Friday evening he wanted to put off his trip until Saturday morning, so Kate agreed.  She was surprised when he bathed and put on his clean shirt and trousers, but said not a word.  She had made some study of child psychology, she thought making the trip alone was of so much importance to Adam that he was dressing for the occasion.  She foresaw extra washing, yet she said nothing to stop the lad.  She waved good-bye to him, thinking how sturdy and good looking he was, as he ran out of the front door.  Kate was beginning to be worried when Adam had not returned toward dusk Sunday evening, and Polly was cross and fretful.  Finally they saw him coming down the ravine bank, carrying his small bundle of sets.  Kate felt a glow of relief; Polly ran to meet him.  Kate watched as they met and saw Adam take Polly’s hand.

“If only they looked as much alike as some twins do, I’d be thankful,” said Kate.

Adam delivered the sets, said Aunt Ollie and Grandma were all right, that it was an awful long walk, and he was tired.  Kate noticed that his feet were dust covered, but his clothes were so clean she said to him:  “You didn’t fish much.”

“I didn’t fish any,” said Adam, “not like I always fish,” he added.

“Had any time to think?” asked Kate.

“You just bet I did,” said the boy.  “I didn’t waste a minute.”

“Neither did I,” said Kate.  “I know exactly what the prettiest lot in town can be sold for.”

“Good!” cried Adam.  “Fine!”

Monday Kate wanted to get up early and stick the sets, but Adam insisted that Aunt Ollie said the sign would not be right until Wednesday.  If they were stuck on Monday or Tuesday, they would all grow to top.

“My goodness!  I knew that,” said Kate.  “I am thinking so hard I’m losing what little sense I had; but anyway, mere thinking is doing me a world of good.  I am beginning to feel a kind of rising joy inside, and I can’t imagine anything else that makes it.”

Adam went to school, laughing.  Kate did the washing and ironing, and worked in the garden getting beds ready.  Tuesday she was at the same occupation, when about ten o’clock she dropped her spade and straightened, a flash of perfect amazement crossing her face.  She stood immovable save for swaying forward in an attitude of tense listening.

“Hoo! hoo!”

Kate ran across the yard and as she turned the corner of the house she saw a one-horse spring wagon standing before the gate, while a stiff, gaunt figure sat bolt upright on the seat, holding the lines.  Kate was at the wheel looking up with a face of delighted amazement.

“Why, Mother!” she cried.  “Why, Mother!”

“Go fetch a chair and help me down,” said Mrs. Bates, “this seat is getting tarnation hard.”

Kate ran after a chair, and helped her mother to alight.  Mrs. Bates promptly took the chair, on the sidewalk.

“Just drop the thills,” she said.  “Lead him back and slip on the halter.  It’s there with his feed.”