But Katy would not touch the delicate things, so Linda selected a brushy hollyhock for her and then sat at her knee again.
"Katherine O'Donovan," she said solemnly, "it's up to a couple of young things such as we are, stranded on the shoals of the Pacific as we have been, to put our heads together and take counsel. You're a host, Katy, and while I am taking care of you, I'll be just delighted to have you go on looking after your black sheep; but it's going to be lonely, for all that. After Eileen has taken her personal possessions, what do you say to fixing up that room with the belongings that Marian kept, and inviting her to make that suite her home until such time as she may have a home of her own again?""Foine!" cried Katy. "I'd love to be havin' her. I'd agree to take orders from Miss Marian and to be takin' care of her jist almost the same as I do of ye, Miss Linda. The one thing I don't like about it is that it ain't fair nor right to give even Marian the best. Ye be takin' that suite yourself, lambie, and give Miss Marian your room all fixed up with her things, or, if ye want her nearer, give her the guest room and make a guest room of yours.""I am willing to follow either of the latter suggestions for myself," said Linda; "it might be pleasant to be across the hall from Marian where we could call back and forth to each other. Iwouldn't mind a change as soon as I have time to get what I'd need to make the change. I'll take the guest room for mine, and you may call in a decorator and have my room freshly done and the guest things moved into it."Katy looked belligerent. Linda reached up and touched the frowning lines on her forehead.
"Brighten your lovely features with a smile, Katherine me dear,"she said gaily. "Don't be forgetting that this is our Day of Jubilee. We are free--I hope we are free forever--from petty annoyances and dissatisfactions and little, galling things that sear the soul and bring out all the worst in human nature. Icouldn't do anything to Eileen's suite, not even if I resorted to tearing out partitions and making it new from start to finish, that would eliminate Eileen from it for me. If Marian will give me permission to move and install her things in it, I think she can use it without any such feeling, but I couldn't. It's agreed then, Katy, I am to write to Marian and extend to her a welcome on your part as well as on mine?""That ye may, lambie," said Katy heartily. "And, as the boss used to be sabin', just to make assurance doubly sure, if YoUwould address it for me I would be writing' a bit of a line myself, conveying' to her me sentiments on the subject.""Oh, fine, Katy; Marian would be delighted!" cried Linda, springing up.
"And, Katy dear, it won't make us feel any more like mourning for Eileen when I tell you that it developed at the bank yesterday and today, that since she has been managing household affairs she has deposited in a separate account all the royalties from Father's books. I had thought the matter closed at the bank when this fund was added to the remainder of the estate, the household expenses set aside to Eileen, and the remainder divided equally between us. I didn't get the proof that she was not my sister until after I came home. I think it means that I shall have to go back to the bank, have the matter reopened, and unless she can produce a will or something proving that she is entitled to it, it seems to me that what remains of my father's estate is legally mine. Of course, if it develops that he has made any special provision for her, she shall have it; otherwise, Katy, we'll be in a position to install you as housekeeper and put some light-footed, capable young person under you for a step-saver in any direction you want to use her. It means, too, that I shall be able to repay your loan immediately and to do the things that I wanted to do about the house.""Now I ain't in any hurry about that money, lambie," said Katy;"and you understand of course that the dress you're wearing' I am given' ye.""Of course, old dear, and you should have seen Peter Morrison light up and admire it. He thinks you have wonderful taste, Katy."Katy threw up both her hands.
"Oh, my Lord, lambie!" she cried, aghast. "Was you telling' him that the dress ye were wearing' was a present from your old cook?""Why, certainly I was," said Linda, wide eyed with astonish meet.
"Why shouldn't I? I was proud to. And now, old dear, before Igo, the biggest secret of all. I had a letter, Katy, from the editor of Everybody's Home, and people like our articles, KatY;they are something now and folk are letting the editor know about it, and he wants all I can send him. He likes the pictures Imake; and, Katy, you won't believe it till I show you my little bank book, but for the three already published with their illustrations he pays me five hundred nice, long, smooth, beautifully decorated, paper dollars!""Judas praste!" cried Katy, her hands once more aloft. "Ye ain't manin' it, lambie?""Yes, I are," laughed Linda. "I've got the money; and for each succeeding three with their pictures I am to have that much more, and when I finish- -now steady yourself, Katy, because this is going to be a shock--when I finish, blessed old dear heart, he is going to make them into a book! That will be my job for this summer, and you shall help me, and it will be a part of our great secret. Won't it be the most fun?""My soul!" said Katy. "You're jist crazy. I don't belave a word you're telling' me.""But I can prove it, because I have the letter and the bank book," said Linda.
Katy threw her arms around the girl and kissed the top of her head and cried over her and laughed at the same time and patted her and petted her and ended by saying: "Oh, lambie, if only the master could be knowin' it.""But he does know, Katy," said Linda.
