oved my land more than fifty per cent., I'd like to own
it, and pay my taxes myself, like a man."

"I'd like to have some land under any conditions," said Kate, "but
probably I never shall. And I bet you never get a flipper on that deed
until Father has crossed over Jordan, which with his health and
strength won't be for twenty-five years yet at least. He's performing
a miracle that will make the other girls rave, when he gives Nancy
Ellen money to buy her outfit; but they won't dare let him hear a
whisper of it. They'll take it all out on Mother, and she'll be afraid
to tell him."

"Afraid? Mother afraid of him? Not on your life. She is hand in
glove with him. She thinks as he does, and helps him in everything he
undertakes."

"That's so, too. Come to think of it, she isn't a particle afraid of
him. She agrees with him perfectly. It would be interesting to hear
them having a private conversation. They never talk a word before us.
But they always agree, and they heartily agree on Nancy Ellen's man,
that is plainly to be seen."

"It will make a very difficult winter for you, Katherine," said Agatha.
"When Nancy Ellen becomes interested in dresses and table linen and
bedding she will want to sew all the time, and leave the cooking and
dishes for you as well as your schoolwork."

Kate turned toward Agatha in surprise. "But I won't be there! I told
you I had taken a school."

"You taken a school!" shouted Adam. "Why, didn't they tell you that
Father has signed up for the home school for you?"

"Good Heavens!" said Kate. "What will be to pay now?"

"Did you contract for another school?" cried Adam.

"I surely did," said Kate slowly. "I signed an agreement to teach the
village school in Walden. It's a brick building with a janitor to
sweep and watch fires, only a few blocks to walk, and it pays twenty
dollars a month more than the home school where you can wade snow three
miles, build your own fires, and freeze all day in a little frame
building at that. I teach the school I have taken."

"And throw our school out of a teacher? Father could be sued, and
probably will be," said Adam. "And throw the housework Nancy Ellen
expected you to do on her," said Agatha, at the same time.

"I see," said Kate. "Well, if he is sued, he will have to settle. He
wouldn't help me a penny to go to school, I am of age, the debt is my
own, and I don't owe it to him. He's had all my work has been worth
all my li