If a Bates teaches the school it makes my word good.”  So Hiram is going to teach for me.  He is brushing up a little nights and I am helping him on “theory,” and I am wild with joy, and so is Robert.  I shall have plenty of time to do all my sewing and we shall be married at, or after, Christmas.  Robert says to tell you to come to see him if you ever come to Hartley.  He is there in his office now and it is lonesome, but I am busy and the time will soon pass.  I might as well tell you that Father said right after you left that you should never enter his house again, and Mother and I should not speak your name before him.  I do hope he gets over it before the wedding.  Write me how you like your school, and where you board.  Maybe Robert and I can slip off and drive over to see you some day.  But that would make Father so mad if he found out that he would not give me the money he promised; so we had better not, but you come to see us as soon as we get in our home.  Love from both, Nancy Ellen.

Kate read the joyful letter slowly.  It contained all she hoped for.  She had not postponed Nancy Ellen’s wedding.  That was all she asked.  She had known she would not be forgiven so soon, there was slight hope she ever would.  Her only chance, thought Kate, lay in marrying a farmer having about a thousand acres of land.  If she could do that, her father would let her come home again sometime.  She read the letter slowly over, then tearing it in long strips she cross tore them and sifted the handful of small bits on the water, where they started a dashing journey toward the river.  Mrs. Holt, narrowly watching her, turned with snaky gleaming eyes to her son and whispered:  “A-ha!  Miss Smart Alec has a secret!”

HELPING NANCY ELLEN AND ROBERT TO ESTABLISH A HOME

The remainder of the time before leaving, George Holt spent in the very strongest mental and physical effort to show Kate how much of a man he was.  He succeeded in what he hoped he might do.  He so influenced her in his favour that during the coming year whenever any one showed signs of criticising him, Kate stopped them by commendation, based upon what she supposed to be knowledge of him.

With the schoolhouse and grounds cleaned as they never had been before, the parents and pupils naturally expected new methods.  During the week spent in becoming acquainted with the teacher, the parents heartily endorsed her, while the pupils liked her cordially.  It could be seen at a glance that she could pick up the brawniest of them, and drop him from the window, if she chose.  The days at the stream had taught them her physical strength, while at the same time they had glimpses of her mental processes.  The boys learned many things:  that they must not lie or take anything which did not belong to them; that they must be considerate and manly, if they were to be her friends; yet not