"Oh, don't you?" asked Mrs. Bates. "Well, I still stand for quite
a bit at Bates Corners, and I say you WILL take that farm, and run
it as you like. It is mine, I give it to you. We all know it
wasn't your fault you lost your money, though it was a dose it
took some of us a good long time to swallow. You are the only one
out of your share; you settled things fine for the rest of them;
and they all know it, and feel it. You'll never know what you did
for me the way you put me through Pa's funeral; now if you'll just
shut up, and stick that deed somewhere it won't burn, and come
home an' plant me as successfully as you did Pa, you'll have
earned all you'll get, an' something coming. Now set us out a
bite to eat, and let's be off."
Kate slowly arose and handed back the deed.
"I'll be flying around so lively I might lose that," she said,
"you put it where you had it, till we get to Hartley, and then
I'll get a place in the bank vault for it. I can't quite take
this in, just yet, but you know I'll do my best for you, Mother!"
"Tain't likely I'd be here else," said Mrs. Bates, "and tea,
Katie. A cup of good strong hot tea would fix me up about proper,
right now."
Kate went to the kitchen and began setting everything she had to
eat on the table. As she worked Polly came flying in the door
crying: "Mother, who has come?" so Kate stepped toward the living
room to show the child to her grandmother and as she advanced she
saw a queer thing. Adam was sitting on his grandmother's lap.
Her arms were tight around him, her face buried in his crisp hair,
and he was patting her shoulder and telling her he would take care
of her, while her voice said distinctly: "Of course you will,
birdie!" Then the lad and the old woman laid their heads together
and laughed almost hysterically.
"WELL, IF THAT ISN'T QUICK WORK!" said Kate to herself. Then she
presented Polly, who followed Adam's lead in hugging the stranger
first and looking at her afterward. God bless all little
children. Then Adam ran to tell the second-hand man to come at
one o'clock and Dr. James that he might have the keys at three.
They ate hurriedly. Kate set out what she wished to save; the
children carried things to the wagon; she packed while they ran
after their books, and at three o'clock all of them climbed into
the spring wagon, and started to Bates Corners.
Kate was the last one in. As she climbed on the seat beside her
mother and took the lines, she handed Mrs. Bates a small china mug
to hold for her. It was decorated with a very fat robin and on a
banner floating from its beak was inscribed: "For a Good Girl."