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.
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