“I’d like to save my digestion, and have a place in which to study, where I won’t freeze,” said Kate, “but I want to board as cheaply as I can.  This morning changes my plans materially.  I shall want to go to school next summer part of the time, but the part I do not, I shall have to pay my way, so I mustn’t spend money as I thought I would.  Not one of you will dare be caught doing a thing for me.  To make you safe I’ll stay away, but it will cost me money that I’d hoped to have for clothes like other girls.”

“It’s too bad,” said Adam, “but I’ll stick to you, and so will Ma.”

“Of course you will, you dear boy,” said Kate.  “Now let’s try our third place; it is not far from here.”

Soon they found the house, but Kate stopped short on sight of it.

“Adam, there has been little in life to make me particular,” she said, “but I draw the line at that house.  I would go crazy in a house painted bright red with brown and blue decoration.  It should be prohibited by law.  Let us hunt up the Widder Holt and see how her taste in colour runs.”

“The joke is on you,” said Adam, when they had found the house.

It was near the school, on a wide shady street across which big maples locked branches.  There was a large lot filled with old fruit trees and long grass, with a garden at the back.  The house was old and low, having a small porch in front, but if it ever had seen paint, it did not show it at that time.  It was a warm linty gray, the shingles of the old roof almost moss-covered.

“The joke is on me,” said Kate.  “I shall have no quarrel with the paint here, and will you look at that?”

Adam looked where Kate pointed across the street, and nodded.

“That ought to be put in a gold frame,” he said.

“I think so, too,” said Kate.  “I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if I stay where I can see it.”

They were talking of a deep gully facing the house and running to a levee where the street crossed.  A stream ran down it, dipped under a culvert, turned sharply, and ran away to a distant river, spanning which they could see the bridge.  Tall old forest trees lined the banks, shrubs and bushes grew in a thicket.  There were swaying, clambering vines and a babel of bird notes over the seed and berry bearing bushes.

“Let’s go inside, and if we agree, then we will get some water and feed the horse and eat our lunch over there,” said Kate.

“Just the thing!” said young Adam.  “Come and we will proceed to the residence of Mrs. Holt and investigate her possibilities.  How do you like that?”

“That is fine,” said Kate gravely.

“It is,” said Adam, promptly, “because it is Ma.  And whatever is Ma, is right.”

“Good for you!” cried Kate.  “I am going to break a Bates record and kiss you good-bye, when you go.  I probably shan’t have another in years.  Come on.”