“You bet they’ll give you work soon, and enough,” said Nancy Ellen, laughing.  “But you won’t mind.  You’ll just put it through, as you do things out here.  Kate, you are making this place look fine.  I used to say I’d rather die than come back here to live, but lately it has been growing so attractive, I’ve been here about half my time, and wished I were the other half.”

Kate slipped her arm around Nancy Ellen as they walked to the gate.

“You know,” said Nancy Ellen, “the more I study you, the less I know about you.  Usually it’s sickness, and sorrow, and losing their friends that bring people to the consolations of the church.  You bore those things like a stoic.  When they are all over, and you are comfortable and happy, just the joy of being sure of Little Poll has transformed you.  Kate, you make me think of the ‘Winged Victory,’ this afternoon.  If I get this darling little girl, will she make me big, and splendid, and fine, like you?”

Kate suddenly drew Nancy Ellen to her and kissed her a long, hard kiss on the lips.

“Nancy Ellen,” she said, “you are ‘big, and splendid, and fine,’ or you never would be going to Chicago after this little motherless child.  You haven’t said a word, but I know from the joy of you and Robert during the past months that Mrs. Southey isn’t troubling you any more; and I’m sure enough to put it into words that when you get your little child, she will lead you straight where mine as led me.  Good-bye and good luck to you, and remember me to Robert.”

Nancy Ellen stood intently studying the picture she held in her hand.  Then she looked at Kate, smiling with misty eyes:  “I think, Kate, I’m very close, if I am not really where you are this minute,” she said.  Then she started her car; but she looked back, waving and smiling until the car swerved so that Kate called after her:  “Do drive carefully, Nancy Ellen!”

Kate went slowly up the walk.  She stopped several times to examine the shrubs and bushes closely, to wish for rain for the flowers.  She sat on the porch a few minutes talking to Little Poll, then she went inside to answer the phone.

“Kate?” cried a sharp voice.

“Yes,” said Kate, recognizing a neighbour, living a few miles down the road.

“Did Nancy Ellen just leave your house?” came a breathless query.

“Yes,” said Kate again.

“I just saw a car that looked like hers slip in the fresh sand at the river levee, and it went down, and two or three times over.”

“O God!” said Kate.  Then after an instant:  “Ring the dinner bell for your men to get her out.  I’ll phone Robert, and come as soon as I can get there.”

Kate called Dr. Gray’s office.  She said to the girl:  “Tell the doctor that Mrs. Howe thinks she saw Nancy Ellen’s car go down the river levee, and two or three times over.  Have him bring what he might need to Howe’s, and hurry.  Rush him!”