"Why?" asked Mrs. Jardine.
"I met her in the hall as I came back from posting my letter, so
we 'visited' a little, as the country folks say. She has taught
one winter of country school, a small school in an out county.
She's here waiting table two hours three times a day, to pay for
her room and board. In the meantime, she attends all the sessions
and studies as much as she can; but she's very poor material for a
teacher. I pity her pupils. She's a little thing, bright enough
in her way, but she has not much initiative, not strong enough for
the work, and she has not enough spunk. She'll never lead the
minds of school children anywhere that will greatly benefit them."
"And your deduction is -- "
"That she would make you a kind, careful, obedient maid, who is
capable enough to be taught to wash your hair and manicure you
with deftness, and who would serve you for respect as well as
hire. I think it would be a fine arrangement for you and good for
her."
"This surely is kind of you," said Mrs. Jardine. "I'll keep
strict watch of Jennie Weeks. If I could find a really capable
maid here and not have to wire John to bring one, I'd be so glad.
It does so go against the grain to prove to a man that he has a
right to be more conceited than he is naturally."
As they ate lunch Kate said to Mrs. Jardine: "I noticed one thing
this morning that is going to be balm to my soul. I passed many
teachers and summer resorters going to the lecture halls and
coming from them, and half of them were bareheaded, so my state
will not be remarkable, until I can get another hat."
"'God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform,'"
laughingly quoted Mrs. Jardine. "You thought losing that precious
hat was a calamity; but if you hadn't lost it, you probably would
have slept soundly while I died across the hall. My life is worth
the price of a whole millinery shop to me; I think you value the
friendship we are developing; I foresee I shall get a maid who
will not disgrace my in public; you will have a full summer here;
now truly, isn't all this worth many hats?"
"Of course! It's like a fairy tale," said Kate. "Still, you
didn't see the hat!"
"But you described it in a truly graphic manner," said Mrs.
Jardine.
"When I am the snowiest of great-grandmothers, I shall still be
telling small people about the outcome of my first attempt at
vanity," laughed Kate.
The third morning dawned in great beauty, a "misty, moisty
morning," Mrs. Jardine called it. The sun tried to shine but
could not quite pierce the intervening clouds, so on every side
could be seen exquisite pictures painted in delicate pastel
colours. Kate, fresh and rosy, wearing a blue chambray dress, was
a picture well worth seeing. Mrs. Jardine kept watching her so
closely that Kate asked at last: "Have you made up your mind,
yet?"