"I don't think it is," said Robert.
"It's my biggest self-evident fact," said Kate, conclusively. "I
never heard any one else say these things, but I think them, and
they are provable. I always believed there was something; but
since I saw Mother go, I know there is. She stood in full evening
light, I looked straight in her face, and Robert, you know I'm no
creature of fancies and delusions, I tell you I SAW HER SOUL PASS.
I saw the life go from her and go on, and on. I saw her body
stand erect, long enough for me to reach her, and pick her up,
after its passing. That I know."
"I shouldn't think of questioning it, Kate," said Robert. "But
don't you think you are rather limiting man, when you narrow him
to four primal instincts?"
"Oh, I don't know," said Kate. "Air to breathe and food to
sustain are presupposed. Man LEARNS to fight in self-defense, and
to acquire what he covets. He learns to covet by seeing stronger
men, in better locations, surpass his achievements, so if he is
strong enough he goes and robs them by force. He learns the
desire for the chase in food hunting; I think four are plenty to
start with."
"Probably you are right," said the doctor, rising. "I must go
now. Shall I take you home?"
Kate glanced at the sun and shook her head. "I can stay half an
hour longer. I don't mind the walk. I need exercise to keep me
in condition. Good-bye!"
As he started his car he glanced back. She was leaning over the
flowers absorbed in their beauty. Kate sat looking straight
before her until time to help with the evening work, and prepare
supper, then she arose. She stood looking down a long time;
finally she picked up a fine specimen of each of the roses and
slowly dropped them on her father's grave.
"There! You may have that many," she said. "You look a little
too lonely, lying here beside the others with not a single one,
but if you could speak, I wonder whether you would say, 'Thank
you!' or 'Take the damn weeds off me!'"