't make it. You're out of the game; you might as well get used to
it."

"I won't be out of the game!" cried Kate. "I can't be! What will
become of my school? Oh, George, could you possibly teach for me, only
for a few days, until I get my stomach settled?"

"Why, I'd like to help you," he said, "but you see how it is with me.
I've got my fall work finished up, and I'm getting ready to open my
office next week. I'm going to rent that nice front room over the post
office."

"But, George, you must," said Kate. "You've taught several terms.
You've a license. You can take it until this passes. If you have
waited from June to October to open your office, you can wait a few
more days. Suppose you OPEN the office and patients don't come, or we
haven't the school; what would we LIVE on? What would I buy things
with, and pay doctor bills?"

"Why didn't you think of that before you got married? What was your
rush, anyway? I can't figure it to save my soul," he said.

"George, the school can't go," she cried. "If what you say is true,
and I suspect it is, I must have money to see me through."

"Then set your wits to work and fix things up with your father," he
said casually.

Kate arose tall and straight, standing unwaveringly as she looked at
him in blazing contempt.

"So?" she said. "This is the kind of man you are? I'm not so helpless
as you think me. I have a refuge. I know where to find it. You'll
teach my school until I'm able to take it myself, if the Trustee and
patrons will allow you, or I'll sever my relations with you as quickly
as I formed them. You have no practice; I have grave doubts if you can
get any; this is our only chance for the money we must have this
winter. Go ask the Trustee to come here until I can make arrangements
with him."

Then she wavered and rolled on the bed again. George stood looking at
her between narrowed eyelids.

"Tactics I use with Mother don't go with you, old girl," he said to
himself. "Thing of fire and tow, stubborn as an ox; won't be pushed a
hair's breadth; old Bates over again--alike as two peas. But I'll
break you, damn you, I'll break you; only, I WANT that school. Lots
easier than kneading somebody's old stiff muscles, while the money is
sure. Oh, I go after the Trustee, all right!"

He revived Kate, and telling her to keep quiet, and not excite herself,
he explained that it was a terrible sacrifice to him to put off opening
his office any lo