180 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
Kate is our first-born. She isa bright, beauti- 
ful woman of five-and-twenty, who has had a 
husband these six years, one daughter for four 
years, and, wonderful to relate, another daughter 
for two years. She is quick and practical, with 
strong opinions of her own, prompt with advice 
and just as prompt with aid; a woman with a 
temper, but a friend to tie to in time of stress. 
She has the education of a good school, and what 
is infinitely better, the cultivation of an observ- 
ing mind. She is quick with tongue and pen, 
but her quickness is so tempered by unquestioned 
friendliness that it fastens people to her as with 
a cord. She overflows with interests of every 
description, but she is never too busy to listen 
sympathetically to a child or a friend. She is 
the practical member of the family, and we 
rarely do much out of the ordinary without first 
talking it over with Kate. 
Tom Hamilton, her husband, is a young man 
who is getting on in the world. He is clever in 
his profession, and sure to succeed beyond the 
success of most men. He is quiet in manner, 
but he seems to have a way of managing his 
quick, handsome wife, which is something of a 
surprise to me, and to her also, I fancy. They 
are congenial and happy, and their children are 
beings to adore. Tom and Kate are to live in 
town. ‘They are too young for the joys of coun- 
try life, and must needs drag on as they are, 
loved and admired by a host of friends. They 
