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Book, page 31 / 351 Kate turned to her father. "Well, for land's sake!" she said. "I wanted a lawn-mower all last summer, and you wouldn't buy it for me. I wonder why you got it the minute I was gone." "I got it because Nancy Ellen especially wanted it, and she has been a mighty good girl all summer," he said. "If that is the case, then she should be rewarded with the privilege of running a lawn-mower," said Kate. Her father looked at her sharply; but her face was so pleasant he decided she did not intend to be saucy, so he said: "No doubt she will be willing to let you help her all you want to." "Not the ghost of a doubt about that," laughed Kate, "and I always wanted to try running one, too. They look so nice in pictures, and how one improves a place! I hardly know this is home. Now if we only had a fresh coat of white paint we could line up with the neighbours." "I have been thinking about that," said Mr. Bates, and Kate glanced at him, doubting her hearing. He noticed her surprise and added in explanation: "Paint every so often saves a building. It's good economy." "Then let's economize immediately," said Kate. "And on the barn, too. It is even more weather-beaten than the house." "I'll see about it the next time I go to town," said Mr. Bates; so Kate entered the house prepared for anything and wondering what it all meant for wherever she looked everything was shining the brightest that scrubbing and scouring could make it shine, the best of everything was out and in use; not that it was much, but it made a noticeable difference. Her mother greeted her pleasantly, with a new tone of voice, while Nancy Ellen was transformed. Kate noticed that, immediately. She always had been a pretty girl, now she was beautiful, radiantly beautiful, with a new shining beauty that dazzled Kate as she looked at her. No one
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