She had no means of knowing that for a week George had nagged his mother unceasingly because Kate was gone on his return, and would not be back until after time for him to go again.

The only way for him to see her during the week he had planned to come out openly as her lover, was to try to find her at her home, or at her sister's.

He did not feel that it would help him to go where he never had been asked.

His only recourse was to miss a few days of school and do extra work to make it up; but he detested nothing in life as he detested work, so the world's happy week had been to them one of constant sparring and unhappiness, for which Mrs.Holt blamed Kate.

Her son had returned expecting to court Kate Bates strenuously; his disappointment was not lightened by his mother's constant nagging.
Monday forenoon she went to market, and came in gasping.
"Land sakes!" she cried as she panted down the hall.