m. When she glanced toward the door, she saw Robert
standing looking at her. He had stepped inside, closed the door, and
with his hand on the knob was waiting for her to see him.

"Oh! Hello!" said Kate. "I thought it was Adam. Have you been to
Agatha's yet?"

"Yes. She is very much better," he said. "I only stopped to tell you
that her mother happened to come out for the night, and they'll not
need you."

"I'm surely glad she is better," said Kate, "but I'm rather
disappointed. I've been swimming, and I'm all ready to go."

She set the pot lid in place accurately and gave her left hand a deft
turn to save the dough from dripping. She glanced from it to Robert,
expecting to see him open the door and disappear. Instead he stood
looking at her intently. Suddenly he said: "Kate, will you marry me?"

Kate mechanically saved the dough again, as she looked at the pot an
instant, then she said casually: "Sure! It would be splendid to have
a doctor right in the house when Little Poll cuts her double teeth."

"Thank you!" said Robert, tersely. "No doubt that WOULD be a
privilege, but I decline to marry you in order to see Little Poll
safely through teething. Good-night!"

He stepped outside and closed the door very completely, and somewhat
pronouncedly.

Kate stood straight an instant, then realized biscuit dough was slowly
creeping down her wrist. With a quick fling, she shot the mass into
the scrap bucket and sinking on the chair she sat on to peel
vegetables, she lifted her apron, laid her head on her knees, and gave
a big gulping sob or two. Then she began to cry silently. A minute
later the door opened again. That time it had to be Adam, but Kate did
not care what he saw or what he thought. She cried on in perfect
abandon.

Then steps crossed the room, someone knelt beside her, put an arm
around her and said: "Kate, why are you crying?"

Kate lifted her head suddenly, and applied her apron skirt. "None of
your business," she said to Robert's face, six inches from hers.

"Are you so anxious as all this about Little Poll's teeth?" he asked.

"Oh, DRAT Little Poll's teeth!" cried Kate, the tears rolling
uninterruptedly.

"Then WHY did you say that to me?" he demanded.

"Well, you said you 'only stopped to tell me that I needn't go to
Agatha's,'" she explained. "I had to say something, to get even with
you!"

"Oh," said Robert, and took possession. Kate put her arms around his
neck,