They walked up the grassy wooden walk, stepped on the tiny, vine-covered porch, and lifted and dropped a rusty old iron knocker.  Almost at once the door opened, to reveal a woman of respectable appearance, a trifle past middle age.  She made Kate think of dried sage because she had a dried-out look and her complexion, hair, and eyes were all that colour.  She was neat and clean while the hall into which she invited them was clean and had a wholesome odour.  Kate explained her errand.  Mrs. Holt breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, thank goodness I was before-handed,” she said.  “The teacher stayed here last year and she was satisfied, so I ast the Trustee to mention me to the new teacher.  Nobody was expecting you until the last of the week, but I says to myself, ’always take time by the fetlock, Samantha, always be ready’; so last week I put in scouring my spare room to beat the nation, and it’s all ready so’s you can walk right in.”

“Thank you,” said Kate, rather resenting the assumption that she was to have no option in the matter.  “I have four places on my list where they want the teacher, so I thought I would look at each of them and then decide.”

“My, ain’t we choicey!” said Mrs. Holt in sneering tones.  Then she changed instantly, and in suave commendation went on:  “That’s exactly right.  That’s the very thing fer you to do.  After you have seen what Walden has to offer, then a pretty young thing like you can make up your mind where you will have the most quiet fer your work, the best room, and be best fed.  One of the greatest advantages here fer a teacher is that she can be quiet, an’ not have her room rummaged.  Every place else that takes boarders there’s a lot of children; here there is only me and my son, and he is grown, and will be off to his medical work next week fer the year, so all your working time here, you’d be alone with me.  This is the room.”

“That surely would be a great advantage, because I have much studying to do,” said Kate as they entered the room.

With one glance, she liked it.  It was a large room with low ceiling, quaintly papered in very old creamy paper, scattered with delicately cut green leaves, but so carefully had the room been kept, that it was still clean.  There were four large windows to let in light and air, freshly washed white curtains hanging over the deep green shades.  The floor was carpeted with a freshly washed rag carpet stretched over straw, the bed was invitingly clean and looked comfortable, there was a wash stand with bowl and pitcher, soap and towels, a small table with a lamp, a straight-backed chair and a rocking chair.  Mrs. Holt opened a large closet having hooks for dresses at one end and shelves at the other.  On the top of these there were a comfort and a pair of heavy blankets.

“Your winter covers,” said Mrs. Holt, indicating these, “and there is a good stove I take out in summer to make more room, and set up as soon as it gets cold, and that is a wood box.”