"Well, thank goodness I was before-handed," she said. "The
teacher stayed here last year and she was satisfied, so I ast the
Trustee to mention me to the new teacher. Nobody was expecting
you until the last of the week, but I says to myself, 'always take
time by the fetlock, Samantha, always be ready'; so last week I
put in scouring my spare room to beat the nation, and it's all
ready so's you can walk right in."
"Thank you," said Kate, rather resenting the assumption that she
was to have no option in the matter. "I have four places on my
list where they want the teacher, so I thought I would look at
each of them and then decide."
"My, ain't we choicey!" said Mrs. Holt in sneering tones. Then
she changed instantly, and in suave commendation went on: "That's
exactly right. That's the very thing fer you to do. After you
have seen what Walden has to offer, then a pretty young thing like
you can make up your mind where you will have the most quiet fer
your work, the best room, and be best fed. One of the greatest
advantages here fer a teacher is that she can be quiet, an' not
have her room rummaged. Every place else that takes boarders
there's a lot of children; here there is only me and my son, and
he is grown, and will be off to his medical work next week fer the
year, so all your working time here, you'd be alone with me. This
is the room."
"That surely would be a great advantage, because I have much
studying to do," said Kate as they entered the room.
With one glance, she liked it. It was a large room with low
ceiling, quaintly papered in very old creamy paper, scattered with
delicately cut green leaves, but so carefully had the room been
kept, that it was still clean. There were four large windows to
let in light and air, freshly washed white curtains hanging over
the deep green shades. The floor was carpeted with a freshly
washed rag carpet stretched over straw, the bed was invitingly
clean and looked comfortable, there was a wash stand with bowl and
pitcher, soap and towels, a small table with a lamp, a straight-
backed chair and a rocking chair. Mrs. Holt opened a large closet
having hooks for dresses at one end and shelves at the other. On
the top of these there were a comfort and a pair of heavy
blankets.
"Your winter covers," said Mrs. Holt, indicating these, "and there
is a good stove I take out in summer to make more room, and set up
as soon as it gets cold, and that is a wood box."
She pointed out a shoe box covered with paper similar to that on
the walls.