When Nancy Ellen came, she took only one glance at Kate's
glorified face and asked: "What in this world has happened to
you?"
Kate answered in all seriousness: "My Lord has 'shut the lions'
mouths,' and they are not going to harm me."
Nancy Ellen regarded her closely. "I hope you aren't running a
temperature," she said. "I'll take a shot at random. You have
found out that the Peters family can't take Little Poll."
Kate laughed joyously. "Better than that, sister mine!" she
cried. "I have convinced Henry that he doesn't want her himself
as much as he wants me to have her, and he can speedily convert
his family. He will do nothing more! He will leave me in peace
with her."
"Thank God!" said Nancy Ellen.
"There you go, too!" cried Kate. "That's the very first thought
that came to me, only I said, 'Praise the Lord,' which is exactly
the same thing; and Nancy Ellen, since Robert has been trying to
praise the Lord for twenty years, and both of us do praise Him
when our time comes, wouldn't it be a good idea to open up our
heads and say so, not only to ourselves and to the Lord, but to
the neighbours? I'm afraid she won't understand much of it, but I
think I shall find the place and read to Little Poll about Abraham
and Isaac to-night, and probably about Hagar and Ishmael to-morrow
night, and it wouldn't surprise me a mite to hear myself saying
'Praise the Lord,' right out loud, any time, any place. Let's
gather a great big bouquet of our loveliest flowers, and go tell
Mother and Polly about it."
Without a word Nancy Ellen turned toward the garden. They
gathered the flowers and getting in Nancy Ellen's car drove the
short distance to the church where Nancy Ellen played with the
baby in the shade of a big tree while Kate arranged her flowers.
Then she sat down and they talked over their lives from childhood.
"Nancy Ellen, won't you stay to supper with us?" asked Kate.
"Yes," said Nancy Ellen, rising, "I haven't had such a good time
in years. I'm as glad for you as I'd be if I had such a child
assured me, myself."
"You can't bring yourself --?" began Kate.
"Yes, I think so," said Nancy Ellen. "Getting things for Little
Poll has broken me up so, I told Robert how I felt, and he's
watching in his practice, and he's written several letters of
inquiry to friends in Chicago. Any day now I may have my work cut
out for me."
"Praise the Lord again!" cried Kate. "I see where you will be
happier than you ever have been. Real life is just beginning for
you."
Then they went home and prepared a good supper and had such a fine
time they were exalted in heart and spirit. When Nancy Ellen
started home, Kate took the baby and climbed in the car with her,
explaining that they would go a short way and walk back. She went
only as far as the Peters gate; then she bravely walked up to the
porch, where Mr. Peters and some of the boys sat, and said
casually: "I just thought I'd bring Little Poll up to get
acquainted with her folks. Isn't she a dear?"