e, Kit, I'd try to stay until June.
Father thinks the Hall may be done in time for us to go into it next
month, but we've had lots of wet weather, and Cousin Roxy says it would
be horribly unhealthful to move in before the plaster has had a chance to
thoroughly dry. Shad goes down every day with father, and they've kept the
fire going in the furnace, so I suppose that will help some, but there
isn't a particle of need for your coming back, except mother's dread that
you may be homesick, and you're getting too old to mollycoddle yourself,
Kit, where there's a big interest at stake."

Kit read this with lowering brow.

"It's so nice to have been born Jean, and speak on any subject as the
eldest sister," she said, scornfully. "I know perfectly well that mother
needs me when she is moving back into the new house, and I never expected
to stay so long when I came, anyway."

She stopped short, meditating on just what this queer, choky feeling was
that had swept over her. Helen and Jean always liked to take a new emotion
and analyze it, but Kit rarely concerned herself with motives or causes.
And now she only knew that she would have given up everything, future
hopes of the Dean's bestowing bequests broadcast in the robins' nest, and
all the winter's fun at Hope College, just to be safely back home with all
the dear familiar faces around her.

CHAPTER XVI

SHOPPING FOR SHAKESPEARE

It was Saturday morning. She had been elected a member of the Portia Club,
and even now rehearsals were under way for the first performance the
second week in December. There was to be one that morning at Amy's study,
the scene between Rosalind, Orlando, and Celia. Kit was Orlando on account
of her height and carriage. As Amy said:

"You've got the air, Kit, that goes with doublet and hose and Lincoln
green."

"Lincoln green was in Robin Hood's time," retorted Kit.

"Yes, but it's all that foresty stuff, don't you know. You can play
Mercutio next month in the 'Merchant of Venice.'"

"No, I want to be Shylock. I love character parts. I don't see why you
have to pick out these little tame scenes when we could have Lear and
Edgar and the Fool on the heath, or Dick the Third or Macbeth. I'd play
any of those for you. We used to have plays back home just amongst us
girls, and I was always the leading heavy. We even tried putting on
'Faust' in the barn when the hay-lofts were empty, but that does need
atmosphere."

"Dear wayward, fear