Nancy Ellen told about getting ready for her wedding, life at home, the school, the news of the family; the Kate drew a perfect picture of the Walden school, her boarding place, Mrs. Holt, the ravine, the town and the people, with the exception of George Holt —­ him she never mentioned.

After Robert had gone to his office the following morning, Kate said to Nancy Ellen:  “Now I wish you would be perfectly frank with me —­”

“As if I could be anything else!” laughed the bride.

“All right, then,” said Kate.  “What I want is this:  that these days shall always come back to you in memory as nearly perfect as possible.  Now if my being here helps ever so little, I like to stay, and I’ll be glad to cook and wash dishes, while you fix your house to suit you.  But if you’d rather be alone, I’ll go back to Walden and be satisfied and happy with the fine treat this has been.  I can look everyone in the face now, talk about the wedding, and feel all right.”

Nancy Ellen said slowly:  “I shan’t spare you until barely time to reach your school Monday morning.  And I’m not keeping you to work for me, either!  We’ll do everything together, and then we’ll plan how to make the house pretty, and go see Robert in his office, and go shopping.  I’ll never forgive you if you go.”

“Why, Nancy Ellen —!” said Kate, then fled to the kitchen too happy to speak further.

None of them ever forgot that week.  It was such a happy time that all of them dreaded its end; but when it came they parted cheerfully, and each went back to work, the better for the happy reunion.  Kate did not return to Walden until Monday; then she found Mrs. Holt in an evil temper.  Kate could not understand it.  She had no means of knowing that for a week George had nagged his mother unceasingly because Kate was gone on his return, and would not be back until after time for him to go again.  The only way for him to see her during the week he had planned to come out openly as her lover, was to try to find her at her home, or at her sister’s.  He did not feel that it would help him to go where he never had been asked.  His only recourse was to miss a few days of school and do extra work to make it up; but he detested nothing in life as he detested work, so the world’s happy week had been to them one of constant sparring and unhappiness, for which Mrs. Holt blamed Kate.  Her son had returned expecting to court Kate Bates strenuously; his disappointment was not lightened by his mother’s constant nagging.  Monday forenoon she went to market, and came in gasping.

“Land sakes!” she cried as she panted down the hall.  “I’ve got a good one on that impident huzzy now!”

“You better keep your mouth shut, and not gossip about her,” he said.  “Everyone likes her!”

“No, they don’t, for I hate her worse ’n snakes!  If it wa’n’t for her money I’d fix her so’s ’at she’d never marry you in kingdom come.”