Katy knew Papa was right, and she was careful, though it was by no
means easy to be so with that new life tingling in every limb. Her
progress was slow, as Dr. Carr had predicted. At first she only stood
on her feet a few seconds, then a minute, then five minutes, holding
tightly all the, while by the chair. Next she ventured to let go the
chair, and stand alone. After that she began to walk a step at a time,
pushing a chair before her, as children do when they are learning the
use of their feet. Clover and Elsie hovered about her as she moved,
like anxious mammas. It was droll, and a little pitiful, to see tall
Katy with her feeble, unsteady progress, and the active figures of the
little sisters following her protectingly. But Katy did not consider it
either droll or pitiful; to her it was simply delightful--the most
delightful thing possible. No baby of a year old was ever prouder of
his first steps than she.

Gradually she grew adventurous, and ventured on a bolder flight.
Clover, running up stairs one day to her own room, stood transfixed at
the sight of Katy sitting there, flushed, panting, but enjoying the
surprise she caused.

"You see," she explained, in an apologizing tone, "I was seized with a
desire to explore. It is such a time since I saw any room but my own!
But oh dear, how long that hall is! I had forgotten it could be so long.
I shall have to take a good rest before I go back."

Katy did take a good rest, but she was very tired next day. The
experiment, however, did no harm. In the course of two or three weeks,
she was able to walk all over the second story.

This was a great enjoyment. It was like reading an interesting book to