Part 19 (1/2)

”I like her very much,” said John Jardine. ”I'll engage her as soon as we finish.”

Kate smiled, but when she saw the ease and dexterity with which he ended Jennie Weeks' work as a waiter and installed her as his mother's maid, making the least detail all right with his mother, with Jennie, with the manager, she realized that there had been nothing for her to smile about. Jennie was delighted, and began her new undertaking earnestly, with sincere desire to please. Kate helped her all she could, while Mrs. Jardine developed a fund of patience commensurate with the need of it. She would have endured more inconvenience than resulted from Jennie's inexperienced hands because of the realization that her son and the girl she had so quickly learned to admire were on the lake, rambling the woods, or hearing lectures together.

When she asked him how long he could remain, he said as long as she did. When she explained that she was enjoying herself thoroughly and had no idea how long she would want to stay, he said that was all right; he had only had one vacation in his life; it was time he was having another. When she marvelled at this he said: ”Now, look here, Mother, let's get this business straight, right at the start. I told you when I came I'd seen the woman I wanted. If you want me to go back to business, the way to do it is to help me win her.”

”But I don't want you 'to go back to business'; I want you to have a long vacation, and learn all you can from the educational advantages here.”

”It's too late for me to learn more than I get every day by knocking around and meeting people. I've tried books two or three times, and I've given them up; I can't do it. I've waited too long, I've no way to get down to it, I can't remember to save my soul.”

”But you can remember anything on earth about a business deal,” she urged.

”Of course I can. I was born with a business head. It was remember, or starve, and see you starve. If I'd had the books at the time they would have helped; now it's too late, and I'll never try it again, that's settled. Much as I want to marry Miss Bates, she'll have to take me or leave me as I am. I can't make myself over for her or for you. I would if I could, but that's one of the things I can't do, and I admit it. If I'm not good enough for her as I am, she'll have the chance to tell me so the very first minute I think it's proper to ask her.”

”John, you are good enough for the best woman on earth. There never was a better lad, it isn't that, and you know it. I am so anxious that I can scarcely wait; but you must wait. You must give her time and go slowly, and you must be careful, oh, so very careful! She's a teacher and a student; she came here to study.”

”I'll fix that. I can rush things so that there'll be no time to study.”

”You'll make a mistake if you try it. You'd far better let her go her own way and only appear when she has time for you,” she advised.

”That's a fine idea!” he cried. ”A lot of ice I'd cut, sitting back waiting for a signal to run after a girl, like a poodle. The way to do is the same as with any business deal. See what you want, overcome anything in your way, and get it. I'd go crazy hanging around like that. You've always told me I couldn't do the things in business I said I would; and I've always proved to you that I could, by doing them. Now watch me do this.”

”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.”