You let the little heifer have things all her own way. If
it were my man, and I loved him as you do Robert Gray,
you can stake your Ufe I should be doing something,
several things, in fact."

"This is interesting," said Nancy Ellen. "For ex-
ample ?"

Kate had not given such a matter a thought. She
looked from the window a 'minute, her lips firmly com-
pressed. Then she spoke slowly: "Well, for one thing,
I should become that woman's bosom companion. About
seven times a week I should uncover her most a^ravat-
ing weakness all unintentionally before the man in the
case, at the same time keeping myself, strictly myself. I
should keep steadily on doing and being what he first fell
in love with. Lastly, since eighteen years have brought
you no fulfillment of the desire of your heart, I should
g^ve it up, and content myself and delight him by taking

LMzsa:, Google



38o A DAUGHTER OF THE LAND

into my heart and home a (wuple oi, th« most at-
tractive tiny babies I could find. T^o v^ scarcely more
trouble than one; you c^n kaye 9,11 the help you will
accept; the children would Qevec know the differe^^re;, if
you took them as babies, and soon you wouldn't eit^ter;
while Robert would be delighted. If I \p9re you, 1*4
give myself something to work foT b^sida^ myself a^d Fd
give him so much to think about at hoovi) that dKi.rm-
ing young grass widows could go (o gra^!"

"I beUeve you would," said Nancy Ellens vtwdeiwgly.
"I believe you would!"

"You're mighty right, I Toi4d," s^id Kate, "^f I
were married to a t^ian like Robert Gi^y, I'd fight tooth
and pail before I'd 1^ him faU below his high ideals.
