She slipped into her room alone and read two letters,
one a few typewritten lines from John Jardine, saying
he had been at Hartley, also at Walden, and having
found her married and gone, there was nothing for
him to do but wish that the man she married had it
in his heart to guard her life and happiness as he
would have done. He would never cease to love
her, and if at any time in her life there was anything
he could do for her, would she please let him know.
Kate dropped the letter on her dresser, with a purpose,
and let it lie there. The other was from Robert.
He said he was very sorry, but he could do nothing
with Nancy Ellen at present. He hoped she would
change later. If there was ever anything he
could do, to let him know. Kate locked that letter
in her trunk. She wondered as she did so why
both of them seemed to think she would need them in
the future. She felt perfectly able to take
care of herself.
Monday morning George carried Kate’s books to
school for her, saw that she was started on her work
in good shape, then went home, put on his old clothes,
and began the fall work at Aunt Ollie’s.
Kate, wearing her prettiest blue dress, forgot even
the dull ache in her heart, as she threw herself into
the business of educating those young people.
She worked as she never had before. She seemed
to have developed fresh patience, new perception, keener
penetration; she made the dullest of them see her points,
and interested the most inattentive. She went
home to dinner feeling better. She decided to
keep on teaching a few years until George was well
started in his practice; if he ever got started.
He was very slow in action it seemed to her, compared
with his enthusiasm when he talked.
STARTING MARRIED LIFE
For two weeks Kate threw herself into the business
of teaching with all her power. She succeeded
in so interesting herself and her pupils that she
was convinced she had done a wise thing. Marriage
did not interfere with her teaching; she felt capable
and independent so long as she had her salary.
George was working and working diligently, to prepare
for winter, whenever she was present or could see
results. With her first month’s salary
she would buy herself a warm coat, a wool suit, an
extra skirt for school, and some waists. If
there was enough left, she would have another real
hat. Then for the remainder of the year she would
spend only for the barest necessities and save to help
toward a home something like Nancy Ellen’s.
Whenever she thought of Nancy Ellen and Robert there
was a choking sensation in her throat, a dull ache
where she had been taught her heart was located.
