"Can't you drink it?" he asked. "Do, if you possibly can," he
urged. "You'll get so weak you'll be helpless."
"I just can't," said Kate. "Things have such a sickening,
sweetish taste, or they are bitter, or sour; not a thing is as it
used to be. I simply can't!"
A curious look crept over George's face. He picked up the bowl
and tasted the contents. Instantly his face went black; he
started toward the kitchen. Kate heard part of what happened, but
she never lifted her head. After a while he came back with more
broth and a plate of delicate toast.
"Try this," he said. "I made it myself."
Kate ate ravenously.
"That's good!" she cried.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do," he said. "I'm going to take
you out to Aunt Ollie's for a week after school to-night. Want to
go?"
"Yes! Oh, yes!" cried Kate.
"All right," he said. "I know where I can borrow a rig for an
hour. Get ready if you are well enough, if you are not, I'll help
you after school."
That week with Aunt Ollie remained a bright spot in Kate's memory.
The October days were beginning to be crisp and cool. Food was
different. She could sleep, she could eat many things Aunt Ollie
knew to prepare especially; soon she could walk and be outdoors.
She was so much better she wrote George a note, asking him to walk
out and bring her sewing basket, and some goods she listed, and in
the afternoons the two women cut and sewed quaint, enticing little
garments. George found Kate so much better when he came that he
proposed she remain another week. Then for the first time he
talked to her about her theory of government and teaching, until
she realized that the School Director had told him he was
dissatisfied with him -- so George was trying to learn her ways.
Appalled at what might happen if he lost the school, Kate made
notes, talked at length, begged him to do his best, and to come at
once if anything went wrong. He did come, and brought the school
books so she went over the lessons with him, and made marginal
notes of things suggested to her mind by the text, for him to
discuss and elucidate. The next time he came, he was in such good
spirits she knew his work had been praised, so after that they
went over the lessons together each evening. Thinking of what
would help him also helped fill her day.
He took her home, greatly improved, in much better spirits, to her
room, cleaned and ready for winter, with all of her things
possible to use in place, so that it was much changed, prettier,
and more convenient. As they drove in she said of him: "George,
what about it? Did your mother purposely fix my food so I could
not eat it?"