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Page 19
This was all satisfactory and comforting; and Clover could endure a little
loneliness herself so long as her beloved Katy seemed so happy. She was
very busy besides, and there _were_ compensations, as she admitted to
herself. She liked the consequence of being at the head of domestic
affairs, and succeeding to Katy's position as papa's special
daughter,--the person to whom he came for all he wanted, and to whom he
told his little secrets. She and Elsie became more intimate than they had
ever been before; and Elsie in her turn enjoyed being Clover's lieutenant
as Clover had been Katy's. So the summer did not seem long to any of them;
and when September was once past, and they could begin to say, "month
after next," the time sped much faster.
"Mrs. Hall asked me this morning when the Worthingtons were coming," said
Johnnie, one day. "It seems so funny to have Katy spoken of as 'the
Worthingtons.'"
"I only wish the Worthingtons would write and say when," remarked Clover.
"It is more than a week since we heard from them."
The next day brought the wished-for letter, and the good news that Ned had
a fortnight's leave, and meant to bring Katy home the middle of November,
and stay for Thanksgiving. After that the "Natchitoches" was to sail for
an eighteen months' cruise to China and Japan; and then Ned would probably
have two years ashore at the Torpedo Station or Naval Academy or
somewhere, and they would start a little home for themselves.
"Meantime," wrote Katy, "I am coming to spend a year and a half with you,
if urged. Don't all speak at once, and don't mind saying so, if you don't
want me."
The bitter drop in this pleasant intelligence--there generally is one, you
know--was that the fortnight of Ned's stay was to be spent at Mrs. Ashe's.
"It's her only chance to see Ned," said Katy; "so I know you won't mind,
for afterward you will have me for such a long visit."
But they _did_ mind very much!
"I don't think it's fair," cried Johnnie, hotly, while Clover and Elsie
exchanged disgusted looks; "Katy belongs to us."
"Katy belongs to her husband, on the contrary," said Dr. Carr,
overhearing her; "you must learn that lesson once for all, children.
There's no escape from the melancholy fact; and it's quite right and
natural that Ned should wish to go to his sister, and she should want to
have him."
"Ned! yes. But Katy--"
"My dear, Katy _is_ Ned," answered Dr. Carr, with a twinkle. Then noticing
the extremely unconvinced expression of Johnnie's face, he added more
seriously, "Don't be cross, children, and spoil all Katy's pleasure in
coming home, with your foolish jealousies. Clover, I trust to you to take
these young mutineers in hand and make them listen to reason."
Thus appealed to, Clover rallied her powers, and while laboring to bring
Elsie and John to a proper frame of mind, schooled herself as well, so as
to be able to treat Mrs. Ashe amiably when they met. Dear, unconscious
Polly meanwhile was devising all sorts of pleasant and hospitable plans
designed to make Ned's stay a sort of continuous f�te to everybody. She
put on no airs over the preference shown her, and was altogether so kind
and friendly and sweet that no one could quarrel with her even in thought,
and Johnnie herself had to forgive her, and be contented with a little
whispered grumble to Dorry now and then over the inconvenience of
possessing "people-in-law."
And then Katy came, the same Katy, only, as Clover thought, nicer,
brighter, dearer, and certainly better-looking than ever. Sea air had
tanned her a little, but the brown was becoming; and she had gained an
ease and polish of manner which her sisters admired very much. And after
all, it seemed to make little difference at which house they stayed, for
they were in and out of both all day long; and Mrs. Ashe threw her doors
open to the Carrs and wanted some or all of them for every meal, so that
except for the name of the thing, it was almost as satisfactory to have
Katy over the way as occupying her old quarters.
The fortnight sped only too rapidly. Ned departed, and Katy settled
herself in the familiar corner to wait till he should come back again.
Navy wives have to learn the hard lesson of patience in the long
separations entailed by their husbands' profession. Katy missed Ned
sorely, but she was too unselfish to mope, or to let the others know how
hard to bear his loss seemed to her. She never told any one how she lay
awake in stormy nights, or when the wind blew,--and it seemed to blow
oftener than usual that winter,--imagining the frigate in a gale, and
whispering little prayers for Ned's safety. Then her good sense would come
back, and remind her that wind in Burnet did not necessarily mean wind in
Shanghai or Yokohama or wherever the "Natchitoches" might be; and she
would put herself to sleep with the repetition of that lovely verse of
Keble's "Evening Hymn," left out in most of the collections, but which was
particularly dear to her:--
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