“I heartily agree with you,” said the doctor.  “But I notice you put the cook first and the beauty last.”

“You will, too, before you get through with it,” answered Kate.

“Here we are!” said he, soon after they entered Hartley.  “I’ll drive around the block, so you can form an idea of the location.”  Kate admired every house in the block, the streets and trees, the one house Robert Gray had selected in every particular.  They went inside and built fires, had lunch together at the hotel, and then Kate rolled up her sleeves and with a few yards of cheese-cloth for a duster, began unwrapping furniture and standing it in the room where it belonged.  Robert moved the heavy pieces, then he left to call on a patient and spend the evening with Nancy Ellen.

So Kate spent several happy days setting Nancy Ellen’s new home in order.  From basement to garret she had it immaculate and shining.  No Bates girl, not even Agatha, ever had gone into a home having so many comforts and conveniences.

Kate felt lonely the day she knew her home was overcrowded with all their big family; she sat very still thinking of them during the hour of the ceremony; she began preparing supper almost immediately, because Robert had promised her that he would not eat any more of the wedding feast than he could help, and he would bring Nancy Ellen as soon afterward as possible.  Kate saw them drive to the gate and come up the walk together.  As they entered the door Nancy Ellen was saying:  “Why, how does the house come to be all lighted up?  Seems to me I smell things to eat.  Well, if the table isn’t all set!”

There was a pause and then Nancy Ellen’s clear voice called:  “Kate!  Kate!  Where are you?  Nobody else would be this nice to me.  You dear girl, where are you?”

“I’ll get to stay until I go back to school!” was Kate’s mental comment as she ran to clasp Nancy Ellen in her arms, while they laughed and very nearly cried together, so that the doctor felt it incumbent upon him to hug both of them.  Shortly afterward he said:  “There is a fine show in town to-night, and I have three tickets.  Let’s all go.”

“Let’s eat before we go,” said Nancy Ellen, “I haven’t had time to eat a square meal for a week and things smell deliciously.”

They finished their supper leisurely, stacked the dishes and went to the theatre, where they saw a fair performance of a good play, which was to both of the girls a great treat.  When they returned home, Kate left Nancy Ellen and Robert to gloat over the carpets they had selected, as they appeared on their floors, to arrange the furniture and re-examine their wedding gifts; while she slipped into the kitchen and began washing the dishes and planning what she would have for breakfast.  But soon they came to her and Nancy Ellen insisted on wiping the dishes, while Robert carried them to the cupboard.  Afterward, they sat before their fireplace and talked over events since the sisters’ separation.