"_Good_ night!" exclaimed Dr. Ballard with slangy intention. The next moment, Katherine saw his agile figure disappear over the rim of the balustrade. She turned quickly to answer the imperative call, all the old miserable feelings returning in a rush. "I want a drink of water." If Martha Slawson had been in Katherine’s place, the mother-heart in her would have understood that childish call at once. But the girl had no experience that would help her to interpret the meaning of it. She supplied the drink with as much promptness, and as little sentiment, as a nickel-in-the-slot machine. Madam Crewe drained the glass thirstily. "It’s a warm night," she observed socially. "Very warm." "Queer the way my head acts," continued the lonely old woman, obviously making conversation to detain Katherine. "Sometimes it seems full of sounds, so I think I hear real voices speaking. A little while ago, I heard a man’s laugh, as clear as could be. You weren’t downstairs with a caller, were you?" "I haven’t been out of my room since supper-time, grandmother." The words seemed to Katherine to burn her lips, as she uttered them. She turned abruptly to the door. Her grandmother called her back. "You know what I’ve been thinking?" Katherine stood at attention, but silent, unequal to the task of counterfeiting interest. "I’ve been thinking, I’m going to give the cow to Slawson. It bothers me when I can’t pay my debts, and the woman won’t take a cent for what she’s done. Besides, it’s expensive keeping live-stock these days, with fodder so high, and labor even worse. We don’t need a cow, just you and I. Cheaper to buy milk than feed the creature through the winter, and hire Peter to come and milk. It counts up. Slawson can keep her, and turn an honest penny letting us have milk at lowest price. See?" "Yes, grandmother." "You don’t like the plan?" "Giving the cow to Mrs. Slawson is very nice, I think, but I always hate presents with strings to them. Having to supply us with milk takes the cream off the cow." "Pooh! That’s nonsense. You’ve altogether too big notions. They’ll get you into trouble, if you don’t take care. I can see you making ducks and drakes of a fortune in no time, if you didn’t have some one to hold a tight rein over you. By the way, how about those preserves?" "I’ll put them up to-morrow, grandmother." "See you do. Else, first thing you know, the fruit will be gone. Rotted on the trees." "I promise you, I’ll put it up to-morrow without fail," Katherine repeated very distinctly.