And even when Davie’s plans proved themselves to have been worthy of consideration, because of the success that attended them now and then, even success seemed a small matter to the stern old man, because of the disobedience to his commands, or the ignoring of his known wishes which the success implied.
So dear, bright, patient grannie had “her own adoes” between these two whom she loved so well, and her best hope and comfort in all matters which concerned them was Katie.
For Katie’s first thought always was, her grandfather. That he should have nothing to vex him, that his days should be brightened and his cares lightened, seemed to Katie the chief thing there was to think about. She had learned this from her grandmother, whose first thought he had been for many a year and day, and Katie’s many pretty ways of “doing good to grandfather” did quite as much good to grannie.
As to Davie’s “fancies,” as she called his many plans and projects, she had great interest in some of them, and gave him good help in carrying them out, but she had no sympathy or patience with any sign of willfulness, or carelessness where their grandfather was concerned. But she loved her brother dearly, and helped him through some difficulties with others besides her grandfather, and Davie, having confidence in her affections, submitted to her guidance, and was more influenced by her opinions and wishes than he knew. And though she scolded him heartily sometimes, and set her face against any disobedience or seeming disrespect to their
grandfather, she gave him good help often, and so eagerly entered into all his plans, when she saw her way clearly to the end of them, that he heeded her all the more readily when she differed from him and refused her help.
So Mrs Fleming’s dependence on Katie was not misplaced, and she wondered at herself, when she had time to think about it, that she should ever have supposed it possible that she could be spared from home.
“But, oh, my dear!” said she one day to Katie’s mother, “it’s a woeful thing to set up idols, and you must put me in mind, as I must put you, that we’re both in danger here. For who among them all is like our Katie? Not but that she has her faults,” added she, coming back to the business of the moment, as she watched Katie letting her full pail run over, while she enticed the kitten into a race after its tail: “Katie, my woman, you should leave the like of that to wee Nannie; I think you’ll need all your time till supper-time.—But faults, did I say? It is scarcely a fault to be lighthearted, and easily pleased. But oh, Anne, my dear, we have need to take care.”