"Of course," said Kate. "I lost my new hat."
"But, my dear! Crying over a hat? When it is so easy to get
another? How foolish!" said the woman.
"Yes, but you didn't see the hat," said Kate. "And it will be far
from easy to get another, with this one not paid for yet. I'm
only one season removed from sunbonnets, so I never should have
bought it at all."
The woman moved in bed, and taking one of Kate's long, crinkly
braids, she drew the wealth of gold through her fingers
repeatedly.
"Tell me about your hat," she said.
So to humour this fragile woman, and to keep from thinking of her
own trouble, Kate told the story of her Leghorn hat and ostrich
plume, and many things besides, for she was not her usual terse
self with her new friend who had to be soothed to forgetfulness.
Kate ended: "I was all wrong to buy such a hat in the first
place. I couldn't afford it; it was foolish vanity. I'm not
really good-looking; I shouldn't have flattered myself that I was.
Losing it before it was paid for was just good for me. Never
again will I be so foolish."
"Why, my dear, don't say such things or think them," chided the
little woman. "You had as good a right to a becoming hat as any
girl. Now let me ask you one question, and then I'll try to
sleep. You said you were a teacher. Did you come here to attend
the Summer School for Teachers?"
"Yes," said Kate.
"Would it make any great difference to you if you missed a few
days?" she asked.
"Not the least," said Kate.
"Well, then, you won't be offended, will you, if I ask you to
remain with me and take care of me until John comes? I could send
him a message to-night that I am alone, and bring him by this time
to-morrow; but I know he has business that will cause him to lose
money should he leave, and I was so wilful about coming, I dread
to prove him right so conclusively the very first day. That door
opens into a room reserved for Susette, if only you'd take it, and
leave the door unclosed to-night, and if only you would stay with
me until John comes I could well afford to pay you enough to
lengthen your stay as long as you'd like; and it makes me so happy
to be with such a fresh young creature. Will you stay with me, my
dear?"
"I certainly will," said Kate heartily. "If you'll only tell me
what I should do; I'm not accustomed to rich ladies, you know."
"I'm not myself," said the little woman, "but I do seem to take to
being waited upon with the most remarkable facility!"