 CHAPTER V. THE PRODUCAL DAUGHTER Early in the morning Kate set her young nephew on the gatepost to watch for his cousin, and he was to have a penny for calling at his approach. When his lusty shout came, Kate said goodbye to her sister-in-law, paid the penny, kissed the baby, and was standing in the road when Adam stopped. He looked at her inquiringly. Well, it happened, she said. He turned me out instantly with no remarks about when I might return, if ever, while mother cordially seconded the motion. It's a good thing, Adam, that you offered to take care of me, because I see clearly that you are going to have it to do. Of course I will, said Adam properly, and of course I can. You want to go to Hartley for anything? Because if you don't, we can cut across from the next road and get to Walden in about fifteen miles while it's 17 by Hartley. But if you want to go, we can't pry me at hurry. I've got a box of lunch and a feed for my horse in the back of the buggy. Mother said I was to stay with you until I saw you sandal in your room, if you had to go. If you do, she is angry with Grandpa, and she is going to give him a portion of her mentality the very first time she comes in contact with him. She said so. Yes, I can almost hear her, said Kate, struggling to choke down the rising laugh. She will never know how I appreciate what she has done for me, but I think talking to Father will not do any good. Home hasn't been so overly pleasant. It's been a small, dark, cramped house, dingy and haught when it might have been big, airy and comfortable, well furnished and prettiest Father's means from the loud, and as all the neighbors always criticize him for not having it. It's meant hard work and plenty of it ever since I was set to scouring the Timware with rushes at the mature age of four, but it's been home, all the home I've had, and it hurts more than I can tell you to be ordered out of it as I was. But if I do well and make a big success, maybe he will let me come back for Christmas or next summer's vacation. If he won't, more 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 didn't, and Father God's mad as he was last night and tore up your Father's Dean, then where would I be, as Kate? You'd be a sixteenth of two hundred acres better off than you are now, said Adam, possibly laughed Kate, but I won't want to become a land shark that way. Look down the road. Who was it? asked Adam. Nancy Ellen with my telescope, answered Kate, I'm to go all right. All right, then we will go, said the boy angrily. But it is a blame shame, and there's no sense to it as good a girl as you have been in the way you have worked. Mother said at breakfast there is neither sense nor justice in the way grandpa always has acted. And she said she would wager all she was worth that he would live to regret it. She said it was natural when people are undetected or controvert. Ain't that a peach? But there is a woman in ten miles using that word except maw. Nature, they always hurt themselves worse than they hurt their victims. And I bet he does, too, and I for one don't care. I hope he does get a good job just to pay him up for being so mean. Don't Adam, don't caution Kate. I mean it, cried the boy. I know you do. That's the awful thing about it, said Kate. I am afraid every girl he has feels the same way. From what your father said yesterday, even the sonsy favors don't feel any too good toward him. You just bet they don't. There everyone is so spoiled owls. Pa said so and he knows for they all talking over every time they meet. He said they didn't feel like men. They felt like a lot of spanked schoolboys. They meet it worries, said Kate. Every deed is made out. Father reads them over whenever it rains. They'll all get their land when he dies. It is only his way. Yes, and this is only his way, too. And it's a darn poor way, said Adam. Pa is it going to do this way at all? Mother said he could go live on his land and she'd stay home with Susan and me if he tried it. And when I am a man, I'm going to do just like Pa Ma because they are the brightest people I know. Only I'm not going to save quite so close as Pa. And if I died for it, I never could converse or dance like Ma. I should hope not, said Kate. Then added hastily, it's all right for a lady, but would seem rather sissy for a man, I believe. Yes, I guess it would. But in his language, let me tell you when Ma cuts loose, said Adam. Hello, Nancy Ellen, said Kate as Adam stopped in the buggy. Put my telescope in the back with the horse feed. Since you haven't, I don't need to ask whether I am the prodigal daughter or not. I see clearly I am. Nancy Ellen was worried until she was pale. Kate, she said, I never have seen father so angry in all my life. I thought last night, then, a day or two, I could switch the school over to Serena Woodruff and go on with my plans. But father sat breakfast at the bait's name was a stand for anything approaching honor. A bait's would teach at school this winter, right? He'd know the reason why. And you know how easy it is to change him. OK, won't you see if that old and trusty can't possibly find another teacher and let you off? I know Robert will be disappointed for he's rented his office and bought a house. And he said last night to get ready as soon after Christmas as I could. OK, won't you see if you 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 and hardly handsome as he is, then he has to be nice to everybody to get practice. And you know how those hardly girls are. Yes, Nancy Ellen, I know, say Kate, I'll see what I can do. Is it understood that if I give up the school and come back and take our father will let me come home? Yes. Oh, yes, cried Nancy Ellen. Well, nothing goes on guesswork. I'll hear him say it myself, said Kate. She climbed from the buggy. Nancy Ellen called her arm. Don't go in there. Don't you go there, she cried. He'll throw the first thing he can pick up at you. Mother says he hasn't been asleep all night. Oh, said Kate, how childish. I want to hear him say that and they'll scarcely kill me. She walked swiftly to the side door. Father, she said, Nancy Ellen is afraid she will lose Robert Graves. She has to put off her marriage for months. Kate stepped back quickly as the chair crashed against door facing. She again came into view and continued. So she asked me if I would get out 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 done too much. I'll just step inside. She said when her father started toward her, she started around the dining table talking as fast as she could. He lunging after her like a furious bull. She asked me to come back and teach the school to keep her from putting off her wedding because she is afraid to if I can break my contract there and may I come back and help her out here. The pace was going more swiftly each round. It was punctuated at that instant by a heavy meat platter aimed at Kate's head. She saw it picked up and swayed so it missed. I guess that is answer enough for for me. She pant and racing on how lovely father you are. No wonder your daughters are dishonest through fair view. No wonder your wife has no mind of her own. No wonder your sons hate you wish you would die so they could have their days and be like men instead of spanked schoolboys as they feel now. No wonder the whole posse of us hate you. Directly opposite the door, Kate caught the table and drew it with her to bar the opening. As it crashed against the casings, half the dishes flew to the floor in a heap. When Adam Bates pulled it from his path, he stepped in the dish of fried potatoes and fell heavily. Kate reached the room, climbed in the buggy and said to Nancy Ellen, you better hide, cut bundle of stuff and send it to me by Adam and I'll sew 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 past and Kate had not even time to turn her head to see what happened. Take the first turn, she said, Adam. I've done an awful thing. What did you do? cried the boy. Asked him as nice things I could be through a chair at me. Something funny happened to me. I wasn't afraid of him at all. I dodged it and finished what I was saying and another chair came so the two Bates went at it. Oh, Kate, what did you do? cried Adam. Went inside and ran around the dining table while I told him what all his sons and daughters think of him. Spanked school boys and all. Did you tell him my father said that? He demanded. No, I have more sense left than that, said Kate. I only said all his boys felt like that. Then I pulled the table after me to block the door and smash half the dishes and he slipped in the fried potatoes and went down with a crash. Bloody murder, cried young Adam, I guess. Me too, said Kate. I'll never step in that house again while he lives. I've spilled the beans now. That you have, said Adam, slacking his horse to glance back. He is standing 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 fins and hidden behind the privet bush. Well, she better make it a good long hide until he has had plenty of time to cool off. He'd have killed me if he had caught me after he fell in waste and all those potatoes already cooked. Kate laughed a dry hysterical laugh, but the boys sat white-faced and awed. Never mind, said Kate, seeing how frightened he was. When he has had plenty of time, he'll cool off, but he'll never get over it. I hope he doesn't beat mother because I was born. Oh, drat, such a man, said young Adam. I hope something worse than this happens to him. If ever I see father begin to be the least bit like him as he grows older, I shall—well, what shall you do? asked Kate as he paused. Tell more! cried young Adam emphatically. Kate leaned her face and her hands in the laughed. When she could speak, she said, Do you know, Adam? I think that would be the very best thing you could do. Why, of course, said Adam. They drove swiftly and reached Walden before ten o'clock. There they inquired their way to the home of the trustee, but Kate said nothing about giving up the school. She merely made a few inquiries, asked for the key of the schoolhouse and about boarding places. She was directed to form on which she might choose. Where would you advise me to go? she asked the trustee. Well, now folks differ, said he. All those folks whose neighbors are mine, and some might like one, and some might like another best. I could say this. I think means would be the cheapest, gnaws the dearest, but the last teacher was a good one, and she seemed well satisfied with a winner-hole. I see, said Kate smiling. Then she and young Adam investigated the schoolhouse and found it far better than any either of them had ever been inside. It promised every comfort and convenience compared with schools to which they had been accustomed. So they returned the keys and inquired about the cleaning of the building and started out to find a boarding place. First they went to the cheapest, but could be seen in the glance it was too cheap, so they eliminated that. Then they went to the most expensive, but was obvious in the house and grounds that bored there would be more 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 I can. This morning changes my plans materially. I shall want to go to school next summer part of the time, but the part I do not, I shall have to pay my way. So I mustn't spend money as I thought I would. Not one of you will dare be caught doing a thing for me. To make you safe I'll stay away, but will cost me money that I'd hope to have for clothes 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 our third place, and it's not far from here. Soon they found the house, but Kate stopped short on the side of it. Adam, there has been little life to make me particular, she said, but I draw the line at that house. I would go crazy in a house painted bright red with brown and blue decoration. It should be prohibited by law. Let us hunt up that winter hole and see how her taste in color runs. The joke is on you, said Adam, when they have found the house. It was near the school, on the wide shady street across which big maples locked branches. There was a large lot filled with old fruit trees and long 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 painted did not show it at that time. It was a warm linty gray, the shingles of the old roof almost moss covered. The joke is on me, said Kate. I shall have no quarrel with the paint 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 I stay where I can see it. They were talking of a deep goalie facing the house and running to a levee where the street crossed. A stream ran down and dipped on your culvert, turned sharply, and ran away to a distant river, spanning which they could see the bridge. Tall old forest trees lined the banks, shrubs and bushes grew in a thicket. There were swaying, clambering vines in the battle of bird-nodes over the seed-and-berry-bearing bushes. Let's go inside, and if we agree, then we will get some water and feed the horse and eat our lunch over there, said Kate. Just the things, said young Adam. Come, and we will proceed to the residence and Mrs. Holton investigate her possibilities. How do you like that? That is fine, said Kate gravely. It is, said Adam promptly, because it is maw, and whenever is maw is right. Good for you, cried Kate. I'm going to break a baits record and kiss you goodbye when you go. I probably shan't have another in years. 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 respectable appearance, a trifle past middle age. She made Kate think of dried sage because she had a dried out look and her complexion hair and eyes were all that color. She was neat and clean while hauling to which she invited them was clean and had a wholesome odor. Kate explained her errand. Mrs. Holt breathed a sigh of relief. Well, thank goodness I was beforehanded, she said. The teacher stayed here last year and she was satisfied, so I asked the trustee to mention me to the new teacher. Nobody was expecting you until the last of the week, but I said to myself, always take time by the fetlock, Samantha, and I'll always be ready. So last week I put in scouring my spare room to beat the nation and it's already so as you can walk right in. Thank you, said Kate, rather resenting the assumption that she was to have no option in the matter. I have four places on my list where they want the teacher, so I thought I would look at each of them and then decide. My ain't we choicie, said Mrs. Holt in sneering tones. Then she changed instantly and suave commendation went on. That's exactly right, that's the very thing for you to do. After you have seen what Walden has to offer, then a pretty young thing like you can make up your mind where you will have the most quiet for your work, the best room and be best fed. One of the greatest advantages here for teachers that she can be quiet, not have her room rummaged. Every place else that takes board is there's a lot of children. Here there's only me and my son and he has grown and will be after his medical work next week for the year. So while you're working time here you'll be alone with me. This is the room. That surely would be a great advantage because I'm much studying to do, said Kate, saying to the room. With one glance she liked it. It was a large room with low ceiling, quaintly papered and very old creamy paper, scattered with delicately cut green leaves but so carefully had the room been kept that was still clean. There were four large windows to let in light and air, freshly washed white curtains hanging over the deep green shades. The floor was carpeted with a freshly washed rag carpet stretched over straw. The bed was invitingly clean and looked comfortable. There was a wash stand with bowl and pitcher, soap and tiles, a small table with the lamp, a straight back chair and a rocking chair. Mrs. Hull opened a large closet having hooks for dresses at one end and shells at the other. On the top of these there were a comfort and a pair of heavy blankets. You went to cover, said Mrs. Hull, indicating these. And as a good stove I take out in summer to make more room and set up as soon as it gets cold and that is a wood box. She pointed out a shoe box covered with paper similar to that on the walls. Kate examined the room carefully, the bed, the closet and tried the chairs. Behind the girl Mrs. Hull with compressed lips, forgetting Adam's presence, watched an evident disapproval. I want to see the stove, said Kate. It is out in the woodhouse, it hasn't been cleaned up for the winter yet. Then it won't be far away, let's look at it. Almost totally lacking experience, Kate was proceeding by instinct in exactly the same way her father would have taken through experience. Mrs. Hull hesitated and turned, oh very well, she said leading the way down the hall through the dining room, which was older and furnishing and much more worn but still clean and wholesome, as were the small kitchen and back porch. From it there was only a step to the woodhouse where on the little platform across one end sat two small stoves for burning wood, one so small as to be tiny. Kate walked to the larger, lifted the top, looked inside, tried the dampers and drafts and turning said, that is very small, it will require more wood than a larger one. Mrs. Hull indicated dry wood corded to the roof. We get all our wood from the thicket across the way. That little strip in the slot is all we have left of father's farm. We kept this to 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 cheese and birds better than maybe I like people who might live there. We always get our wood from it, the shade and running water made it the coolest place 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 a week furnishing food and wood, she said, and that you allowed the last teacher to do her own washing on Saturday for nothing. Is that right? The thin lips drew more tightly. Mrs. Hull looked at Kate from head to foot in close scrutiny. I couldn't make enough to pay the extra work at that, she said. I ought to have a dollar more to really come out even. I'll have to save five fifty this fall. If that is the case, goodbye, said Kate. Thank you very much for showing me. Five fifty is what I paid at normal, and it's more than I can afford in a village like this. She turned away, followed by Adam. They crossed the street, watered the horse at the stream, placed his food conveniently for him, and, taking their lunchbox, seated themselves on the grassy place when the bank began eating. Wasn't that a pretty nice room? Asked Adam. Didn't you kind of hate to give it up? I haven't the slightest intention of giving it up, answered Kate. That woman is a skimflint, and I don't propose to let her beat me. No doubt she was glad to get four fifty last fall. She's only trying to see if she can ring me for a dollar more. If I have to board all next summer, I shall have to watch every penny or I'll not come out even, let alone saving anything. I'll wait till you're a nickel that, before we leave, she comes over here and offers me the room at the same price she got last winter. I hope you're 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, and it's nearest my purse and requirements, and if the former teachers stay there, it will seem all right for me. But she isn't going to put that little stove in my room. Of what? I hate the closet. How did you like her? Not much, said Adam promptly. If glaring at your bet could have killed you, you would have fallen dead when you examined the closet and bending and stove. She hung it up when she had to, but she was mad as hops. I nearly burst it right out when she talked about taking time 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'd better not. Kate laughed. Yes, I noticed, she said, but I did not look at you. I was afraid you'd laugh. Isn't this a fine lunch? Make your life it is, said Adam. Maude never puts up any other kind. I wish someone admired me as much as you do your mother, Adam, said Kate. Will you be as nice as Maude somebody is sure to? Said he. But I never could, said Kate. Oh, yes you could, said Adam. If you'd only set yourself to do it and try with all your might to be like her, look, quick, that must be your medical courseman. Kate glanced across the way and saw a man she thought to be about 30 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 in height, having broad, rather stooping shoulders, dark hair and eyes. He stopped at the gate and stood a few seconds looking at them so they could not very well study him closely. Then he went up the walk with loose, easy stride and into the house. Yes, that is her son, said Kate. That is exactly the way a man enters a house that belongs to him. That isn't the way I'm going to enter my house, said Adam. No, what shall we do? Rest half an hour while they talk it over and then get ready to go very deliberately. If she doesn't come across, literally and figuratively, we hunt another boarding place. I half-believe she will come, said Adam. She is watching us. I can see her pull back the blind of her room to peek. Keep looking ahead. Don't let her think you see her. Let's go up the creek and investigate this ravine. Isn't it a lovely place? Yes, I'm glad you got it, said Adam. That is, if she comes across, I will think of you as having it to look at in summer. In this winter, my, what rabbit hunting there will be and how pretty it will look. So they went wandering at the ravine, sometimes on one bank, sometimes crossing, stepping stones or logs to the other, looking, talking, until fully an hour had passed when they returned to the buggy. Adam began changing the halter for the bridal while Kate shook out the lab robe. Nickel, please, whispered Kate. Adam glanced across the street to see Mrs. Holt coming. She approached them and with no preliminary said, I have been telling my son about you and 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 do lose money on it. Oh, you wouldn't do that, Mrs. Holt, said Kate carelessly. Of course it is for you to decide. I like the room and if the border's right 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 look farther. Come right over, said Mrs. Holt collagerly. I am anxious to get on the job of mothering such a sweet young lady. What will you have for your supper? Whatever you are having, said Kate, I am not accustomed to ordering my meals. Adam, come and help me unpack. In half an hour Kate had her dresses on the hooks, her under-clothing on the shelves, her books on the table, her pencils and pen in the robin cup, and was saying goodbye to Adam and telling him what to tell his father, mother and Nancy Ellen, if he could get a stolen interview with her on the way home. He also promised to write Kate what happened about the home school and everything in which she would be interested. Then she went back to her room, sat in a comfortable rocking chair, and with nothing in the world she was obliged to do immediately. She stared at the opposite wall and day by day reviewed the summer. She sat so long and stared at the wall so intently that gradually it dissolved and shaped into the deep green ravine across the way, which sank into soothing darkness and then slowly lightened until a peep of gold came over the treetops and then a red sun crept up having a big wonderful widespread wing on each side of it. Kate's head fell with a jerk which awakened her, so she and Rose removed her dress, washed and brushed her hair, put on a fresh dress, and taking a book she crossed the street and sat in the bank of the stream again, which she watched instead of reading as she had intended. End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of A Daughter of the Land by Gene Stratton Porter This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 6 Kate's Private Pupil At first Kate merely sat in a pleasant place and allowed her nerves to settle after the short nap she had enjoyed in the rocking chair. It was such a novel experience for her to sit idle that despite the attractions of growing things, running water and singing birds, she soon 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's house. So if she might not go there, she was homeless. As she had known her father for nearly 19 years for she had a birthday anniversary coming in a few days, she felt positive that he never would voluntarily see her again. While with his constitution he would live for years, she might as well face the fact that she was homeless and prepared to pay her way all the year round, she wondered why she felt so forlorn and what made the dull ache in her throat. She remembered telling Nancy Ellen before going away the normal that she wished her father would drive her from home. Now that was accomplished. She was away from home in a place where there was not one familiar face, object, or plan of life, but she did not wish for it at all. She devoutly wished that she were back at home even if she were preparing supper in order that Nancy Ellen might hymn towels. She wondered what they were saying. Her mind was crystal clear as to what they were doing. She wondered if Nancy Ellen would send Adam Third with a parcel of cutout sewing for her to work on. She resolved so quickly and with stitches of machine-like evenness if it came. She wondered if Nancy Ellen would be compelled to put off her wedding and teach the home school in order that it might be taught by a bates as her father had demanded. She wondered if Nancy Ellen was forced to this uncongenial task whether it would sour the wonderful sweetness developed by her courtship and make her so provoked that she would not ride or have anything to do with her. They were nearly the same age. They had shared rooms and until recently beds and whatever life brought them. Now Kate lifted her head and ran her hand against her throat to ease the ache gathering there more intensely every minute. With eyes that did not see, she sat staring at the sheer walls of the ravine as it ran toward the east where the water came tumbling and leaping down over stones and shellbed. When at last she arose she had learned one lesson not in the history she carried. No matter what its disadvantages are having a home of any kind is vastly preferable to having none. And the casualness of people so driven by the demands of living and money-making that they do not take time even to be slightly courteous in kind no matter how objectionable it may be still that, even that, is better than their act of displeasure. So she sat brooding and going over and over the summer arguing her side of the case on as they trying to see theirs until she was mentally exhausted and so had accomplished nothing further then arriving at the conclusion that if Nancy Ellen was forced to postpone her wedding she would turn against her and influence Robert Gray in the same feeling. Then Kate thought of him. She capitalized him in her thought for after nineteen years of Bateman Robert Gray would seem a deified creature to their women. She reviewed the scene at the crossing log while her face flushed with pleasure. If she had remained at home and had gone after the Blackberries as it was sure as fate that she would have done then she would have met him first and he would have courted her instead of Nancy Ellen. Suddenly Kate shook herself savagely and sat straight. Why you big fool she said. Nancy Ellen went to the berry patch in a pink dress wearing a symbol that to match and carrying a blue bowl. Think of the picture she made. If I had gone I'd have been in the ragged old dirt colored gingham father's boots and his old straw hat jammed down to my ears. I'd have been hot and in the surly temper of rebelling because I had the berries to pick. He would have taken one look at me jump the fence and ran the lanes for dear life. 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 in one's disposition there's no anesthetic nor is the work done with skill for hands so the wounds are numerous and leave ugly scars. But Kate was ruthless. She resolved never to think of that Bruxene again. In life as she had lived it she would not have profited by having been first at the berry patch. Yet she had a right to think of Robert Gray's face grave and concern for her. His offers to help the influence he would have in their favor with Nancy Ellen. Of course if he was forced to postpone his wedding he would not be pleased. But it was impossible that the fears which were tormenting Nancy Ellen would materialize into action on his part. No sane man left a woman as beautiful as her sister and cast her aside because of a few months of forced waiting the cause of which he so very well knew. But it would make both of them unhappy and change their beautiful plans after he even have found and purchased the house. Still Nancy Ellen said their father was making it a point of honor that a bait should teach the school because he had signed the contract for Kate to take the place Nancy Ellen had intended to fill and then change her plans. He had sworn that a bait should teach the school. Well Hiram had taken the county examination as all pupils of the past 10 years had when they finished the country schools. It was a test required to prove whether they had done their work well. Hiram held a certificate for a year given him by the county superintendent when he passed the examinations. He had never used it. He could teach. He was Nancy Ellen's twin. School did not begin until the 1st of November. He could hire help with his corn if he could not finish alone. He could rise earlier than usual and do his feeding and milking. He could clean the stables and hole wood on Saturday and Sunday if he must for the bait's family looked on Sunday more as a day of rest for the horses and physical man than as one of religious observances. They always worked if there was anything to be gained by it. Six months being the term he would be free by the 1st of May. Surely the money would be an attraction while Nancy Ellen could coach him on any new method she had learned at normal. Kate sprang to her feet, ran across the street and then trained the hall hurried to her room. She found Mrs. Holt there in the act of closing her closet door. Kate looked at her with astonished eyes. I was just telling my son Mrs. Holt said rather breathlessly that I would take a peep and see if I forgot to put your extra covers on the shelf. Kate threw a book on the bed and walked to the table. She had experienced her share of battle for the day. No children or rummage passed through her brain. It was the final week of hot dry August weather while a point had been made of calling her attention to the extra cover when the room had been shown her. She might have said these things but why say them? The shame face of the woman convicted her of ramaging as she had turned it. Without a word, Kate sat down beside the table, drew her writing material before her and began addressing an envelope to her brother Hyrum. Mrs. Holt left the room, disliking Kate more than as she had said what the woman knew she thought. Kate wrote briefly, convincingly covering every objection and every advantage she could conceive and then she added the strongest pleas she could make. When Hyrum would do, she had no idea as with all Batesmen land was his God but required money to improve it. He would feel timid about making a first attempt to teach if he was married and the father of a child but Nancy Ellen's marriage would furnish plausible excuse. All the family had done their schoolwork as perfectly 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 the continued friendship of her sister Robert Gray. Suddenly Kate understood what that meant to her as she had not realized before. She was making long strides toward understanding herself which is the most important feature of any life. She sent a line of pleading to her sister-in-law, a word of love to the baby and finishing her letter started to post it as she remembered the office was only a few steps down the street. In the hall it occurred to her that she was the teacher now and so should be an example. Possibly the women of Walden did not run bare-headed down the street on errands. She laid the letter on a small shelf of an old hat rack and stepped back to her room to put on her hat. Her return was so immediate that Mrs. Holt had the letter in her fingers when Kate came back and was reading the address so intently that with extended hand the girl sent in cold tones, my letter, please, before the woman realized she was there. Their eyes met in a level look. Mrs. Holt's mouth opened and read the excuse, but this time Kate's temper overcame her better judgment. Can you read it clearly without your glasses? She asked politely. I, when it for the world, have you make a mistake as to who my letter is addressed? It goes to my brother, Hiram Bates, youngest son of Adam Bates, Bates' coroners, Hartley and Deanna. I was going to give it to my son so that he could take it to the office, said Mrs. Holt. And I'm going to take it myself as I know your son is downtown and I want it to go over on the evening hack, so it will be sure to go out early in the morning. Surprise overcame Mrs. Holt's discomforture. Land sakes, she cried. Bates is such a common name, it didn't mean a thing to me. Be you a daughter of Adam Bates, the land king of Bates' coroners. I be, said Kate Tursley. Well, I never. All them hundreds of acres of land and money in the bank and mortgages on half its neighbors. What the nation, and no more are better clothes than you got. And teach in school. I never heard the like in all my days. If you have Bates history down so fine, you should know that every girl in the entire Bates family is taught from the time she finished school until she married. Also, we never buy more clothing than we need or of the kind not suitable for our work. This may explain why we own some land and have a few cents in the bank. My letter, please. Kate turned and went down the street, a dull red tinging her face. I could hate that woman cordially without half trying, she said. The house was filled with the odor of cooking food when she returned and soon she was called a supper. As she went to the chair indicated for her, a step was heard in the hall. Kate remained standing and when a young man into the room, Mrs. Holt at once introduced her son, George. He did not take the trouble to step around the table and shake hands, but muttered a gruff, how do you do, and seating himself at once picked up the nearest dish and began filling his plate. His mother would have had my others otherwise. Why, George, she chided. Let's hear, hurry. Why don't you brush up and wait on Miss Bates first? Oh, she's going to be one of the family, he said. She will have to learn to get on without much polyfoxing. Rub is deep. We can all reach at a table this size. Kate looked at George Holt with a searching glance. Surely he was almost 30 of average height, appeared strong and as if he might have a forceful brain. But he was loosely jointed and there was a trace of domineering selfishness on his face that was repulsive to her. I could hate that man cordially without half trying, she thought to herself, smiling faintly at the thought. The sharp eyes of Mrs. Holt detected the smile. She probably would have 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 swobbly. Father and the boys hold exactly those opinions and practice them in precisely the same way, homie. If I were to think about it at all, I should think that a man within a year of finishing a medical course would begin exercising politeness with every woman he meets. I believe a doctor depends on women to be most of his patients and women don't like a rude doctor. Rot, said George Holt. Miss Bates is exactly right, said his mother, and I've been telling you the whole and daring time that you never get a call unless you practice manners as well as medicine. Aim time now? Yes you have, he said angrily. Well, if you think all of a sudden that manners are so essential, why didn't you hammer someone to me when you had a whip hand and could do what you please? You didn't find any fault with my manners then. How of all the world was I to know that you'd grow up and go in for doctrine? I suppose then you'd take the farm and rent it like your pa did, instead of forcing me to sell it off by inches to live, and then you wasted half the money. Go at mother, said George Holt really. Tell all you know and piece out with anything you can think of that you don't. Mrs. Holt's face fleshed crimson. She looked at Kate and said vindictively, if you want any comfort in life, never marry and bring a sunning to the world. You can humor him and cook for him and wake your hands to the bone for him and sell your land and spin all you can, raise ed, educate him for half a dozen things, and him never sticking to none or paying back a simple sass in your old age. Go at mother, you're doing fine, said George. If you keep on the space, we'll want to change your boarding place before morning. It will not be wholly your mother's fault if I do, said Kate. I would suggest that if we can't speak civilly, we eat our supper in silence. This is very good food. I couldn't enjoy it if I had a chance. She helped herself to another soda biscuit and a second piece of fried chicken and calmly began eating them. That's a good idea, said Mrs. Holt. But why don't you practice it, said her son. Thereupon began a childish battle for the last word. Kate calmly arose, picked up her plate, walked from the room down the hall and, entering her own room, closed the door quietly. You fool! You great big, thunder-headed fool, cried Mrs. Holt. Now you've done it for this thousandth time. She will start out less than no time to find some place else to stay in. Who could blame her? Don't you know who she is? Ain't you sense in your head? If there was ever a girl you ought to go after and go quick and hard, there she is. What? That big bee from what for? asked George. You itch it! You itch it! Don't you sense that she's the daughter of Adam Bates? Him they call the land king. Ain't you sense no reason to drive her from the house? Will you and me relying on sending you half her borne money to help you out? You fool! Why under the heavens didn't you tell me? How could I know? No danger, but the bull is upset and it's all your fault. She should be worth ten thousand, maybe twenty. I never knew till just before supper. I got it from a letter she wrote to her brother. I know chance to tell you, cause I meant to, first chance to hand. But you've got to work and upset everything before I get a chance. You never did amount to anything and you never will. Oh well no, stop that, I didn't know. I thought you was just calm and truck. I'll fix it up with her right after supper. Now shut up. You can't do it. It's gone too far. She'll leave the house inside fifteen minutes, said Mrs. Holt. Well I'll just show you, he boasted. George Holt pushed back his plate, wiped his mouth, brushed his teeth at the washing place on the back porch and sauntered around the house to see themself on the front porch steps. Kate saw him there and remained in her room. When he had waited an hour, he arose and tapped on her door. Kate opened it. Miss Bates, he said, I've been doing penance an hour. I'm very sorry I was such a bore. I was in earnest when I said I didn't get the gab when I needed it and I had a big disappointment today. And I came in sore and cross. I'm ashamed of myself, but you will never see me that way again. I know I will make a failure of my profession if I don't be more polite than mother ever taught me to be. Won't you let me be your scholar, too? Please do come over to the ravine where it is cool and give 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. As she looked straight in the face of the man before her, she saw not him being rude and quarreling prettily with his mother, but herself racing around the dining table pursued by her father raving like an insane man. Who was she to judge or to refuse help when it was asked? She went with him and Mrs. Holt, listening and peering from the side of the window blind of her room across the hall, watched them cross the road and sit beside each other on the bank of the ravine in what seemed polite and amicable conversation. So she heaved a deep sigh of relief and went to wash the dishes and plan breakfast. Better feed her up pretty well till she gets to have a staying here. Maybe the rest who take borders will be full, she said to herself, time enough to go at skimping when she's settled and busy, and 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 for freedom had not been accomplished without both mental and physical hurt. She was doing nothing but going over her past life minutely and as she realized more fully with each review how barren and unlovely it had been, all the strength and fresh young pride in her arose an imperative demand for something better in the future. She listened with interest to what George Holt said to her. All her life she had been driven by a man of inflexible will, his very soul inoculated with greed for possessions which would give him power, his body endowed with unfailing strength to meet the demands he made on it, and his heart wholly lacking in sentiment. But she did not propose to start her new life by speaking of her family the strangers. George Holt's experiences had been those of a son spoiled by a weak woman, one day pedant, the next bribed, the next nagged, and again left to his own devices for days, without strong inherited tendencies to be fought, tendencies to what he did not say. Looking at his heavy John's swarthy face, Kate supplied temper not much inclination to work. He had asked her to teach him. She would 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 man work. As she sat there on the bank of the ravine with a background of delicately leaf bushes and the light of the setting sun on her face and her hair, George Holt studied her closely, mentally and physically, and would have given all he possessed if he had not been so hasty. He saw that she had a good brain encouraged of all of her convictions. While on closer study he decided that she was molded on the finest physical lines of any woman he ever had seen. Also his study of medicine taught him to recognize glowing health and to set a right estimate on it. Truly he was sorry to the bottom of his soul, but he did not believe in being too humble. He said as much an apology as he felt for us and then set himself the task of calling out and parading the level best he could think of concerning himself or life in general. He had tried farming, teaching, merchandise, and law before he had decided that his vocation was medicine. On account of Robert Gray, Kate was much interested in this, but then she asked what college he was attending. He said he was going to a school in Chicago that was preparing to revolutionize the world of medicine. Then he started on a hobby that he had written for months, paying for the privilege. So Kate learned with surprise and no small dismay that in a few months a man could take a course in medicine that would enable him to journey old to which the human flesh was there, as he expressed it, without knowing anything of surgery or drugs or using either. Kate was amazed and said so at once. She disconcertingly inquired what he would do with patients who had sustained fractured skulls, developed cancers, or had been exposed to smallpox. But the man before her proposed a deal with none of those disagreeable things or their like. He was going to make fame and fortune in the world by treating mental, muscular troubles. He was going to be his analytic doctor. He turned teacher and spelled it for her because she never had heard the word. Kate looked at George Holt long and with intense interest while her mind was busy with new thoughts. 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 the man who took the long exhaust of course of training that enabled him to deal with accidents, contagions, and germ developments. He looked at her with keen appreciation of her physical freshness and mental strength and maneuvered patiently toward the point where he would dare ask blankly how many there were in her family and on exactly how many acres her father paid tax. He decided it would not do for at least a week yet. Possibly he could raise the subject casually with someone downtown who would know so that he need never ask her at all. Whenever the answer might be it was definitely settled in his own mind that Kate was the best chance he had ever had or probably ever would have. He mapped out his campaign. This week, before he must go, he would be her pupil and her slave. The holiday week he would be her lover. In the spring he would propose and in the fall he would marry her and live on the income from her land ever afterward. It was a glowing prospect, so glowing that he seriously considered stopping school once so that he could be at the courting part of his campaign three times a day and every evening. He was afraid to leave for fair people the village would tell the truth about him. He again studied Kate carefully and decided that during the week that was coming by deft and energetic work he could so win her approval they could make her think that she knew him better than outsiders did. So the siege began. Kate had decided to try making him work to see if he would or was accustomed to it. He was sufficiently accustomed to it that he could do whatever she suggested with facility that indicated practice and there was no question of his willingness. He urged her to make suggestions as to what else he could do after he made all the needed repairs about the house and premises. Kate was enjoying herself immensely before the week was over. She had another row of wood corded to the shed roof in case the winter should be severe. She had the stove she thought would warm her room polished and set up while he was there to do it. She had the back porch mended and the loose board in the front walk replaced. She borrowed buckets and cloths and impressed George Holt for the cleaning of the school building which she's superintendent. Before the week was over she had every child of school age who came to the building to see what was going on scouring out desks blacking stoves raking the yard even cleaning the street before the building. Across the street from his home George saw the dead wood from the trees and then with three days to spare Kate turned her attention to the ravine. She thought that probably she could teach better there in the spring than in the school building. She and George talked it over. He raised all the objections he could think of that the townspeople would while entirely agreeing with her himself but was of no use. She overruled the proxy objections he so kindly offered her so he was obliged to drag his tired body up the trees on both banks for several hundred yards and drop the dead wood. Kate marshalled a corps of boys who would be her older peoples and they dragged out the dry branches saved all that were suitable for firewood and made bonfires in the remainder. They raked the tin cans and town refused of years from the water and banks and induced the village delivery man to haul the stuff to 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 seats down the sides. They even rolled boulders to the bends set them where the water would show their markings and beat itself to foam against them. Mrs. Holt looked on in breathless amazement privately expressed to her son her opinion of him in terse and vigorous language. He answered the conically, How's it fish got much to say about what happens to it after you get it out of the water? No, snapped Mrs. Holt, and neither have you if you kill yourself to get it. Do I look killed? inquired her son. No, you look the most like a real man I ever saw you. She conceded in. And Kate Bates won't need glasses for 40 years yet. He says he went back to his work in the ravine. Kate was in the middle of the creek helping plan the big stone. He stood a second watching her as she told the boys surrounding her how best 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 she doesn't think I'm going to work like this for her every day of my life. As the villagers sauntered past and watched the work of the new teacher, many of them thought of things at home they could do that would improve their premises greatly. And a few went home and began work of like nature. That made their neighbors' places look so unkept that they were forced to trim and rake and mend in turn. So by the time school began, the whole village was busy in a crusade that extended the streets and alleys while the new teacher was the most popular person who had ever been there. Without having heard of such a thing, Kate had started civic improvement. George Holt leaned against a tree trunk and looked down at her as he rested. Do you suppose there is such a thing as ever making anything out of this? Yes. A perfectly lovely public park for the village? Yes. Money selling it for anything? No. Too narrow strip cut too deeply with the water. The bank's too steep. Commercial may I can't see that it is worth ten cents. Cheering. It is the only thing on earth that truly and wholly belongs to me. The road divided the land. Father willed everything on the south side of the mother. So she would have the house and the land on this side was mine. I sold off all I could to Jasper Lendad to his farm but he would only buy it within about twenty rods of the ravine. The land was too rocky and poor. So about half a mile this comprises my 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 paid them and taken the land. You had better look it up. Before, he demanded. It is beautiful. It is the shiniest, coolest place in town. Having it here doubles the value of your mother's house across the street. In some way, someday, it might turn out to be worth something. I can't see how, he said. Some of these trees may become valuable when lumber gets scarcer as it will when the land grows older. Maybe a stone quarry could be opened up if the stone runs back as far as you say. A lot of things might make it valuable. If I were you, I would go to Hartley quietly tomorrow and examine the records and if there are back taxes, I'd pay them. I'll look it up anyway, he agreed. You surely have made another place of it. It will be wonderful by spring. I can think of many uses for it, said Kate. Here comes your mother to see how we are getting along. Instead, she came to hand Kate a letter she had brought from the post office while doing her marketing. Kate took the letter, saw the glance that was from Nancy Ellen and excusing herself, she went to one of the seats they had made and turning her face so that it could not be seen, she read. Dear Kate, you can prepare yourself for the surprise of your life. Two baitsmen have done something for one of their women. I hope you will survive the shock and almost finish me a mother who is still speechless. I won't try to prepare you. I could not. Here it is. Father raged for three days and we gone out of his way like scared rabbits. I saw I had to teach, so I said I would, but I had not told Robert because I couldn't bear to. Then up came Hyrum and offered to take the school for me. Father said no, I couldn't get out of it that way. Hyrum said I had not seen him or sent him any word and I could prove my mother I hadn't been away from the house. So Father believed him. He said he wanted the money to add two acres to his land from the Sims place. That would let his stock down the water on the far side of his land where it would be a great convenience and give him a better arrangement of fields so he could make more money. He knew no father. He shut up like a clam and only said, Do what you please. If a bait teaches the school it makes my word good. So Hyrum is going to teach for me. He is brushing up a little knight and I am helping him on theory and I am wild with joy and so is Robert. I shall have plenty of time to do all my sewing and we shall be married at or after Christmas. Robert says to tell you to come to see him if you ever come to Hartley. He is there in his office now and it is lonesome but I am busy and the time will soon pass. I might as well tell you that Father said right after you left that you should never enter his house again and mother and I should not speak your name before him. I do hope he gets over it before the wedding. Write me how you like your school and where you board. Maybe Robert and I can slip off and drive over to see you some day but that would make Father so mad if he found out they would not give me the money you promised. So we had better not but you come to see us as soon as we get in our home. Love from both Nancy Allen. Kate read the joyful letter slowly. It contained all she hoped for. She had not postponed Nancy Allen's wedding. That was all she asked. She had known she would not be forgiven so soon there was slight hope she ever would. Her only chance thought Kate lay a marrying farmer having about a thousand acres of land. If she could do that her father would let her come home again sometime. She read the letter slowly over then tearing it in long strips she crossed toward them and sifted the handful small bits on the water where they started a dashing journey toward the river. Mrs. Holt narrowly watching her turned with snakey gleaming eyes to her son and whispered AHA! Miss Smart Alec has a secret. End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Of A Daughter of the Land by Gene Stratton Porter This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 7 Helping Nancy Allen and Robert to establish a home The remainder of the time before leaving George Holt spent in the very strongest mental and physical effort to showcase how much of a man he was he succeeded in what he hoped he might do he so influenced her in his favor that during the coming year whenever anyone showed signs of criticizing him Kate stopped them by commendation based upon what she's supposed to be knowledge of him With the school house and grounds cleaned as they never had been before the parents of pupils naturally expected new methods During the week spent in becoming acquainted with the teacher the parents heartily endorsed her while the pupils liked her cordially it could be seen that the glances she could pick up the brawniest of them and drop them from the window she chose The days at the stream had taught them her physical strength while at the same time they had glimpses of her mental processes The boys learned many things that they must not lie or take anything which should not belong to them that they must be considered and manly if they were to be her friends Yet not one word had been said on any of these subjects As she spoke to them they answered her and soon spoke in the same way to each other She was very careful about each statement she made often adducing convenient proof 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 into interest and educate those children She sent them home to investigate more subjects the first day than they had ever carried home in any previous month Boys suddenly began asking their fathers about business girls questioned their mothers about marketing and housekeeping The week of Christmas vacation was going to be the hardest Everyone expected the teacher to go home for the holidays Many of them knew that her sister was marrying the new doctor of Hartley When Kate was wondering how she could possibly conceal the rupture with her family Robert Gray drove into Walden and found her at the schoolhouse She was so delighted to see him that she made no attempt to conceal her joy He had driven her way for exercise and to pay her a call When he realized from her greeting how she had felt the separation from her family he had an idea that he had once propounded Kate I've come to ask a favor of you He said Granton! Left Kate Whatever can it be Just this I want you to pack a few clothes Drive to Hartley with me and do what you can to straighten out the house so there won't be such confusion when Nancy Ellen gets there Kate stared at him in happy days Oh you blessed Robert Gray What a heavenly idea she cried Of course it wouldn't be possible for me to fix Nancy Ellen's house the way she would but I could put everything where it belonged I could arrange well enough and I could have a supper ready so that you could come straight home Then you will do it Yes Do it cried Kate Do it Why I would be willing to pay you for the chance to do it How do you think I'm to explain my not going home for 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 Stoes all in Coal in one Cellar stocked Carpets down in furniture all there but not unwrapped or in place Dishes delivered but not washed Cooking utensils there but not cleaned Enough said left Kate You go marry Nancy Ellen I shall have the house warm arranged so you can live in it and the first meal ready when you come Does Nancy Ellen know you are here No I have enough country practice that I need a horse I'm trying this one I think of you often so I thought I'd drive out How are you making it Kate Just fine so far as the school goes I don't particularly like the woman I board with her son is some better yes he is much better and Robert What is a zonaletic doctor A poor fool too lazy to be a real doctor with no conscience about taking 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'm ready here but I must run to the house where I board a minute it's only a step You watch where 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 I shall be back but I'm plenty of time to start school If George goes before I return tell him Merry Christmas for me He'll be most disappointed to death said Mrs. Holt I don't see why it should so Kate calmly You never have had the teacher here at Christmas We never had the teacher that I wanted before said Mrs. Holt While Kate turned to voicing the woman's face as she perjured herself You're like one of the family George is crazy about you He wrote me to be sure to keep you could 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 and him friends Mrs. Holt have 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 avoid being the disagreeable person she was Kate smiled at her For less than that she said We'd be relations in a few days He's going to marry my sister Nancy Ellen next Tuesday Kate understood the indistinct gurgle she heard to be approving so she added He came after me early so I could go to Hartley and help get their new house ready for them to live 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 till I come back she said I haven't the gift of telling about things before they have happened Then she picked up her telescope and saying Goodbye left the house as they drove toward Hartley I'm anxious to see your house said Kate Did you find one in the good neighborhood? Very best I think said the doctor That is all one could offer Nancy Ellen I'm so glad for her and I'm glad for you too She'll make you a beautiful wife in every way She's a good cook She knows how to economize and she's too pretty for words if she is my sister I heartily agree with you said the doctor But I noticed you put the cook first in the beauty last You will too before you get through with it answered Kate Here we are said he's soon after they entered Hartley I'll drive around the block so you can form an idea of the location Kate admired every house on the block the streets and trees the one house Robert Grant selected in every particular They went inside and built fires had lunch together at the hotel and then Kate rolled up her sleeves and with a few yards of cheesecloth for a duster began unwrapping furniture and standing in the room where it belonged Robert moved the heavy pieces then he left a call on a patient spent the evening with Nancy Ellen So Kate spent several happy days sending Nancy Ellen's new home and order from basement to Garrett she had it immaculate and shining no baits girl not even Agatha ever had gone into a home having so many comforts and conveniences Kate felt lonely the day she knew her home was overcrowded with all their big family she sat very still thinking of them during the hour of the ceremony she began preparing supper almost immediately because Robert had promised her that he would not eat any more of the wedding feast and he could help and he would bring Nancy Ellen as soon afterward as possible Kate saw them drive to the gate and come up the walk 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 smell things 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 dear girl where are you? I'll get to stay until I go back to school was Kate's mental calm and she ran the class of Nancy Ellen in her arms while they laughed and very nearly cried together so that the doctor felt an incumbent upon them to hug both of them shortly afterward he said There is a fine show in town tonight and I have three tickets let's all go Let's eat before we ghost to Nancy Ellen I haven't had time to eat a square meal for a week and things smelled deliciously they finished their supper leisurely stacked the dishes and went to the theater where they saw their performance of a good play which was to both of the girls a great treat when they returned home Kate left Nancy Ellen and Robert to gloat over the carpet stand selecting as they appeared on their floors to arrange the furniture and re-examine their wedding gifts while she slipped into the kitchen and began washing the dishes and planning what she would have for breakfast but soon they came to her Nancy Ellen insisted on wiping the dishes while Robert carried them to the cupboard afterward they sat before their fireplace and talked over events since the sisters separation Nancy Ellen told about getting ready for a wedding life at home the school the news of the family then Kate drew a perfect picture the Walden school her boarding place Mrs. Holt the ravine the town and the people with the exception of George Holt him she never mentioned after Robert had gone to his office the following morning Kate said to Nancy Ellen now I wish you would be perfectly frank with me as if I could be anything else left the bride all right then said Kate what I want is this that these days shall 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 in I'll be glad 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 be satisfied and happy with the fine treat this has been I can look everyone in the face now talk about the wedding and feel all right Nancy Ellen said slowly I can't spare you until barely time to reach your school Monday morning and I'm not keeping you to work for me either we'll do everything together and then we'll plan how to make the house pretty and go see Robert in his office and go shopping I'll never forgive you if you go why Nancy Ellen said Kate then fled to the kitchen too happy to speak further none of them ever forgot that week it was such a happy time that all of them dreaded its end but when it came they parted cheerfully and each went back to work the better for the happy reunion Kate did not return to Walden until Monday then she found Mrs. Holt in an evil temper Kate could not understand it she had no means of knowing that for a week George had nagged his mother unceasingly because Kate was gone on his return and would not be back until after time for him to go again the only way for him to see her during the week he had planned to come out openly as her lover was to try to find her at her home or at her sisters he did not feel that would help him to go where he never had been asked his only recourse was to miss a few days of school and do extra work to make it up but he detested nothing in life as he detested work so the world's happy week had been to them one of constant sparring and unhappiness for which Mrs. Holt blamed Kate her son had returned expecting the court Kate baits strenuously his disappointment was not light and by his mother's constant nagging Monday for noon she went to marketing came in gasping Lance say she cried as she peered down the hall I've got a good one on that impotent how's he now you better keep your mouth shut not gossip about her he said everybody likes her no they don't for I hate her worse than snakes if I want for money I'm fix it so is that she'd never marry you when kingdom come George Holt clinches 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 been home mind you she ain't been home she never seen her sister married at all tilly nepple has a sister living near the baits he worked in the kitchen she's visiting it tillies now miss high and mighty never seen her sister married at all and it looked mild clear her coming here a week ahead of time in the fall looks like she done something she don't dare go home no wonder she tears every scrap of mail she gets to ribbons and burns it I told you she had a secret if ever you'd listen to me while you're crazy he exclaimed I did listen to you what you told me was 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 for the world untily nepple sister says old land king baits never gives his daughter a cent and he never gets none of his girls a cent it's up to the men they marry to take care of them the old skinflint what you want to do is to go along to your school and if you really aren't going to make something of yourself at last and let that big strap of a girl be due now stop shouted george holt senting another scandal are you don't you dare mark a bait standing or her reputation this town or we'll have a time like we never had before if old baits doesn't give his girls anything when they marry we'll get more when he dies and so far his money is concerned this has gone past money with me I'm going to marry Kate Bates as soon as ever I can and I've got to the place where I'm marrying her she hadn't a cent if I can't take care of her she can take care of me I'm crazy about her and I'm going to have her so you keep still and do all you can help me or you'll regret it it's you that will regret it she said stop your nagging I tell you I'll come at you in a way you won't like he cried you do that every day you're here said mrs holt starting to the kitchen to begin dinner Kate appeared in half an hour fresh and rosy also prepared for one of her little pupils had said Tilly Nepple's sister says he wasn't your sister's wedding at all did you cry because you couldn't go incidentally Kate comprehend in what must be town gossip so she gave the child a happy solution and the question bothering her and went to her boarding house forewarned she greeted both mrs holt and her son cordially then sat down the dinner in the bust of spirits the instant her chance came mrs holt said now tell us all about the lovely wedding but I wasn't managing the wedding so Kate cheerfully I was on the unfair job mother Nancy Allen put the wedding through you know our house isn't very large and close relatives fill it to bursting I've seen the same kind of wedding about every 18 months of my life I had a new job this time and when I liked better she turned to George of course your mother told you that Dr. Gray came after me he came to ask me as in a special favor to go to his new house in Hartley and do what I could to arrange it and to have a supper ready I was glad I'd seen six weddings I can remember a whole exactly I like there's nothing to them but brushing those new carpets unwrapping nice furniture and placing it washing pretty new dishes untying the loveliest gifts and arranging them that was something new in the baits wedding oh but I had a splendid time George holt looked at this mother in too great disgust to conceal his feelings another guilt edge scandal gone sky high he said then he turned to Kate one of the women who worked in your mother's kitchen is visiting here and she's starting a great hollow balloon because you were not the wedding you probably haven't got a leg left to stand on I suspect the old cats of Walden have chewed them both off and all the while you were happy and doing the thing any girl would much rather have 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 you're staying there with him comment to Mrs. Holt fortunately the people in Hartley seem reasonably busy attending their own affairs said Kate Dr. Gray had been boarding at the hotel all fall so he just went on living there until after the wedding George glared at his mother but she avoided his eyes and laughing in a silly half confused manner she said how much money did your father give the bride I can't tell you an even dollars and cents said Kate Nancy Ellen didn't say Kate saw the movement of George's foot under the table knew that he was trying to make his mother stop asking questions so she began talking to him about his work as soon as the meal was finished he walked with her to school visiting until the session began he remained three days and before he left he told Kate he loved her and asked 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 thinking about it since the first instant I saw you he declared with fervor matter of months said Kate well when I've had that much time I will tell you what I think about it end of chapter seven chapter eight of a daughter of the land by Jean Stratt Porter this vapor box recording is in the public domain chapter eight the history of a leger in hat Kate finished her school in the spring then went for a visit with Nancy Ellen and Robert before George Holt returned she was thankful to leave Walden without having seen him for she had decided without giving the matter much thought that he was not the man she wanted to marry in her heart she regret in having previously contracted for the Walden school another winter because she felt certain that with the influence of Dr. Gray she could now secure a position in Hartley that would enable her either to live with or to be near her sister with this thought in mind she tried to make the acquaintance of teachers in the school who lived in Hartley and she soon became rather intimate with one of them it was while visiting with this teacher that Kate spoke of attending normal again in an effort to prepare herself still better for the work of the coming year her new friend advised against it she said the course would be only the same thing over again with so little change or advancement that the trip was not worth the time and money it would cost she proposed that Kate go to Lake should hawk one and take the teacher's course where all spare time could be put in attending lectures and concerts and stunning the recently devised methods of education Kate went from her to Nancy Allen and Robert determined at heart to go she was pleased when they strongly advised her to and offered to help her get ready aside from having paid Agatha and for her board Kate had spent almost nothing on herself she figured the probable expenses of the trip for a month what it would cost her to live until school began again as she were forced to go to Walden and then spent all her remaining funds on the prettiest clothing she ever had owned each of the sisters knew how to buy carefully then they added advantage of being able to cut and make their own clothes may money go twice as far as where a dressmaker had to be employed when everything they had plans was purchased neatly made and packed in the trunk into which Nancy Allen slipped some of her prettiest belongings Kate made a trip to a milliner shop to purchase her first real hat she had decided on a big wide brim leaguer and far from cheap while she was trying the effects of flowers and ribbon on it the wily milliner slipped up and with a hat on Kate's golden crown looked in front of both wide black velvet ribbon and dripped over the brim a long exquisitely curling ostrich bloom Kate have one good view of herself before she turned her back on the temptation you look lovely in that said the milliner don't you like it I certainly do sing Kate I look the best in that hat with the black velvet and the plume I ever did but there's no use to look twice 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've signed the contract for that school then charge the hat and pay for it in September I'd rather wait for my money than see you fail to spend the summer under that plume it really is lovely against your gold hair could be behind me Satan quoted Kate no I never had anything charged I never expect to please have the black velvet put on and let me try it with the bow set and sewed alright said the milliner but I'm sorry she was so sorry that she carried the plume to the workroom and when she again walked up behind Kate who sat waiting before the mirror and carefully set the hat on her head and exactly the right angle the long plume crept down one side and dripped across the girl's shoulder I will reduce it a dollar more she said and send the bill to you at Walden the last week in 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 on the hat but I'll make a good friend who will come again and bring her friends what is your name please Kate took one look at herself smooth pink cheeks gray eyes gold hair the sweeping wide brim the trailing plume Miss Catherine Eleanor Bates she said Bates's corners hardly Indiana please call my carriage the milliner laughed heartily that's the spirit of 76 she commended I'd be willing to wager something worthwhile that this very hat brings you the carriage before fall if you show yourself in it the right place it's a perfectly stunning hat shall I send it or will you wear it Kate looked in the mirror again he may put a fresh blue band on the sailor I was wearing and send that to Dr. Grace when it is finished she said and put in a fancy bow for my throat at the same velvet as the hat please I'll surely pay you the last week in 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 Kate walked down the street from afar Kate saw Nancy Allen on the veranda so she walked slowly to let the effects sink in but it seemed to make no impression until she looked up at Nancy Allen's very feet and said well how do you like it God gracious cried Nancy Allen I thought I was having a stylish collar I didn't know you well I never saw you walk that way before you wouldn't expect me to plod along as if I were plowing with a thing like this on my head would you I wouldn't expect you to have a thing like that on your head but since you have it I don't mind telling you that you are stunning in it said Nancy Allen better and better last Kate sitting down on the staff the milliner said it was a stunning hat the goose said Nancy Allen you become the hat Kate quite as much as the hat becomes you the following day dressed in the linen suit natural color with the black bow at her throat the new hat in the band box and the renewed sailor on her head Kate waved her farewell to Nancy Allen and Robert on the platform then walked straight to the dressing room of the car and changed the hats Nancy Allen had told her this was not the thing to do she should travel on a plain untrimmed hat and when the dust in here for journey were passed she should bathe put on fresh clothing and wear such a fancy hat only with her best frocks in the afternoon Kate need not have been told that Wright instincts and Bates economy would have taught her the same thing but she had a perverse streak in her nature she had seen herself in the hat the milliner who knew enough of the world in human nature to know how to salcate the hat when she never intended to buy it and knew she should not in the way she did had said that before fall it would bring her a carriage which put into bold terms meant a rich husband now Kate 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 mentioning beside Nancy Allen's home and the deep understanding and strong feeling that showed so plainly between her and Robert Gray Kate expected to marry by the time she was 20 or soon after all Bates's girls had most of them had married very well indeed she frankly envied Nancy Allen while it never occurred to her that anyone would criticize her for saying so only one thing could happen to her that would surpass when it come to her sister if only she could have a man like Robert Gray and have them on a piece of land of their own Kate was a girl but no man of the Bates tribe ever was more deeply bitten 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 produce the man why not let it begin to work from the very start if her man was somewhere only waiting to see her and the hat would help him to speedy recognition why miss a chance she thought over the year and while she deployed this changement from home she knew that she had to go back to one year ago giving up the present and what I brought and promised to bring for reconciliation with her father she would not voluntarily return to the old driving nagging overwork and skimping missing every real comfort of life to buy land in which she never would have any part you get your knocks taking the wings of mourning thought Kate to herself but after all it is the only thing to do Nancy Allen says Sally was this pleasing mother very well why should I miss my chance to ruin my temper to stay at home and do the work done by a woman who can do nothing else Kate moved her head slightly to feel if the big beautiful hat that sat her braids so lightly was still there go to work you beauty thought Kate do something better for me than George Holt I'll have him to fall back on if I can't do better but I think I can yes I'm very sure I can if you do your part you lovely plume I know I can toward noon the chain ran into a violent summer storm the sky grew black the lightning flash the wind raved the rain fell and gusts the storm was at its height when Kate quit watching it and rose preoccupied with her first trip to a dining car thinking about how little food she could order and yet avoid a hunger headache the twisting whirlwind struck her face as she stepped from the day coat to go to the dining car she threw back her head and sucked her lungs full of the pure rain-chilled air she was accustomed to being out in storms she liked them one second she paused to watch the gale sweeping the fields the next to twitch at her hair caused her to throw up her hands and clutch wildly at nothing she sprang to the set railing and leaned out in time to see her wonderful hat well against the corner of the car hold there an instant with the pressure of the wind then slide down draw under and drop across the rail where passing wheels grounded to pulp Kate stood very still a second then she reached up and tried to pat the disordered strands of hair in a place she turned and went back into the day coach opened the band box and put on the sailor she resumed her old occupation thinking things over all the joy had vanished from the day and the trip looking forward ad seemed all right to defy custom and Nancy Ellen's advice and do as she please looking backward she saw that she had made a fool of herself in the estimation of everyone in the car by not wearing the sailor which was suitable for a journey and would have made no such mark for a whirling wind she found traveling even easier than anyone had told her each station was announced when she allied and there were conveyances to take her luggage to a hotel patronized almost exclusively by teachers near the schools and lecture halls large front suites and rooms around the question for Kate but luckily a tiny corner room at the back of the building was empty and when Kate specified how long she would remain she secured a less figure than she had expected to pay she began by almost starving herself at supper in order to save enough money to replace her hat with whatever she could find that would serve possibly and be cheap enough that far as she proceeded stoically but when night settled and she stood in her dressing jacket brushing her hair something gave way Kate dropped on her bed and cried into her pillow she never cried before about anything it was not all about the hat while she was at it she shed a few tears about every cruel thing that happened to her since she could remember that she had born tearlessly at the time it was a deluge that left her breathless and exhausted when she finally sat up she found the room so close she gently opened her door and peeped into the hall there was a door opening on an outside veranda running across the end of the building and the length of the front as she looked from her door and listened intently she heard the sound of a woman's voice and choking stifled sobs in the room having a door directly across the narrow hall from hers my lord that's two of us said Kate she leaned closer listening again but when she heard a short grown mingled with the sobs she immediately tapped on the door instantly the sob seized and the room became still Kate put her lips to the crack and said in her offhand way it's only school mom rooming next to 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 and lighted the gas on the bed lay in a tumbled heap a tiny elderly dressed in china doll woman she was fully dressed even to a wrap bonnet and gloves one hand clutched her side the other held a handkerchief to her lips Kate stood an instant under the light studying the situation the dark eyes and the narrow face looked appealingly 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 pointing to a purse on the dresser Kate opened it took out a small bottle and read the directions and the second she was holding a glass of the woman's lips soon she was better she looked at Kate eagerly oh please don't leave me she gasped of course not so Kate instantly I'll stay as long as you want me she bent over the bed and gently drew the glass from the frail hands she untied and slipped off the bonnet she hunted keys in the purse opened a traveling bag and found what she required then slowly and carefully she undressed the woman helped her into a night robe and stooping she lifted her into a chair until she opened the bed after giving her time to rest Kate pulled down the white wavy hair and brushed it for the night as she worked she sent a word of encouragement 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 and began to sob wildly Kate knelt beside the bed stroked the white hair padded the shoulder she could reach and talked very much as she wouldn't have to a little girl please don't cry she bang it must be your heart you'll surely make it worse I'm trying said the woman but I've been scared sick I almost certainly would have died if you hadn't come to me and found the medicine oh that dreadful Suzette how could she the clothing Kate had removed from the woman had been a finest cloth and silk her hands wore wonderful rings a heavy purse was in her bag everything she had was the finest that money could buy while she seemed as if a rough wind never untouched her she appeared so frail that Kate fair to let her sleep without knowing where to locate her friends she should be punished for leaving you alone among strangers to Kate indignantly if I only could learn to mind John signed the little woman he never liked Suzette but she was the very best maid I ever had she was like a loving daughter until all at once on the train along stranger she blared out at me and simply raved oh it was dreadful and knowing you were subject to these attacks she did the thing that would precipitate one and then left you alone among strangers how wicked how cruel say Kate intense indignation John didn't want me to come but I used to be a teacher and I came here when this place was mostly once with my dear husband then after he died through the long years of poverty and struggle I would read of the place in the wonderful meetings but I could never afford to come and when John began to work and make good so fast I was dizzy half the time with his excesses I didn't think about the place but lately since I've had everything else I could think of something possessed me to come back here and take a sweet among the women and men who are teaching our young people so wonderfully and to sail on the lake and hear the lectures and dream my youth over again I think that was it most of all to dream my youth over again and try to relive the past there now you've told me all about it said Kate stroking the white forehead in an effort to produce drowsiness close your eyes and go to sleep I have even begun to tell you sir the woman perversely if I talked all night I couldn't tell you about John how big he is and how brave he is and how smart he is and how he is the equal of any businessman in Chicago and soon if he keeps on he will be worth as much as some of them more than any one of his age who has had a lot of help and said having his way to make a loan and a sick old mother to support besides now I'm gonna tell you in a week half about John and he didn't want me to come if I would come then he wanted me to wait a few days until they finish a deal so he could bring me but the man I thought of 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 and then a Kate I've gone places with Suzanne perfect comfort I think the trouble was that she tried from the first to attract John about the time we start and he let her see plainly the only wanted of her was to take care of me she was pretty and smart so made her furious she was pampered and everything is no made I ever had before John is young yet and I think he is very handsome and he went painly to attention to her you see when other boys were going to school and getting acquainted with girls by association even when he was a little bit of a fellow and knee breeches I had to let himself papers and then he got into a shop and he invented a little thing and then a bigger and bigger yet and then he went to stocks and things and he doesn't know anything about girls only about sick old women like me he never saw what Suzette was up to you do believe that I was an ugly tour don't you you couldn't be ugly if you tried say Kate the woman suddenly began to sob again this time slowly as if her forces were almost spent she looked to Kate for the sympathy she craved 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 I'm roaring in a pillow and medicate 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't you please tell me of course they can't I lost my new hat but my dear crying over a hat when it is so easy to get another half foolish said the woman yes but you didn't see the hat said Kate and it will be far from easy to get another with this one not paid for yet I'm only one season removed from some bonus so I never should have bought it at all 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 the humor this fragile woman and to keep from thinking of her own trouble Kate told the story of her leg and hat and ostrich plume many things besides but she was not her usual to herself with her new friend who had to be soothed to forgetfulness Kate ended I was all wrong to buy such a hat in the first place I couldn't afford it it's foolish vanity I'm not really good looking I shouldn't have flattered myself that I was losing it before it was paid for was just good for me never again why I'd be so foolish why my dear don't say such things or think them chided the little woman you had as good a right to a becoming has any girl now let me ask you one question and then I'll try to sleep you said you were a teacher did you come here to attend the summer school for teachers yes said Kate would it make any great difference to you if you missed a few days she asked hot the lease said Kate well then you won't be offended will you if I ask you to remain with me and take care of me until John comes I could send him a message tonight that I am alone and bring him by this time tomorrow but I know he has business that will cause him to lose money should he leave and I was so very willful about coming I dread to prove him right so conclusively the very first day that door opens into a room reserved for Suzette if only you'd take and leave the door enclosed tonight and if only you would stay with me until John comes I could well afford to pay you enough to lengthen your say as long as you like and it makes me so happy to be with such a fresh young creature will you stay with me my dear I certainly will say Kate Hardinley if you only tell me what I should do I'm not accustomed to rich ladies you know I had not myself said the little woman but I do seem to take the being waited upon with the most remarkable facility end of chapter 8 chapter 9 of the daughter of the land by Jean Stratten Porter this labor box recording is in the public domain chapter 9 a sun bonnet girl with the first faint light of morning Kate slipped to the door to find her charge still sleeping soundly it was eight o'clock when she heard a movement in the adjoining room went again to the door this time the woman was awakened smilingly waved to Kate as she called good morning come right in I was wondering if you were regretting your hasty bargain not a bit of it left Kate I'm here waiting to be told what to do 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 Miss Bates she said my name is Mariette Jardine my home is in Chicago 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 manager until I have an understanding with him and give him a message I want sent and in order for our breakfast I wonder if it won't be nice to have it served on the corner of the verandah in front of our rooms under the shade of that big tree I think that would be famous and 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 long purse of gray lint and white cotton cord they could almost reach out and touch it the breakfast was good nicely served by a neat maid evidently doing something so out the ordinary that she was rather stunned but she was a young person of some self-possession for when she removed the train Mrs. Jardine thanked her and gave her a coin that brought a smiling thank you very much if you want your dinner served here and we'll ask for jenny weeks I'd like to wait on you again thank you so Mrs. Jardine I shall remember that I don't like changing waiters each meal it gets a no chance to learn what I want or how I want it then she and Kate slowly walked the length of the verandah several times while she pointed out parts of the grounds they could see that remained as she had known them formally and that were improvements when Mrs. Jardine was tired they returned to the room and she lay on the bed while they talked of many things talked of things with which Kate was familiar and some concerning which she unhesitatingly asked questions until she felt informed Mrs. Jardine was so dainty so delicate yet so full of life so well-informed so keen mentally that as she talked she kept Kate chuckling most of the time she talked of her home life her travels her friends her son she talked of politics religion and education then she talked of her son again she talked of social conditions civic improvement and women's rights then she came back to her son until Kate saw that he was the real interest in the world to her the mental picture she drew of him was peculiar one minute Mrs. Jardine spoke of him as a man among men pushing fighting forcing matters to work to his will so Kate imagined him tall broad and brawny indefatigable in his undertakings the next his mother was telling us such thoughtfulness such kindness such loving care that Kate's mental picture shifted to any exacting little man purely effeminate as men ever can be but whatever she thought some right instinct prevented her from making a comment or asking a question one she sat looking far across the beautiful lake with such an expression on her face that Mrs. Jardine said to her what are you thinking of my dear Kate said smilingly oh i was thinking of what a wonderful school i shall teach this winter tell me what you mean said Mrs. Jardine why with even a month of this i shall have riches stored for every day of the year say Kate none of my pupils ever saw a lake that i know of i shall tell them of this with its shining water its rocky shady sandy shorelines of the row boats and steam boats and the people from all over the country before i go back i can tell them of wonderful lectures concerts educational demonstrations here i shall get much from the experiences of other teachers i shall delight my pupils with just you in what a way as Mrs. Jardine oh i shall tell them of a dainty little woman who knows everything from you i shall teach my girls to be simple wholesome tender and kind to take the gifts of god thankfully reverently yet with self-respect from you i can tell them what really fine fabrics are and about laces and linens when the subject survives as they always do in teaching i shall describe each ring you wear each comb and pin even the hanker chiefs you carry in the bags you travel with to teach means to educate and it is a big task but it is almost painfully interesting each girl of my school shall go into life a gentler dainty woman more careful of a person in speech because of my having met you isn't that a fine thought why you darling crime mrs. Jardine life is always having lovely things in store for me yesterday i thought susan's leaving me and she did with the most cruel thing that ever happened to me today i get from it this lovely experience if you are straight from some bonnet says you told me last night where did you get these advanced ideas if some bonnets could speak many of them would tell the surprising heads they have covered lefty life deals with women much the same as with men if we go back to where we start history can prove to you that there are ten some bonnets to one leaguer and had in the high places of the world not to entertain me but because i'm interested my dear will you tell me about your particular some bonnet as mrs jardine kate sat staring across the blue lake with wide eyes a queer smile twisting her lips at last she said slowly well then my some bonnet is in my trunk i'm not so far away from it but then it still travels with me it's blue chambray made from pieces left for my first pretty dress it is ruffled and has white stitching i made it myself 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 had worked out its legal time of service to pay for having been ahead at all but my head is now free in my own possession ready to go as fast and far on the path of life as it develops the brains to carry it huge smile if i should tell you what i'd ask of life if i could have what i want i scarcely think so please tell me you'll be shocked warned kate just so it is enough to set my heart rocking again said mrs jardine we'll stop before that left kate then if you will have it i want a life by the time i'm 20 a man of my stature dark eyes and hair because i'm so light i want him to be honest forceful hard working with the few drops of the milk of human kindness in his heart and the same ambitions i have and what are your ambitions as mrs jardine to own and to cultivate and to bring to the highest state of efficiency at least 200 acres of land with convenient and attractive buildings and pedigreed stock and to mother at least 12 perfect physical mental boys and girls oh my soul cry mrs jardine falling back in her chair her mouth agape 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 persisted kate you're 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 turn without seeing a girl working for dear life to attract the man she wants if she can't secure him some other man and in lieu of him any man at all and preference to none life shows us women on the age old quest every day everywhere we go would be so secretive about it why not say honestly what we want and take it if we can get it at any rate that is the most important thing inside my son bullet i knew you'd be shocked but i'm not shocked at what you say i agree with you what i'm shocked at is your ideals i thought you'd want to educate yourself to such superiority over common woman that you could take the platform and back by your splendid physique work for suffrage or lecture to educate the masses i think more could be accomplished with selected specimens by being steadily on the job than by giving an hour to masses i'm not much interested in masses they are too abstract for me i prefer one stern reality that's for women's rights if bendy beg is this woman the right to do anything more than jewelry has the right to do they'll surely be a scandal mrs jardine lay back in her chair laughing you are the most refreshing person i've met in all my travels then to put it boldly you want a life of man a farm and a family you comprehend me beautifully succinct all my life i've worked like a towhead to help earn 200 acres of land for someone else i think there's nothing i want so much as 200 acres of land for myself i'd undertake to do almost anything with it if i had it i know i could if i had the shoulder to shoulder of real man you know this it will take considerable of a man to touch shoulders with me i'm a head taller than most of them mrs jardine looked at her speculatively hmm she murmured kate laughed for 18 years i have been under marching orders said kate over a year ago i was advised by a minister to take the wings a morning so i took wing i started on one grand fight and fell kerf smash in short order life since has been a series of battering my wings until i've almost decided to buy some especially heavy boots and walk the remainder of the way as a concrete example i started out yesterday morning wearing a hat there's several very reliable parties assured me would services me the flight i might at least have a carriage where oh where are my hat my carriage now the carriage no hey the hat i'm humbly hoping some little country girl who has lived a life as bare in his mind will find the remains retrieve the velvet bow for a hair ribbon as for the man that leg and hat was supposed to symbolize he won't even look my way when i pair my bobby little sailor he's as badly crushed out of existence as my beautiful hat you never should have been wearing such a hat to travel in my dear merman mrs jardine certainly not so kate i knew it my sister told me that common sense told me that well what has that got to do with the fact that i was wearing the hat i guess i have you there far from it so mrs jardine if you're going to start out in life calmly ignoring the advice of those who love you and the dictates of common sense the result will be that soon the wheels of life will be grinding you instead of a train making bag rags of your hat hmm say kate there is room for reflection there but wasn't it plain logic that if the hat was to bring the man it should be one where at any minute he might see it but my dear my dear if such a man is a woman like you should have had seen you wearing that hat in the morning on a railway train he would merely have thought you prideful and extravagant you would have been far more attractive to any man i know in your blue sun bonnet i surely have learned that lesson say kate hereafter sailors are some bonnets for me in the morning now what may i do to add to your comfort leave me for an hour until i take a nap and then we'll have lunch and go to a lecture i can go today perfectly well after an hour's rest so kate went for a very interesting walk around the grounds when she returned 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 to talk with jenny weeks whom she found lingering in the hall near her door when at last that nap was over a new woman seemed to have developed mrs jardine was so refreshed and interested the remainder of the day that was easier than before for kate to see how shocked and ill she had been as she helped dress her for lunch kate said to mrs jardine i met the manager as i was going to post the letter 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 her appearance 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 is top one winter of county school a small school in an out country she's here waiting table two hours three times a day to pay for a room and board in the meantime she attends all the sessions and studies as much as she can but she's very poor material for a teacher i pity her pupils she's a little thing bright enough in her way but she has not much initiative not strong enough for the work and she's not enough spunk she'll never lead the minds of school children anywhere that will greatly benefit them and your deduction is that she would make you a kind careful obedient maid who is capable enough to be taught to wash your hand manicure you with deafness and who would serve you for respect as well as higher i think it would be a fine arrangement for you and good for her this surely is kind of use him mrs jardine oh keep strict watch of jenny weeks if i could find a really capable maid here not have to wire john to bring one i'd be so glad it does so go against the grain to prove to a man that he has a right to be more conceited than he is naturally as they ate lunch kate said and mrs jardine i know this one thing this morning that is going to be bombed to my soul i passed many teachers in summer resorters going to the lecture halls and coming from them and half of them were bareheaded so my state will not be so remarkable until i can get another hat god moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform laughingly quoted mrs jardine you thought losing that precious hat was a calamity but if you hadn't lost it you probably would have slept soundly while i died across the hall my life is worth the price of a whole millinery sharp to me i think you value the friendship we are developing i foresee i shall get a maid who will not disgrace me in public you will have a full summer here now truly isn't all this worth many hats of course it's like a fairy tale so kate still you didn't see 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 telling small people about the outcome of my first attendant vanity laughed kate the third morning dawn and great beauty a misty moisty morning mrs jardine called it the sun tried to shine but could not quite pierce the intervening clouds so on every side could be seen exquisite pictures painted in delicate pastel colors 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 it last have you made up your mind yet no and i'm afraid i never shall answer mrs jardine you're rather an astonishing creature you're so big so vital you absorb knowledge like a sponge takes water and for the same purpose laughed kate that it may be used for the benefit of others tell me some more about me i find me such an interesting subject no doubt and minimize jardine not a doubt about that we are all more interested in ourselves than in anyone else in this world until love comes then we soon learn to love a man more than life and when a child comes we learn another love so clear so high so purifying that we become of no moment at all and live only for those we love you speak for yourself in the class of women like you answered kate gravely i'm very well acquainted with many women who have married and born children and who are possibly more selfish than before the great experience never touched them at all there was a tap at the door kate opened it and delivered to mrs jardine the box so big they almost blocked the doorway mrs jardine lifted from the box a big leg and had a weave so white and fine it almost seemed like woven cloth instead of braid there was the bow in front but the bow was nested in and tied through a web of flowered gold lace one velvet and was slightly long and concealed a wire which lifted one side of the brim of trifle beneath which was fastened a smashing big pale pink velvet rose there was an ostrich plume even longer than the other broader blacker as wonderful feathers ever dropped from the plumage of a lordly bird mrs jardine shook the hat in such a way as to set the feather lifting and waving after the confinement of the box with slender sure fingers she set the bow in lace as they should be and touched the petals of the rose she inspected the hat closely shook it again and held it toward kate a very small price to pay for the breath of life which i was rapidly losing she said do me the favor to accept it as casually as i offer it did i understand your description anywhere near right is this your hat thank you said kate it is just the speaking image of my hat but it's a glorified sublimated celestial image when i describe as merely a hat this is what i think i've lately heard nancy ellen mention as a creation whoo she went to the mirror arranged her hair set the hat on her head and turned gracious heavens and mrs jardine my dear i understand now why you wore that hat on your journey i wore that hat so kate as an ascension stock wears its crown of white lilies as the bobble ink wears its snowy courting crest as a bride wears her veil but please take this for me tonight lest i sleep in it that night mrs jardine felt tired enough to propose resting in her room with jenny weeks where she could be called so for the first time kate left her undaunting her best white dress in the hat attended a concert at this close she walked back to the hotel with some of the other teachers stopping there talked a few minutes in the hall went to the office desk for mail and slowly ascended the stairs thinking intently what she thought was if i'm not mistaken my hat did a small bit of execution tonight she stepped to her room to lock the door and stopped a few minutes to arrange the clothing she had discarded when she dressed hurriedly before going to the concert then the letters in 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 jenny weeks she slowly lifted her eyes and faced a tall slender man standing there john jardine what in this world are you doing here she demanded after the manner of mothers and what in this world has happened to you does does it show on me like like that he stammered was your train in the rack are you in trouble she asked something shows plainly enough but i don't understand what it is are you all right mother he advanced to step looking intently at her of course i'm all right you can see that for yourself the question is what's the matter with you if you will have it there is something the matter since i saw you last i've seen a woman i want to marry that's all unless i add that i want her so badly that i haven't much since left now you have it no i don't have it and i won't have it what design and creature has been trying to intrigue you now she demanded not anyone she didn't see me even i saw her i've been following 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 forgive me but since i'm here you must know that i could only come on the evening train he crossed the room now beside the chair and took it in its contents into his arms are you going to scold me yes i am she said i'm going to take you out and push you into the deepest part of the lake i'm so disappointed why john for the first time in my life i selected a girl for you the very most suitable girl i ever saw and i hoped and hoped for three days that when you came you'd like her of course i wasn't so rash as to say a word to her but i thought myself into a state where i'm going to be 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 pay i suppose i shall be forced she said i've always dreaded it now here it comes oh why couldn't have been cate why did she go to that silly concert if only i kept her here and we walked down to the station i'd have a mind too then the door opened and cate stepped into the room she stood still looking at them john jardine stood up looking at her his mother sat staring at them in turn cate recovered first please excuse me she said she laid the letters on the small table and turned to go john caught his mother's hand closer when he found himself holding it if you know the young lady mother he said why don't you introduce us oh i was so bewildered by your coming she said cate dear let me present my son cate crossed the room and looking straight into each other's eyes they shook hands and found chairs how was your concert my dear asked mrs jardine i don't think it was very good said cate not at all up to my expectations how did you like it mr jardine was that a concert he asked it was supposed to be cate thank you for the information he said i didn't see it i didn't hear it i don't know where i was this is most astonishing cate this is jardine looked at her son her eyes two big imperative question marks he nodded slightly my soul she cried then laid back in her chair half laughing half crying until cate feared she might have another attack of heart trouble end of chapter nine