The following morning Kate waited with exceeding patience for the proper moment to arrive in which to speak to Frank regarding the Clover and Mr. North.
“And I told him, Frank,” she went on to say, as he stood glowering at her from his superior height, “that the boat cost—I mean that papa paid forty—”
“It was fifty dollars, Kate,” ejaculated Frank, “that was paid for the boat; and if you hadn’t—”
“O, Frank!” besought Kate, with an eager tremble in her voice, “I am so sorry I forgot. I thought it was forty; but you can tell him and then you’ll get back ten dollars that you can spend just as you please; and you are always wanting new things, you know. You can buy, Frank, that nice new kind of a fishpole that you asked papa for, or you can get—”
“Just like you,” returned Frank, interrupting her suggestion. “A fishpole would do me a good deal of good without the Clover to go with it. I’ll tell you what, I’ll just keep my boat and get the pole in some way. Mother will help me out with it.”
“O, Frank Hallock! if you only knew what mamma is doing, and going to do, this winter, you’d never think of asking her for a penny. When you are gone, Mary is going away and we will only have the cook and mamma, and I am going to do all Mary’s work; and I heard papa talking about having only Hugo or some one other man to do everything that is to be done outside of the house. I shall enjoy helping about everything so much, dear Frank, when I think that you are having a good time at school and it is making you happier.”
Frank turned away without a word and went out into the sweet, cool air of the morning.
Kate ran lightly up the staircase, and in two minutes came down again with hat and wrappings on to drive her father to the railway station.
Mr. Hallock appeared presently, looking very grave and anxious. As he came, Kate said: “All ready, papa, and waiting for you.”