One More for Kate

"Yes, I believe you," said Kate.

"It was an awful thing for me to do," said Polly. "I was foolish
and crazy, and I suppose I shouldn't say it, but I certainly did
have a lot of encouragement from the Peters family. They all
seemed to think it would be a great joke, that it wouldn't make
any difference, and all that, so I just did it. I knew I
shouldn't have done it; but, Mother, you'll never know the fight
I've had all my life to keep from telling stories and sneaking. I
hated your everlasting: 'Now be careful,' but when I hated it
most, I needed it worst; and I knew it, when I grew older. If
only you had been here to say, 'Now be careful,' just once, I
never would have done it; but of course I couldn't have you to
keep me straight all my life. All I can say is that I'd give my
life and never whimper, if I could be back home as I was this time
last year, and have a chance to do things your way. But that is
past, and I can't change it. What I came for to-day, and what I
want to know now is, if I go, will you take my baby?"

"Polly, you KNOW the Peters family wouldn't let me have it," said
Kate.

"If it's a boy, they wouldn't WANT it," said Polly. "Neither
would you, for that matter. If it's a girl, they'll fight for it;
but it won't do them any good. All I want to know is, WILL YOU
TAKE IT?"