Kate explained her errand.

Mrs.Holt breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, thank goodness I was before-handed," she said.

"The teacher stayed here last year and she was satisfied, so I ast the Trustee to mention me to the new teacher.

Nobody was expecting you until the last of the week, but I says to myself, 'always take time by the fetlock, Samantha, always be ready'; so last week I put in scouring my spare room to beat the nation, and it's all ready so's you can walk right in." "Thank you," said Kate, rather resenting the assumption that she was to have no option in the matter.

"I have four places on my list where they want the teacher, so I thought I would look at each of them and then decide." "My, ain't we choicey!" said Mrs.Holt in sneering tones.