Kate followed instructions, her heart beating wildly.  Several times she ventured a quick glance at her mother.  How she had aged!  How lined and thin she was!  But Oh, how blessed good it was to see her!  Mrs. Bates arose and they walked into the house, where she looked keenly around, while her sharp eyes seemed to appraise everything as she sat down and removed her bonnet.

“Go fetch me a drink,” she said, “and take the horse one and then I’ll tell you why I came.”

“I don’t care why you came,” said Kate, “but Oh, Mother, thank God you are here!”

“Now, now, don’t get het up!” cautioned Mrs. Bates.  “Water, I said.”

Kate hurried to obey orders; then she sank on a chair and looked at her mother.  Mrs. Bates wiped her face and settled in the chair comfortably.

“They’s no use to waste words,” she said.  “Katie, you’re the only one in the family that has any sense, and sometimes you ain’t got enough so’s you could notice it without a magnifyin’ glass; but even so, you’re ahead of the rest of them.  Katie, I’m sick an’ tired of the Neppleses and the Whistlers and being bossed by the whole endurin’ Bates tribe; sick and tired of it, so I just came after you.”

“Came after me?” repeated Kate stupidly.

“Yes, parrot, ‘came after you,’” said Mrs. Bates.  “I told you, you’d no great amount of sense.  I’m speakin’ plain, ain’t I?  I don’t see much here to hold you.  I want you should throw a few traps, whatever you are beholden to, in the wagon — that’s why I brought it — and come on home and take care of me the rest of my time.  It won’t be so long; I won’t interfere much, nor be much bother.  I’ve kep’ the place in order, but I’m about fashed.  I won’t admit it to the rest of them; but I don’t seem to mind telling you, Katie, that I am almost winded.  Will you come?”

“Of course I will,” said Kate, a tide of effulgent joy surging up in her heart until it almost choked her.  “Of course I will, Mother, but my children, won’t they worry you?”

“Never having had a child about, I s’pect likely they may,” said Mrs. Bates, dryly.  “Why, you little fool!  I think likely it’s the children I am pinin’ for most, though I couldn’t a-stood it much longer without you.  Will you get ready and come with me to-day?”

“Yes,” said Kate, “if I can make it.  There’s very little here I care for; I can have the second-hand man give me what he will for the rest; and I can get a good price for the lot to-day, if I say so.  Dr. James wants it to build on.  I’ll go and do the very best I can, and when you don’t want me any longer, Adam will be bigger and we can look out for ourselves.  Yes, I’ll get ready at once if you want me to.”

“Not much of a haggler, are you, Katie?” said Mrs. Bates.  “Why don’t you ask what rooms you’re to have, and what I’ll pay you, and how much work you’ll have to do, and if you take charge of the farm, and how we share up?”