"You know I'll do anything to help you, John. You know how proud
I am of you, how I love you! I realize now that I've talked
volumes to Kate about you. I've told her everything from the time
you were a little boy and I slaved for you, until now, when you
slave for me."
"Including how many terms I'd gone to school?"
"Yes, I even told her that," she said.
"Well, what did she seem to think about it?" he asked.
"I don't know what she thought, she didn't say anything. There
was nothing to say. It was a bare-handed fight with the wolf in
those days. I'm sure I made her understand that," she said.
"Well, I'll undertake to make her understand this," he said. "Are
you sure that Jennie Weeks is taking good care of you?"
"Jennie is well enough and is growing better each day, now be off
to your courting, but if you love me, remember, and be careful,"
she said.
"Remember -- one particular thing -- you mean?" he asked.
She nodded, her lips closed.
"You bet I will!" he said. "All there is of me goes into this.
Isn't she a wonder, Mother?"
Mrs. Jardine looked closely at the big man who was all the world
to her, so like her in mentality, so like his father with his dark
hair and eyes and big, well-rounded frame; looked at him with the
eyes of love, then as he left her to seek the girl she had learned
to love, she shut her eyes and frankly and earnestly asked the
Lord to help her son to marry Kate Bates.
One morning as Kate helped Mrs. Jardine into her coat and gloves,
preparing for one of their delightful morning drives, she said to
her: "Mrs. Jardine, may I ask you a REAL question?"
"Of course you may," said Mrs. Jardine, "and I shall give you a
'real' answer if it lies in my power."
"You'll be shocked," warned Kate.
"Shock away," laughed Mrs. Jardine. "By now I flatter myself that
I am so accustomed to you that you will have to try yourself to
shock me."
"It's only this," said Kate: "If you were a perfect stranger,
standing back and looking on, not acquainted with any of the
parties, merely seeing things as they happen each day, would it be
your honest opinion -- would you say that I am being COURTED?"
Mrs. Jardine laughed until she was weak. When she could talk, she
said: "Yes, my dear, under the conditions, and in the
circumstances you mention, I would cheerfully go on oath and
testify that you are being courted more openly, more vigorously,
and as tenderly as I ever have seen woman courted in all my life.
I always thought that John's father was a master hand at courting,
but John has him beaten in many ways. Yes, my dear, you certainly
are being courted assiduously."