In the midst of her serious musings there came a knock at the door. Katharine answered, "Come in," and Alan appeared. His manner was, as usual, shy, and he blushed a little. He was always greatly pleased to see Katharine. He brought two English letters for her. His young face and young presence broke in upon her as a song of spring.
"Don't go," she said, holding out her hand to him. "What have you got there?"
"Oh, it's only a drawing I've been doing of the cowhouse," he said in his shy way. "Knutty wanted it. She says it isn't bad."
"It is very good, I think," Katharine said. "I wish it were for me."
"Oh, I am going to do something ripping good for you before I go back to school," he said. "I've begun it."
She smiled her thanks to him.
"Shall you be glad to go back to school?" she asked, as she broke open her letters.
"I shall not like to leave father," he said, without looking up. "But he has promised to come and see me."
"Ah, that's right," Katharine said, and she glanced at one of the letters.