“What’s the trouble?” asked John, as he performed the same service for Kate.

“Oh, the girls are grouching a little because they helped earn all this, and are to be left out of it,” explained Robert in a low voice.

“Let’s get each one of them a farm that will lay any of these completely in the shade,” suggested John.

“All right for you, if you can do it,” said Robert, laughing, “but I’ve gone my limit for the present.  Besides, if you gave each of them two hundred acres of the Kingdom of Heaven, it wouldn’t stop them from feeling that they had been defrauded of their birthright here.”

“How would you feel if you was served the same way?” asked John, and even as she shook hands with Adam, and introduced John Jardine, Kate found herself wishing that he had said “were.”

As the girls had predicted, the place was immaculate, the yard shady and cool from the shelter of many big trees, the house comfortable, convenient, the best of everything in sight.  Agatha and Susan were in new white dresses, while Adam Jr. and 3d wore tan and white striped seersucker coats, and white duck trousers.  It was not difficult to feel a glow of pride in the place and people.  Adam made them cordially welcome.

“You undoubtedly are blessed with good fortune,” said Agatha.  “Won’t you please enlighten us concerning your travels, Katherine?”

So Kate told them everything she could think of that she thought would interest and amuse them, even outlining for Agatha speeches she had heard made by Dr. Vincent, Chaplain McCabe, Jehu DeWitt Miller, a number of famous politicians, teachers, and ministers.  Then all of them talked about everything.  Adam took John and Robert to look over the farm, whereupon Kate handed over her hat for Agatha to finger and try on.

“And how long will it be, my dear,” said Agatha to Kate, “before you enter connubial bliss?”

“My goodness!  I’m glad you asked me that while the men are at the barn,” said Kate.  “Mr. Jardine hasn’t said a word about it himself, so please be careful what you say before him.”

Agatha looked at Kate in wonder.

“You amaze me,” she said.  “Why, he regards you as if he would devour you.  He hasn’t proposed for your hand, you say?  Surely you’re not giving him proper encouragement!”

“She isn’t giving him any, further than allowing him to be around,” said Nancy Ellen.

“Do enlighten me!” cried the surprised Agatha.  “How astonishing!  Why, Kate, my dear, there is a just and proper amount of encouragement that must be given any self-respecting youth, before he makes his declarations.  You surely know that.”

“No, I do not know it!” said Kate.  “I thought it was a man’s place to speak up loud and plain and say what he had to propose.”

“Oh, dear!” wailed Agatha, wringing her thin hands, her face a mirror of distress.  “Oh, dear, I very much fear you will lose him.  Why, Katherine, after a man has been to see you a certain number of times, and evidenced enough interest in you, my dear, there are a thousand strictly womanly ways in which you can lend his enterprise a little, only a faint amount of encouragement, just enough to allow him to recognize that he is not —­ not —­ er —­ repulsive to you.”