“How are you going to apply your philosophy to yourself?” asked Nancy Ellen.

“By letting time and Polly take their course,” said Kate.  “This is a place where parents are of no account whatever.  They stand back until it’s time to clean up the wreck, and then they get theirs —­ usually theirs, and several of someone’s else, in the bargain.”

As the train stopped at Hartley, Kate sat where she could see Robert on the platform.  It was only a fleeting glance, but she thought she had never seen him look so wholesome, so vital, so much a man to be desired.

“No wonder a woman lacking in fine scruples would covet him,” thought Kate.  To Nancy Ellen she said hastily:  “The trouble’s mine.  Robert’s on the platform.”

“Where?” demanded Nancy Ellen, peering from the window.

Kate smiled as she walked from the car and confronted Robert.

“Get it over quickly,” she said.  “It’s Polly?”

He nodded.

“Did she remember to call on the Squire?” she asked.

“Oh, yes,” said Robert.  “It was at Peters’, and they had the whole neighbourhood in.”

Kate swayed slightly, then lifted her head, her eyes blazing.  She had come, feeling not altogether guiltless, and quite prepared to overlook a youthful elopement.  The insult of having her only daughter given a wedding at the home of the groom, about which the whole neighbourhood would be laughing at her, was a different matter.  Slowly the high colour faded from Kate’s face, as she stepped back.  “Excuse me, Nancy Ellen,” she said.  “I didn’t mean to deprive you of the chance of even speaking to Robert.  I knew this was for me; I was over-anxious to learn what choice morsel life had in store for me now.  It’s one that will be bitter on my tongue to the day of my death.”

“Oh, Kate, I as so sorry that if this had to happen, it happened in just that way,” said Nancy Ellen, “but don’t mind.  They’re only foolish kids!”

“Who?  Mr. and Mrs. Peters, and the neighbours, who attended the wedding!  Foolish kids?  Oh, no!” said Kate.  “Where’s Adam?”

“I told him I’d bring you out,” said Robert.

“Why didn’t he send for you, or do something?” demanded Kate.

“I’m afraid the facts are that Polly lied to him,” said Robert.  “She told him that Peters were having a party, and Mrs. Peters wanted her to come early and help her with the supper.  They had the Magistrate out from town and had the ceremony an hour before Adam got there.  When he arrived, and found out what had happened, he told Polly and the Peters family exactly his opinion of them; and then he went home and turned on all the lights, and sat where he could be seen on the porch all evening, as a protest in evidence of his disapproval, I take it.”

Slowly the colour began to creep back into Kate’s face.  “The good boy!” she said, in commendation.

“He called me at once, and we talked it over and I sent you the telegram; but as he said, it was done; there was no use trying to undo it.  One thing will be a comfort to you.  All of your family, and almost all of your friends, left as soon as Adam spoke his piece, and they found it was a wedding and not a party to which they’d been invited.  It was a shabby trick of Peters.”