“Try this,” he said.  “I made it myself.”

Kate ate ravenously.

“That’s good!” she cried.

“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” he said.  “I’m going to take you out to Aunt Ollie’s for a week after school to-night.  Want to go?”

“Yes!  Oh, yes!” cried Kate.

“All right,” he said.  “I know where I can borrow a rig for an hour.  Get ready if you are well enough, if you are not, I’ll help you after school.”

That week with Aunt Ollie remained a bright spot in Kate’s memory.  The October days were beginning to be crisp and cool.  Food was different.  She could sleep, she could eat many things Aunt Ollie knew to prepare especially; soon she could walk and be outdoors.  She was so much better she wrote George a note, asking him to walk out and bring her sewing basket, and some goods she listed, and in the afternoons the two women cut and sewed quaint, enticing little garments.  George found Kate so much better when he came that he proposed she remain another week.  Then for the first time he talked to her about her theory of government and teaching, until she realized that the School Director had told him he was dissatisfied with him —­ so George was trying to learn her ways.  Appalled at what might happen if he lost the school, Kate made notes, talked at length, begged him to do his best, and to come at once if anything went wrong.  He did come, and brought the school books so she went over the lessons with him, and made marginal notes of things suggested to her mind by the text, for him to discuss and elucidate.  The next time he came, he was in such good spirits she knew his work had been praised, so after that they went over the lessons together each evening.  Thinking of what would help him also helped fill her day.

He took her home, greatly improved, in much better spirits, to her room, cleaned and ready for winter, with all of her things possible to use in place, so that it was much changed, prettier, and more convenient.  As they drove in she said of him:  “George, what about it?  Did your mother purposely fix my food so I could not eat it?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” he said.  “You know neither of you is violently attached to the other.  She’ll be more careful after this, I’m sure she will.”

“Why, have you been sick?” asked Kate as soon as she saw Mrs. Holt.

She seemed so nervous and appeared so badly Kate was sorry for her; but she could not help noticing how she kept watch on her son.  She seemed to keep the width of the room and a piece of furniture between them, while her cooking was so different that it was not in the least necessary for George to fix things for Kate himself, as he had suggested.  Everything was so improved, Kate felt better.  She began to sew, to read, to sit for long periods in profound thought, then to take walks that brought back her strength and colour.  So through the winter and