“Because of Grandma?” asked the boy.  Kate nodded.

“I borrowed money to go once, and I could again; but I have been away from teaching so long, and I don’t know what to do with you children.  The thing I would like would be to find a piece of land somewhere, with a house, any kind of one on it, and take it to rent.  Land is about all I really know.  Working for money would be of some interest.  I am so dead tired working for potatoes.  Sometimes I see them flying around in the air at night.”

“Do you know of any place you would like?” asked Adam.

“No, I don’t,” said Kate, “but I am going to begin asking and I’m going to keep my eyes open.  I heard yesterday that Dr. James intends to build a new house.  This house is nothing, but the lot is in the prettiest place in town.  Let’s sell it to him, and take the money, and buy us some new furniture and a cow, and a team, and wagon, and a buggy, and go on a piece of land, and live like other people.  Seems to me I’ll die if I have to work for potatoes any longer.  I’m heart sick of them.  Don’t say a word to anybody, but Oh, Adam, think!  Think hard!  Can’t you just help me think?”

“You are sure you want land?” asked the boy.

“It is all I know,” said Kate.  “How do you feel about it?”

“I want horses, and cows, and pigs —­ lots of pigs —­ and sheep, and lots of white hens,” said Adam, promptly.

“Get the spade and spade the onion bed until I think,” said Kate.  “And that reminds me, we didn’t divide the sets last fall.  Somebody will have to go after them.”

“I’ll go,” said Adam, “but it’s awful early.  It’ll snow again.  Let me go after school Friday and stay over night.  I’d like to go and stay over night with Aunt Ollie.  Grandma can’t say anything to me that I’ll listen to.  You keep Polly, and let me go alone.  Sure I can.”

“All right,” said Kate.  “Spade the bed, and let it warm a day.  It will be good for it.  But don’t tell Polly you’re going, or she’ll want to go along.”

Until Friday night, Kate and Adam went around in such a daze of deep thought that they stumbled, and ran against each other; then came back to their affairs suddenly, looking at each other and smiling understandingly.  After one of these encounters Kate said to the boy:  “You may not arrive at anything, Adam, but I certainly can’t complain that you are not thinking.”

Adam grinned:  “I’m not so sure that I haven’t got it,” he said.

“Tell me quick and let me think, too” said Kate.

“But I can’t tell you yet,” said Adam.  “I have to find out something first.”