“Same as the boys, acting out their natures.  Mary is openly rejoicing.  So is Nancy Ellen.  Hannah and Bertha at least can see the boys’ side.  The others say one thing before the boys and another among themselves.  In the end the girls will have their shares and nobody can blame them.  I don’t myself, but I think Pa will rise from his grave when those farms are torn up.”

“Don’t worry,” said Kate.  “He will have learned by now that graves are merely incidental, and that he has no option on real estate where he is.  Leave him to his harp, and tell me what you want done.”

“I want you to see that it was all accidental.  I want you to take care of me.  I want you should think out the fair thing for all of us to do.  I want you to keep sane and cool-headed and shame the others into behaving themselves.  And I want you to smash down hard on their everlasting, ‘why didn’t you do this?’ and ’why didn’t you do that?’ I reckon I’ve been told five hundred times a-ready that I shouldn’t a-give him the deeds.  Josie say it, an’ then she sings it.  Not give them to him!  How could I help giving them to him?  He’d a-got up and got them himself if I hadn’t —­ "

“You have cut out something of a job for me,” said Kate, “but I’ll do my best.  Anyway, I can take care of you.  Come on into the house now, and let me clean you up, and then I’ll talk the rest of them into reason, if you stand back of me, and let them see I’m acting for you.”

“You go ahead,” said Mrs. Bates.  “I’ll back whatever you say.  But keep them off of me!  Keep them off of me!”

After Kate had bathed her mother, helped her into fresh clothes, and brushed her hair, she coaxed her to lie down, and by diplomatic talk and stroking her head, finally soothed her to sleep.  Then she went down and announced the fact, asked them all to be quiet, and began making her way from group to group in an effort to restore mental balance and sanity.  After Kate had invited all of them to go home and stay until time for the funeral Sunday morning, and all of them had emphatically declined, and eagerly had gone on straining the situation to the breaking point, Kate gave up and began setting the table.  When any of them tried to talk or argue with her she said conclusively:  “I shall not say one word about this until Monday.  Then we will talk things over, and find where we stand, and what Mother wants.  This would be much easier for all of us, if you’d all go home and calm down, and plan out what you think would be the fair and just thing to do.”