“So do you, Jennie,” interrupted Kate.  “Well, I’ll show you that this can’t!”

“Didn’t you hear him exulting because you are now free?” cried Jennie.  “He thinks he will give me a home, the children, a big income; then secure his freedom and marry you.”

“Oh, don’t talk such rot!” cried Kate.  “John Jardine thinks no such thing.  He wouldn’t insult me by thinking I thought such a thing.  That thought belongs where it sprang from, right in your little cramped, blonde brain, Jennie.”

“You wouldn’t?  Are you sure you wouldn’t?” cried Jennie, leaning forward with hands clutched closely.

“I should say not!” said Kate.  “The last thing on earth I want is some other woman’s husband.  Now look here, Jennie, I’ll tell you the plain truth.  I thought last night that John Jardine was as free as I was; or I shouldn’t have been here with him.  I thought he was asking me again to marry him, and I was not asleep last night, thinking it over.  I came here to tell him that I would not.  Does that satisfy you?”

“Satisfy?” cried Jennie.  “I hope no other woman lives in the kind of Hell I do.”

“It’s always the way,” said Kate, “when people will insist on getting out of their class.  You would have gotten ten times more from life as the wife of a village merchant, or a farmer, than you have as the wife of a rich man.  Since you’re married to him, and there are children, there’s nothing for you to do but finish your job as best you can.  Rest your head easy about me.  I wouldn’t touch John Jardine married to you; I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole, divorced from you.  Get that clear in your head, and do please go!”

Kate turned again to the water, but when she was sure Jennie was far away she sat down suddenly and asked of the lake:  “Well, wouldn’t that freeze you?”

POLLY TRIES HER WINGS

Finally Kate wandered back to the hotel and went to their room to learn if Nancy Ellen was there.  She was and seemed very much perturbed.  The first thing she did was to hand Kate a big white envelope, which she opened and found to be a few lines from John Jardine, explaining that he had been unexpectedly called away on some very important business.  He reiterated his delight in having seen her, and hoped for the same pleasure at no very distant date.  Kate read it and tossed it on the dresser.  As she did so, she saw a telegram, lying opened among Nancy Ellen’s toilet articles, and thought with pleasure that Robert was coming.  She glanced at her sister for confirmation, and saw that she was staring from the window as if she were in doubt about something.  Kate thought probably she was still upset about John Jardine, and that might as well be gotten over, so she said:  “That note was not delivered promptly.  It is from John Jardine.  I should have had it before I left.  He was called away on important business and wrote to let me know he would not be able to keep his appointment; but without his knowledge, he had a representative on the spot.”