women. Had they been exactly right, they would have been exactly
like her.

So Kate, thinking all these things over, her own problem acutely
"advanced and proceeded." She advanced past the closed barn, and
stock in the pasture, past the garden flaming June, past the
dooryard, up the steps, down the hall, into the screened back
porch dining room and "proceeded" to take a chair, while the
family finished the Sunday night supper, at which they were
seated. Kate was not hungry and she did not wish to trouble her
sister-in-law to set another place, so she took the remaining
chair, against the wall, behind Agatha, facing Adam, 3d, across
the table, and with Adam Jr., in profile at the head, and little
Susan at the foot. Then she waited her chance. Being tired and
aggressive she did not wait long.

"I might as well tell you why I came," she said bluntly. "Father
won't give me money to go to Normal, as he has all the others. He
says I have got to stay at home and help Mother."

"Well, Mother is getting so old she needs help," said Adam, Jr.,
as he continued his supper.

"Of course she is," said Kate. "We all know that. But what is
the matter with Nancy Ellen helping her, while I take my turn at
Normal? There wasn't a thing I could do last summer to help her
off that I didn't do, even to lending her my best dress and
staying at home for six Sundays because I had nothing else fit to
wear where I'd be seen."