“But I’m as different from Nancy Ellen as night from day,” said Kate, “besides, woe is me, I didn’t wear a pink dress and pick you from the berry patch in a blue bowl.”

Then the man released her hand and laughed.  “You wouldn’t have had the slightest trouble, if you had been there,” he said.

“Except that I should have inverted my bowl,” said Kate, calmly.  “I am looking for a millionaire, riding a milk-white steed, and he must be much taller than you and have black hair and eyes.  Good-bye, brother!  I will see you this evening.”

Then Kate went down the path to deliver the telescope, render her thanks, make her promise of speedy payment, and for the first time tell her good news about her school.  She found that she was very happy as she went and quite convinced that her first flight would prove entirely successful.

A QUESTION OF CONTRACTS

“Hello, Folks!” cried Kate, waving her hand to the occupants of the veranda as she went up the walk.  “Glad to find you at home.”

“That is where you will always find me unless I am forced away on business,” said her brother as they shook hands.

Agatha was pleased with this, and stiff as steel, she bent the length of her body toward Kate and gave her a tight-lipped little peck on the cheek.

“I came over, as soon as I could,” said Kate as she took the chair her brother offered, “to thank you for the big thing you did for me, Agatha, when you lent me that money.  If I had known where I was going, or the help it would be to me, I should have gone if I’d had to walk and work for my board.  Why, I feel so sure of myself!  I’ve learned so much that I’m like the girl fresh from boarding school:  ’The only wonder is that one small head can contain it all.’  Thank you over and over and I’ve got a good school, so I can pay you back the very first month, I think.  If there are things I must have, I can pay part the first month and the remainder the second.  I am eager for pay-day.  I can’t even picture the bliss of having that much money in my fingers, all my own, to do with as I please.  Won’t it be grand?”

In the same breath said Agatha:  “Procure yourself some clothes!” Said Adam:  “Start a bank account!”

Said Kate:  “Right you are!  I shall do both.”

“Even our little Susan has a bank account,” said Adam, Jr., proudly.

“Which is no reflection whatever on me,” laughed Kate.  “Susan did not have the same father and mother I had.  I’d like to see a girl of my branch of the Bates family start a bank account at ten.”

“No, I guess she wouldn’t,” admitted Adam, dryly.

“But have you heard that Nancy Ellen has started?” cried Kate.  “Only think!  A lawn-mower!  The house and barn to be painted!  All the dinge possible to remove scoured away, inside!  She must have worn her fingers almost to the bone!  And really, Agatha, have you seen the man?  He’s as big as Adam, and just fine looking.  I’m simply consumed with envy.”