me that he will cut a pathetic figure before the
throne of an Almighty God."

A slow grin twisted Mrs. Bates' lips.

"Well, wherever he went," she said, "I guess he found out pretty quick
that he was some place at last where he couldn't be boss."

"I'm very sure he has," said Kate, "and I am equally sure the
discipline will be good for him. But his sons! His precious sons!
What are they doing?"

"Taking it according to their bent," said Mrs. Bates. "Adam is insane,
Hiram is crying."

"Have you had a lawyer?" asked Kate.

"What for? We all know the law on this subject better than we know our
a, b, c's."

"Did your deed for this place go, too?" asked Kate.

"Yes," said Mrs. Bates, "but mine was recorded, none of the others
were. I get a third, and the rest will be cut up and divided, share
and share alike, among ALL OF YOU, equally. I think it's going to kill
Adam and ruin Andrew."

"It won't do either. But this is awful. I can see how the boys feel,
and really, Mother, this is no more fair to them than things always
have been for the girls. By the way, what are they doing?"

"Same as the boys, acting out their natures. Mary is openly rejoicing.
So is Nancy Ellen. Hannah and Bertha at least can see the boys' side.
The others say one thing before the boys and another among themselves.
In the end the girls will have their shares and nobody can blame them.
I don't myself, but I think Pa will rise from his grave when those
farms are torn up."

"Don't worry," said Kate. "He will have learned by now that graves are
merely incidental, and that he has no option on real estate where he
is. Leave him to his harp, and tell me what you want done."

"I want you to see that it was all accidental. I want you to take care
of me. I want you should think out the FAIR thing for all of us to DO.
I want you to keep sane and cool-headed and shame the others into
behaving themselves. And I want you to smash down hard on their
everlasting, 'why didn't you do this?' and 'why didn't you do that?' I
reckon I've been told five hundred times a-ready that I shouldn't
a-give him the deeds. Josie say it, an' then she sings it. NOT GIVE
THEM TO HIM! How could I help giving them to him? He'd a-got up and
got them himself if I hadn't--"

"You have cut out something of a job for me," said Kate, "but I'll do
my best. Anyway, I can take care of you. Come on into the house now,
and let me clean you up, and then I'll talk