In that moment she recalled that she had left her father in
perfect health, she had been gone more than seven years. In that
time he could not fail to illness; how he had been hurt was her
first thought. As she asked the question, she stepped into her
room and snatched up her second best summer dress, waiting for
Adam to speak as she slipped into it. But speaking seemed to be a
very difficult thing for Adam. He was slow in starting and words
dragged and came singly: "Yesterday -- tired -- big dinner --
awful hot -- sunstroke -- "
"He's gone?" she cried.
Adam nodded in that queer way again.
"Why did you come? Does Mother want me?" the questions leaped
from Kate's lips; her eyes implored him. Adam was too stricken to
heed his sister's unspoken plea.
"Course," he said. "All there -- your place -- I want you. Only
one in the family -- not stark mad!"
Kate straightened tensely and looked at him again. "All right,"
she said. "I can throw a few things in my telescope, write the
children a note to take to their father in the field, and we can
stop in Walden and send Aunt Ollie out to cook for them; I can go
as well as not, for as long as Mother wants me."
"Hurry!" said Adam.
In her room Kate stood still a second, her eyes narrow, her
underlip sucked in, her heart almost stopped. Then she said
aloud: "Father's sons have wished he would die too long for his
death to strike even the most tolerant of them like that.
Something dreadful has happened. I wonder to my soul -- !"
She waited until they were past Hartley and then she asked
suddenly: "Adam, what is the matter?"
Then Adam spoke: "I am one of a pack of seven poor fools, and
every other girl in the family has gone raving mad, so I thought
I'd come after you, and see if you had sense, or reason, or
justice, left in you."
"What do you want of me?" she asked dazedly.
"I want you to be fair, to be honest, to do as you'd be done by.
You came to me when you were in trouble," he reminded her.
Kate could not prevent the short laugh that sprang to her lips,
nor what she said: "And you would not lift a finger; young Adam
MADE his MOTHER help me. Why don't you go to George for what you
want?"
Adam lost all self-control and swore sulphurously.
"I thought you'd be different," he said, "but I see you are going
to be just like the rest of the --!"
"Stop that!" said Kate. "You're talking about my sisters -- and
yours. Stop this wild talk, and tell me exactly what is the
matter."