He began planning the kind of horse he would have to drive, the
buggy he would want, and a box in it to carry a hatchet, a square,
measures, an auger, other tools he would need, and by Jove! it
would be a dandy idea to carry a bottle of the real thing. Many a
farmer, for a good cigar and a few swallows of the right thing,
would warm up and sign such a contract as could be got in no other
manner; while he would need it on cold days himself. George
stopped in the moonlight to slap his leg and laugh over the happy
thought. "By George, Georgie, my boy," he said, "most days will
be cold, won't they?"
He had no word to say to Kate of his change of feeling in the
matter. He did not want to miss the chance of twitting her at
every opportunity he could invent with having thrown away half her
inheritance; but he was glad the whole thing was settled so
quickly and easily. He was now busy planning how he would spend
the money Kate agreed to pay him for the ravine; but that was
another rosy cloud she soon changed in colour, for she told him if
he was going to be a partner he could put in what money he had, as
his time was no more valuable than she could make hers teaching
school again -- in other words, he could buy his horse and buggy
with the price she paid for the location, so he was forced to
agree. He was forced to do a great many things in the following
months that he hated; but he had to do them or be left out of the
proposition altogether.
Mrs. Bates and Adam administered the Bates estate promptly and
efficiently. The girls had their money on time, the boys adjusted
themselves as their circumstances admitted. Mrs. Bates had to
make so many trips to town, before the last paper was signed, and
the last transfer was made, that she felt she could not go any
farther, so she did not. Nancy Ellen had reached the point where
she would stop and talk a few minutes to Kate, if she met her on
the streets of Hartley, as she frequently did now; but she would
not ask her to come home with her, because she would not bring
herself in contact with George Holt. The day Kate went to Hartley
to receive and deposit her check, and start her bank account, her
mother asked her if she had any plan as to what she would do with
her money. Kate told her in detail. Mrs. Bates listened with
grim face: "You better leave it in the bank," she said, "and use
the interest to help you live, or put it in good farm mortgages,
where you can easily get ten per cent."