r!" "Look how nice he has been all summer!" Plenty was being said
in Walden, but not one word of it was for the itching ears of Mrs.
Holt. They had told her how splendid Kate was, how they loved her, how
glad they were that she was to have the school again, how fortunate her
son was, how proud she should be, until she was almost bursting with
repressed venom.

She met them at the gate, after their week's camping. They were
feeling in splendid health, the best spirits possible in the
circumstances, but appearing dirty and disreputable. They were both
laughing as they approached the gate.

"Purty lookin' bride you be!" Mrs. Holt spat at Kate.

"Yes, aren't I?" laughed Kate. "But you just give me a tub of hot
soapsuds and an hour, and you won't know me. How are you? Things look
as if you were expecting us."

"Hump!" said Mrs. Holt.

Kate laughed and went into the house. George stepped in front of his
mother.

"Now you look here," he said. "I know every nasty thing your mind has
conjured up that you'd LIKE to say, and have other folks say, about
Kate. And I know as well as if you were honest enough to tell me, that
you haven't been able to root out one living soul who would say a
single word against her. Swallow your secret! Swallow your suspicions!
Swallow your venom, and forget all of them. Kate is as fine a woman as
God ever made, and anybody who has common sense knows it. She can just
MAKE me, if she wants to, and she will; she's coming on fine, much
faster and better than I hoped for. Now you drop this! Stop it! Do
you hear?"

He passed her and hurried up the walk. In an hour, both George and
Kate had bathed and dressed in their very best. Kate put on her
prettiest white dress and George his graduation suit. Then together
they walked to the post office for their mail, which George had ordered
held, before they left. Carrying the bundle, they entered several
stores on trifling errands, and then went home. They stopped and spoke
to everyone. Kate kissed all her little pupils she met, and told them
to come to see her, and to be ready to help clean the schoolhouse in
the morning. Word flew over town swiftly. The Teacher was back,
wearing the loveliest dress, and nicer than ever, and she had invited
folks to come to see her.

Kate and George had scarcely finished their supper, when the first pair
of shy little girls came for their kisses and to bring "Teacher" a
bunch of flowers and a pre