atherine Eleanor. I have thought about you every hour I was awake
since I have been gone; so the baby will have to be exactly like you.
There won't be the taint of Grandmother in it that there is in me. You
needn't be afraid. I quit sneaking forever when Adam told me what I
had done to you. I have gone straight as a dart, Mother, every single
minute since, Mother; truly I have!"

Kate sat down suddenly, an awful sickness in her heart.

"Why, you poor child you!" she said.

"Oh, I've been all right," said Polly. "I've been almost petted and
loved to death; but Mother, there never should be the amount of work
attached to living that there is in that house. It's never ending,
it's intolerable. Mrs. Peters just goes until she drops, and then
instead of sleeping, she lies awake planning some hard, foolish,
unnecessary thing to do next. Maybe she can stand it herself, but I'm
tired out. I'm going to sit down, and not budge to do another stroke
until after the baby comes, and then I am going to coax Henry to rent a
piece of land, and move to ourselves."

Kate took heart. "That will be fine!" she cried. "That will be the
very thing. I'll ask the boys to keep their eyes open for any chance
for you."

"You needn't take any bother about it," said Polly, "because that isn't
what is going to happen. All I want to be sure of now is that you and
Adam will take my baby. I'll see to the rest."

"How will you see to it, Polly?" asked Kate, gently.

"Well, it's already seen to, for matter of that," said Polly
conclusively. "I've known for quite a while that I was sick; but I
couldn't make them do anything but kiss me, and laugh at me, until I am
so ill that I know better how I feel than anybody else. I got tired
being laughed at, and put off about everything, so one day in Hartley,
while Mother Peters was shopping, I just went in to the lawyer
Grandmother always went to, and told him all about what I wanted. He
has the papers made out all right and proper; so when I send for Uncle
Robert, I am going to send for him, too, and soon as the baby comes
I'll put in its name and sign it, and make Henry, and then if I have to
go, you won't have a bit of trouble."

Kate gazed at Polly in dumb amazement. She was speechless for a time,
then to break the strain she said: "My soul! Did you really, Polly?
I guess there is more Bates in you than I had thought!"

"Oh, there's SOME Bates in me," said Polly. "There's enough to