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Kate sat very still, holding this letter in her hand, when John

Jardine came up and sat beside her She looked at hiht hi the last word in

mental or physical refinement She was rather brawny herself, and

perfectly aware of the fact She wanted intensely to learn all

she could, she disliked the idea that any woman should have more

stored in her head than she, but she had no tiraces and customs She wanted to be kind, to be polite,

but she told Mrs Jardine flatly the "she didn't give a flip about

being overly nice," which was the exact truth That required

subtleties beyond Kate's depth, for she was at tiht about John Jardine

As she thought, she decided that she did not knohether she was

in love with hi

with him, she liked all he did for her, she would miss him if he

went away, she would be proud to be his wife, but she did wish

that he were interested in land, instead of inventions and stocks

and bonds Stocks and bonds were al she could understand and handle

Maybe she could interest him in land; if she could, that would be

ideal What a place his wealth would buy and fit up She

wondered as she studied John Jardine, as in his head; if he

truly intended to ask her to be his wife, and since reading Nancy