"Here comes your mother to see how we are getting along." Instead, she came to hand Kate a letter she had brought from the post office while doing her marketing.

Kate took the letter, saw at a glance that it was from Nancy Ellen, and excusing herself, she went to one of the seats they had made, and turning her face so that it could not be seen, she read: DEAR KATE: You can prepare yourself for the surprise of your life.
Two Bates men have done something for one of their women.

I hope you will survive the shock; it almost finished me and Mother is still speechless.

I won't try to prepare you.

I could not.