Kate picked up the pen, handed it to her mother, signed
afterward herself, and then carried it to each of
her sisters, leaving Nancy Ellen and Mary until last.
All of them signed up to Nancy Ellen. She hesitated,
and she whispered to Kate: “Did Robert
—?” Kate nodded. Nancy Ellen thought
deeply a minute and then said slowly: “I
guess it is the quickest and best we can do.”
So she signed. Mary hesitated longer, but finally
added her name. Kate passed on to the boys,
beginning with Adam. Slowly he wrote his name,
and as he handed back the paper he said: “Thank
you, Kate, I believe it’s the sanest thing we
can do. I can make it easier than the younger
boys.”
“Then help them,” said Kate tersely,
passing on.
Each boy signed in turn, all of them pleased with
the chance. It was so much better than they
had hoped, that it was a great relief, which most
of them admitted; so they followed Adam’s example
in thanking Kate, for all of them knew that in her
brain had originated the scheme, which seemed to make
the best of their troubles.
Then they sat closer and talked things over calmly
and dispassionately. It was agreed that Adam
and his mother should drive to Hartley the following
afternoon and arrange for him to take out papers of
administration for her, and start the adjustment of
affairs. They all went home thinking more of
each other, and Kate especially, than ever before.
Mrs. Bates got dinner while Kate and Nancy Ellen
went to work on the cool gray dress, so that it would
be ready for the next afternoon. While her mother
was away Kate cleaned the spare bedroom and moved her
mother’s possessions into it. She made
it as convenient and comfortable and as pretty as
she could, but the house was bare to austerity, so
that her attempt at prettifying was rather a failure.
Then she opened the closed room and cleaned it, after
studying it most carefully as it stood. The longer
she worked, the stronger became a conviction that
was slowly working its way into her brain. When
she could do no more she packed her telescope, installed
Sally Whistler in her father’s room, and rode
to Hartley with a neighbour. From there she took
the Wednesday hack for Walden.
The hackman was obliging, for after delivering
the mail and some parcels, he took Kate to her home.
While she waited for him, she walked the ravine bank
planning about the mill which was now so sure that
she might almost begin work. Surely she might
as soon as she finished figuring, for she had visited
the Court House in Hartley and found that George’s
deeds were legal, and in proper shape. Her mind
was filled with plans which this time must succeed.
