uld want to see me, and I haven't the slightest doubt
that Father would NOT; but he has no jurisdiction over the road. It's
the shortest way--and besides, I want to see the lilac bush and the
cabbage roses."

As they approached the place Nancy Ellen turned.

"Father's standing at the gate. What shall we do?"

"There's nothing you can do, but drive straight ahead and you and
Robert speak to him," said Kate. "Go fast, Robert."

He touched the team and at fair speed they whirled past the white
house, at the gate of which, stiffly erect, stood a brawny man of six
feet six, his face ruddy and healthy in appearance. He was dressed as
he prepared himself to take a trip to pay his taxes, or to go to Court.
He stood squarely erect, with stern, forbidding face, looking directly
at them. Robert spoke to him, and Nancy Ellen leaned forward and
waved, calling "Father," that she might be sure he knew her, but he
gave not the slightest sign of recognition. They carried away a
distinct picture of him, at his best physically and in appearance; at
his worst mentally.

"There you have it!" said Kate, bitterly. "I'd be safe in wagering a
thousand dollars, if I had it, that Agatha or the children told, at
Hiram's or to Mother's girl, that we were coming. They knew we would
pass about this time. Mother was at the side door watching, and Father
was in his Sunday best, waiting to show us what would happen if we
stopped, and that he never changes his mind. It didn't happen by
accident that he was standing there dressed that way. What do you
think, Nancy Ellen?"

"That he was watching for us!" said Nancy Ellen.

"But why do you suppose that he did it?" asked Kate.

"He thought that if he were NOT standing guard there, we might stop in
the road and at least call Mother out. He wanted to be seen, and seen
at his best; but as always, in command, showing his authority."

"Don't mind," said John Jardine. "It's easy to understand the
situation."

"Thank you," said Kate. "I hope you'll tell your mother that. I can't
bear her to think that the trouble is wholly my fault."

"No danger of that," he said. "Mother thinks there's nobody in all the
world like you, and so do I."

Nancy Ellen kicked Robert's shin, to let him know that she heard. Kate
was very depressed for a time, but she soon recovered and they spent a
final happy evening together. When John had parted from Robert and
Nancy Ellen, with the arrangement that he wa