Kate laughed:  “Mother,” she said, “I have been going to school here, with the Master of Life for a teacher; and I’ve learned so many things that really count, that I know now none of the things you mention are essential.  You may keep the answers to all those questions; I don’t care a cent about any of them.  If you want me, and want the children, all those things will settle themselves as we come to them.  I didn’t use to understand you; but we got well enough acquainted at Father’s funeral, and I do, now.  Whatever you do will be fair, just, and right.  I’ll obey you, as I shall expect Adam and Polly to.”

“Well, for lands sakes, Katie,” said Mrs. Bates.  “Life must a-been weltin’ it to you good and proper.  I never expected to see you as meek as Moses.  That Holt man wasn’t big enough to beat you, was he?”

“The ways in which he ‘beat’ me no Bates would understand.  I had eight years of them, and I don’t understand them yet; but I am so cooked with them, that I shall be wild with joy if you truly mean for me to pack up and come home with you for awhile.”

“Oh, Lordy, Katie!” said Mrs. Bates.  “This whipped out, take-anything-anyway style ain’t becomin’ to a big, fine, upstanding woman like you.  Hold up your head, child!  Hold up your head, and say what you want, an’ how you want it!”

“Honestly, Mother, I don’t want a thing on earth but to go home with you and do as you say for the next ten years,” said Kate.

“Stiffen up!” cried Mrs. Bates.  “Stiffen up!” “Don’t be no broken reed, Katie!  I don’t want you dependin’ on me; I came to see if you would let me lean on you the rest of the way.  I wa’n’t figuring that there was anything on this earth that could get you down; so’s I was calculatin’ you’d be the very one to hold me up.  Since you seem to be feeling unaccountably weak in the knees, let’s see if we can brace them a little.  Livin’ with Pa so long must kind of given me a tendency toward nussin’ a deed.  I’ve got one here I had executed two years ago, and I was a coming with it along about now, when ‘a little bird tole me’ to come to-day, so here I am.  Take that, Katie.”

Mrs. Bates pulled a long sealed envelope from the front of her dress and tossed it in Kate’s lap.

“Mother, what is this?” asked Kate in a hushed voice.

“Well, if you’d rather use your ears than your eyes, it’s all the same to me,” said Mrs. Bates.  “The boys always had a mortal itchin’ to get their fingers on the papers in the case.  I can’t say I don’t like the difference; and I’ve give you every chance, too, an you wouldn’t demand, you wouldn’t specify.  Well, I’ll just specify myself.  I’m dead tired of the neighbours taking care of me, and all of the children stoppin’ every time they pass, each one orderin’ or insinuatin’ according to their lights, as to what I should do.  I’ve always had a purty clear idea of what I wanted to do myself.  Over forty years, I sided with Pa, to keep the peace; now I reckon I’m free to do as I like.  That’s my side.  You can tell me yours, now.”