There was a pause and then Nancy Ellen's clear voice called:
"Kate! Kate! Where are you? Nobody else would be THIS nice to
me. You dear girl, where are you?"
"I'll get to stay until I go back to school!" was Kate's mental
comment as she ran to clasp Nancy Ellen in her arms, while they
laughed and very nearly cried together, so that the doctor felt it
incumbent upon him to hug both of them. Shortly afterward he
said: "There is a fine show in town to-night, and I have three
tickets. Let's all go."
"Let's eat before we go," said Nancy Ellen, "I haven't had time to
eat a square meal for a week and things smell deliciously."
They finished their supper leisurely, stacked the dishes and went
to the theatre, where they saw a fair performance of a good play,
which was to both of the girls a great treat. When they returned
home, Kate left Nancy Ellen and Robert to gloat over the carpets
they had selected, as they appeared on their floors, to arrange
the furniture and re-examine their wedding gifts; while she
slipped into the kitchen and began washing the dishes and planning
what she would have for breakfast. But soon they came to her and
Nancy Ellen insisted on wiping the dishes, while Robert carried
them to the cupboard. Afterward, they sat before their fireplace
and talked over events since the sisters' separation.
Nancy Ellen told about getting ready for her wedding, life at
home, the school, the news of the family; the Kate drew a perfect
picture of the Walden school, her boarding place, Mrs. Holt, the
ravine, the town and the people, with the exception of George Holt
-- him she never mentioned.
After Robert had gone to his office the following morning, Kate
said to Nancy Ellen: "Now I wish you would be perfectly frank
with me --"
"As if I could be anything else!" laughed the bride.
"All right, then," said Kate. "What I want is this: that these
days shall always come back to you in memory as nearly perfect as
possible. Now if my being here helps ever so little, I like to
stay, and I'll be glad to cook and wash dishes, while you fix your
house to suit you. But if you'd rather be alone, I'll go back to
Walden and be satisfied and happy with the fine treat this has
been. I can look everyone in the face now, talk about the
wedding, and feel all right."
Nancy Ellen said slowly: "I shan't spare you until barely time to
reach your school Monday morning. And I'm not keeping you to work
for me, either! We'll do everything together, and then we'll plan
how to make the house pretty, and go see Robert in his office, and
go shopping. I'll never forgive you if you go."