Part 40 (1/2)

”There!” she said. ”Go on and spoil yourselves past redemption.”

Kate laughed. ”But, Mother,” she said, ”you never did that for us.”

”Which ain't saying I never WANTED to,” said Mrs. Bates, sourly.

”You're a child only once in this world; it's a little too rough to strip childhood of everything. I ain't so certain Bates ways are right, that for the rest of my time I'm goin' to fly in the face of all creation to prove it. If G.o.d lets me live a few years more, I want the faces around me a little less discontenteder than those I've been used to. If G.o.d Almighty spares me long enough, I lay out to make sure that Adam and Polly will squeeze out a tear or two for Granny when she is laid away.”

”I think you are right, Mother,” said Kate. ”It didn't cost anything, but we had a real pretty Christmas tree this year, and I believe we can do better next time. I want the children to love you, but don't BUY them.”

”Well, I'd hardly call an orange and a stick of candy traffickin' in affection,” said Mrs. Bates. ”They'll survive it without underminin'

their principles, I'll be bound, or yours either. Katie, let's make a beginning to-day. LET'S WORK WHAT IS RIGHT, AND HEALTHY, A FAIR PART OF THE DAY, AND THEN EACH DAY, AND SUNDAY ESPECIALLY, LET'S PLAY AND REST, JUST AS HARD AS WE WORK. IT'S BEEN ALL WORK AND NO PLAY TILL WE'VE BEEN MIGHTY 'DULL BOYS' AT OUR HOUSE; I'M FREE TO SAY THAT I HANKER FOR A CHANGE BEFORE I DIE.”

”Don't speak so often of dying,” said Kate. ”You're all right. You've been too much alone. You'll feel like yourself as soon as you get rested.”

”I guess I been thinking about it too much,” said Mrs. Bates. ”I ain't been so well as I might, an' not being used to it, it worries me some.

I got to buck up. The one thing I CAN'T do is to die; but I'm most tired enough to do it right now. I'll be glad when we get home.”

Kate drove carefully, but as fast as she dared with her load. As they neared Bates Corners, the way became more familiar each mile. Kate forgot the children, forgot her mother, forgot ten years of disappointment and failure, and began a struggle to realize what was happening to her now. The lines slipped down, the horse walked slowly, the first thing she knew, big hot tears splashed on her hand. She gathered up the lines, drew a deep breath, and glanced at her mother, meeting her eye fairly. Kate tried to smile, but her lips were quivering.

”Glad, Katie?” asked Mrs. Bates.

Kate nodded.

”Me, too!” said Mrs. Bates.

They pa.s.sed the orchard.

”There's the house, there, Polly!” cried Adam.

”Why, Adam, how did you know the place?” asked Kate, turning.

Adam hesitated a second. ”Ain't you told us times a-plenty about the house and the lilac, and the s...o...b..ll bush--” ”Yes, and the cabbage roses,” added Polly.

”So I have,” said Kate. ”Mostly last winter when we were knitting.

Yes, this will be home for all the rest of our lives. Isn't it grand?

How will we ever thank Grandmother? How will we ever be good enough to pay her?”

Both children thought this a hint, so with one accord they arose and fell on Mrs. Bates' back, and began to pay at once in coin of childhood.

”There, there,” said Kate, drawing them away as she stopped the horse at the gate. ”There, there, you will choke Grandmother.”

Mrs. Bates pushed Kate's arm down.

”Mind your own business, will you?” she said. ”I ain't so feeble that I can't speak for myself awhile yet.”

In a daze Kate climbed down, and ran to bring a chair to help her mother. The children were boisterously half eating Mrs. Bates up; she had both of them in her arms, with every outward evidence of enjoying the performance immensely. That was a very busy evening, for the wagon was to be unpacked; all of them were hungry, while the stock was to be fed, and the milking done. Mrs. Bates and Polly attempted supper; Kate and Adam went to the barn; but they worked very hurriedly, for Kate could see how feeble her mother had grown.

When at last the children were bathed and in bed, Kate and her mother sat on the little front porch to smell spring a few minutes before going to rest. Kate reached over and took her mother's hand.

”There's no word I know in any language big enough to thank you for this, Mother,” she said. ”The best I can do is make each day as nearly a perfect expression of what I feel as possible.”