. "Adam," she said, "I had seven years of that
'darken you door' business, myself. It's a mighty cold, hard
proposition. It's a wonder the neighbours didn't remember that. Maybe
they did, and thought I was so much of a Bates leopard that I couldn't
change my spots. If they are watching me, they will find that I am not
spotted; I'm sorry and humiliated over what Polly has done; but I'm not
going to gnash my teeth, and tear my hair, and wail in public, or in
private. I'm trying to keep my real mean spot so deep it can't be
seen. If ever I get my chance, Adam, you watch me pay back Mrs.
Peters. THAT is the size and location of my spot; but it's far deeper
than my skin. Now go on and find me food, man, food!"

Adam sat close while Kate ate her supper, then he helped her unpack her
trunk and hang away her dresses, and then they sat on the porch talking
for a long time.

When at last they arose to go to bed Kate said: "Adam, about Polly:
first time you see her, if she asks, tell her she left home of her own
free will and accord, and in her own way, which, by the way, happens to
be a Holt way; but you needn't mention that. I think by this time she
has learned or soon she will learn that; and whenever she wants to come
back and face me, to come right ahead. I can stand it if she can. Can
you get that straight?"

Adam said he could. He got that straight and so much else that by the
time he finished, Polly realized that both he and her mother had left
her in the house to try to SHIELD her; that if she had told what she
wanted in a straightforward manner she might have had a wedding outfit
prepared and been married from her home at a proper time and in a
proper way, and without putting her mother to shame before the
community. Polly was very much ashamed of herself by the time Adam
finished. She could not find it in her heart to blame Henry; she knew
he was no more to blame than she was; but she did store up a grievance
against Mr. and Mrs. Peters. They were older and had had experience
with the world; they might have told Polly what she should do instead
of having done everything in their power to make her do what she had
done, bribing, coaxing, urging, all in the direction of her
inclinations.

At heart Polly was big enough to admit that she had followed her
inclinations without thinking at all what the result would be. Adam
never would have done what she had. Adam would have thought of his
mother and his na