Helping Nancy Ellen and Robert to Establish a Home

The week of Christmas vacation was going to be the hardest;
everyone expected the teacher to go home for the Holidays. Many
of them knew that her sister was marrying the new doctor of
Hartley. When Kate was wondering how she could possibly conceal
the rupture with her family, Robert Gray drove into Walden and
found her at the schoolhouse. She was so delighted to see him
that she made no attempt to conceal her joy. He had driven her
way for exercise and to pay her a call. When he realized from her
greeting how she had felt the separation from her family, he had
an idea that he at once propounded: "Kate, I have come to ask a
favour of you," he said.

"Granted!" laughed Kate. "Whatever can it be?"

"Just this! I want you to pack a few clothes, drive to Hartley
with me and do what you can to straighten out the house, so there
won't be such confusion when Nancy Ellen gets there."

Kate stared at him in a happy daze. "Oh, you blessed Robert Gray!
What a Heavenly idea!" she cried. "Of course it wouldn't be
possible for me to fix Nancy Ellen's house the way she would, but
I could put everything where it belonged, I could arrange well
enough, and I could have a supper ready, so that you could come
straight home."

"Then you will do it?" he asked.

"Do it?" cried Kate. "Do it! Why, I would be willing to pay you
for the chance to do it. How do you think I'm to explain my not
going home for the Holidays, and to my sister's wedding, and
retain my self-respect before my patrons?"