A Daughter of the Land

Polly said nothing until April, then Kate answered the telephone

one day and a few seconds later was ringing for Adam as if she

would pull down the bell. He came running and soon was on his way

to Peters' with the single buggy, with instructions to drive

slowly and carefully and on no account to let Polly slip getting

out. The Peters family had all gone to bury an aunt in the

neighbourhood, leaving Polly alone for the day; and Polly at once

called up her mother, and said she was dying to see her, and if

she couldn't come home for the day, she would die soon, and be

glad of it. Kate knew the visit should not have been made at that

time and in that way; but she knew that Polly was under a

dangerous nervous strain; she herself would not go to Peters' in

Mrs. Peters' absence; she did not know what else to do. As she

waited for Polly she thought of many things she would say; when

she saw her, she took her in her arms and almost carried her into

the house, and she said nothing at all, save how glad she was to

see her, and she did nothing at all, except to try with all her

might to comfort and please her, for to Kate, Polly did not seem

like a strong, healthy girl approaching maternity. She appeared

like a very sick woman, who sorely needed attention, while a few

questions made her so sure of it that she at once called Robert.

He gave both of them all the comfort he could, but what he told

Nancy Ellen was: "Polly has had no attention whatever. She wants

me, and I'll have to go; but it's a case I'd like to side-step.

I'll do all I can, but the time is short."

"Oh, Lord!" said Nancy Ellen. "Is it one more for Kate?"

"Yes," said Robert, "I am very much afraid it's 'one more for

Kate.'"