"A grand row this will be," commented young Adam. "And as usual
Kate will be right, while all of them will be trying to use her to
their advantage. Ma has done her share. Now it is your turn, Pa.
Ain't you going to go over and help her?"
"What could I do?" demanded his father. "The mischief is done
now."
"Well, if you can't do anything to help, you can let me have the
buggy to drive her to Walden, if they turn her out."
"'Forcibly invite her to proceed to her destination,' you mean,
son," said Agatha.
"Yes, Ma, that is exactly what I mean," said young Adam. "Do I
get the buggy?"
"Yes, you may take my private conveyance. But do nothing to
publish the fact. There is no need to incur antagonism if it can
be avoided."
"Kate, I'll be driving past the privet bush about nine in the
morning. If you need me, hang a white rag on it, and I'll stop at
the corner of the orchard."
"I shall probably be standing in the road waiting for you," said
Kate.
"Oh, I hope not," said Agatha.
"Looks remarkably like it to me," said Kate.
Then she picked up the telescope, said good-bye to each of them,
and in acute misery started back to her home. This time she
followed the footpath beside the highway. She was so busy with
her indignant thought that she forgot to protect her skirts from
the dust of wayside weeds, while in her excitement she walked so
fast her face was red and perspiring when she approached the
church.
"Oh, dear, I don't know about it," said Kate to the small, silent
building. "I am trying to follow your advice, but it seems to me
that life is very difficult, any way you go at it. If it isn't
one thing, it is another. An hour ago I was the happiest I have
ever been in my life; only look at me now! Any one who wants 'the
wings of morning' may have them for all of me. It seems
definitely settled that I walk, carry a load, and fight for the
chance to do even that."
A big tear rolled down either side of Kate's nose and her face
twisted in self-pity for an instant. But when she came in sight
of home her shoulders squared, the blue-gray of her eyes deepened
to steel, and her lips set in a line that was an exact counterpart
of her father's when he had made up his mind and was ready to
drive his family, with their consent or without it. As she passed
the vegetable garden -- there was no time or room for flowers in a
Bates garden -- Kate, looking ahead, could see Nancy Ellen and
Robert Gray beneath the cherry trees. She hoped Nancy Ellen would
see that she was tired and dusty, and should have time to brush
and make herself more presentable to meet a stranger, and so Nancy
Ellen did; for which reason she immediately arose and came to the
gate, followed by her suitor whom she at once introduced. Kate
was in no mood for words; one glance at her proved to Robert Gray
that she was tired and dusty, that there were tear marks dried on
her face. They hastily shook hands, but neither mentioned the
previous meeting. Excusing herself Kate went into the house
saying she would soon return.