“Leave me for an hour until I take a nap, and then we’ll have lunch and go to a lecture.  I can go to-day, perfectly well, after an hour’s rest.”

So Kate went for a very interesting walk around the grounds.  When she returned Mrs. Jardine was still sleeping so she wrote Nancy Ellen, telling all about her adventure, but not a word about losing her hat.  Then she had a talk with Jennie Weeks whom she found lingering in the hall near her door.  When at last that nap was over, a new woman seemed to have developed.  Mrs. Jardine was so refreshed and interested the remainder of the day that it was easier than before for Kate to see how shocked and ill she had been.  As she helped dress her for lunch, Kate said to Mrs. Jardine:  “I met the manager as I was going to post a letter to my sister, so I asked him always to send you the same waiter.  He said he would, and I’d like you to pay particular attention to her appearance, and the way she does her work.”

“Why?” asked Mrs. Jardine.

“I met her in the hall as I came back from posting my letter, so we ‘visited’ a little, as the country folks say.  She has taught one winter of country school, a small school in an out county.  She’s here waiting table two hours three times a day, to pay for her room and board.  In the meantime, she attends all the sessions and studies as much as she can; but she’s very poor material for a teacher.  I pity her pupils.  She’s a little thing, bright enough in her way, but she has not much initiative, not strong enough for the work, and she has not enough spunk.  She’ll never lead the minds of school children anywhere that will greatly benefit them.”

“And your deduction is —­ "

“That she would make you a kind, careful, obedient maid, who is capable enough to be taught to wash your hair and manicure you with deftness, and who would serve you for respect as well as hire.  I think it would be a fine arrangement for you and good for her.”

“This surely is kind of you,” said Mrs. Jardine.  “I’ll keep strict watch of Jennie Weeks.  If I could find a really capable maid here and not have to wire John to bring one, I’d be so glad.  It does so go against the grain to prove to a man that he has a right to be more conceited than he is naturally.”

As they ate lunch Kate said to Mrs. Jardine:  “I noticed one thing this morning that is going to be balm to my soul.  I passed many teachers and summer resorters going to the lecture halls and coming from them, and half of them were bareheaded, so my state will not be remarkable, until I can get another hat.”

“‘God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform,’” laughingly quoted Mrs. Jardine.  “You thought losing that precious hat was a calamity; but if you hadn’t lost it, you probably would have slept soundly while I died across the hall.  My life is worth the price of a whole millinery shop to me; I think you value the friendship we are developing; I foresee I shall get a maid who will not disgrace my in public; you will have a full summer here; now truly, isn’t all this worth many hats?”