"Of course I will," said Kate, a tide of effulgent joy surging up
in her heart until it almost choked her. "Of course I will,
Mother, but my children, won't they worry you?"
"Never having had a child about, I s'pect likely they may," said
Mrs. Bates, dryly. "Why, you little fool! I think likely it's
the children I am pinin' for most, though I couldn't a-stood it
much longer without YOU. Will you get ready and come with me to-
day?"
"Yes," said Kate, "if I can make it. There's very little here I
care for; I can have the second-hand man give me what he will for
the rest; and I can get a good price for the lot to-day, if I say
so. Dr. James wants it to build on. I'll go and do the very best
I can, and when you don't want me any longer, Adam will be bigger
and we can look out for ourselves. Yes, I'll get ready at once if
you want me to."
"Not much of a haggler, are you, Katie?" said Mrs. Bates. "Why
don't you ask what rooms you're to have, and what I'll pay you,
and how much work you'll have to do, and if you take charge of the
farm, and how we share up?"
Kate laughed: "Mother," she said, "I have been going to school
here, with the Master of Life for a teacher; and I've learned so
many things that really count, that I know now NONE of the things
you mention are essential. You may keep the answers to all those
questions; I don't care a cent about any of them. If you want me,
and want the children, all those things will settle themselves as
we come to them. I didn't use to understand you; but we got well
enough acquainted at Father's funeral, and I do, now. Whatever
you do will be fair, just, and right. I'll obey you, as I shall
expect Adam and Polly to."
"Well, for lands sakes, Katie," said Mrs. Bates. "Life must a-
been weltin' it to you good and proper. I never expected to see
you as meek as Moses. That Holt man wasn't big enough to beat
you, was he?"
"The ways in which he 'beat' me no Bates would understand. I had
eight years of them, and I don't understand them yet; but I am so
cooked with them, that I shall be wild with joy if you truly mean
for me to pack up and come home with you for awhile."
"Oh, Lordy, Katie!" said Mrs. Bates. "This whipped out, take-
anything-anyway style ain't becomin' to a big, fine, upstanding
woman like you. Hold up your head, child! Hold up your head, and
say what you want, an' how you want it!"