If George goes before I return, tell him 'Merry Christmas,' for me." "He'll be most disappointed to death," said Mrs.Holt.
"I don't see why he should," said Kate, calmly.

"You never have had the teacher here at Christmas." "We never had a teacher that I wanted before," said Mrs.Holt; while Kate turned to avoid seeing the woman's face as she perjured herself.
"You're like one of the family, George is crazy about you.

He wrote me to be sure to keep you.

Couldn't you possibly stay over Sunday ?" "No, I couldn't," said Kate.
"Who came after you ?" asked Mrs.Holt.
"Dr.Gray," answered Kate.
"That new doctor at Hartley?
Why, be you an' him friends ?" Mrs.Holt had followed down the hall, eagerly waiting in the doorway.
Kate glanced at her and felt sudden pity.

The woman was warped.
Everything in her life had gone wrong.