thing to say when he asked if she had a school. But he did not
ask. Then she saw in the pocket of his light summer coat a packet
of letters folded inside a newspaper, and there was one long,
official-looking envelope that stood above the others far enough
that she could see "Miss K --" of the address. Instantly she
decided that it was her answer from the School Director of Walden
and she was tremblingly eager to see it. She thought an instant
and then asked: "Have you been to the post office?"

"Yes, I got the mail," he answered.

"Will you please see if there are any letters for me?" she asked.

"When we get home," he said. "I am in a hurry now. Here's a list
of things Ma wants, and don't be all day about getting them."

Kate's lips closed to a thin line and her eyes began to grow steel
coloured and big. She dragged back a step and looked at the
loosely swaying pocket again. She thought intently a second. As
they passed several people on the walk she stepped back of her
father and gently raised the letter enough to see that the address
was to her. Instantly she lifted it from the others, slipped it
up her dress sleeve, and again took her place beside her father
until they reached the store where her mother did her shopping.
Then he waited outside while Kate hurried in, and ripping open the
letter, found a contract ready for her to sign for the Walden
school. The salary was twenty dollars a month more than Nancy
Ellen had received for their country school the previous winter
and the term four months longer.