better for the happy reunion. Kate did not
return to Walden until Monday; then she found Mrs. Holt in an evil
temper. Kate could not understand it. She had no means of knowing that
for a week George had nagged his mother unceasingly because Kate was
gone on his return, and would not be back until after time for him to
go again. The only way for him to see her during the week he had
planned to come out openly as her lover, was to try to find her at her
home, or at her sister's. He did not feel that it would help him to go
where he never had been asked. His only recourse was to miss a few
days of school and do extra work to make it up; but he detested nothing
in life as he detested work, so the world's happy week had been to them
one of constant sparring and unhappiness, for which Mrs. Holt blamed
Kate. Her son had returned expecting to court Kate Bates strenuously;
his disappointment was not lightened by his mother's constant nagging.
Monday forenoon she went to market, and came in gasping.

"Land sakes!" she cried as she panted down the hall. "I've got a good
one on that impident huzzy now!"

"You better keep your mouth shut, and not gossip about her," he said.
"Everyone likes her!"

"No, they don't, for I hate her worse 'n snakes! If it wa'n't for her
money I'd fix her so's 'at she'd never marry you in kingdom come."

George Holt clenched his big fist.

"Just you try it!" he threatened. "Just you try that!"

"You'll live to see the day you'd thank me if I did. She ain't been
home. Mind you, she ain't been HOME! She never seen her sister
married at all! Tilly Nepple has a sister, living near the Bates, who
worked in the kitchen. She's visitin' at Tilly's now. Miss
High-and-Mighty never seen her sister married at all! An' it looked
mighty queer, her comin' here a week ahead of time, in the fall. Looks
like she'd done somepin she don't DARE go home. No wonder she tears
every scrap of mail she gets to ribbons an' burns it. I told you she
had a secret! If ever you'd listen to me."

"Why, you're crazy!" he exclaimed. "I did listen to you. What you
told me was that I should go after her with all my might. So I did it.
Now you come with this. Shut it up! Don't let her get wind of it for
the world!"

"And Tilly Nepple's sister says old Land King Bates never give his
daughter a cent, an' he never gives none of his girls a cent. It's up
to the men they marry to take keer of them. The old skin-fl