And in wonder these men watched the progress of Kate's malady without ever suspecting what was really the matter with her. She was homesick. But not for the house in Hanley and the dressmaking of yore. She had come to look upon Hanley, Ralph, Mrs. Ede, the apprentices and Hender as a bygone dream, to which she could not return and did not wish to return. Her homesickness was not to go back to the point from which she had started, but to settle down in a house for a while. 'Not for long, Dick,' she said, 'a month; even a fortnight would make all the difference. We spent a fortnight at Blackpool, but we have never stayed a fortnight at the same place since.' 'I know what's the matter with you, Kate,' he answered; 'you want a holiday; so do I; we all want a holiday. One of these days we shall get one when the tour comes to an end.' It did not seem to Kate that the tour would ever come to an end: she would always be going round like a wheel. Dick begged her to have patience, and she resolved to have patience, but one Saturday night in the middle of her packing the vision of the long railway journey that awaited her on the morrow rose up suddenly in her mind, and she could not do else than spring to her feet, and standing over the half-filled trunk she said: 'Dick, I cannot, I cannot; don't ask me.' 'Ask you what?' he said. 'To go to Bath with you to-morrow morning,' she answered. 'You won't come to Bath!' he cried. 'But who will play Clairette?' 'I will, of course.' 'I don't understand, Kate,' Dick replied. 'I only want one day off. Why shouldn't I spend the Sunday in Leamington and go to church? I want a little rest. I can't help it, Dick.' 'Well, I never! You seem to get more and more capricious every day.' 'Then you won't let me?' said Kate, with a flush flowing through her olive cheeks. 'Won't let you! Why shouldn't you stay if it pleases you, dear? Montgomery is staying too; he wants to see an aunt of his who lives in the town.'