But to Katy's chagrin and bitter disappointment, no one said another word about an education. Grandmother Gaumer suggested that Katy might help Aunt Sally and Bevy with the dishes. Afterwards, Katy was called upon to say her piece once more. When little Adam followed with his Bible verse and was given equal praise, Katy's poor heart, sinking lower and lower, reached the most depressed position which it is possible for a heart to assume. Her cause was lost. Then the governor prepared to start on his long journey to the West. There he had grown sons and daughters and little grandchildren whom these Eastern cousins might never see. He kissed Grandmother Gaumer and his niece Sally and little Adam and Katy, and shook hands with Bevy Schnepp, then he returned and kissed Grandmother Gaumer once more. There was something solemn in his farewell; at sight of Grandmother Gaumer's face Katy was keenly conscious once more of her own despair. From the window she watched the three old men go down the street, the famous man who had gone away from Millerstown and the two who had stayed. It seemed to Katy that the two were less noble because of the obscurity of their lives. "Why did gran'pop stay here always?" she asked when she and her grandmother were alone. "Why did uncle go away?" "Gran'pop was the oldest, and he and the squire had to stay here. Uncle had the chance to go." "But--" Katy crossed to her grandmother's side. Everything was still in the warm, pine-scented room. "But, grandmother, why do you cry?" "I am not crying," said grandmother brightly. "But you look--you look as if"--Katy struggled for words in which to express her thoughts--"as if everything were finished!" Grandmother sighed gently. "I am an old woman, Katy, and your uncle is an old man. We may never see each other again." "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" cried Katy. "This is a very sad Christmas!" It was not the sadness of parting which made Katy cry. It was unthinkable that anything should change for her. Everything would be the same, always--alas, that it should be so! She, Katy Gaumer, with all her smartness in school, and all her ability to plan and manage entertainments, would stay here in this spot until she died. Grandmother Gaumer, reproaching herself, comforted her for that which was not a grief at all. "We will be here a long time yet. And you are to go away to school, and--" Katy sprang to her feet. "Who says it, gran'mom? Who says I dare go to school?" "Your gran'pop said it, and your uncles said it when you were out with Bevy. You are to study here till you are through with the highest class, then you are to go away. Your uncle will find a school: he will send us catalogues and he will give us advice." Katy clasped her hands. "I do not deserve it!" "You said you prayed for it," reminded Grandmother Gaumer. "But I prayed without faith," confessed Katy. "I did not believe for one little minute it would ever come true in this world!"