheet she had a drawing that was quite adifferent affair; yet it was the same house with very few and easilymade changes that a good contractor could accomplish in a short time. In the morning, she showed these ideas to her mother who approved allof them, but still showed disappointment visibly. 

"That's nothing but all the rest of them have, " she said. "I thoughtyou could think up some frills that would be new, and different. "

"Well, " said Kate, "would you want to go to the expense of setting up afurnace in the cellar? It would make the whole house toasty warm; itwould keep the bathroom from freezing in cold weather; and make abetter way to heat the water. "

"Now you're shouting!" cried Mrs. Bates. "That's it! But keep still. Don't you tell a soul about it, but go on and do it, Katie. Wade rightin! What else can you think of?"

"A brain specialist for you, " said Kate. "I think myself this isenough for a start; but if you insist on more, there's a gas linepassing us out there on the road; we could hitch on for a veryreasonable sum, and do away with lamps and cooking with wood. "

"Goody for you! That's it!" cried Mrs. Bates. "That's the very thing!Now brush up your hair your prettiest, and put on your new blue dress, and take the buggy, and you and Adam go see how much of this can bestarted to-day. Me and Polly will keep house. "

In a month all of these changes had been made, and were in runningorder; the painting was finished, new furniture in place, a fair startmade on the garden, while a strong, young, hired man was not far behindHiram with his plowing. Kate was so tired she almost staggered; butshe was so happy she arose each morning refreshed, and accomplishedwork enough for three average women before the day was over. Shesuggested to her mother that she use her money from the sale of theWalden home to pay for what furniture she had bought, and then none ofthe others could feel that they were entitled to any share in it, atany time. Mrs. Bates thought that a good idea, so much ill will wassaved among the children. 

They all stopped in passing; some of them had sharp words to say, whichKate instantly answered in such a way that this was seldom tried twice. In two months the place was fresh, clean, convenient, and in goodtaste. All of them had sufficient suitable clothing, while the farmwork had not been neglected enough to hurt the value of the crops. 

In the division of labour, Adam and the hired man took the barn andfield work, Mrs. Bates and Polly the house, while Kate threw all hersplendid strength wherever it was most needed. If a horse was sick, she went to the barn and doctored it. If the hay was going to get wet, she pitched hay. If the men had not time for the garden she attendedit, and hoed the potatoes. For a change, everything went right. Mrs. Bates was happier than she ever had been before, taking the greatestinterest in the children. They had lived for three years in such amanner that they would never forget it. They were old enough toappreciate what changes had come to them, and to be very keen abouttheir new home and life. Kate threw herself into the dream of her heartwith all the zest of her being. Always she had loved and wanted land. Now she had it. She knew how to handle it. She could make it pay aswell as any Bates man, for she had man strength, and all her life shehad heard men discuss, and helped men apply man methods. 

There was a strong strain of her father's spirit of driving in Kate'sblood; but her mother was so tired of it that whenever Kate had gonejust so far the older woman had merely to caution: "Now, now, Katie!"to make Kate realized what she was doing and take a slower pace. Allof them were well, happy, and working hard; but they also played atproper times, and in convenient places. Kate and her mother went withthe children when they fished in the meadow brook, or hunted wildflowers in the woods for Polly's bed in the shade of the pear treebeside the garden. There were flowers in the garden now, as well asvegetables. There was no work done on Sunday. The children alwayswent to Sunday-school and the full term of the District School at BatesCorners. They were respected, they were prosperous, they were findinga joy in life they never before had known, while life had taught themhow to appreciate its good things as they achieved them. 

The first Christmas Mrs. Bates and Kate made a Christmas tree from asmall savine in the dooryard that stood where Kate wanted to set aflowering shrub she had found in the woods. Guided by the former year, and with a few dollars they decided to spend, these women made a realChristmas tree, with gifts and ornaments, over which Mrs. Bates wasmuch more excited than the children. Indeed, such is the perversity ofchildren that Kate's eyes widened and her mouth sagged when she heardAdam say in a half-whisper to Polly: "This is mighty pretty, but gee, Polly, there'll never be another tree as pretty as ours last year!"

While Polly answered: "I was just thinking about it, Adam. Wasn't itthe grandest thing?"

The next Christmas Mrs. Bates advanced to a tree that reached theceiling, with many candles, real ornaments, and an orange, a stockingof candy and nuts, and a doll for each girl, and a knife for each boyof her grandchildren, all of whom she invited for dinner. Adam, 3d, sat at the head of the table, Mrs. Bates at the foot. The tiniest totsthat could be trusted without their parents ranged on the Dictionaryand the Bible, of which the Bates family possessed a fat edition forbirth records; no one had ever used it for any other purpose, until itserved to lift Hiram's baby, Milly, on a level with her roast turkeyand cranberry jelly. For a year before her party Mrs. Bates planned forit. The tree was beautiful, the gifts amazing, the dinner, as Katecooked and served it, a revelation, with its big centre basket of red, yellow, and green apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, and flowers. Noneof them ever had seen a table like that. Then when dinner was over, Kate sat before the fire and in her clear voice, with fine inflections, she read from the Big Book the story of the guiding star and the littlechild in the manger. Then she told stories, and they played gamesuntil four o'clock; and then Adam rolled all of the children into thebig wagon bed mounted on the sled runners, and took them home. Then hecame back and finished the day. Mrs. Bates could scarcely be persuadedto go to bed. When at last Kate went to put out her mother's light, andsee that her feet were warm and her covers tucked, she found her crying. 

"Why, Mother!" exclaimed Kate in frank dismay. "Wasn't everything allright?"

"I'm just so endurin' mad, " sobbed Mrs. Bates, "that I could a-mostscream and throw things. Here I am, closer the end of my string thananybody knows. Likely I'll not see another Christmas. I've lived themost of my life, and never knowed there was a time like that on earthto be had. There wasn't expense to it we couldn't easy have stood, always. Now, at the end of my tether, I go and do this for mygrandchildren. 'Tween their little shining faces and me, there keptcoming all day the little, sad, disappointed faces of you and NancyEllen, and Mary, and Hannah, and Adam, and Andrew, and Hiram and allthe others. Ever since he went I've thought the one thing I COULDN'TDO WAS TO DIE AND FACE ADAM BATES, but to-day I ain't felt so scared ofhim. Seems to me HE has got about as much to account for as I have. "

Kate stood breathlessly still, looking at her mother. Mrs. Bates wipedher eyes. "I ain't so mortal certain, " she said, "that I don't open upon him and take the first word. I think likely I been defrauded out ofmore that really counts in this world, than he has. Ain't that littleroly-poly of Hannah's too sweet? Seems like I'll hardly quit feelingher little sticky hands and her little hot mouth on my face when I die;and as she went out she whispered in my ear: 'Do it again, Grandma, Oh, please do it again!' an it's more'n likely I'll not get the chance, no matter how willing I am. Kate, I am going to leave you what of mymoney is left--I haven't spent so much--and while you live here, I wisheach year you would have this same kind of a party and pay for it outof that money, and call it 'Grandmother's Party. ' Will you?"

"I surely will, " said Kate. "And hadn't I better have ALL of them, andput some little thing from you on the tree for them? You know how Hiramalways was wild for cuff buttons, and Mary could talk by the hour abouta handkerchief with lace on it, and Andrew never yet has got that copyof 'Aesop's Fables, ' he always wanted. Shall I?"

"Yes, " said Mrs. Bates. "Oh, yes, and when you do it, Katie, if theydon't chain me pretty close in on the other side, I think likely I'llbe sticking around as near as I can get to you. "

Kate slipped a hot brick rolled in flannel to the cold old feet, andturning out the light she sat beside the bed and stroked the tired headuntil easy breathing told her that her mother was sound asleep. Thenshe went back to the fireplace and sitting in the red glow she toldAdam, 3d, PART of what her mother had said. Long after he was gone, shesat gazing into the slowly graying coals, her mind busy with what shehad NOT told. 

That spring was difficult for Kate. Day after day she saw her mothergrowing older, feebler, and frailer. And as the body failed, up flamedthe wings of the spirit, carrying her on and on, each day keeping heralive, when Kate did not see how it could be done. With all the forceshe could gather, each day Mrs. Bates struggled to keep going, deniedthat she felt badly, drove herself to try to help about the house andgarden. Kate warned the remainder of the family what they might expectat any hour; but when they began coming in oftener, bringing littlegifts and being unusually kind, Mrs. Bates endured a few of the visitsin silence, then she turned to Kate and said after her latest callers:"I wonder what in the name of all possessed ails the folks? Are theyjust itching to start my funeral? Can't they stay away until you sendthem word that the breath's out of my body?"

"Mother, you shock me, " said Kate. "They come because they LOVE you. They try to tell you so with the little things they bring. Most peoplewould think they were neglected, if their children did NOT come to seethem when they were not so well. "

"Not so well!" cried Mrs. Bates. "Folly! I am as well as I ever was. They needn't come snooping around, trying to make me think I'm not. Ifthey'd a-done it all their lives, well and good; it's no time for themto begin being cotton-mouthed now. "

"Mother, " said Kate gently, "haven't YOU changed, yourself, aboutthings like Christmas, for example? Maybe your children are changing, too. Maybe they feel that they have missed something they'd like tohave from you, and give back to you, before it's too late. Justmaybe, " said Kate. 

Mrs. Bates sat bolt upright still, but her flashing eyes softened. 

"I hadn't just thought of that, " she said. "I think it's more thanlikely. Well, if it's THAT way, I s'pose I've got to button up my lipand stand it; but it's about more than I can go, when I know that thefirst time I lose my grip I'll land smash up against Adam Bates and mysettlement with him. "

"Mother, " said Kate still more gently, "I thought we had it settled atthe time Father went that each of you would be accountable to GOD, notto each other. I am a wanderer in darkness myself, when it come totalking about God, but this I know, He is SOMEWHERE and He is REDEEMINGlove. If Father has been in the light of His love all these years, hemust have changed more, far more than you have. He'll understand nowhow wrong he was to force ways on you he knew you didn't think right;he'll have more to account to you for than you ever will to him; andremember this only, neither of you is accountable, save to your God. "

Mrs. Bates arose and walked to the door, drawn to full height, her headvery erect. The world was at bloom-time. The evening air was heavilysweet with lilacs, and the widely branching, old apple trees of thedooryard with loaded with flowers. She stepped outside. Katefollowed. Her mother went down the steps and down the walk to thegate. Kate kept beside her, in reach, yet not touching her. At thegate she gripped the pickets to steady herself as she stared long andunflinchingly at the red setting sun dropping behind a white wall ofbloom. Then she slowly turned, life's greatest tragedy lining herface, her breath coming in short gasps. She spread her hands at eachside, as if to balance herself, her passing soul in her eyes, andlooked at Kate. 

"Katherine Eleanor, " she said slowly and distinctly, "I'm going now. Ican't fight it off any longer. I confess myself. I burned thosedeeds. Every one of them. Pa got himself afire, but he'd thrown THEMout of it. It was my chance. I took it. Are you going to tell them?"

Kate was standing as tall and straight as her mother, her handsextended the same, but not touching her. 

"No, " she said. "You were an instrument in the hands of God to right agreat wrong. No! I shall never tell a soul while I live. In a minuteGod himself will tell you that you did what He willed you should. "

"Well, we will see about that right now, " said Mrs. Bates, lifting herface to the sky. "Into thy hands, O Lord, into thy hands!"

Then she closed her eyes and ceased to breathe. Kate took her into herarms and carried her to her bed. 

CHAPTER XXII

SOMEWHAT OF POLLY

IF THE spirit of Mrs. Bates hovered among the bloom-whitened appletrees as her mortal remains were carried past the lilacs and cabbagerose bushes, through a rain of drifting petals, she must have beenconvinced that time had wrought one great change in the hearts of herchildren. They had all learned to weep; while if the tears they shedwere a criterion of their feelings for her, surely her soul must havebeen satisfied. They laid her away with simple ceremony and then allof them went to their homes, except Nancy Ellen and Robert, who stoppedin passing to learn if there was anything they could do for Kate. Shewas grieving too deeply for many words; none of them would everunderstand the deep bond of sympathy and companionship that had grownto exist between her and her mother. She stopped at the front porchand sat down, feeling unable to enter the house with Nancy Ellen, whowas deeply concerned over the lack of taste displayed in Agatha's newspring hat. When Kate could endure it no longer she interrupted: "Whydidn't all of them come?"

"What for?" asked Nancy Ellen. 

"They had a right to know what Mother had done, " said Kate in a lowvoice. 

"But what was the use?" asked Nancy Ellen. "Adam had been managing theadministrator business for Mother and paying her taxes with his, ofcourse when she made a deed to you, and had it recorded, they told him. All of us knew it for two years before she went after you. And the newfurniture was bought with your money, so it's yours; what was there tohave a meeting about?"

"Mother didn't understand that you children knew, " said Kate. 

"Sometimes I thought there were a lot of things Mother didn'tunderstand, " said Nancy Ellen, "and sometimes I thought she understoodso much more than any of the rest of us, that all of us would have hada big surprise if we could have seen her brain. "

"Yes, I believe we would, " said Kate. "Do you mind telling me how theboys and girls feel about this?"

Nancy Ellen laughed shortly. "Well, the boys feel that you negotiatedsuch a fine settlement of Father's affairs for them, that they owe thisto you. The girls were pretty sore at first, and some of them arenursing their wrath yet; but there wasn't a thing on earth they coulddo. All of them were perfectly willing that you should havesomething--after the fire--of course, most of them thought Mother wenttoo far. "

"I think so myself, " said Kate. "But she never came near me, or wroteme, or sent me even one word, until the day she came after me. I hadnothing to do with it--"

"All of us know that, Kate, " said Nancy Ellen. "You needn't worry. We're all used to it, and we're all at the place where we have nothingto say. "

To escape grieving for her mother, Kate worked that summer as neverbefore. Adam was growing big enough and strong enough to be a realhelp. He was interested in all they did, always after the reason, andtrying to think of a better way. Kate secured the best agriculturalpaper for him and they read it nights together. They kept an accountbook, and set down all they spent, and balanced against it all theyearned, putting the difference, which was often more than they hopedfor, in the bank. 

So the years ran. As the children grew older, Polly discovered thatthe nicest boy in school lived across the road half a mile north ofthem; while Adam, after a real struggle in his loyal twin soul, aidedby the fact that Henry Peters usually had divided his apples with Pollybefore Adam reached her, discovered that Milly York, across the road, half a mile south, liked his apples best, and was as nice a girl asPolly ever dared to be. In a dazed way, Kate learned these things fromtheir after-school and Sunday talk, saw that they nearly reached hershoulder, and realized that they were sixteen. So quickly the timegoes, when people are busy, happy, and working together. At least Kateand Adam were happy, for they were always working together. By tacitagreement, they left Polly the easy housework, and went themselves tothe fields to wrestle with the rugged work of a farm. They thoughtthey were shielding Polly, teaching her a woman's real work, and beingkind to her. 

Polly thought they were together because they liked to be; doing thefarm work because it suited them better; while she had known frombabyhood that for some reason her mother did not care for her as shedid for Adam. She thought at first that it was because Adam was a boy. Later, when she noticed her mother watching her every time she startedto speak, and interrupting with the never-failing caution: "Now becareful! THINK before you speak! Are you SURE?" she wondered why thisshould happen to her always, to Adam never. She asked Adam about it, but Adam did not know. It never occurred to Polly to ask her mother, while Kate was so uneasy it never occurred to her that the child wouldnotice or what she would think. The first time Polly deviated slightlyfrom the truth, she and Kate had a very terrible time. Kate felt fullyjustified; the child astonished and abused. 

Polly arrived at the solution of her problem slowly. As she grewolder, she saw that her mother, who always was charitable to everyoneelse, was repelled by her grandmother, while she loved Aunt Ollie. Older still, Polly realized that SHE was a reproduction of hergrandmother. She had only to look at her to see this; her mother didnot like her grandmother, maybe Mother did not like her as well asAdam, because she resembled her grandmother. By the time she wassixteen, Polly had arrived at a solution that satisfied her as to whyher mother liked Adam better, and always left her alone in the house toendless cooking, dishwashing, sweeping, dusting, washing, and ironing, while she hoed potatoes, pitched hay, or sheared sheep. Polly thoughtthe nicer way would have been to do the housework together and then goto the fields together; but she was a good soul, so she worked aloneand brooded in silence, and watched up the road for a glimpse of HenryPeters, who liked to hear her talk, and to whom it mattered not a mitethat her hair was lustreless, her eyes steel coloured, and her noselike that of a woman he never had seen. In her way, Polly admired hermother, loved her, and worked until she was almost dropping for Kate'sscant, infrequent words of praise. 

So Polly had to be content in the kitchen. One day, having finishedher work two hours before dinnertime, she sauntered to the front gate. How strange that Henry Peters should be at the end of the field joiningtheir land. When he waved, she waved back. When he climbed the fenceshe opened the gate. They met halfway, under the bloomful shade of ared haw. Henry wondered who two men he had seen leaving the Holt gatewere, and what they wanted, but he was too polite to ask. He merelyhoped they did not annoy her. Oh, no, they were only some men to seeMother about some business, but it was most kind of him to let her knowhe was looking out for her. She got so lonely; Mother never would lether go to the field with her. Of course not! The field was no placefor such a pretty girl; there was enough work in the house for her. His sister should not work in the field, if he had a sister, and Pollyshould not work there, if she belonged to him; No-sir-ee! Polly lookedat Henry with shining, young girl eyes, and when he said she waspretty, her blue-gray eyes softened, her cheeks pinked up, the sun putlight in her hair nature had failed to, and lo and behold, the marvelwas wrought--plain little Polly became a thing of beauty. She knew itinstantly, because she saw herself in Henry Peters' eyes. And Henrywas so amazed when this wonderful transformation took place in littlePolly, right there under the red haw tree, that his own eyes grew bigand tender, his cheeks flooded with red blood, his heart shook him, andhe drew to full height, and became possessed of an overwhelming desireto dance before Polly, and sing to her. He grew so splendid, Pollycaught her breath, and then she smiled on him a very wondering smile, over the great discovery; and Henry grew so bewildered he forgot eitherto dance or sing as a preliminary. He merely, just merely, reached outand gathered Polly in his arms, and held her against him, and stareddown at her wonderful beauty opening right out under his eyes. 

"Little Beautiful!" said Henry Peters in a hushed, choking voice, "Little Beautiful!"

Polly looked up at him. She was every bit as beautiful as he thoughther, while he was so beautiful to Polly that she gasped for breath. How did he happen to look as he did, right under the red haw, in broaddaylight? He had been hers, of course, ever since, shy and fearful, she had first entered Bates Corners school, and found courage in hisbroad, encouraging smile. Now she smiled on him, the smile ofpossession that was in her heart. Henry instantly knew she always hadbelonged to him, so he grasped her closer, and bent his head. 

When Henry went back to the plow, and Polly ran down the road, with thejoy of the world surging in her heart and brain, she knew that she wasgoing to have to account to her tired, busy mother for being half anhour late with dinner; and he knew he was going to have to explain toan equally tired father why he was four furrows short of where heshould be. 

He came to book first, and told the truth. He had seen some men go tothe Holts'. Polly was his little chum; and she was always alone allsummer, so he just walked that way to be sure she was safe. His fatherlooked at him quizzically. 

"So THAT'S the way the wind blows!" he said. "Well, I don't know whereyou could find a nicer little girl or a better worker. I'd alwayshoped you'd take to Milly York; but Polly is better; she can work threeof Milly down. Awful plain, though!"

This sacrilege came while Henry's lips were tingling with their firstkiss, and his heart was drunken with the red wine of innocent younglove. 

"Why, Dad, you're crazy!" he cried. "There isn't another girl in thewhole world as pretty and sweet as Polly. Milly York? She can't holda candle to Polly! Besides, she's been Adam's as long as Polly hasbeen mine!"

"God bless my soul!" cried Mr. Peters. "How these youngsters to runaway with us. And are you the most beautiful young man at BatesCorners, Henry?"

"I'm beautiful enough that Polly will put her arms around my neck andkiss me, anyway, " blurted Henry. "So you and Ma can get ready for awedding as soon as Polly says the word. I'm ready, right now. "

"So am I, " said Mr. Peters, "and from the way Ma complains about thework I and you boys make her, I don't think she will object to a littlehelp. Polly is a good, steady worker. "

Polly ran, but she simply could not light the fire, set the table, andget things cooked on time, while everything she touched seemed to spillor slip. She could not think what, or how, to do the usual for thevery good reason that Henry Peters was a Prince, and a Knight, and aLover, and a Sweetheart, and her Man; she had just agreed to all thiswith her soul, less than an hour ago under the red haw. No wonder shewas late, no wonder she spilled and smeared; and red of face sheblundered and bungled, for the first time in her life. Then in cameKate. She must lose no time, the corn must be finished before itrained. She must hurry--for the first time dinner was late, whilePolly was messing like a perfect little fool. 

Kate stepped in and began to right things with practised hand. Disastercame when she saw Polly, at the well, take an instant from bringing inthe water, to wave in the direction of the Peters farm. As she enteredthe door, Kate swept her with a glance. 

"Have to upset the bowl, as usual?" she said, scathingly. "Just as Ithink you're going to make something of yourself, and be of some use, you begin mooning in the direction of that big, gangling Hank Peters. Don't you ever let me see you do it again. You are too young to startthat kind of foolishness. I bet a cow he was hanging around here, andmade you late with dinner. "

"He was not! He didn't either!" cried Polly, then stopped in dismay, her cheeks burning. She gulped and went on bravely: "That is, hewasn't here, and he didn't make ME late, any more than I kept HIM fromhis work. He always watches when there are tramps and peddlers on theroad, because he knows I'm alone. I knew he would be watching two menwho stopped to see you, so I just went as far as the haw tree to tellhim I was all right, and we got to talking--"

If only Kate had been looking at Polly then! But she was putting theapple butter and cream on the table. As she did so, she thoughtpossibly it was a good idea to have Henry Peters seeing that tramps didnot frighten Polly, so she missed dawn on the face of her child, andinstead of what might have been, she said: "Well, I must say THAT isneighbourly of him; but don't you dare let him get any foolish notionsin his head. I think Aunt Nancy Ellen will let you stay at her houseafter this, and go to the Hartley High School in winter, so you cancome out of that much better prepared to teach than I ever was. I hada surprise planned for you to-night, but now I don't know whether youdeserve it or not. I'll have to think. "

Kate did not think at all. After the manner of parents, she SAID that, but her head was full of something she thought vastly more importantjust then; of course Polly should have her share in it. Left alone towash the dishes and cook supper while her mother went to town, it wasPolly, who did the thinking. She thought entirely too much, thoughtbitterly, thought disappointedly, and finally thought resentfully, andthen alas, Polly thought deceitfully. Her mother had said: "Never letme see you. " Very well, she would be extremely careful that she wasNOT seen; but before she slept she rather thought she would find a wayto let Henry know how she was being abused, and about that plan to sendher away all the long winter to school. She rather thought Henry wouldhave something to say about how his "Little Beautiful" was beingtreated. Here Polly looked long and searchingly in the mirror to seeif by any chance Henry was mistaken, and she discovered he was. Shestared in amazement at the pink-cheeked, shining eyed girl she sawmirrored. She pulled her hair looser around the temples, and drew herlips over her teeth. Surely Henry was mistaken. "Little Beautiful"was too moderate. She would see that he said "perfectly lovely, " thenext time, and he did. 

CHAPTER XXIII

KATE'S HEAVENLY TIME

ONE evening Kate and Polly went to the front porch to rest untilbedtime and found a shining big new trunk sitting there, with Kate'sinitials on the end, her name on the check tag, and a key in the lock. They unbuckled the straps, turned the key, and lifted the lid. Thattrunk contained underclothing, hose, shoes, two hats, a travellingdress with half a dozen extra waists, and an afternoon and an eveningdress, all selected with especial reference to Kate's colouring, andmade one size larger than Nancy Ellen wore, which fitted Kateperfectly. There were gloves, a parasol, and a note which read:

DEAR KATE: Here are some clothes. I am going to go North a week afterharvest. You can be spared then as well as not. Come on! Let's runaway and have one good time all by ourselves. It is my treat fromstart to finish. The children can manage the farm perfectly well. Anyone of her cousins will stay with Polly, if she will be lonely. Cutloose and come on, Kate. I am going. Of course Robert couldn't bepried away from his precious patients; we will have to go alone; but wedo not care. We like it. Shall we start about the tenth, on the nighttrain, which will be cooler? NANCY ELLEN. 

"We shall!" said Kate emphatically, when she finished the note. "Ihaven't cut loose and had a good time since I was married; not foreighteen years. If the children are not big enough to take care ofthemselves, they never will be. I can go as well as not. "

She handed the note to Polly, while she shook out dresses and gloatedover the contents of the trunk. 

"Of course you shall go!" shouted Polly as she finished the note, buteven as she said it she glanced obliquely up the road and waved a handbehind her mother's back. 

"Sure you shall go!" cried Adam, when he finished the note, and satbeside the trunk seeing all the pretty things over again. "You just betyou shall go. Polly and I can keep house, fine! We don't need anycousins hanging around. I'll help Polly with her work, and then we'lllock the house and she can come out with me. Sure you go! We'll do allright. " Then he glanced obliquely down the road, where a slim littlefigure in white moved under the cherry trees of the York front yard, aimlessly knocking croquet balls here and there. 

It was two weeks until time to go, but Kate began taking care ofherself at once, solely because she did not want Nancy Ellen to beashamed of her. She rolled her sleeves down to meet her gloves andused a sunbonnet instead of a sunshade. She washed and brushed herhair with care she had not used in years. By the time the tenth ofJuly came, she was in very presentable condition, while the contents ofthe trunk did the remainder. As she was getting ready to go, she saidto Polly: "Now do your best while I'm away, and I am sure I canarrange with Nancy Ellen about school this winter. When I get back, the very first thing I shall do will be to go to Hartley and buy somestuff to begin on your clothes. You shall have as nice dresses as theother girls, too. Nancy Ellen will know exactly what to get you. "

But she never caught a glimpse of Polly's flushed, dissatisfied face orthe tightening of her lips that would have suggested to her, had sheseen them, that Miss Polly felt perfectly capable of selecting theclothing she was to wear herself. Adam took his mother's trunk to thestation in the afternoon. In the evening she held Polly on her knee, while they drove to Dr. Gray's. Kate thought the children would wantto wait and see them take the train, but Adam said that would make themvery late getting home, they had better leave that to Uncle Robert andgo back soon; so very soon they were duly kissed and unduly cautioned;then started back down a side street that would not even take themthrough the heart of the town. Kate looked after them approvingly:"Pretty good youngsters, " she said. "I told them to go and get someice cream; but you see they are saving the money and heading straighthome. " She turned to Robert. "Can anything happen to them?" sheasked, in evident anxiety. 

"Rest in peace, Kate, " laughed the doctor. "You surely know that thoseyoungsters are going to be eighteen in a few weeks. You've reared themcarefully. Nothing can, or will, happen to them, that would not happenright under your nose if you were at home. They will go from now onaccording to their inclinations. "

Kate looked at him sharply: "What do you mean by that?" she demanded. 

He laughed: "Nothing serious, " he said. "Polly is half Bates, so shewill marry in a year or two, while Adam is all Bates, so he will remainsteady as the Rock of Ages, and strictly on the job. Go have your goodtime, and if I possibly can, I'll come after you. "

"You'll do nothing of the kind, " said Nancy Ellen, with finality. "Youwouldn't leave your patients, and you couldn't leave dear Mrs. Southey. "

"If you feel that way about it, why do you leave me?" he asked. 

"To show the little fool I'm not afraid of her, for one thing, " saidNancy Ellen with her head high. She was very beautiful in her smarttravelling dress, while her eyes flashed as she spoke. The doctorlooked at her approvingly. 

"Good!" he cried. "I like a plucky woman! Go to have a good time, Nancy Ellen; but don't go for that. I do wish you would believe thatthere isn't a thing the matter with the little woman, she's--"

"I can go even farther than that, " said Nancy Ellen, dryly. "I KNOW'there isn't a thing the matter with the little woman, ' except that shewants you to look as if you were running after her. I'd be safe inwagering a thousand dollars that when she hears I'm gone, she will sendfor you before to-morrow evening. "

"You may also wager this, " he said. "If she does, I shall be verysorry, but I'm on my way to the country on an emergency call. NancyEllen, I wish you wouldn't!"

"Wouldn't go North, or wouldn't see what every other living soul inHartley sees?" she asked curtly. Then she stepped inside to put on herhat and gloves. 

Kate looked at the doctor in dismay. "Oh, Robert!" she said. 

"I give you my word of honour, Kate, " he said. "If Nancy Ellen onlywould be reasonable, the woman would see shortly that my wife is allthe world to me. I never have been, and never shall be, untrue to her. Does that satisfy you?"

"Of course, " said Kate. "I'll do all in my power to talk Nancy Ellenout of that, on this trip. Oh, if she only had children to occupy hertime!"

"That's the whole trouble in a nutshell, " said the doctor; "but youknow there isn't a scarcity of children in the world. Never a daypasses but I see half a dozen who need me, sorely. But with NancyEllen, NO CHILD will do unless she mothers it, and unfortunately, nonecomes to her. "

"Too bad!" said Kate. "I'm so sorry!"

"Cheer her up, if you can, " said the doctor. 

An hour later they were speeding north, Nancy Ellen moody anddistraught, Kate as frankly delighted as any child. The spring workwas over; the crops were fine; Adam would surely have the premium wheatto take to the County Fair in September; he would work unceasingly forhis chance with corn; he and Polly would be all right; she could seePolly waiting in the stable yard while Adam unharnessed and turned outthe horse. 

Kate kept watching Nancy Ellen's discontented face. At last she said:"Cheer up, child! There isn't a word of truth in it!"

"I know it, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"Then why take the way of all the world to start, and KEEP peopletalking?" asked Kate. 

"I'm not doing a thing on earth but attending strictly to my ownbusiness, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"That's exactly the trouble, " said Kate. "You're not. You let thelittle heifer have things all her own way. If it were my man, and Iloved him as you do Robert Gray, you can stake your life I should bedoing something, several things, in fact. "

"This is interesting, " said Nancy Ellen. "For example--?"

Kate had not given such a matter a thought. She looked from the windowa minute, her lips firmly compressed. Then she spoke slowly: "Well, for one thing, I should become that woman's bosom companion. Aboutseven times a week I should uncover her most aggravating weakness allunintentionally before the man in the case, at the same time keepingmyself, strictly myself. I should keep steadily on doing and beingwhat he first fell in love with. Lastly, since eighteen years havebrought you no fulfillment of the desire of your heart, I should giveit up, and content myself and delight him by taking into my heart andhome a couple of the most attractive tiny babies I could find. Two arescarcely more trouble than one; you can have all the help you willaccept; the children would never know the difference, if you took themas babies, and soon you wouldn't either; while Robert would bedelighted. If I were you, I'd give myself something to work forbesides myself, and I'd give him so much to think about at home, thatcharming young grass widows could go to grass!"

"I believe you would, " said Nancy Ellen, wonderingly. "I believe youwould!"

"You're might right, I would, " said Kate. "If I were married to a manlike Robert Gray, I'd fight tooth and nail before I'd let him fallbelow his high ideals. It's as much your job to keep him up, as it ishis to keep himself. If God didn't make him a father, I would, and I'dkeep him BUSY on the job, if I had to adopt sixteen. "

Nancy Ellen laughed, as they went to their berths. The next morningthey awakened in cool Michigan country and went speeding north amongevergreen forests and clear lakes mirroring the pointed forest tops andblue sky, past slashing, splashing streams, in which they could almostsee the speckled trout darting over the beds of white sand. By lateafternoon they had reached their destination and were in their rooms, bathed, dressed, and ready for the dinner hour. In the evening theywent walking, coming back to the hotel tired and happy. After severaldays they began talking to people and making friends, going out infishing and boating parties in the morning, driving or boating in theafternoon, and attending concerts or dances at night. Kate did notdance, but she loved to see Nancy Ellen when she had a sufficientlytall, graceful partner; while, as she watched the young people andthought how innocent and happy they seemed, she asked her sister ifthey could not possibly arrange for Adam and Polly to go to Hartley anight or two a week that winter, and join the dancing class. NancyEllen was frankly delighted, so Kate cautiously skirted the schoolquestion in such a manner that she soon had Nancy Ellen asking if itcould not be arranged. When that was decided, Nancy Ellen went todance, while Kate stood on the veranda watching her. The lights fromthe window fell strongly on Kate. She was wearing her evening dress ofsmoky gray, soft fabric, over shining silk, with knots of dull bluevelvet and gold lace here and there. She had dressed her haircarefully; she appeared what she was, a splendid specimen of healthy, vigorous, clean womanhood. 

"Pardon me, Mrs. Holt, " said a voice at her elbow, "but there's onlyone head in this world like yours, so this, of course, must be you. "

Kate's heart leaped and stood still. She turned slowly, then held outher hand, smiling at John Jardine, but saying not a word. He took herhand, and as he gripped it tightly he studied her frankly. 

"Thank God for this!" he said, fervently. "For years I've dreamed ofyou and hungered for the sight of your face; but you cut me offsquarely, so I dared not intrude on you--only the Lord knows howdelighted I am to see you here, looking like this. "

Kate smiled again. 

"Come away, " he begged. "Come out of this. Come walk a little waywith me, and tell me WHO you are, and HOW you are, and all the things Ithink of every day of my life, and now I must know. It's brigandage!Come, or I shall carry you!"

"Pooh! You couldn't!" laughed Kate. "Of course I'll come! And Idon't own a secret. Ask anything you want to know. How good it is tosee you! Your mother--?"

"At rest, years ago, " he said. "She never forgave me for what I did, in the way I did it. She said it would bring disaster, and she wasright. I thought it was not fair and honest not to let you know theworst. I thought I was too old, and too busy, and too flourishing, torepair neglected years at that date, but believe me, Kate, you waked meup. Try the hardest one you know, and if I can't spell it, I'll pay athousand to your pet charity. "

Kate laughed spontaneously. "Are you in earnest?" she asked. 

"I am incomprehensibly, immeasurably in earnest, " he said, guiding herdown a narrow path to a shrub-enclosed, railed-in platform, built onthe steep side of a high hill, where they faced the moon-whitenedwaves, rolling softly in a dancing procession across the face of thegreat inland sea. Here he found a seat. 

"I've nothing to tell, " he said. "I lost Mother, so I went on withouther. I learned to spell, and a great many other things, and I'm stillmaking money. I never forget you for a day; I never have loved andnever shall love any other woman. That's all about me, in a nutshell;now go on and tell me a volume, tell me all night, about you. Heavens, woman, I wish you could see yourself, in that dress with the moon onyour hair. Kate, you are the superbest thing! I always shall be madabout you. Oh, if only you could have had a little patience with me. I thought I COULDN'T learn, but of course I COULD. But, proceed! Imustn't let myself go. "

Kate leaned back and looked a long time at the shining white waves andthe deep blue sky, then she turned to John Jardine, and began to talk. She told him simply a few of the most presentable details of her life:how she had lost her money, then had been given her mother's farm, about the children, and how she now lived. He listened with deepinterest, often interrupting to ask a question, and when she ceasedtalking he said half under his breath: "And you're now free! Oh, thewonder of it! You're now, free!"

Kate had that night to think about the remainder of her life. Shealways sincerely hoped that the moonlight did not bewitch her intoleading the man beside her into saying things he seemed to take delightin saying. 

She had no idea what time it was; in fact, she did not care even whatNancy Ellen thought or whether she would worry. The night waswonderful; John Jardine had now made a man of himself worthy of allconsideration; being made love to by him was enchanting. She had beenoccupied with the stern business of daily bread for so long that to beagain clothed as other women and frankly adored by such a man as JohnJardine was soul satisfying. What did she care who worried or whattime it was?

"But I'm keeping you here until you will be wet with these mists, " JohnJardine cried at last. "Forgive me, Kate, I never did have any sensewhere you were concerned! I'll take you back now, but you must promiseme to meet me here in the morning, say at ten o'clock. I'll take youback now, if you'll agree to that. "

"There's no reason why I shouldn't, " said Kate. 

"And you're free, free!" he repeated. 

The veranda, halls, and ballroom were deserted when they returned tothe hotel. As Kate entered her room, Nancy Ellen sat up in bed andstared at her sleepily, but she was laughing in high good humour. Shedrew her watch from under her pillow and looked at it. 

"Goodness gracious, Miss!" she cried. "Do you know it's almost threeo'clock?"

"I don't care in the least, " said Kate, "if it's four or five. I've hada perfectly heavenly time. Don't talk to me. I'll put out the lightand be quiet as soon as I get my dress off. I think likely I've ruinedit. "

"What's the difference?" demanded Nancy Ellen, largely. "You can ruinhalf a dozen a day now, if you want to. "

"What do you mean?" asked Kate. 

"'Mean?'" laughed Nancy Ellen. "I mean that I saw John Jardine or hisghost come up to you on the veranda, looking as if he'd eat you alive, and carry you away about nine o'clock, and you've been gone six hoursand come back having had a 'perfectly heavenly time. ' What should Imean! Go up head, Kate! You have earned your right to a good time. It isn't everybody who gets a second chance in this world. Tell me onething, and I'll go to sleep in peace and leave you to moon theremainder of the night, if you like. Did he say he still loved you?"

"Still and yet, " laughed Kate. "As I remember, his exact words werethat he 'never had loved and never would love any other woman. ' Noware you satisfied?"

Nancy Ellen sprang from the bed and ran to Kate, gathering her in herstrong arms. She hugged and kissed her ecstatically. "Good! Good!Oh, you darling!" she cried. "There'll be nothing in the world youcan't have! I just know he had gone on making money; he was crazyabout you. Oh, Kate, this is too good! How did I ever think of cominghere, and why didn't I think of it seven years ago? Kate, you mustpromise me you'll marry him, before I let you go. "

"I'll promise to THINK about it, " said Kate, trying to free herself, for despite the circumstances and the hour, her mind flew back to athousand times when only one kind word from Nancy Ellen would havesaved her endless pain. It was endless, for it was burning in herheart that instant. At the prospect of wealth, position, and power, Nancy Ellen could smother her with caresses; but poverty, pain, anddisgrace she had endured alone. 

"I shan't let you go till you promise, " threatened Nancy Ellen. "Whenare you to see him again?"

"Ten, this morning, " said Kate. "You better let me get to bed, or I'lllook a sight. "

"Then promise, " said Nancy Ellen. 

Kate laid firm hands on the encircling arms. "Now, look here, " shesaid, shortly, "it's about time to stop this nonsense. There's nothingI can promise you. I must have time to think. I've got not onlymyself, but the children to think for. And I've only got till teno'clock, so I better get at it. "

Kate's tone made Nancy Ellen step back. 

"Kate, you haven't still got that letter in your mind, have you?" shedemanded. 

"No!" laughed Kate, "I haven't! He offered me a thousand dollars if Icould pronounce him a word he couldn't spell; and it's perfectlyevident he's studied until he is exactly like anybody else. No, it'snot that!"

"Then what is it? Simpleton, there WAS nothing else!" cried NancyEllen. 

"Not so much at that time; but this is nearly twenty years later, and Ihave the fate of my children in my hands. I wish you'd go to bed andlet me think!" said Kate. 

"Yes, and the longer you think the crazier you will act, " cried NancyEllen. "I know you! You better promise me now, and stick to it. "

For answer Kate turned off the light; but she did not go to bed. Shesat beside the window and she was still sitting there when dawn creptacross the lake and began to lighten the room. Then she stretchedherself beside Nancy Ellen, who roused and looked at her. 

"You just coming to bed?" she cried in wonder. 

"At least you can't complain that I didn't think, " said Kate, but NancyEllen found no comfort in what she said, or the way she said it. Infact, she arose when Kate did, feeling distinctly sulky. As theyreturned to their room from breakfast, Kate laid out her hat and glovesand began to get ready to keep her appointment. Nancy Ellen couldendure the suspense no longer. 

"Kate, " she said in her gentlest tones, "if you have no mercy onyourself, have some on your children. You've no right, positively noright, to take such a chance away from them. "

"Chance for what?" asked Kate tersely. 

"Education, travel, leisure, every opportunity in the world, "enumerated Nancy Ellen. 

Kate was handling her gloves, her forehead wrinkled, her eyes narrowedin concentration. 

"That is one side of it, " she said. "The other is that neither mychildren nor I have in our blood, breeding, or mental cosmos, thebackground that it takes to make one happy with money in unlimitedquantities. So far as I'm concerned personally, I'm happier thisminute as I am, than John Jardine's money ever could make me. I had afierce struggle with that question long ago; since I have had nearlyeight years of life I love, that is good for my soul, the struggle toleave it would be greater now. Polly would be happier and get morefrom life as the wife of big gangling Henry Peters, than she would as amillionaire's daughter. She'd be very suitable in a farmhouse parlour;she'd be a ridiculous little figure at a ball. As for Adam, he'd turnthis down quick and hard. "

"Just you try him!" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"For one thing, he won't be here at ten o'clock, " said Kate, "and foranother, since it involves my becoming the wife of John Jardine, itisn't for Adam to decide. This decision is strictly my own. I merelymention the children, because if I married him, it would have aninevitable influence on their lives, an influence that I don't in theleast covet either for them or for myself. Nancy Ellen, can't youremotely conceive of such a thing as one human being in the world whois SATISFIED THAT HE HAS HIS SHARE, and who believes to the depths ofhis soul that no man should be allowed to amass, and to use for hispersonal indulgence, the amount of money that John Jardine does?"

"Yes, I can, " cried Nancy Ellen, "when I see you, and the way you act!You have chance after chance, but you seem to think that life requiresof you a steady job of holding your nose to the grindstone. It wasrather stubby to begin with, go on and grind it clear off your face, ifyou like. "

"All right, " said Kate. "Then I'll tell you definitely that I have noparticular desire to marry anybody; I like my life immensely as I'mliving it. I'm free, independent, and my children are in the elementto which they were born, and where they can live naturally, and spendtheir lives helping in the great work of feeding, clothing, and housingtheir fellow men. I've no desire to leave my job or take them fromtheirs, to start a lazy, shiftless life of self-indulgence. I don'tmeddle much with the Bible, but I have a profound BELIEF in it, and alarge RESPECT for it, as the greatest book in the world, and it says:'By the sweat of his brow shall man earn his bread, ' or words to thateffect. I was born a sweater, I shall just go on sweating until I die;I refuse to begin perspiring at my time of life. "

"You big fool!" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"Look out! You're 'in danger of Hell fire, ' when you call me that!"warned Kate. 

"Fire away!" cried Nancy Ellen, with tears in her eyes and voice. "WhenI think what you've gone through--"

Kate stared at her fixedly. "What do you know about what I've gonethough?" she demanded in a cold, even voice. "Personally, I thinkyou're not qualified to MENTION that subject; you better let it rest. Whatever it has been, it's been of such a nature that I have come outof it knowing when I have my share and when I'm well off, for me. IfJohn Jardine wants to marry me, and will sell all he has, and come andwork on the farm with me, I'll consider marrying him. To leave my lifeand what I love to go to Chicago with him, I do not feel called on, orinclined to do. No, I'll not marry him, and in about fifteen minutesI'll tell him so. "

"And go on making a mess of your life such as you did for years, " saidNancy Ellen, drying her red eyes. 

"At least it was my life, " said Kate. "I didn't mess things for anyone else. "

"Except your children, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"As you will, " said Kate, rising. "I'll not marry John Jardine; andthe sooner I tell him so and get it over, the better. Good-bye. I'llbe back in half an hour. "

Kate walked slowly to the observation platform, where she had been theprevious evening with John Jardine; and leaning on the railing, shestood looking out over the water, and down the steep declivity, thinking how best she could word what she had to say. She was soabsorbed she did not hear steps behind her or turn until a sharp voicesaid: "You needn't wait any longer. He's not coming!"

Kate turned and glanced at the speaker, and then around to make sureshe was the person being addressed. She could see no one else. Thewoman was small, light haired, her face enamelled, dressed beyond allreason, and in a manner wholly out of place for morning at a summerresort in Michigan. 

"If you are speaking to me, will you kindly tell me to whom you refer, and give me the message you bring?" said Kate. 

"I refer to Mr. John Jardine, Mrs. Holt, " said the little woman andthen Kate saw that she was shaking, and gripping her hands forself-control. 

"Very well, " said Kate. "It will save me an unpleasant task if hedoesn't come. Thank you, " and she turned back to the water. 

"You certainly didn't find anything unpleasant about being with himhalf last night, " said the little woman. 

Kate turned again, and looked narrowly at the speaker. Then shelaughed heartily. "Well done, Jennie!" she cried. "Why, you are sucha fashionable lady, such a Dolly Varden, I never saw who you were. Howdo you do? Won't you sit down and have a chat? It's just dawning onme that very possibly, from your dress and manner, I SHOULD have calledyou Mrs. Jardine. "

"Didn't he tell you?" cried Jennie. 

"He did not, " said Kate. "Your name was not mentioned. He said noword about being married. "

"We have been married since a few weeks after Mrs. Jardine died. Itaught him the things you turned him down for not knowing; I havestudied him, and waited on him, and borne his children, and THIS is myreward. What are you going to do?"

"Go back to the hotel, when I finish with this view, " said Kate. "Ifind it almost as attractive by day as it was by night. "

"Brazen!" cried Mrs. Jardine. 

"Choose your words carefully, " said Kate. "I was here first; since youhave delivered your message, suppose you go and leave me to my view. "

"Not till I get ready, " said Mrs. Jardine. "Perhaps it will help youto know that I was not twenty feet from you at any time last night; andthat I stood where I could have touched you, while my husband made loveto you for hours. "

"So?" said Kate. "I'm not at all surprised. That's exactly what Ishould have expected of you. But doesn't it clarify the situation any, at least for me, when I tell you that Mr. Jardine gave me no faintesthint that he was married? If you heard all we said, you surelyremember that you were not mentioned?"

Mrs. Jardine sat down suddenly and gripped her little hands. Katestudied her intently. She wondered what she would look like when herhair was being washed; at this thought she smiled broadly. That madethe other woman frantic. 

"You can well LAUGH at me, " she said. "I made the banner fool of theages of myself when I schemed to marry him. I knew he loved you. Hetold me so. He told me, just as he told you last night, that he neverhad loved any other woman and he never would. I thought he didn't knowhimself as I knew him. He was so grand to his mother, I thought if Itaught him, and helped him back to self-respect, and gave him children, he must, and would love me. Well, I was mistaken. He does not, andnever will. Every day he thinks of you; not a night but he speaks yourname. He thinks all things can be done with money--"

"So do you, Jennie, " interrupted Kate. "Well, I'll show you that thisCAN'T!"

"Didn't you hear him exulting because you are now free?" cried Jennie. "He thinks he will give me a home, the children, a big income; thensecure his freedom and marry you. "

"Oh, don't talk such rot!" cried Kate. "John Jardine thinks no suchthing. He wouldn't insult me by thinking I thought such a thing. Thatthought belongs where it sprang from, right in your little cramped, blonde brain, Jennie. "

"You wouldn't? Are you sure you wouldn't?" cried Jennie, leaningforward with hands clutched closely. 

"I should say not!" said Kate. "The last thing on earth I want is someother woman's husband. Now look here, Jennie, I'll tell you the plaintruth. I thought last night that John Jardine was as free as I was; orI shouldn't have been here with him. I thought he was asking me againto marry him, and I was not asleep last night, thinking it over. Icame here to tell him that I would not. Does that satisfy you?"

"Satisfy?" cried Jennie. "I hope no other woman lives in the kind ofHell I do. "

"It's always the way, " said Kate, "when people will insist on gettingout of their class. You would have gotten ten times more from life asthe wife of a village merchant, or a farmer, than you have as the wifeof a rich man. Since you're married to him, and there are children, there's nothing for you to do but finish your job as best you can. Rest your head easy about me. I wouldn't touch John Jardine married toyou; I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole, divorced from you. Getthat clear in your head, and do please go!"

Kate turned again to the water, but when she was sure Jennie was faraway she sat down suddenly and asked of the lake: "Well, wouldn't thatfreeze you?"

CHAPTER XXIV

POLLY TRIES HER WINGS

FINALLY Kate wandered back to the hotel and went to their room to learnif Nancy Ellen was there. She was and seemed very much perturbed. Thefirst thing she did was to hand Kate a big white envelope, which sheopened and found to be a few lines from John Jardine, explaining thathe had been unexpectedly called away on some very important business. He reiterated his delight in having seen her, and hoped for the samepleasure at no very distant date. Kate read it and tossed it on thedresser. As she did so, she saw a telegram, lying opened among NancyEllen's toilet articles, and thought with pleasure that Robert wascoming. She glanced at her sister for confirmation, and saw that shewas staring from the window as if she were in doubt about something. Kate thought probably she was still upset about John Jardine, and thatmight as well be gotten over, so she said: "That note was notdelivered promptly. It is from John Jardine. I should have had itbefore I left. He was called away on important business and wrote tolet me know he would not be able to keep his appointment; but withouthis knowledge, he had a representative on the spot. "

Nancy Ellen seemed interested so Kate proceeded: "You couldn't guessin a thousand years. I'll have to tell you spang! It was his wife. "

"His wife!" cried Nancy Ellen. "But you said--"

"So I did, " said Kate. "And so he did. Since the wife loomed on thehorizon, I remembered that he said no word to me of marriage; he merelysaid he always had loved me and always would--"

"Merely?" scoffed Nancy Ellen. "Merely!"

"Just 'merely, '" said Kate. "He didn't lay a finger on me; he didn'task me to marry him; he just merely met me after a long separation, andtold me that he still loved me. "

"The brute!" said Nancy Ellen. "He should be killed. "

"I can't see it, " said Kate. "He did nothing ungentlemanly. If wejumped to wrong conclusions that was not his fault. I doubt if heremembered or thought at all of his marriage. It wouldn't be much toforget. I am fresh from an interview with his wife. She's an oldacquaintance of mine. I once secured her for his mother's maid. You've heard me speak of her. "

"Impossible! John Jardine would not do that!" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"There's a family to prove it, " said Kate. "Jennie admits that shestudied him, taught him, made herself indispensable to him, and a fewweeks after his mother's passing, married him, after he had told her hedid not love her and never could. I feel sorry for him. "

"Sure! Poor defrauded creature!" said Nancy Ellen. "What about her?"

"Nothing, so far as I can see, " said Kate. "By her own account she wasresponsible. She should have kept in her own class. "

"All right. That settles Jennie!" said Nancy Ellen. "I saw you noticethe telegram from Robert--now go on and settle me!"

"Is he coming?" asked Kate. 

"No, he's not coming, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"Has he eloped with the widder?" asked Kate flippantly. 

"He merely telegraphs that he thinks it would be wise for us to comehome on the first train, " said Nancy Ellen. "For all I can make ofthat, the elopement might quite as well be in your family as mine. "

Kate held out her hand, Nancy Ellen laid the message in it. Katestudied it carefully; then she raised steady eyes to her sister's face. 

"Do you know what I should do about this?" she asked. 

"Catch the first train, of course, " she said. 

"Far be it from me, " said Kate. "I should at once telegraph him thathis message was not clear, to kindly particularize. We've only gotsettled. We're having a fine time; especially right now. Why should wepack up and go home? I can't think of any possibility that could arisethat would make it necessary for him to send for us. Can you?"

"I can think of two things, " said Nancy Ellen. "I can think of a verypretty, confiding, little cat of a woman, who is desperately infatuatedwith my husband; and I can think of two children fathered by GeorgeHolt, who might possibly, just possibly, have enough of his blood intheir veins to be like him, given opportunity. Alone for a week, thereis barely a FAINT possibility that YOU might be needed. Alone for thesame week, there is the faintest possibility that ROBERT is in asituation where I could help him. "

Kate drew a deep breath. 

"Isn't life the most amusing thing?" she asked. "I had almostforgotten my wings. I guess we'd better take them, and fly straighthome. "

She arose and called the office to learn about trains, and then beganpacking her trunk. As she folded her dresses and stuffed them inrather carelessly she said: "I don't know why I got it into my headthat I could go away and have a few days of a good time withoutsomething happening at home. "

"But you are not sure anything has happened at home. This call may befor me, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"It MAY, but this is July, " said Kate. "I've been thinking hard andfast. It's probable I can put my finger on the spot. "

Nancy Ellen paused and standing erect she looked questioningly at Kate. 

"The weak link in my chain at the present minute is Polly, " said Kate. "I didn't pay much attention at the time, because there wasn't enoughof it really to attract attention; but since I think, I can recallsigns of growing discontent in Polly, lately. She fussed about thework, and resented being left in the house while I went to the fields, and she had begun looking up the road to Peters' so much that her headwas slightly turned toward the north most of the time. With me away--"

"What do you think?" demanded Nancy Ellen. 

"Think very likely she has decided that she'll sacrifice her chance formore schooling and to teach, for the sake of marrying a big, greencountry boy named Hank Peters, " said Kate. 

"Thereby keeping in her own class, " suggested Nancy Ellen. 

Kate laughed shortly. "Exactly!" she said. "I didn't aspire toanything different for her from what she has had; but I wanted her tohave more education, and wait until she was older. Marriage is toohard work for a girl to begin at less than eighteen. If it is Polly, and she has gone away with Hank Peters, they've no place to go but hishome; and if ever she thought I worked her too hard, she'll find outshe has played most of her life, when she begins taking orders fromMrs. Amanda Peters. You know her! She never can keep a girl more thana week, and she's always wanting one. If Polly has tackled THAT job, God help her. "

"Cheer up! We're in that delightful state of uncertainty where Pollymay be blacking the cook stove, like a dutiful daughter; while Roberthas decided that he'd like a divorce, " said Nancy Ellen. 

"Nancy Ellen, there's nothing in that, so far as Robert is concerned. He told me so the evening we came away, " said Kate. 

Nancy Ellen banged down a trunk lid and said: "Well, I am getting tothe place where I don't much care whether there is or there is not. "

"What a whopper!" laughed Kate. "But cheer up. This is my trouble. Ifeel it in my bones. Wish I knew for sure. If she's eloped, and it'sall over with, we might as well stay and finish our visit. If she'smarried, I can't unmarry her, and I wouldn't if I could. "

"How are you going to apply your philosophy to yourself?" asked NancyEllen. 

"By letting time and Polly take their course, " said Kate. "This is aplace where parents are of no account whatever. They stand back untilit's time to clean up the wreck, and then they get theirs--usuallytheirs, and several of someone's else, in the bargain. "

As the train stopped at Hartley, Kate sat where she could see Robert onthe platform. It was only a fleeting glance, but she thought she hadnever seen him look so wholesome, so vital, so much a man to be desired. 

"No wonder a woman lacking in fine scruples would covet him, " thoughtKate. To Nancy Ellen she said hastily: "The trouble's mine. Robert'son the platform. "

"Where?" demanded Nancy Ellen, peering from the window. 

Kate smiled as she walked from the car and confronted Robert. 

"Get it over quickly, " she said. "It's Polly?"

He nodded. 

"Did she remember to call on the Squire?" she asked. 

"Oh, yes, " said Robert. "It was at Peters', and they had the wholeneighbourhood in. "

Kate swayed slightly, then lifted her head, her eyes blazing. She hadcome, feeling not altogether guiltless, and quite prepared to overlooka youthful elopement. The insult of having her only daughter given awedding at the home of the groom, about which the whole neighbourhoodwould be laughing at her, was a different matter. Slowly the highcolour faded from Kate's face, as she stepped back. "Excuse me, NancyEllen, " she said. "I didn't mean to deprive you of the chance of evenspeaking to Robert. I KNEW this was for me; I was over-anxious tolearn what choice morsel life had in store for me now. It's one thatwill be bitter on my tongue to the day of my death. "

"Oh, Kate, I as so sorry that if this had to happen, it happened injust that way, " said Nancy Ellen, "but don't mind. They're onlyfoolish kids!"

"Who? Mr. And Mrs. Peters, and the neighbours, who attended thewedding! Foolish kids? Oh, no!" said Kate. "Where's Adam?"

"I told him I'd bring you out, " said Robert. 

"Why didn't he send for you, or do something?" demanded Kate. 

"I'm afraid the facts are that Polly lied to him, " said Robert. "Shetold him that Peters were having a party, and Mrs. Peters wanted her tocome early and help her with the supper. They had the Magistrate outfrom town and had the ceremony an hour before Adam got there. When hearrived, and found out what had happened, he told Polly and the Petersfamily exactly his opinion of them; and then he went home and turned onall the lights, and sat where he could be seen on the porch allevening, as a protest in evidence of his disapproval, I take it. "

Slowly the colour began to creep back into Kate's face. "The goodboy!" she said, in commendation. 

"He called me at once, and we talked it over and I sent you thetelegram; but as he said, it was done; there was no use trying to undoit. One thing will be a comfort to you. All of your family, andalmost all of your friends, left as soon as Adam spoke his piece, andthey found it was a wedding and not a party to which they'd beeninvited. It was a shabby trick of Peters. "

Kate assented. "It was because I felt instinctively that Mrs. Petershad it in her to do tricks like that, that I never would have anythingto do with her, " said Kate, "more than to be passing civil. This ishow she gets her revenge, and her hired girl, for no wages, I'll bebound! It's a shabby trick. I'm glad Adam saved me the trouble oftelling her so. "

Robert took Nancy Ellen home, and then drove to Bates Corners with Kate. 

"In a few days now I hope we can see each other oftener, " he said, onthe way. "I got a car yesterday, and it doesn't seem so complicated. Any intelligent person can learn to drive in a short time. I like itso much, and I knew I'd have such constant use for it that--now this isa secret--I ordered another for Nancy Ellen, so she can drive abouttown, and run out here as she chooses. Will she be pleased?"

"She'll be overjoyed! That was dear of you, Robert. Only one thing inworld would please her more, " said Kate. 

"What's that?" asked Robert. 

Kate looked him in the eye, and smiled. 

"Oh, " he said. "But there is nothing in it!"

"Except TALK, that worries and humiliates Nancy Ellen, " said Kate. 

"Kate, " he said suddenly, "if you were in my shoes, what would you do?"

"The next time I got a phone call, or a note from Mrs. Southey, and shewas having one of those terrible headaches, I should say: 'I'mdreadfully sorry, Mrs. Southey, but a breath of talk that might beunpleasant for you, and for my wife, has come to my ear, so I knowyou'll think it wiser to call Dr. Mills, who can serve you better thanI. In a great rush this afternoon. Good-bye!' THAT is what I shoulddo, Robert, and I should do it quickly, and emphatically. Then Ishould interest Nancy Ellen in her car for a time, and then I shouldkeep my eyes open, and the first time I found in my practice a soundbaby with a clean bill of health, and no encumbrances, I should have itdressed attractively, and bestow it on Nancy Ellen as casually as I didthe car. And in the meantime, love her plenty, Robert. You can neverknow how she FEELS about this; and it's in no way her fault. Shecouldn't possibly have known; while you would have married her just thesame if you had known. Isn't that so?"

"It's quite so. Kate, I think your head is level, and I'll follow youradvice to the letter. Now you have 'healed my lame leg, ' as the dogsaid in McGuffey's Third, what can I do for THIS poor dog?"

"Nothing, " said Kate. "I've got to hold still, and take it. Life willdo the doing. I don't want to croak, but remember my word, it will doplenty. "

"We'll come often, " he said as he turned to go back. 

Kate slowly walked up the path, dreading to meet Adam. He evidentlyhad been watching for her, for he came around the corner of the house, took her arm, and they walked up the steps and into the living roomtogether. She looked at him; he looked at her. At last he said: "I'mafraid that a good deal of this is my fault, Mother. "

"How so?" asked Kate, tersely. 

"I guess I betrayed your trust in me, " said Adam, heavily. "Of courseI did all my work and attended to things; but in the evening after workwas over, the very first evening on the way home we stopped to talk toHenry at the gate, and he got in and came on down. We could see Millyat their gate, and I wanted her, I wanted her so much, Mother; and itwas going to be lonesome, so all of us went on there, and she came uphere and we sat on the porch, and then I took her home and that leftHenry and Polly together. The next night Henry took us to town for atreat, and we were all together, and the next night Milly asked us allthere, and so it went. It was all as open and innocent as it could be;only Henry and Polly were in awful earnest and she was bound shewouldn't be sent to town to school--"

"Why didn't she tell me so? She never objected a word, to me, " saidKate. 

"Well, Mother, you are so big, and Polly was so little, and she wasused to minding--"

"Yes, this looks like it, " said Kate. "Well, go on!"

"That's all, " said Adam. "It was only that instead of staying at homeand attending to our own affairs we were somewhere every night, orMilly and Henry were here. That is where I was to blame. I'm afraidyou'll never forgive me, Mother; but I didn't take good care of Sister. I left her to Henry Peters, while I tried to see how nice I could be toMilly. I didn't know what Polly and Henry were planning; honest, Ididn't, Mother. I would have told Uncle Robert and sent for you if Ihad. I thought when I went there it was to be our little crowd like itwas at York's. I was furious when I found they were married. I toldMr. And Mrs. Peters what they were, right before the company, and thenI came straight home and all the family, and York's, and most of theothers, came straight away. Only a few stayed to the supper. I was soangry with Polly I just pushed her away, and didn't even say good-nightto her. The little silly fool! Mother, if she had told you, you wouldhave let her stay at home this winter and got her clothing, and let herbe married here, when she was old enough, wouldn't you?"

"Certainly!" said Kate. "All the world knows that. Bates all marry;and they all marry young. Don't blame yourself, Adam. If Polly had itin her system to do this, and she did, or she wouldn't have done it, the thing would have happened when I was here, and right under my nose. It was a scheme all planned and ready before I left. I know that now. Let it go! There's nothing we can do, until things begin to go WRONG, as they always do in this kind of wedding; then we shall get our call. In the meantime, you mustn't push your sister away. She may need yousooner than you'd think; and will you just please have enoughconfidence in my common sense and love for you, to come to me, FIRST, when you feel that there's a girl who is indispensable to your future, Adam?"

"Yes, I will, " said Adam. "And it won't be long, and the girl will beMilly York. "

"All right, " said Kate, gravely, "whenever the time comes, let me knowabout it. Now see if you can find me something to eat till I lay offmy hat and wash. It was a long, hot ride, and I'm tired. Since there'snothing I can do, I wish I had stayed where I was. No, I don't, either!I see joy coming over the hill for Nancy Ellen. "

"Why is joy coming to Nancy Ellen?" asked the boy, pausing an instantbefore he started to the kitchen. 

"Oh, because she's had such a very tough, uncomfortable time withlife, " said Kate, "that in the very nature of things joy SHOULD comeher way. "

The boy stood mystified until the expression on his face so amused Katethat she began laughing, then he understood. 

"That's WHY it's coming, " said Kate; "and, here's HOW it's coming. Sheis going to get rid of a bothersome worry that's troubling herhead--and she's going to have a very splendid gift, but it's a deepsecret. "

"Then you'll have to whisper it, " said Adam, going to her and holding aconvenient ear. Kate rested her hands on his shoulder a minute, as sheleaned on him, her face buried in his crisp black hair. Then shewhispered the secret. 

"Crickey, isn't that grand!" cried the boy, backing away to stare ather. 

"Yes, it is so grand I'm going to try it ourselves, " said Kate. "We'vea pretty snug balance in the bank, and I think it would be great funevenings or when we want to go to town in a hurry and the horses aretired. "

Adam was slowly moving toward the kitchen, his face more of a studythan before. 

"Mother, " he said as he reached the door, "I be hanged if I know how totake you! I thought you'd just raise Cain over what Polly has done;but you act so sane and sensible; someway it doesn't seem so bad as itdid, and I feel more sorry for Polly than like going back on her. Andare you truly in earnest about a car?"

"I'm going to think very seriously about it this winter, and I feelalmost sure it will come true by early spring, " said Kate. "But whosaid anything about 'going back on Polly?'"

"Oh, Mrs. York and all the neighbours said that you'd never forgiveher, and that she'd never darken your door again, and things like thatuntil I was almost crazy, " answered Adam. 

Kate smiled grimly. "Adam, " she said, "I had seven years of that'darken you door' business, myself. It's a mighty cold, hardproposition. It's a wonder the neighbours didn't remember that. Maybethey did, and thought I was so much of a Bates leopard that I couldn'tchange my spots. If they are watching me, they will find that I am notspotted; I'm sorry and humiliated over what Polly has done; but I'm notgoing to gnash my teeth, and tear my hair, and wail in public, or inprivate. I'm trying to keep my real mean spot so deep it can't beseen. If ever I get my chance, Adam, you watch me pay back Mrs. Peters. THAT is the size and location of my spot; but it's far deeperthan my skin. Now go on and find me food, man, food!"

Adam sat close while Kate ate her supper, then he helped her unpack hertrunk and hang away her dresses, and then they sat on the porch talkingfor a long time. 

When at last they arose to go to bed Kate said: "Adam, about Polly:first time you see her, if she asks, tell her she left home of her ownfree will and accord, and in her own way, which, by the way, happens tobe a Holt way; but you needn't mention that. I think by this time shehas learned or soon she will learn that; and whenever she wants to comeback and face me, to come right ahead. I can stand it if she can. Canyou get that straight?"

Adam said he could. He got that straight and so much else that by thetime he finished, Polly realized that both he and her mother had lefther in the house to try to SHIELD her; that if she had told what shewanted in a straightforward manner she might have had a wedding outfitprepared and been married from her home at a proper time and in aproper way, and without putting her mother to shame before thecommunity. Polly was very much ashamed of herself by the time Adamfinished. She could not find it in her heart to blame Henry; she knewhe was no more to blame than she was; but she did store up a grievanceagainst Mr. And Mrs. Peters. They were older and had had experiencewith the world; they might have told Polly what she should do insteadof having done everything in their power to make her do what she haddone, bribing, coaxing, urging, all in the direction of herinclinations. 

At heart Polly was big enough to admit that she had followed herinclinations without thinking at all what the result would be. Adamnever would have done what she had. Adam would have thought of hismother and his name and his honour. Poor little Polly had to admitthat honour with her had always been a matter of, "Now remember, " "Becareful, " and like caution on the lips of her mother. 

The more Polly thought, the worse she felt. The worse she felt, themore the whole Peters family tried to comfort her. She was violentlyhomesick in a few days; but Adam had said she was to come when she"could face her mother, " and Polly suddenly found that she would ratherundertake to run ten miles than to face her mother, so she began aprocess of hiding from her. If she sat on the porch, and saw hermother coming, she ran in the house. She would go to no public placewhere she might meet her. For a few weeks she lived a life of workingfor Mrs. Peters from dawn to dark, under the stimulus of what a sweetgirl she was, how splendidly she did things, how fortunate Henry was, interspersed with continual kissing, patting, and petting, all very newand unusual to Polly. By that time she was so very ill, she could notlift her head from the pillow half the day, but it was to the credit ofthe badly disappointed Peters family that they kept up the petting. When Polly grew better, she had no desire to go anywhere; she worked tomake up for the trouble she had been during her illness, to sew everyspare moment, and to do her full share of the day's work in the houseof an excessively nice woman, whose work never was done, and mosthopeless thing of all, never would be. Mrs. Peters' head was full ofthings that she meant to do three years in the future. Every nightfound Polly so tired she staggered to bed early as possible; everymorning found her confronting the same round, which from the nature ofher condition every morning was more difficult for her. 

Kate and Adam followed their usual routine with only the alterationsrequired by the absence of Polly. Kate now prepared breakfast whileAdam did the feeding and milking; washed the dishes and made the bedswhile he hitched up; then went to the field with him. On rainy days heswept and she dusted; always they talked over and planned everythingthey did, in the house or afield; always they schemed, contrived, economized, and worked to attain the shortest, easiest end to anyresult they strove for. They were growing in physical force, they wereefficient, they attended their own affairs strictly. Their work wasalways done on time, their place in order, their deposits at the bankfrequent. As the cold days came they missed Polly, but scarcely evermentioned her. They had more books and read and studied together, while every few evenings Adam picked up his hat and disappeared, butsoon he and Milly came in together. Then they all read, popped corn, made taffy, knitted, often Kate was called away by some sewing orupstairs work she wanted to do, so that the youngsters had plenty oftime alone to revel in the wonder of life's greatest secret. 

To Kate's ears came the word that Polly would be a mother in thespring, that the Peters family were delighted and anxious for the childto be a girl, as they found six males sufficient for one family. Pollywas looking well, feeling fine, was a famous little worker, and seldomsat on a chair because some member of the Peters family usually heldher. 

"I should think she would get sick of all that mushing, " said Adam whenhe repeated these things. 

"She's not like us, " said Kate. "She'll take all she can get, and callfor more. She's a long time coming; but I'm glad she's well and happy. "

"Buncombe!" said Adam. "She isn't so very well. She's white as putty, and there are great big, dark hollows under her eyes, and she's alwayspanting for breath like she had been running. Nearly every time I passthere I see her out scrubbing the porches, or feeding the chickens, orwashing windows, or something. You bet Mrs. Peters has got a finehired girl now, and she's smiling all over about it. "

"She really has something to smile about, " said Kate. 

To Polly's ears went the word that Adam and her mother were having afine time together, always together; and that they had Milly York upthree times a week to spend the evening; and that Milly said that itpassed her to see why Polly ran away from Mrs. Holt. She was thegrandest woman alive, and if she had any running to do in herneighbourhood, she would run TO her, and not FROM her. Whereupon Pollyclosed her lips firmly and looked black, but not before she had said:"Well, if Mother had done just one night a week of that entertainingfor Henry and me, we wouldn't have run from her, either. "

Polly said nothing until April, then Kate answered the telephone oneday and a few seconds later was ringing for Adam as if she would pulldown the bell. He came running and soon was on his way to Peters' withthe single buggy, with instructions to drive slowly and carefully andon no account to let Polly slip getting out. The Peters family had allgone to bury an aunt in the neighbourhood, leaving Polly alone for theday; and Polly at once called up her mother, and said she was dying tosee her, and if she couldn't come home for the day, she would die soon, and be glad of it. Kate knew the visit should not have been made atthat time and in that way; but she knew that Polly was under adangerous nervous strain; she herself would not go to Peters' in Mrs. Peters' absence; she did not know what else to do. As she waited forPolly she thought of many things she would say; when she saw her, shetook her in her arms and almost carried her into the house, and shesaid nothing at all, save how glad she was to see her, and she didnothing at all, except to try with all her might to comfort and pleaseher, for to Kate, Polly did not seem like a strong, healthy girlapproaching maternity. She appeared like a very sick woman, who sorelyneeded attention, while a few questions made her so sure of it that sheat once called Robert. He gave both of them all the comfort he could, but what he told Nancy Ellen was: "Polly has had no attentionwhatever. She wants me, and I'll have to go; but it's a case I'd liketo side-step. I'll do all I can, but the time is short. "

"Oh, Lord!" said Nancy Ellen. "Is it one more for Kate?"

"Yes, " said Robert, "I am very much afraid it's 'one more for Kate. '"

CHAPTER XXV

ONE MORE FOR KATE

POLLY and Kate had a long day together, while Adam was about the housemuch of the time. Both of them said and did everything they couldthink of to cheer and comfort Polly, whose spirits seemed mostvariable. One minute she would be laughing and planning for the summergaily, the next she would be gloomy and depressed, and declaring shenever would live through the birth of her baby. If she had appearedwell, this would not have worried Kate; but she looked even sicker thanshe seemed to feel. She was thin while her hands were hot andtremulous. As the afternoon went on and time to go came nearer, shegrew more and more despondent, until Kate proposed watching when thePeters family came home, calling them up, and telling them that Pollywas there, would remain all night, and that Henry should come down. 

Polly flatly vetoed the proposition, but she seemed to feel much betterafter it had been made. She was like herself again for a short time, and then she turned to Kate and said suddenly: "Mother, if I don't getover this, will you take my baby?"

Kate looked at Polly intently. What she saw stopped the ready answerthat was on her lips. She stood thinking deeply. At last she saidgently: "Why, Polly, would you want to trust a tiny baby with a womanyou ran away from yourself?"

"Mother, I haven't asked you to forgive me for the light I put you inbefore the neighbours, " said Polly, "because I knew you couldn'thonestly do it, and wouldn't lie to say you did. I don't know WHATmade me do that. I was TIRED staying alone at the house so much, I wasWILD about Henry, I was BOUND I wouldn't leave him and go away toschool. I just thought it would settle everything easily and quickly. I never once thought of how it would make you look and feel. HonestlyI didn't, Mother. You believe me, don't you?"

"Yes, I believe you, " said Kate. 

"It was an awful thing for me to do, " said Polly. "I was foolish andcrazy, and I suppose I shouldn't say it, but I certainly did have a lotof encouragement from the Peters family. They all seemed to think itwould be a great joke, that it wouldn't make any difference, and allthat, so I just did it. I knew I shouldn't have done it; but, Mother, you'll never know the fight I've had all my life to keep from tellingstories and sneaking. I hated your everlasting: 'Now be careful, ' butwhen I hated it most, I needed it worst; and I knew it, when I grewolder. If only you had been here to say, 'Now be careful, ' just once, I never would have done it; but of course I couldn't have you to keepme straight all my life. All I can say is that I'd give my life andnever whimper, if I could be back home as I was this time last year, and have a chance to do things your way. But that is past, and I can'tchange it. What I came for to-day, and what I want to know now is, ifI go, will you take my baby?"

"Polly, you KNOW the Peters family wouldn't let me have it, " said Kate. 

"If it's a boy, they wouldn't WANT it, " said Polly. "Neither wouldyou, for that matter. If it's a girl, they'll fight for it; but itwon't do them any good. All I want to know is, WILL YOU TAKE IT?"

"Of course I would, Polly, " said Kate. 

"Since I have your word, I'll feel better, " said Polly. "And Mother, you needn't be AFRAID of it. It will be all right. I have thoughtabout it so much I have it all figured out. It's going to be a girl, and it's going to be exactly like you, and its name is going to beKatherine Eleanor. I have thought about you every hour I was awakesince I have been gone; so the baby will have to be exactly like you. There won't be the taint of Grandmother in it that there is in me. Youneedn't be afraid. I quit sneaking forever when Adam told me what Ihad done to you. I have gone straight as a dart, Mother, every singleminute since, Mother; truly I have!"

Kate sat down suddenly, an awful sickness in her heart. 

"Why, you poor child you!" she said. 

"Oh, I've been all right, " said Polly. "I've been almost petted andloved to death; but Mother, there never should be the amount of workattached to living that there is in that house. It's never ending, it's intolerable. Mrs. Peters just goes until she drops, and theninstead of sleeping, she lies awake planning some hard, foolish, unnecessary thing to do next. Maybe she can stand it herself, but I'mtired out. I'm going to sit down, and not budge to do another strokeuntil after the baby comes, and then I am going to coax Henry to rent apiece of land, and move to ourselves. "

Kate took heart. "That will be fine!" she cried. "That will be thevery thing. I'll ask the boys to keep their eyes open for any chancefor you. "

"You needn't take any bother about it, " said Polly, "because that isn'twhat is going to happen. All I want to be sure of now is that you andAdam will take my baby. I'll see to the rest. "

"How will you see to it, Polly?" asked Kate, gently. 

"Well, it's already seen to, for matter of that, " said Pollyconclusively. "I've known for quite a while that I was sick; but Icouldn't make them do anything but kiss me, and laugh at me, until I amso ill that I know better how I feel than anybody else. I got tiredbeing laughed at, and put off about everything, so one day in Hartley, while Mother Peters was shopping, I just went in to the lawyerGrandmother always went to, and told him all about what I wanted. Hehas the papers made out all right and proper; so when I send for UncleRobert, I am going to send for him, too, and soon as the baby comesI'll put in its name and sign it, and make Henry, and then if I have togo, you won't have a bit of trouble. "

Kate gazed at Polly in dumb amazement. She was speechless for a time, then to break the strain she said: "My soul! Did you really, Polly?I guess there is more Bates in you than I had thought!"

"Oh, there's SOME Bates in me, " said Polly. "There's enough to make melive until I sign that paper, and make Henry Peters sign it, and sendMr. Thomlins to you with it and the baby. I can do that, because I'mgoing to!"

Ten days later she did exactly what she had said she would. Then sheturned her face to the wall and went into a convulsion out of which shenever came. While the Peters family refused Kate's plea to lay Pollybeside her grandmother, and laid her in their family lot, Kate, moaningdumbly, sat clasping a tiny red girl in her arms. Adam drove toHartley to deposit one more paper, the most precious of all, in thesafety deposit box. 

Kate and Adam mourned too deeply to talk about it. They went abouttheir daily rounds silently, each busy with regrets and selfinvestigations. They watched each other carefully, were kinder thanthey ever had been to everyone they came in contact with; the baby theyfrankly adored. Kate had reared her own children with smallmisgivings, quite casually, in fact; but her heart was torn to thedepths about this baby. Life never would be even what it had beenbefore Polly left them, for into her going there entered an element ofself-reproach and continual self-condemnation. Adam felt that if hehad been less occupied with Milly York and had taken proper care of hissister, he would not have lost her. Kate had less time forrecrimination, because she had the baby. 

"Look for a good man to help you this summer, Adam, " she said. "Thebaby is full of poison which can be eliminated only slowly. If I don'tget it out before teething, I'll lose her, and then we never shall hearthe last from the Peters family. " Adam consigned the Peters family toa location he thought suitable for them on the instant. He spoke withunusual bitterness, because he had heard that the Peters family weretelling that Polly had grieved herself to death, while his mother hadengineered a scheme whereby she had stolen the baby. Occasionally aword drifted to Kate here and there, until she realized much of whatthey were saying. At first she grieved too deeply to pay anyattention, but as the summer went on and the baby flourished and grewfine and strong, and she had time in the garden, she began to feelbetter; grief began to wear away, as it always does. 

By midsummer the baby was in short clothes, sitting in a high chair, which if Miss Baby only had known it, was a throne before which knelther two adoring subjects. Polly had said the baby would be like Kate. Its hair and colouring were like hers, but it had the brown eyes of itsfather, and enough of his facial lines to tone down the too generousBates features. When the baby was five months old it was too prettyfor adequate description. One baby has no business with perfectfeatures, a mop of curly, yellow silk hair, and big brown eyes. One ofthe questions Kate and Adam discussed most frequently was where theywould send her to college, while one they did not discuss was how sickher stomach teeth would make her. They merely lived in mortal dread ofthat. "Convulsion, " was a word that held a terror for Kate above anyother in the medical books. 

The baby had a good, formal name, but no one ever used it. Adam, onfirst lifting the blanket, had fancied the child resembled its motherand had called her "Little Poll. " The name clung to her. Kate couldnot call such a tiny morsel either Kate or Katherine; she liked "LittlePoll, " better. The baby had three regular visitors. One was herfather. He was not fond of Kate; Little Poll suited him. He expressedhis feeling by bringing gifts of toys, candy, and unsuitable clothes. Kate kept these things in evidence when she saw him coming and sweptthem from sight when he went; for she had the good sense not toantagonize him. Nancy Ellen came almost every day, proudly driving hernew car, and with the light of a new joy on her face. She never saidanything to Kate, but Kate knew what had happened. Nancy Ellen came tosee the baby. She brought it lovely and delicate little shoes, embroidered dresses and hoods, cloaks and blankets. One day as she satholding it she said to Kate: "Isn't the baby a dreadful bother to you?You're not getting half your usual work done. "

"No, I'm doing UNUSUAL work, " said Kate, lightly. "Adam is hiring aman who does my work very well in the fields; there isn't money thatwould hire me to let any one else take my job indoors, right now. "

A slow red crept into Nancy Ellen's cheeks. She had meant to bediplomatic, but diplomacy never worked well with Kate. As Nancy Ellenoften said, Kate understood a sledge-hammer better. Nancy Ellen usedthe hammer. Her face flushed, her arms closed tightly. "Give me thisbaby, " she demanded. 

Kate looked at her in helpless amazement. 

"Give it to me, " repeated Nancy Ellen. 

"She's a gift to me, " said Kate, slowly. "One the Peters family aresearching heaven and earth to find an excuse to take from me. I hearthey've been to a lawyer twice, already. I wouldn't give her up tosave my soul alive, for myself; for you, if I would let you have her, they would not leave you in possession a day. "

"Are they really trying to get her?" asked Nancy Ellen, slowlyloosening her grip. 

"They are, " said Kate. "They sent a lawyer to get a copy of thepapers, to see if they could pick a flaw in them. "

"Can they?" cried Nancy Ellen. 

"God knows!" said Kate, slowly. "I HOPE not. Mr. Thomlins is the bestlawyer in Hartley; he says not. He says Henry put his neck in thenoose when he signed the papers. The only chance I can see for himwould be to plead undue influence. When you look at her, you can'tblame him for wanting her. I've two hopes. One that his mother willnot want the extra work; the other that the next girl he selects willnot want the baby. If I can keep them going a few months more with ateething scare, I hope they will get over wanting her. "

"If they do, then may we have her?" asked Nancy Ellen. 

Kate threw out her hands. "Take my eyes, or my hands, or my feet, " shesaid; "but leave me my heart. "

Nancy Ellen went soon after, and did not come again for several days. Then she began coming as usual, so that the baby soon knew her andlaughed in high glee when she appeared. Dr. Gray often stopped inpassing to see her; if he was in great haste, he hallooed at the gateto ask if she was all right. Kate was thankful for this, more thanthankful for the telephone and car that would bring him in fifteenminutes day or night, if he were needed. But he was not needed. Little Poll throve and grew fat and rosy; for she ate measured food, slept by the clock, in a sanitary bed, and was a bathed, splendidlycared for baby. When Kate's family and friends laughed, she paid notthe slightest heed. 

"Laugh away, " she said. "I've got something to fight with this baby; Idon't propose for the battle to come and find the chances against me, because I'm unprepared. "

With scrupulous care Kate watched over the child, always putting herfirst, the house and land afterward. One day she looked up the roadand saw Henry Peters coming. She had been expecting Nancy Ellen. Shehad finished bathing the baby and making her especially attractive in adainty lace ruffled dress with blue ribbons and blue shoes that hersister had brought on her latest trip. Little Poll was a wonderfulpicture, for her eyes were always growing bigger, her cheeks pinker, her skin fairer, her hair longer and more softly curling. At firstthought Kate had been inclined to snatch off the dress and change toone of the cheap, ready-made ginghams Henry brought, but the baby wasso lovely as she was, she had not the heart to spoil the picture, whileNancy Ellen might come any minute. So she began putting things inplace while Little Poll sat crowing and trying to pick up a sunbeamthat fell across her tray. Her father came to the door and stoodlooking at her. Suddenly he dropped in a chair, covered his face withhis hands and began to cry, in deep, shuddering sobs. Kate stood stillin wonderment. As last she seated herself before him and said gently:"Won't you tell me about it, Henry?"

Henry struggled for self-control. He looked at the baby longingly. Finally he said: "It's pretty tough to give up a baby like that, Mrs. Holt. She's my little girl. I wish God had struck my right hand withpalsy, when I went to sign those papers. "

"Oh, no, you don't, Henry, " said Kate, suavely. "You wouldn't like tolive the rest of your life a cripple. And is it any worse for me tohave your girl in spite of the real desires and dictates of your heart, than it was for you to have mine? And you didn't take the intelligentcare of my girl that I'm taking of yours, either. A doctor and alittle right treatment at the proper time would have saved Polly torear her own baby; but there's no use to go into that. I was waitingfor Polly to come home of her own accord, as she left it; and while Iwaited, a poison crept into her system that took her. I never shallfeel right about it; neither shall you--"

"No, I should say I won't!" said Henry emphatically. "I never thoughtof anything being the matter with Polly that wouldn't be all over whenthe baby came--"

"I know you didn't, Henry, " said Kate. "I know how much you would havedone, and how gladly, if you had known. There is no use going intothat, we are both very much to blame; we must take our punishment. Nowwhat is this I hear about your having been to see lawyers and trying tofind a way to set aside the adoption papers you signed? Let's have atalk, and see what we can arrive at. Tell me all about it. "

So Henry told Kate how he had loved Polly, how he felt guilty of herdeath, how he longed for and wanted her baby, how he had signed thepaper which Polly put before him so unexpectedly, to humour her, because she was very ill; but he had not dreamed that she could die;how he did not feel that he should be bound by that signature now. Kate listened with the deepest sympathy, assenting to most he saiduntil he was silent. Then she sat thinking a long time. At last shesaid: "Henry, if you and Polly had waited until I came home, and toldme what you wanted and how you felt, I should have gotten her ready, and given you a customary wedding, and helped you to start a life thatI think would have saved her to you, and to me. That is past, but thefact remains. You are hurt over giving up the baby as you have; I'mhurt over losing my daughter as I did; we are about even on the past, don't you think?"

"I suppose we are, " he said, heavily. 

"That being agreed, " said Kate, "let us look to the future. You wantthe baby now, I can guess how much, by how much I want her, myself. Iknow YOUR point of view; there are two others, one is mine, and theother is the baby's. I feel that it is only right and just that Ishould have this little girl to replace the one you took from me, in away far from complimentary to me. I feel that she is mine, becausePolly told me the day she came to see me how sick she had been, how shehad begged for a doctor, and been kissed and told there was nothing thematter with her, when she knew she was very ill. She gave the baby tome, and at that time she had been to see a lawyer, and had her papersall made out except the signatures and dates. Mr. Thomlins can tellyou that; and you know that up to that time I had not seen Polly, orhad any communication with her. She simply was unnerved at the thoughtof trusting her baby to the care she had had. "

Kate was hitting hard and straight from the shoulder. The baby, busywith her sunbeam, jabbered unnoticed. 

"When Polly died as she did, " continued Kate, "I knew that her babywould be full of the same poison that killed her; and that it must beeliminated before it came time to cut her worst teeth, so I undertookthe work, and sleeping or waking, I have been at it ever since. Now, Henry, is there any one at your house who would have figured this out, and taken the time, pains, and done work that I have? Is there?"

"Mother raised six of us. " he said defensively. 

"But she didn't die of diathesis giving birth to the first of you, "said Kate. "You were all big, strong boys with a perfectly soundbirthright. And your mother is now a much older, wearier woman thanshe was then, and her hands are far too full every day, as it is. Ifshe knew how to handle the baby as I have, and was willing to add thework to her daily round, would you be willing to have her? I havethree times her strength, while I consider that I've the first right. Then there is the baby's side of the question. I have had her throughthe worst, hardest part of babyhood; she is accustomed to a fixedroutine that you surely will concede agrees with her; she would missme, and she would not thrive as she does with me, for her food and herhours would not be regular, while you, and your father, and the boyswould tire her to death handling her. That is the start. The finishwould be that she would grow up, if she survived, to take the placePolly took at your house, while you would marry some other girl, as youWILL before a year from now. I'm dreadfully sorry to say these thingsto you, Henry, but you know they are the truth. If you're going to tryto take the baby, I'm going to fight you to the last dollar I canraise, and the last foot of land I own. That's all. Look at the baby;think it over; and let me know what you'll do as soon as you can. I'mnot asking mercy at your hands, but I do feel that I have sufferedabout my share. "

"You needn't suffer any longer, " said Henry, drying his eyes. "All yousay is true; just as what I said was true; but I might as well tellyou, and let one of us be happy. I saw my third lawyer yesterday, andhe said the papers were unbreakable unless I could prove that the childwas neglected, and not growing right, or not having proper care. Lookat her! I might do some things! I did do a thing as mean as topersuade a girl to marry me without her mother's knowledge, and ruinedher life thereby, but God knows I couldn't go on the witness stand andswear that that baby is not properly cared for! Mother's job is bigenough; and while it doesn't seem possible now, very likely I shallmarry again, as other men do; and in that event, Little Poll WOULD behappier with you. I give her up. I think I came this morning to saythat I was defeated; and to tell you that I'd give up if I saw that youwould fight. Keep the baby, and be as happy as you can. You shan't beworried any more about her. Polly shall have this thing as she desiredand planned it. Good-bye. "

When he had gone Kate knelt on the floor, laid her head on the chairtray, and putting her arms around the baby she laughed and cried at thesame time, while Miss Baby pulled her hair, patted her face, andplastered it with wet, uncertain kisses. Then Kate tied a littlebonnet on the baby's head and taking her in her arms, she went to thefield to tell Adam. It seemed to Kate that she could seeresponsibility slipping from his shoulders, could see him grow talleras he listened. The breath of relief he drew was long and deep. 

"Fine!" he cried. "Fine! I haven't told you HALF I knew. I've beenworried until I couldn't sleep. "

Kate went back to the house so glad she did not realize she wastouching earth at all. She fed the baby and laid her down for hermorning nap, and then went out in the garden; but she was too restlessto work. She walked bareheaded in the sun and was glad as she neverbefore in her life had known how to be glad. The first thing Kate knewshe was standing at the gate looking up at the noonday sky and from thedepths of her heart she was crying aloud: "Praise ye the Lord, Oh mysoul. Let all that is within me praise His holy name!"

For the remainder of the day Kate was unblushingly insane. She startedto do a hundred things and abandoned all of them to go out and look upat the sky and to cry repeatedly: "Praise the Lord!"

If she had been asked to explain why she did this, Kate could haveanswered, and would have answered: "Because I FEEL like it!" She hadbeen taught no religion as a child, she had practised no formal mode ofworship as a woman. She had been straight, honest, and virtuous. Shehad faced life and done with small question the work that she thoughtfell to her hand. She had accepted joy, sorrow, shame, all in the samestoic way. Always she had felt that there was a mighty force in theuniverse that could as well be called God as any other name; itmattered not about the name; it was a real force, and it was there. 

That day Kate exulted. She carried the baby down to the brook in theafternoon and almost shouted; she sang until she could have been hearda mile. She kept straight on praising the Lord, because expression wasimperative, and that was the form of expression that seemed to comenaturally to her. Without giving a thought as to how, or why, shefollowed her impulses and praised the Lord. The happier she grew, themore clearly she saw how uneasy and frightened she had been. 

When Nancy Ellen came, she took only one glance at Kate's glorifiedface and asked: "What in this world has happened to you?"

Kate answered in all seriousness: "My Lord has 'shut the lions'mouths, ' and they are not going to harm me. "

Nancy Ellen regarded her closely. "I hope you aren't running atemperature, " she said. "I'll take a shot at random. You have foundout that the Peters family can't take Little Poll. "

Kate laughed joyously. "Better than that, sister mine!" she cried. "Ihave convinced Henry that he doesn't want her himself as much as hewants me to have her, and he can speedily convert his family. He willdo nothing more! He will leave me in peace with her. "

"Thank God!" said Nancy Ellen. 

"There you go, too!" cried Kate. "That's the very first thought thatcame to me, only I said, 'Praise the Lord, ' which is exactly the samething; and Nancy Ellen, since Robert has been trying to praise the Lordfor twenty years, and both of us do praise Him when our time comes, wouldn't it be a good idea to open up our heads and say so, not only toourselves and to the Lord, but to the neighbours? I'm afraid she won'tunderstand much of it, but I think I shall find the place and read toLittle Poll about Abraham and Isaac to-night, and probably about Hagarand Ishmael to-morrow night, and it wouldn't surprise me a mite to hearmyself saying 'Praise the Lord, ' right out loud, any time, any place. Let's gather a great big bouquet of our loveliest flowers, and go tellMother and Polly about it. "

Without a word Nancy Ellen turned toward the garden. They gathered theflowers and getting in Nancy Ellen's car drove the short distance tothe church where Nancy Ellen played with the baby in the shade of a bigtree while Kate arranged her flowers. Then she sat down and they talkedover their lives from childhood. 

"Nancy Ellen, won't you stay to supper with us?" asked Kate. 

"Yes, " said Nancy Ellen, rising, "I haven't had such a good time inyears. I'm as glad for you as I'd be if I had such a child assured me, myself. "

"You can't bring yourself--?" began Kate. 

"Yes, I think so, " said Nancy Ellen. "Getting things for Little Pollhas broken me up so, I told Robert how I felt, and he's watching in hispractice, and he's written several letters of inquiry to friends inChicago. Any day now I may have my work cut out for me. "

"Praise the Lord again!" cried Kate. "I see where you will be happierthan you ever have been. Real life is just beginning for you. "

Then they went home and prepared a good supper and had such a fine timethey were exalted in heart and spirit. When Nancy Ellen started home, Kate took the baby and climbed in the car with her, explaining thatthey would go a short way and walk back. She went only as far as thePeters gate; then she bravely walked up to the porch, where Mr. Petersand some of the boys sat, and said casually: "I just thought I'd bringLittle Poll up to get acquainted with her folks. Isn't she a dear?"

An hour later, as she walked back in the moonlight, Henry beside hercarrying the baby, he said to her: "This is a mighty big thing, and akind thing for you to do, Mrs. Holt. Mother has been saying scandalousthings about you. "

"I know, " said Kate. "But never mind! She won't any more. "

The remainder of the week she passed in the same uplifted mental state. She carried the baby in her arms and walked all over the farm, goingoften to the cemetery with fresh flowers. Sunday morning, when thework was all done, the baby dressed her prettiest, Kate slipped intoone of her fresh white dresses and gathering a big bunch of flowersstarted again to whisper above the graves of her mother and Polly thestory of her gladness, and to freshen the flowers, so that the peoplecoming from church would see that her family were remembered. When shehad finished she arose, took up the baby, and started to return acrossthe cemetery, going behind the church, taking the path she hadtravelled the day she followed the minister's admonition to "take thewings of morning. " She thought of that. She stood very still, thinking deeply. 

"I took them, " she said. "I've tried flight after flight; and I'vefallen, and risen, and fallen, and got up and tried again, but neveruntil now have I felt that I could really 'fly to the uttermost partsof the earth. ' There is a rising power in me that should benefit morethan myself. I guess I'll just join in. "

She walked into the church as the last word of the song thecongregation were singing was finished, and the minister was openinghis lips to say: "Let us pray. " Straight down the aisle came Kate, her bare, gold head crowned with a flash of light at each window shepassed. She paused at the altar, directly facing the minister. 

"Baby and I would like the privilege of praising the Lord with you, "she said simply, "and we would like to do our share in keeping up thischurch and congregation to His honour and glory. There's some water. Can't you baptize us now?"

The minister turned to the pitcher, which always stood on his desk, filled his palm, and asked: "What is the baby's name?"

"Katherine Eleanor Peters, " said Kate. 

"Katherine Eleanor, I baptize thee, " said the minister, and he laid hishand on the soft curls of the baby. She scattered the flowers she washolding over the altar as she reached to spat her hands in the water onher head and laughed aloud. 

"What is your name?" asked the minister. 

"Katherine Eleanor Holt, " said Kate. 

Again the minister repeated the formula, and then he raised both handsand said: "Let us pray. "

CHAPTER XXVI

THE WINGED VICTORY

KATE turned and placing the baby on the front seat, she knelt and puther arms around the little thing, but her lips only repeated the words:"Praise the Lord for this precious baby!" Her heart was filled withhigh resolve. She would rear the baby with such care. She would bemore careful with Adam. She would make heroic effort to help him toclean, unashamed manhood. She would be a better sister to all herfamily. She would be friendlier, and have more patience with theneighbours. She would join in whatever effort the church was making tohold and increase its membership among the young people, and to raisefunds to keep up the organization. All the time her mind was busythinking out these fine resolves, her lips were thanking the Lord forLittle Poll. Kate arose with the benediction, picked up the baby, andstarted down the aisle among the people she had known all her life. Onevery side strong hands stretched out to greet and welcome her. Adaughter of Adam Bates was something new as a church member. They allknew how she could work, and what she could give if she chose; whilethat she had stood at the altar and been baptized, meant that somethingnot customary with the Bates family was taking place in her heart. Sothey welcomed her, and praised the beauty and sweetness of the babyuntil Kate went out into the sunshine, her face glowing. 

Slowly she walked home and as she reached the veranda, Adam took thebaby. 

"Been to the cemetery?" he asked. 

Kate nodded and dropped into a chair. 

"That's too far to walk and carry this great big woman, " he said, snuggling his face in the baby's neck, while she patted his cheeks andpulled his hair. "Why didn't you tell me you wanted to go, and let meget out the car?"

Kate looked at him speculatively. 

"Adam, " she said, "when I started out, I meant only to take someflowers to Mother and Polly. As I came around the corner of the churchto take the footpath, they were singing 'Rejoice in the Lord!' I wentinside and joined. I'm going to church as often as I can after this, and I'm going to help with the work of running it. "

"Well, I like that!" cried Adam, indignantly. "Why didn't you let mego with you?"

Kate sat staring down the road. She was shocked speechless. Again shehad followed an impulse, without thinking of any one besides herself. Usually she could talk, but in that instant she had nothing to say. Then a carriage drew into the line of her vision, stopped at York'sgate, and Mr. York alighted and swung to the ground a slim girlishfigure and then helped his wife. Kate had a sudden inspiration. "Butyou would want to wait a little and join with Milly, wouldn't you?" sheasked. "Uncle Robert always has been a church member. I think it's afine stand for a man to take. "

"Maybe that would be better, " he said. "I didn't think of Milly. Ionly thought I'd like to have been with you and Little Poll. "

"I'm sure Milly will be joining very soon, and that she'll want youwith her, " said Kate. 

She was a very substantial woman, but for the remainder of that day shefelt that she was moving with winged feet. She sang, she laughed, shewas unspeakably happy. She kept saying over and over: "And a littlechild shall lead them. " Then she would catch Little Poll, almostcrushing her in her strong arms. It never occurred to Kate that shehad done an unprecedented thing. She had done as her heart dictated. She did not know that she put the minister into a most uncomfortableposition, when he followed her request to baptize her and the child. She had never thought of probations, and examinations, and catechisms. She had read the Bible, as was the custom, every morning before herschool. In that book, when a man wanted to follow Jesus, he followed;Jesus accepted him; and that was all there was to it, with Kate. 

The middle of the week Nancy Ellen came flying up the walk on wingedfeet, herself. She carried photographs of several small children, oneof them a girl so like Little Poll that she might have been theoriginal of the picture. 

"They just came, " said Nancy Ellen rather breathlessly. "I was wildfor that little darling at once. I had Robert telegraph them to holdher until we could get there. We're going to start on the eveningtrain and if her blood seems good, and her ancestors respectable, andshe looks like that picture, we're going to bring her back with us. Oh, Kate, I can scarcely wait to get my fingers on her. I'm hungry fora baby all of my own. "

Kate studied the picture. 

"She's charming!" she said. "Oh, Nancy Ellen, this world is gettingentirely too good to be true. "

Nancy Ellen looked at Kate and smiled peculiarly. 

"I knew you were crazy, " she said, "but I never dreamed of you goingsuch lengths. Mrs. Whistler told Robert, when she called him in abouther side, Tuesday. I can't imagine a Bates joining church. "

"If that is joining church, it's the easiest thing in the world, " saidKate. "We just loved doing it, didn't we, Little Poll? Adam and Millyare going to come in soon, I'm almost sure. At least he is willing. Idon't know what it is that I am to do, but I suppose they will give memy work soon. "

"You bet they'll give you work soon, and enough, " said Nancy Ellen, laughing. "But you won't mind. You'll just put it through, as you dothings out here. Kate, you are making this place look fine. I used tosay I'd rather die than come back here to live, but lately it has beengrowing so attractive, I've been here about half my time, and wished Iwere the other half. "

Kate slipped her arm around Nancy Ellen as they walked to the gate. 

"You know, " said Nancy Ellen, "the MORE I study you, the LESS I knowabout you. Usually it's sickness, and sorrow, and losing their friendsthat bring people to the consolations of the church. You bore thosethings like a stoic. When they are all over, and you are comfortableand happy, just the joy of being sure of Little Poll has transformedyou. Kate, you make me think of the 'Winged Victory, ' this afternoon. If I get this darling little girl, will she make me big, and splendid, and fine, like you?"

Kate suddenly drew Nancy Ellen to her and kissed her a long, hard kisson the lips. 

"Nancy Ellen, " she said, "you ARE 'big, and splendid, and fine, ' or younever would be going to Chicago after this little motherless child. You haven't said a word, but I know from the joy of you and Robertduring the past months that Mrs. Southey isn't troubling you any more;and I'm sure enough to put it into words that when you get your littlechild, she will lead you straight where mine as led me. Good-bye andgood luck to you, and remember me to Robert. "

Nancy Ellen stood intently studying the picture she held in her hand. Then she looked at Kate, smiling with misty eyes: "I think, Kate, I'mvery close, if I am not really where you are this minute, " she said. Then she started her car; but she looked back, waving and smiling untilthe car swerved so that Kate called after her: "Do drive carefully, Nancy Ellen!"

Kate went slowly up the walk. She stopped several times to examine theshrubs and bushes closely, to wish for rain for the flowers. She saton the porch a few minutes talking to Little Poll, then she went insideto answer the phone. 

"Kate?" cried a sharp voice. 

"Yes, " said Kate, recognizing a neighbour, living a few miles down theroad. 

"Did Nancy Ellen just leave your house?" came a breathless query. 

"Yes, " said Kate again. 

"I just saw a car that looked like hers slip in the fresh sand at theriver levee, and it went down, and two or three times over. "

"O God!" said Kate. Then after an instant: "Ring the dinner bell foryour men to get her out. I'll phone Robert, and come as soon as I canget there. "

Kate called Dr. Gray's office. She said to the girl: "Tell the doctorthat Mrs. Howe thinks she saw Nancy Ellen's car go down the riverlevee, and two or three times over. Have him bring what he might needto Howe's, and hurry. Rush him!"

Then she ran to her bell and rang so frantically that Adam camerunning. Kate was at the little garage they had built, and had thedoor open. She told him what she had heard, ran to get the baby, andmet him at the gate. On the way she said, "You take the baby when weget there, and if I'm needed, take her back and get Milly and hermother to come stay with you. You know where her things are, and howto feed her. Don't you dare let them change any way I do. Baby knowsMilly; she will be good for her and for you. You'll be careful?"

"Of course, Mother, " said Adam. 

He called her attention to the road. 

"Look at those tracks, " he said. "Was she sick? She might have beendrunk, from them. "

"No, " said Kate, "she wasn't sick. She WAS drunk, drunken with joy. She had a picture of the most beautiful little baby girl. They were tostart to Chicago after her to-night. I suspect she was driving withthe picture in one hand. Oh, my God, have mercy!"

They had come to deep grooves in loose gravel, then the cut in theembankment, then they could see the wrecked car standing on the engineand lying against a big tree, near the water, while two men and a womanwere carrying a limp form across the meadow toward the house. As theircar stopped, Kate kissed the baby mechanically, handed her to Adam, andran into the house where she dragged a couch to the middle of the firstroom she entered, found a pillow, and brought a bucket of water and atowel from the kitchen. They carried Nancy Ellen in and laid her down. Kate began unfastening clothing and trying to get the broken body inshape for the doctor to work upon; but she spread the towel over whathad been a face of unusual beauty. Robert came in a few minutes, thenall of them worked under his directions until he suddenly sank to thefloor, burying his face in Nancy Ellen's breast; then they knew. Kategathered her sister's feet in her arms and hid her face beside them. The neighbours silently began taking away things that had been used, while Mrs. Howe chose her whitest sheet, and laid it on a chair nearRobert. 

Two days later they laid Nancy Ellen beside her mother. Then theybegan trying to face the problem of life without her. Robert saidnothing. He seemed too stunned to think. Kate wanted to tell him ofher final visit with Nancy Ellen, but she could not at that time. Robert's aged mother came to him, and said she could remain as long ashe wanted her, so that was a comfort to Kate, who took time to pityhim, even in her blackest hour. She had some very black ones. Shecould have wailed, and lamented, and relinquished all she had gained, but she did not. She merely went on with life, as she always had livedit, to the best of her ability when she was so numbed with grief shescarcely knew what she was doing. She kept herself driven about thehouse, and when she could find no more to do, took Little Poll in herarms and went out in the fields to Adam, where she found the baby asafe place, and then cut and husked corn as usual. Every Sabbath, andoften during the week, her feet carried her to the cemetery, where shesat in the deep grass and looked at those three long mounds and triedto understand life; deeper still, to fathom death. 

She and her mother had agreed that there was "something. " Now Katetried as never before to understand what, and where, and why, that"something" was. Many days she would sit for an hour at a time, thinking, and at last she arrived at fixed convictions that settledmatters forever with her. One day after she had arranged the fallroses she had grown, and some roadside asters she had gathered inpassing, she sat in deep thought, when a car stopped on the road. Katelooked up to see Robert coming across the churchyard with his arms fullof greenhouse roses. He carried a big bunch of deep red for hermother, white for Polly, and a large sheaf of warm pink for NancyEllen. Kate knelt up and taking her flowers, she moved them lower, andsilently helped Robert place those he had brought. Then she sat whereshe had been, and looked at him. 

Finally he asked: "Still hunting the 'why, ' Kate?"

"'Why' doesn't so much matter, " said Kate, "as 'where. ' I'm enough ofa fatalist to believe that Mother is here because she was old and wornout. Polly had a clear case of uric poison, while I'd stake my lifeNancy Ellen was gloating over the picture she carried when she ran intothat loose sand. In each of their cases I am satisfied as to 'why, ' aswell as about Father. The thing that holds me, and fascinates me, andthat I have such a time being sure of, is 'where. '"

Robert glanced upward and asked: "Isn't there room enough up there, Kate?"

"Too much!" said Kate. "And what IS the soul, and HOW can it bridgethe vortex lying between us and other worlds, that man never can, because of the lack of air to breathe, and support him?"

"I don't know, " said Robert; "and in spite of the fact that I do knowwhat a man CANNOT do, I still believe in the immortality of the soul. "

"Oh, yes, " said Kate. "If there is any such thing in science as aself-evident fact, that is one. THAT is provable. "

Robert looked at her eager face. "How would you go about proving it, Kate?" he asked. 

"Why, this way, " said Kate, leaning to straighten and arrange thedelicate velvet petalled roses with her sure, work-abused fingers. "Take the history of the world from as near dawn as we have any record, and trace it from the igloo of the northernmost Esquimo, around theglobe, and down to the ice of the southern pole again, and in blackestAfrica, farthest, wildest Borneo, you will never discover one singletribe of creatures, upright and belonging to the race of man, who didnot come into the world with four primal instincts. They all reproducethemselves, they all make something intended for music, they allexpress a feeling in their hearts by the exercise we call dance, theyall believe in the after life of the soul. This belief is as much aPART of any man, ever born in any location, as his hands and his feet. Whether he believes his soul enters a cat and works back to man againafter long transmigration, or goes to a Happy Hunting Ground as ourIndians, makes no difference with the fact that he enters this worldwith belief in after life of some kind. We see material evidence inincrease that man is not defeated in his desire to reproduce himself;we have advanced to something better than tom-toms and pow-wows formusic and dance; these desires are fulfilled before us, now tell me whythe very strongest of all, the most deeply rooted, the belief in afterlife, should come to nothing. Why should the others be real, and thata dream?"

"I don't think it is, " said Robert. 

"It's my biggest self-evident fact, " said Kate, conclusively. "I neverheard any one else say these things, but I think them, and they areprovable. I always believed there was something; but since I sawMother go, I know there is. She stood in full evening light, I lookedstraight in her face, and Robert, you know I'm no creature of fanciesand delusions, I tell you I SAW HER SOUL PASS. I saw the life go fromher and go on, and on. I saw her body stand erect, long enough for meto reach her, and pick her up, after its passing. That I know. "

"I shouldn't think of questioning it, Kate, " said Robert. "But don'tyou think you are rather limiting man, when you narrow him to fourprimal instincts?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Kate. "Air to breathe and food to sustain arepresupposed. Man LEARNS to fight in self-defense, and to acquire whathe covets. He learns to covet by seeing stronger men, in betterlocations, surpass his achievements, so if he is strong enough he goesand robs them by force. He learns the desire for the chase in foodhunting; I think four are plenty to start with. "

"Probably you are right, " said the doctor, rising. "I must go now. Shall I take you home?"

Kate glanced at the sun and shook her head. "I can stay half an hourlonger. I don't mind the walk. I need exercise to keep me incondition. Good-bye!"

As he started his car he glanced back. She was leaning over theflowers absorbed in their beauty. Kate sat looking straight before heruntil time to help with the evening work, and prepare supper, then shearose. She stood looking down a long time; finally she picked up afine specimen of each of the roses and slowly dropped them on herfather's grave. 

"There! You may have that many, " she said. "You look a little toolonely, lying here beside the others with not a single one, but if youcould speak, I wonder whether you would say, 'Thank you!' or 'Take thedamn weeds off me!'"

CHAPTER XXVII

BLUE RIBBON CORN

NEVER in her life had Kate worked harder than she did that fall; butshe retained her splendid health. Everything was sheltered and housed, their implements under cover, their stock in good condition, theirstore-room filled, and their fruits and vegetables buried in hills andlong rows in the garden. Adam had a first wheat premium at the CountyFair and a second on corn, concerning which he felt abused. He thoughthis corn scored the highest number of points, but that the award wasgiven another man because of Adam's having had first on wheat. In herheart Kate agreed with him; but she tried to satisfy him with the blueribbon on wheat and keep him interested sufficiently to try for thefirst on corn the coming year. She began making suggestions for thepossible improvement of his corn. Adam was not easily propitiated. 

"Mother, " he said, "you know as well as you know you're alive, that ifI had failed on wheat, or had second, I would have been given FIRST onmy corn; my corn was the best in every way, but they thought I wouldswell up and burst if I had two blue ribbons. That was what ailed thejudges. What encouragement is that to try again? I might grow evenfiner corn in the coming year than I did this, and be given no award atall, because I had two this year. It would amount to exactly the samething. "

"We'll get some more books, and see if we can study up any newwrinkles, this winter, " said Kate. "Now cheer up, and go tell Millyabout it. Maybe she can console you, if I can't. "

"Nothing but justice will console me, " said Adam. "I'm not complainingabout losing the prize; I'm fighting mad because my corn, my beautifulcorn, that grew and grew, and held its head so high, and waved itsbanners of triumph to me with every breeze, didn't get its fair show. What encouragement is there for it to try better the coming year? Thecrows might as well have had it, or the cutworms; while all my work isfor nothing. "

"You're making a big mistake, " said Kate. "If your corn was thefinest, it was, and the judges knew it, and you know it, and verylikely the man who has the first prize, knows it. You have a cleanconscience, and you know what you know. They surely can't feel rightabout it, or enjoy what they know. You have had the experience, youhave the corn for seed; with these things to back you, clear a smallstrip of new land beside the woods this winter, and try what that willdo for you. "

Adam looked at her with wide eyes. "By jing, Mother, you are a dandy!"he said. "You just bet I'll try that next year, but don't you tell asoul; there are more than you who will let a strip be cleared, in aneffort to grow blue ribbon corn. How did you come to think of it?"

"Your saying all your work had been for nothing, made me think of it, "she answered. "Let them give another man the prize, when they knowyour corn is the best. It's their way of keeping a larger number ofpeople interested and avoiding the appearance of partiality; thiscontest was too close; next year, you grow such corn, that the CORNwill force the decision in spite of the judges. Do you see?"

"I see, " said Adam. "I'll try again. "

After that life went on as usual. The annual Christmas party was theloveliest of all, because Kate gave it loving thought, and because allof their hearts were especially touched. As spring came on again, Kateand Adam studied over their work, planning many changes for the better, but each time they talked, when everything else was arranged, they cameback to corn. More than once, each of them dreamed corn that winterwhile asleep, they frankly talked of it many times a day. Location, soil, fertilizers, seed, cultivation--they even studied the almanacsfor a general forecast of the weather. These things brought them veryclose together. Also it was admitted between them, that Little Poll"grappled them with hooks of steel. " They never lacked subjects forconversation. Poll always came first, corn next, and during the winterthere began to be discussion of plans for Adam and Milly. Should Millycome with them, or should they build a small house on the end of thefarm nearest her mother? Adam did not care, so he married Millyspeedily. Kate could not make up her mind. Milly had the inclinationof a bird for a personal and private nest of her own. So spring cameto them. 

August brought the anniversary of Nancy Ellen's death, which againsaddened all of them. Then came cooler September weather, and theusual rush of preparation for winter. Kate was everywhere and enjoyingher work immensely. On sturdy, tumbly legs Little Poll trotted afterher or rode in state on her shoulder, when distances were too far. IfKate took her to the fields, as she did every day, she carried alongthe half of an old pink and white quilt, which she spread in a shadedplace and filled the baby's lap with acorns, wild flowers, smallbrightly coloured stones, shells, and whatever she could pick up forplaythings. Poll amused herself with these until the heat and air madeher sleepy, then she laid herself down and slept for an hour or two. Once she had trouble with stomach teeth that brought Dr. Gray racing, and left Kate white and limp with fear. Everything else had gonefinely and among helping Adam, working in her home, caring for thebaby, doing whatever she could see that she thought would be of benefitto the community, and what was assigned her by church committees, Katehad a busy life. She had earned, in a degree, the leadership sheexercised in her first days in Walden. Everyone liked her; but no oneever ventured to ask her for an opinion unless they truly wanted it. 

Adam came from a run to Hartley for groceries one evening in lateSeptember, with a look of concern that Kate noticed on his face. He wasvery silent during supper and when they were on the porch as usual, hestill sat as if thinking deeply. Kate knew that he would tell her whathe was thinking about when he was ready but she was not in the leastprepared for what he said. 

"Mother, how do you feel about Uncle Robert marrying again?" he askedsuddenly. 

Kate was too surprised to answer. She looked at him in amazement. Instead of answering, she asked him a question: "What makes you askthat?"

"You know how that Mrs. Southey pursued him one summer. Well, she'sback in Hartley, staying at the hotel right across from his office;she's dressed to beat the band, she's pretty as a picture; her carstands out in front all day, and to get to ride in it, and take mealswith her, all the women are running after her. I hear she has even hadRobert's old mother out for a drive. What do you think of that?"

"Think she's in love with him, of course, and trying to marry him, andthat she will very probably succeed. If she has located where she isright under his eye, and lets him know that she wants him very much, he'll, no doubt, marry her. "

"But what do you THINK about it?" asked Adam. 

"I've had no TIME to think, " said Kate. "At first blush, I'd say thatI shall hate it, as badly as I could possibly hate anything that wasnone of my immediate business. Nancy Ellen loved him so. I never shallforget that day she first told me about him, and how loving him broughtout her beauty, and made her shine and glow as if from an inner light. I was always with her most, and I loved her more than all the othergirls put together. I know that Southey woman tried to take him fromher one summer not long ago, and that he gave her to understand thatshe could not, so she went away. If she's back, it means only onething, and I think probably she'll succeed; but you can be sure it willmake me squirm properly. "

"I THOUGHT you wouldn't like it, " he said emphatically. 

"Now understand me, Adam, " said Kate. "I'm no fool. I didn't expectRobert to be more than human. He has no children, and he'd like achild above anything else on earth. I've known that for years, eversince it became apparent that none was coming to Nancy Ellen. I hadn'tgiven the matter a thought, but if I had been thinking, I would havethought that as soon as was proper, he would select a strong, healthyyoung woman, and make her his wife. I know his mother is homesick, andwants to go back to her daughters and their children, which is natural. I haven't an objection in the world to him marrying a PROPER woman, ata proper time and place; but Oh, dear Lord, I do dread and despise tosee that little Southey cat come back and catch him, because she knowshow. "

"Did you ever see her, Mother?"

"No, I never, " said Kate, "and I hope I never shall. I know what NancyEllen felt, because she told me all about it that time we were upNorth. I'm trying with all my might to have a Christian spirit. Iswallowed Mrs. Peters, and never blinked, that anybody saw; but Idon't, I truly don't know from where I could muster grace to treat awoman decently, who tried to do to my sister, what I KNOW Mrs. Southeytried to do to Nancy Ellen. She planned to break up my sister's home;that I know. Now that Nancy Ellen is gone, I feel to-night as if Ijust couldn't endure to see Mrs. Southey marry Robert. "

"Bet she does it!" said Adam. 

"Did you see her?" asked Kate. 

"See her!" cried Adam. "I saw her half a dozen times in an hour. She'sin the heart of the town, nothing to do but dress and motor. Never sawsuch a peach of a car. I couldn't help looking at it. Gee, I wish Icould get you one like that!"

"What did you think of her looks?" asked Kate. 

"Might pretty!" said Adam, promptly. "Small, but not tiny; plump, butnot fat; pink, light curls, big baby blue eyes and a sort of hesitatingway about her, as if she were anxious to do the right thing, but fearedshe might not, and wished somebody would take care of her. "

Kate threw out her hands with a rough exclamation. "I get thepicture!" she said. "It's a dead centre shot. THAT gets a man, everytime. No man cares a picayune about a woman who can take care ofherself, and help him with his job if he has a ghost of a chance at alittle pink and white clinger, who will suck the life and talent out ofhim, like the parasite she is, while she makes him believe he is on thejob, taking care of her. You can rest assured it will be settledbefore Christmas. "

Kate had been right in her theories concerning the growing of blueribbon corn. At the County Fair in late September Adam exhibited suchheavy ears of evenly grained white and yellow corn that the blue ribbonhe carried home was not an award of the judges; it was a concession tothe just demands of the exhibit. 

Then they began husking their annual crop. It had been one of thecountry's best years for corn. The long, even, golden ears they werestripping the husks from and stacking in heaps over the field mightprofitably have been used for seed by any farmer. They had divided thefield in halves and Adam was husking one side, Kate the other. She hada big shock open and kneeling beside it she was busy stripping open thehusks, and heaping up the yellow ears. Behind her the shocks stood likerows of stationed sentinels; above, the crisp October sunshine warmedthe air to a delightful degree; around the field, the fence rows werefilled with purple and rose coloured asters, and everywhere goldenrod, yellower than the corn, was hanging in heavy heads of pollen-sprayingbloom. 

On her old pink quilt Little Poll, sound asleep, was lifted from theshade of one shock to another, while Kate worked across her share ofthe field. As she worked she kept looking at the child. She franklyadored her, but she kept her reason and held to rigid rules in feeding, bathing, and dressing. Poll minded even a gesture or a nod. 

Above, the flocking larks pierced the air with silver notes, on thefence-rows the gathering robins called to each other; high in the airthe old black vulture that homed in a hollow log in Kate's woods, looked down on the spots of colour made by the pink quilt, the goldcorn, the blue of Kate's dress, and her yellow head. An artist wouldhave paused long, over the rich colour, the grouping and perspective ofthat picture, while the hazy fall atmosphere softened and blended thewhole. Kate, herself, never had appeared or felt better. She workedrapidly, often glancing across the field to see if she was even with, or slightly in advance of Adam. She said it would never do to let theboy get "heady, " so she made a point of keeping even with him, andcaring for Little Poll, "for good measure. "

She was smiling as she watched him working like a machine as he rippedopen husks, gave the ear a twist, tossed it aside, and reached for thenext. Kate was doing the same thing, quite as automatically. She wasbeginning to find the afternoon sun almost hot on her bare head, so sheturned until it fell on her back. Her face was flushed to coral pink, and framed in a loose border of her beautiful hair. She was smiling atthe thought of how Adam was working to get ahead of her, smilingbecause Little Poll looked such a picture of healthy loveliness, smiling because she was so well, she felt super-abundant health risinglike a stimulating tide in her body, smiling because the corn was thefinest she ever had seen in a commonly cultivated field, smilingbecause she and Adam were of one accord about everything, smilingbecause the day was very beautiful, because her heart was at peace, herconscience clear. 

She heard a car stop at her gate, saw a man alight and start across theyard toward the field, and knew that her visitor had seen her, and wascoming to her. Kate went on husking corn and when the man swung overthe fence of the field she saw that he was Robert, and instantlythought of Mrs. Southey, so she ceased to smile. "I've got a bignotion to tell him what I think of him, " she said to herself, even asshe looked up to greet him. Instantly she saw that he had come forsomething. 

"What is it?" she asked. 

"Agatha, " he said. "She's been having some severe heart attackslately, and she just gave me a real scare. "

Instantly Kate forgot everything, except Agatha, whom she cordiallyliked, and Robert, who appeared older, more tired, and worried than sheever had seen him. She thought Agatha had "given him a real scare, "and she decided that it scarcely would have been bad enough to putlines in his face she never had noticed before, dark circles under hiseyes, a look of weariness in his bearing. She doubted as she looked athim if he were really courting Mrs. Southey. Even as she thought ofthese things she was asking: "She's better now?"

"Yes, easier, but she suffered terribly. Adam was upset completely. Adam, 3d, and Susan and their families are away from home and won't beback for a few days unless I send for them. They went to Ohio to visitsome friends. I stopped to ask if it would be possible for you to godown this evening and sleep there, so that if there did happen to be arecurrence, Adam wouldn't be alone. "

"Of course, " said Kate, glancing at the baby. "I'll go right away!"

"No need for that, " he said, "if you'll arrange to stay with Adamto-night, as a precaution. You needn't go till bed-time. I'm goingback after supper to put them in shape for the night. I'm almost sureshe'll be all right now; but you know how frightened we can get aboutthose we love. "

"Yes, I know, " said Kate, quietly, going straight on ripping open earafter ear of corn. Presently she wondered why he did not go. Shelooked up at him and met his eyes. He was studying her intently. Katewas vividly conscious in an instant of her bare wind-teased head, herhusking gloves; she was not at all sure that her face was clean. Shesmiled at him, and picking up the sunbonnet lying beside her, she wipedher face with the skirt. 

"If this sun hits too long on the same spot, it grows warm, " she toldhim. 

"Kate, I do wish you wouldn't!" he exclaimed abruptly. 

Kate was too forthright for sparring. 

"Why not?" she asked. 

"For one thing, you are doing a man's work, " he said. "For another, Ihate to see you burn the loveliest hair I ever saw on the head of awoman, and coarsen your fine skin. "

Kate looked down at the ear of corn she held in her hands, andconsidered an instant. 

"There hasn't any man been around asking to relieve me of this work, "she said. "I got my start in life doing a man's work, and I'm frank tosay that I'd far rather do it any day, than what is usually considereda woman's. As for my looks, I never set a price on them or let theminterfere with business, Robert. "

"No, I know you don't, " he said. "But it's a pity to spoil you. "

"I don't know what's the matter with you, " said Kate, patiently. Shebent her head toward him. "Feel, " she said, "and see if my hair isn'tsoft and fine. I always cover it in really burning sun; this autumnhaze is good for it. My complexion is exactly as smooth and even now, as it was the day I first met you on the footlog over twenty years ago. There's one good thing about the Bates women. They wear well. None ofus yet have ever faded, and frazzled out. Have you got many Hartleywomen, doing what you call women's work, to compare with me physically, Robert?"

"You know the answer to that, " he said. 

"So I do!" said Kate. "I see some of them occasionally, when businesscalls me that way. Now, Robert, I'm so well, I feel like running afootrace the first thing when I wake up every morning. I'm makingmoney, I'm starting my boy in a safe, useful life; have you many yearand a half babies in your practice that can beat Little Poll? I'm ashappy as it's humanly possible for me to be without Mother, and Polly, and Nancy Ellen. Mother used always to say that when death struck afamily it seldom stopped until it took three. That was my experience, and saving Adam and Little Poll, it took my three dearest; but theseparation isn't going to be so very long. If I were you I wouldn'tworry about me, Robert. There are many women in the world willing topay for your consideration; save it for them. "

"Kate, I'm sorry I said anything, " he said hastily. "I wouldn't offendyou purposely, you know. "

Kate looked at him in surprise. "But I'm not offended, " she said, snapping an ear and reaching for another. "I am merely telling you!Don't give me a thought! I'm all right! If you'll save me an hour thenext time Little Poll has a tooth coming through, you'll havecompletely earned my gratitude. Tell Agatha I'll come as soon as Ifinish my evening work. "

That was clearly a dismissal, for Kate glancing across the field towardAdam, saw that he had advanced to a new shock, so she began huskingfaster than before. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE ELEVENTH HOUR

ROBERT said good-bye and started back toward his car. Kate lookedafter him as he reached the fence. A surge of pity for him swept up inher heart. He seemed far from happy, and he surely was very tired. Impulsive as always, she lifted her clear voice and called: "Robert!"

He paused with his foot on a rail of the fence, and turned toward her. 

"Have you had any dinner?" she asked. 

He seemed to be considering. "Come to think of it, I don't believe Ihave, " he said. 

"I thought you looked neglected, " said Kate. "Sonny across the fieldis starting a shock ahead of me; I can't come, but go to thekitchen--the door is unlocked--you'll find fried chicken and somepreserves and pickles in the pantry; the bread box is right there, andthe milk and butter are in the spring house. "

He gave Kate one long look. "Thank you, " he said and leaped the fence. He stopped on the front walk and stood a minute, then he turned andwent around the house. She laughed aloud. She was sending him tochicken perfectly cooked, barely cold, melon preserves, pickledcucumbers, and bread like that which had for years taken a County Fairprize each fall; butter yellow as the goldenrod lining the fences, andcream stiff enough to stand alone. Also, he would find neither germnor mould in her pantry and spring house, while it would be a newexperience for him to let him wait on himself. Kate husked away inhigh good humour, but she quit an hour early to be on time to go toAgatha. She explained this to Adam, when she told him that he wouldhave to milk alone, while she bathed and dressed herself and got supper. 

When she began to dress, Kate examined her hair minutely, and combed itwith unusual care. If Robert was at Agatha's when she got there, shewould let him see that her hair was not sunburned and ruined. To matchthe hair dressing, she reached back in her closet and took down hersecond best white dress. She was hoping that Agatha would be wellenough to have a short visit. Kate worked so steadily that she seldomsaw any of her brothers and sisters during the summer. In winter shespent a day with each of them, if she could possibly manage. Anyway, Agatha would like to see her appearing well, so she put on the plainsnowy linen, and carefully pinning a big apron over it, she went to thekitchen. They always had a full dinner at noon and worked until dusk. Her bath had made her later than she intended to be. Dusk wasdeepening, evening chill was beginning to creep into the air. Sheclosed the door, fed Little Poll and rolled her into bed; set thepotatoes boiling, and began mixing the biscuit. She had them justready to roll when steam lifted the lid of the potato pot; with thesoft dough in her hand she took a step to right it. While it was inher fingers, she peered into the pot. 

She did not look up on the instant the door opened, because she thoughtit would be Adam. When she glanced toward the door, she saw Robertstanding looking at her. He had stepped inside, closed the door, andwith his hand on the knob was waiting for her to see him. 

"Oh! Hello!" said Kate. "I thought it was Adam. Have you been toAgatha's yet?"

"Yes. She is very much better, " he said. "I only stopped to tell youthat her mother happened to come out for the night, and they'll notneed you. "

"I'm surely glad she is better, " said Kate, "but I'm ratherdisappointed. I've been swimming, and I'm all ready to go. "

She set the pot lid in place accurately and gave her left hand a deftturn to save the dough from dripping. She glanced from it to Robert, expecting to see him open the door and disappear. Instead he stoodlooking at her intently. Suddenly he said: "Kate, will you marry me?"

Kate mechanically saved the dough again, as she looked at the pot aninstant, then she said casually: "Sure! It would be splendid to havea doctor right in the house when Little Poll cuts her double teeth. "

"Thank you!" said Robert, tersely. "No doubt that WOULD be aprivilege, but I decline to marry you in order to see Little Pollsafely through teething. Good-night!"

He stepped outside and closed the door very completely, and somewhatpronouncedly. 

Kate stood straight an instant, then realized biscuit dough was slowlycreeping down her wrist. With a quick fling, she shot the mass intothe scrap bucket and sinking on the chair she sat on to peelvegetables, she lifted her apron, laid her head on her knees, and gavea big gulping sob or two. Then she began to cry silently. A minutelater the door opened again. That time it had to be Adam, but Kate didnot care what he saw or what he thought. She cried on in perfectabandon. 

Then steps crossed the room, someone knelt beside her, put an armaround her and said: "Kate, why are you crying?"

Kate lifted her head suddenly, and applied her apron skirt. "None ofyour business, " she said to Robert's face, six inches from hers. 

"Are you so anxious as all this about Little Poll's teeth?" he asked. 

"Oh, DRAT Little Poll's teeth!" cried Kate, the tears rollinguninterruptedly. 

"Then WHY did you say that to me?" he demanded. 

"Well, you said you 'only stopped to tell me that I needn't go toAgatha's, '" she explained. "I had to say something, to get even withyou!"

"Oh, " said Robert, and took possession. Kate put her arms around hisneck, drew his head against hers, and knew a minute of complete joy. 

When Adam entered the house his mother was very busy. She was mixingmore biscuit dough, she was laughing like a girl of sixteen, shesnatched out one of their finest tablecloths, and put on many extradishes for supper, while Uncle Robert, looking like a different man, was helping her. He was actually stirring the gravy, and getting thewater, and setting up chairs. And he was under high tension, too. Hewas saying things of no moment, as if they were profound wisdom, andlaughing hilariously at things that were scarcely worth a smile. Adamlooked on, and marvelled and all the while his irritation grew. Atlast he saw a glance of understanding pass between them. He couldendure it no longer. 

"Oh, you might as well SAY what you think, " he burst forth. "Youforgot to pull down the blinds. "

Both the brazen creatures laughed as if that were a fine joke. Theyimmediately threw off all reserve. By the time the meal was finished, Adam was struggling to keep from saying the meanest things he couldthink of. Also, he had to go to Milly, with nothing very definite totell. But when he came back, his mother was waiting for him. She saidat once: "Adam, I'm very sorry the blind was up to-night. I wanted totalk to you, and tell you myself, that the first real love for a manthat I have ever known, is in my heart to-night. "

"Why, Mother!" said Adam. 

"It's true, " said Kate, quietly. "You see Adam, the first time I eversaw Robert Gray, I knew, and he knew, that he had made a mistake inengaging himself to Nancy Ellen; but the thing was done, she was happy, we simply realized that we would have done better together, and let itgo at that. But all these years I have known that I could have madehim a wife who would have come closer to his ideals than my sister, andSHE should have had the man who wanted to marry me. They would havehad a wonderful time together. "

"And where did my father come in?" asked Adam, quietly. 

"He took advantage of my blackest hour, " said Kate. "I married himwhen I positively didn't care what happened to me. The man I couldhave LOVED was married to my sister, the man I could have married andlived with in comfort to both of us was out of the question; it was inthe Bates blood to marry about the time I did; I had seen only the verybest of your father, and he was an attractive lover, not bad looking, not embarrassed with one single scruple--it's the way of the world. Itook it. I paid for it. Only God knows how dearly I paid; but Adam, ifyou love me, stand by me now. Let me have this eleventh hourhappiness, with no alloy. Anything I feel for your Uncle Robert hasnothing in the world to do with my being your mother; with you being myson. Kiss me, and tell me you're glad, Adam. "

Adam rose up and put his arms around his mother. All his resentmentwas gone. He was happy as he could be for his mother, and happier thanhe ever before had been for himself. 

The following afternoon, Kate took the car and went to see Agathainstead of husking corn. She dressed with care and arrived about threeo'clock, leading Poll in whitest white, with cheeks still rosy from herafternoon nap. Agatha was sitting up and delighted to see them. Shesaid they were the first of the family who had come to visit her, andshe thought they had come because she was thinking of them. Then shetold Kate about her illness. She said it dated from father Batesstroke, and the dreadful days immediately following, when Adam hadcompletely lost self-control, and she had not been able to influencehim. "I think it broke my heart, " she said simply. Then they talkedthe family over, and at last Agatha said: "Kate, what is this I hearabout Robert? Have you been informed that Mrs. Southey is back inHartley, and that she is working every possible chance and usingmultifarious blandishments on him?"

Kate laughed heartily and suddenly. She never had heard"blandishments" used in common conversation. As she struggled toregain self-possession Agatha spoke again. 

"It's no laughing matter, " she said. "The report has every ear-mark ofverisimilitude. The Bates family has a way of feeling deeply. We allloved Nancy Ellen. We all suffered severely and lost something thatnever could be replaced when she went. Of course all of us realizedthat Robert would enter the bonds of matrimony again; none of us wouldhave objected, even if he remarried soon; but all of us do object tohis marrying a woman who would have broken Nancy Ellen's heart if shecould; and yesterday I took advantage of my illness, and TOLD him so. Then I asked him why a man of his standing and ability in thiscommunity didn't frustrate that unprincipled creature's vermiculationstoward him, by marrying you, at once. "

Slowly Kate sank down in her chair. Her face whitened and then grewgreenish. She breathed with difficulty. 

"Oh, Agatha!" was all she could say. 

"I do not regret it, " said Agatha. "If he is going to ruin himself, heis not going to do it without knowing that the Bates family highlydisapprove of his course. "

"But why drag me in?" said Kate, almost too shocked to speak at all. "Maybe he LOVES Mrs. Southey. She has let him see how she feels abouthim; possibly he feels the same about her. "

"He does, if he weds her, " said Agatha, conclusively. "Anything anyone could say or do would have no effect, if he had centred hisaffections upon her, of that you may be very sure. "

"May I?" asked Kate, dully. 

"Indeed, you may!" said Agatha. "The male of the species, when he is aman of Robert's attainments and calibre, can be swerved from pursuit ofthe female he covets, by nothing save extinction. "

"You mean, " said Kate with an effort, "that if Robert asked a woman tomarry him, it would mean that he loved her. "

"Indubitably!" cried Agatha. 

Kate laughed until she felt a little better, but she went home in amood far different from that in which she started. Then she had beenvery happy, and she had intended to tell Agatha about her happiness, the very first of all. Now she was far from happy. Possibly--athousand things, the most possible, that Robert had responded toAgatha's suggestion, and stopped and asked her that abrupt question, from an impulse as sudden and inexplicable as had possessed her whenshe married George Holt. Kate fervently wished she had gone to thecornfield as usual that afternoon. 

"That's the way it goes, " she said angrily, as she threw off her betterdress and put on her every-day gingham to prepare supper. "That's theway it goes! Stay in your element, and go on with your work, andyou're all right. Leave your job and go trapesing over the country, wasting your time, and you get a heartache to pay you. I might as wellgive up the idea that I'm ever to be happy, like anybody else. Everytime I think happiness is coming my way, along comes something thatknocks it higher than Gilderoy's kite. Hang the luck!"

She saw Robert pass while she was washing the dishes, and knew he wasgoing to Agatha's, and would stop when he came back. She finished herwork, put Little Poll to bed, and made herself as attractive as sheknew how in her prettiest blue dress. All the time she debated whethershe would say anything to him about what Agatha had said or not. Shedecided she would wait awhile, and watch how he acted. She thought shecould soon tell. So when Robert came, she was as nearly herself aspossible, but when he began to talk about being married soon, the mostshe would say was that she would begin to think about it at Christmas, and tell him by spring. Robert was bitterly disappointed. He was verylonely; he needed better housekeeping than his aged mother was capableof, to keep him up to a high mark in his work. Neither of them wasyoung any longer; he could see no reason why they should not be marriedat once. Of the reason in Kate's mind, he had not a glimmering. ButKate had her way. She would not even talk of a time, or express anopinion as to whether she would remain on the farm, or live in NancyEllen's house, or sell it and build whatever she wanted for herself. Robert went away baffled, and disappointed over some intangible thinghe could not understand. 

For six weeks Kate tortured herself, and kept Robert from being happy. Then one morning Agatha stopped to visit with her, while Adam drove onto town. After they had exhausted farming, Little Poll's charms, andthe neighbours, Agatha looked at Kate and said: "Katherine, what isthis I hear about Robert coming here every day, now? It appeals to methat he must have followed my advice. "

"Of course he never would have thought of coming, if you hadn't toldhim so, " said Kate dryly. 

"Now THERE you are in error, " said the literal Agatha, as she smootheddown Little Poll's skirts and twisted her ringlets into formalcorkscrews. "Right THERE, you are in error, my dear. The reason Itold Robert to marry you was because he said to me, when he suggestedgoing after you to stay the night with me, that he had seen you in thefield when he passed, and that you were the most glorious specimen ofwomanhood that he ever had seen. He said you were the one to stay withme, in case there should be any trouble, because your head was alwayslevel, and your heart was big as a barrel. "

"Yes, that's the reason I can't always have it with me, " said Kate, looking glorified instead of glorious. "Agatha, it just happens tomean very much to me. Will you just kindly begin at the beginning, andtell me every single word Robert said to you, and you said to him, thatday?"

"Why, I have informed you explicitly, " said Agatha, using herhandkerchief on the toe of Poll's blue shoe. "He mentioned going afteryou, and said what I told you, and I told him to go. He praised you sohighly that when I spoke to him about the Southey woman I rememberedit, so I suggested to him, as he seemed to think so well of you. Itjust that minute flashed into my mind; but HE made me think of it, calling you 'glorious, ' and 'level headed, ' and 'big hearted. 'Heavens! Katherine Eleanor, what more could you ask?"

"I guess that should be enough, " said Kate. 

"One certainly would presume so, " said Agatha. 

Then Adam came, and handed Kate her mail as she stood beside his cartalking to him a minute, while Agatha settled herself. As Kate closedthe gate behind her, she saw a big, square white envelope among thenewspapers, advertisements, and letters. She slipped it out and lookedat it intently. Then she ran her finger under the flap and read thecontents. She stood studying the few lines it contained, frowningdeeply. "Doesn't it beat the band?" she asked of the surroundingatmosphere. She went up the walk, entered the living room, slipped theletter under the lid of the big family Bible, and walking to thetelephone she called Dr. Gray's office. He answered the call in person. 

"Robert, this is Kate, " she said. "Would you have any deeply rootedobjections to marrying me at six o'clock this evening?"

"Well, I should say not!" boomed Robert's voice, the "not" coming soforcibly Kate dodged. 

"Have you got the information necessary for a license?" she asked. 

"Yes, " he answered. 

"Then bring one, and your minister, and come at six, " she said. "AndOh, yes, Robert, will it be all right with you if I stay here and keephouse for Adam until he and Milly can be married and move in? ThenI'll come to your house just as it is. I don't mind coming to NancyEllen's home, as I would another woman's. "

"Surely!" he cried. "Any arrangement you make will satisfy me. "

"All right, I'll expect you with the document and the minister at six, then, " said Kate, and hung up the receiver. 

Then she took it down again and calling Milly, asked her to bring herbest white dress, and come up right away, and help her get ready toentertain a few people that evening. Then she called her sisterHannah, and asked her if she thought that in the event she, Kate, wished that evening at six o'clock to marry a very fine man, and had nopreparations whatever made, her family would help her out to the extentof providing the supper. She wanted all of them, and all the children, but the arrangement had come up suddenly, and she could not possiblyprepare a supper herself, for such a big family, in the length of timeshe had. Hannah said she was perfectly sure everyone of them woulddrop everything, and be tickled to pieces to bring the supper, and tocome, and they would have a grand time. What did Kate want? Oh, shewanted bread, and chicken for meat, maybe some potato chips, andAngel's Food cake, and a big freezer or two of Agatha's best ice cream, and she thought possibly more butter, and coffee, than she had on hand. She had plenty of sugar, and cream, and pickles and jelly. She wouldhave the tables all set as she did for Christmas. Then Kate rang forAdam and put a broom in his hand as he entered the back door. She metMilly with a pail of hot water and cloths to wash the glass. She wentto her room and got out her best afternoon dress of dull blue with goldlace and a pink velvet rose. She shook it out and studied it. She hadworn it twice on the trip North. None of them save Adam ever had seenit. She put it on, and looked at it critically. Then she called Millyand they changed the neck and sleeves a little, took a yard of widthfrom the skirt, and behold! it became a "creation, " in the very heightof style. Then Kate opened her trunk, and got out the petticoat, hose, and low shoes to match it, and laid them on her bed. 

Then they set the table, laid a fire ready to strike in the cook stove, saw that the gas was all right, set out the big coffee boiler, andskimmed a crock full of cream. By four o'clock, they could think ofnothing else to do. Then Kate bathed and went to her room to dress. Adam and Milly were busy making themselves fine. Little Poll sat inher prettiest dress, watching her beloved "Tate, " until Adam came andtook her. He had been instructed to send Robert and the minister tohis mother's room as soon as they came. Kate was trying to look herbest, yet making haste, so that she would be ready on time. She hadmade no arrangements except to spread a white goatskin where she andRobert would stand at the end of the big living room near her door. Before she was fully dressed she began to hear young voices and knewthat her people were coming. When she was ready Kate looked at herselfand muttered: "I'll give Robert and all of them a good surprise. Thisis a real dress, thanks to Nancy Ellen. The poor girl! It's scarcelyfair to her to marry her man in a dress she gave me; but I'd stake mylife she'd rather I'd have him than any other woman. "

It was an evening of surprises. At six, Adam lighted a big log, festooned with leaves and berries so that the flames roared andcrackled up the chimney. The early arrivals were the young people whohad hung the mantel, gas fixtures, curtain poles and draped the doorswith long sprays of bittersweet, northern holly, and great branches ofred spice berries, dogwood with its red leaves and berries, and scarletand yellow oak leaves. The elders followed and piled the table withheaps of food, then trailed red vines between dishes. In a quandary asto what to wear, without knowing what was expected of him further thansaying "I will, " at the proper moment, Robert ended by slipping intoKate's room, dressed in white flannel. The ceremony was over at tenminutes after six. Kate was lovely, Robert was handsome, everyone washappy, the supper was a banquet. The Bates family went home, Adamdisappeared with Milly, while Little Poll went to sleep. 

Left to themselves, Robert took Kate in his arms and tried to tell herhow much he loved her, but felt he expressed himself poorly. As shestood before him, he said: "And now, dear, tell me what changed you, and why we are married to-night instead of at Christmas, or in thespring. "

"Oh, yes, " said Kate, "I almost forgot! Why, I wanted you to answer aletter for me. "

"Lucid!" said Robert. He seated himself beside the table. "Bring onthe ink and stationary, and let me get it over. "

Kate obeyed, and with the writing material, laid down the letter shehad that morning received from John Jardine, telling her that his wifehad died suddenly, and that as soon as he had laid her away, he wascoming to exact a definite promise from her as to the future; and thathe would move Heaven and earth before he would again be disappointed. Robert read the letter and laid it down, his face slowing flushingscarlet. 

"You called me out here, and married me expressly to answer this?" hedemanded. 

"Of course!" said Kate. "I thought if you could tell him that hisletter came the day I married you, it would stop his coming, and not besuch a disappointment to him. "

Robert pushed the letter from him violently, and arose "By----!" hechecked himself and stared at her. "Kate, you don't MEAN that!" hecried. "Tell me, you don't MEAN that!"

"Why, SURE I do, " said Kate. "It gave me a fine excuse. I was sohomesick for you, and tired waiting to begin life with you. Agatha toldme about her telling you the day she was ill, to marry me; and thereason I wouldn't was because I thought maybe you asked me sooffhandlike, because she TOLD you to, and you didn't really love me. Then this morning she was here, and we were talking, and she got roundit again, and then she told me ALL you said, and I saw you did love me, and that you would have asked me if she hadn't said anything, and Iwanted you so badly. Robert, ever since that day we met on thefootlog, I've know that you were the only man I'd every really WANT tomarry. Robert, I've never come anywhere near loving anybody else. Theminute Agatha told me this morning, I began to think how I could takeback what I'd been saying, how I could change, and right then Adamhanded me that letter, and it gave me a fine way out, and so I calledyou. Sure, I married you to answer that, Robert; now go and do it. "

"All right, " he said. "In a minute. "

Then he walked to her and took her in his arms again, but Kate couldnot understand why he was laughing until he shook when he kissed her.