"Then what are you here for?" asked Adam.
"Because I am going to give you, and every other brother and
sister I have, the chance to REFUSE to loan me enough to buy a few
clothes and pay my way to Normal, so I can pass the examinations,
and teach this fall. And when you have all refused, I am going to
the neighbours, until I find someone who will loan me the money I
need. A hundred dollars would be plenty. I could pay it back
with two months' teaching, with any interest you say."
Kate paused, short of breath, her eyes blazing, her cheeks red.
Adam went steadily on with his supper. Agatha appeared stiffer
and more uncompromising in the back than before, which Kate had
not thought possible. But the same dull red on the girl's cheeks
had begun to burn on the face of young Adam. Suddenly he broke
into a clear laugh.
"Oh, Ma, you're too funny!" he cried. "I can read your face like
a book. I bet you ten dollars I can tell you just word for word
what you are going to say. I dare you let me! You know I can!"
Still laughing, his eyes dancing, a picture to see, he stretched
his arm across the table toward her, and his mother adored him,
however she strove to conceal the fact from him.
"Ten dollars!" she scoffed. "When did we become so wealthy? I'll
give you one dollar if you tell me exactly what I was going to
say."
The boy glanced at his father. "Oh this is too easy!" he cried.
"It's like robbing the baby's bank!" And then to his mother:
"You were just opening your lips to say: 'Give it to her! If you
don't, I will!' And you are even a little bit more of a brick
than usual to do it. It's a darned shame the way all of them
impose on Kate."
There was a complete change in Agatha's back. Adam, Jr., laid
down his fork and stared at his wife in deep amazement. Adam, 3d,
stretched his hand farther toward his mother. "Give me that
dollar!" he cajoled.
"Well, I am not concealing it in the sleeve of my garments," she
said. "If I have one, it is reposing in my purse, in
juxtaposition to the other articles that belong there, and if you
receive it, it will be bestowed upon you when I deem the occasion
suitable."
Young Adam's fist came down with a smash. "I get the dollar!" he
triumphed. "I TOLD you so! I KNEW she was going to say it!
Ain't I a dandy mind reader though? But it is bully for you,
Father, because of course, if Mother wouldn't let Kate have it,
you'd HAVE to; but if you DID it might make trouble with your
paternal land-grabber, and endanger your precious deed that you
hope to get in the sweet by-and-by. But if Mother loans the
money, Grandfather can't say a word, because it is her very own,
and didn't cost him anything, and he always agrees with her
anyway! Hurrah for hurrah, Kate! Nancy Ellen may wash her own
petticoat in the morning, while I take you to the train. You'll
let me, Father? You did let me go to Hartley alone, once. I'll
be careful! I won't let a thing happen. I'll come straight home.
And oh, my dollar, you and me; I'll put you in the bank and let
you grow to three!"