第2章
"Nothing，"saidWesleySintonsoothingly。"Nothing，honey。
Thatwasjustoneofthemfoolthingsamansays，whenheistryinghisbesttobewise。Yousee，shelovedhimmightily，andthey"dbeenmarriedonlyayear，andwhatshewaslovingwaswhatshethoughthewas。Shehadn"treallygotacquaintedwiththemanyet。
Ifithadbeenevenonemoreyear，shecouldhaveborneit，andyou"dhavegotjustice。Havingbeenateachershewasbettereducatedandsmarterthantherestofus，andsoshewasmoresensitivelike。
Shecan"tunderstandshewaslovingadream。SoIsayitmightdohergoodifsomebodythatknew，couldtellher，butIsweartogracious，Inevercould。I"veheardheroutattheedgeofthatquagmirecallinginthemwildspellsofhersoffandonforthelastsixteenyears，andimploringtheswamptogivehimbacktoher，andI"vegotoutofbedwhenIwasprettytired，andcomedowntoseeshedidn"tgoinherself，orharmyou。Whatshefeelsistoodeepforme。I"vegottorespectin"hergrief，andIcan"tgetoverit。Gohomeandtellyourma，honey，andaskherniceandkindtohelpyou。Ifshewon"t，thenyougottoswallowthatlittlelumpofprideinyourneck，andcometoAuntMaggie，likeyoubeena-comingallyourlife。"
"I"llaskmother，butIcan"ttakeyourmoney，UncleWesley，indeedIcan"t。I"llwaitayear，andearnsome，andenternextyear。"
"There"sonethingyoudon"tconsider，Elnora，"saidthemanearnestly。"Andthat"swhatyouaretoMaggie。
She"salittlelikeyourma。Shehasn"tgivenuptoit，andshe"sstrugglingonbrave，butwhenweburiedoursecondlittlegirlthelightwentoutofMaggie"seyes，andit"snotcomeback。TheonlytimeIeverseeahintofitiswhenshethinksshe"sdonesomethingthatmakesyouhappy，Elnora。Now，yougoeasyaboutrefusingheranythingshewantstodoforyou。There"stimesinthisworldwhenit"sourboundendutytoforgetourselves，andthinkwhatwillhelpotherpeople。Youngwoman，youowemeandMaggieallthecomfortwecangetoutofyou。
There"sthetwoofourownwecan"teverdoanythingfor。
Don"tyougettheideaintoyourheadthatafoolthingyoucallprideisgoingtocutusoutofallthepleasurewehaveinlifebesideourselves。"
"UncleWesley，youareadear，"saidElnora。"Justadear!
IfIcan"tpossiblygetthatmoneyanywayelseonearth，I"llcomeandborrowitofyou，andthenI"llpayitbackifImustdigfernsfromtheswampandsellthemfromdoortodoorinthecity。I"llevenplantthem，sothattheywillbesuretocomeupinthespring。Ihavebeensortofpanicstrickenalldayandcouldn"tthink。
Icangathernutsandsellthem。Frecklessoldmothsandbutterflies，andI"vealotcollected。Ofcourse，Iamgoingbackto-morrow!Icanfindawaytogetthebooks。
Don"tyouworryaboutme。Iamallright!
"Now，whatdoyouthinkofthat?"inquiredWesleySintonoftheswampingeneral。"Here"sourElnoracomebacktostay。Headhighandrightasatrivet!
You"venamedthreewaysinthreeminutesthatyoucouldearntendollars，whichIfigurewouldbeenough，tostartyou。Let"sgotosupperandstopworrying!"
Elnoraunlockedthecase，tookoutthepail，putthenapkininit，pulledtheribbonfromherhair，bindingitdowntightlyagainandfollowedtotheroad。Fromafarshecouldseehermotherinthedoorway。Sheblinkedhereyes，andtriedtosmileassheansweredWesleySinton，andindeedshedidfeelbetter。Sheknewnowwhatshehadtoexpect，wheretogo，andwhattodo。
Getthebooksshemust；whenshehadthem，shewouldshowthosecitygirlsandboyshowtoprepareandrecitelessons，howtowalkwithabraveheart；andtheycouldshowherhowtowearprettyclothesandhavegoodtimes。
Asshenearedthedoorhermotherreachedforthepail。
"Iforgottotellyoutobringhomeyourscrapsforthechickens，"shesaid。
Elnoraentered。"Thereweren"tanyscraps，andI"mhungryagainasIeverwasinmylife。"
"Ithoughtlikelyyouwouldbe，"saidMrs。Comstock，"andsoIgotsupperready。Wecaneatfirst，anddotheworkafterward。Whatkeptyouso?Iexpectedyouanhourago。"
Elnoralookedintohermother"sfaceandsmiled。Itwasaqueersortofalittlesmile，andwouldhavereachedthedepthswithanynormalmother。
"Iseeyou"vebeenbawling，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Ithoughtyou"dgetyourfillinahurry。That"swhyIwouldn"tgotoanyexpense。Ifwekeepoutofthepoor-
housewehavetocutthecornersclose。It"slikelythisBrushwoodroadtaxwilleatupallwe"vesavedinyears。
WherethelandtaxistocomefromIdon"tknow。Itgetsbiggereveryyear。Iftheyaregoingtodredgetheswampditchagainthey"lljusthavetotakethelandtopayforit。
Ican"t，that"sall!We"llgetupearlyinthemorningandgatherandhullthebeansforwinter，andputintherestofthedayhoeingtheturnips。"
Elnoraagainsmiledthatpitifulsmile。
"DoyouthinkIdidn"tknowthatIwasfunnyandwouldbelaughedat?"sheasked。
"Funny?"criedMrs。Comstockhotly。
"Yes，funny!Aregularcaricature，"answeredElnora。
"Nooneelseworecalico，notevenoneother。Nooneelseworehighheavyshoes，notevenone。Nooneelsehadsuchafunnylittleoldhat；myhairwasnotright，myribboninvisiblecomparedwiththeothers，Ididnotknowwheretogo，orwhattodo，andIhadnobooks。WhataspectacleImadeforthem!"
Elnoralaughednervouslyatherownpicture。"Buttherearealwaystwosides!Theprofessorsaidinthealgebraclassthatheneverhadabettersolutionandexplanationthanmineofthepropositionhegaveme，whichscoredoneformeinspiteofmyclothes。"
"Well，Iwouldn"tbragonmyself!"
"Thatwaspoortaste，"admittedElnora。"But，yousee，itisacaseofwhistlingtokeepupmycourage。
IhonestlycouldseethatIwouldhavelookedjustaswellastherestofthemifIhadbeendressedastheywere。Wecan"taffordthat，soIhavetofindsomethingelsetobraceme。Itwasratherbad，mother!"
"Well，I"mgladyougotenoughofit!"
"Oh，butIhaven"t"hurriedinElnora。"Ijustgotastart。Thehardestisover。To-morrowtheywon"tbesurprised。Theywillknowwhattoexpect。Iamsorrytohearaboutthedredge。Isitreallygoingthrough?"
"Yes。Igotmynotificationtoday。Thetaxwillbesomethingenormous。Idon"tknowasIcanspareyou，evenifyouarewillingtobealaughing-stockforthetown。"
WitheverybiteElnora"scouragereturned，forshewasahealthyyoungthing。
"You"veheardaboutdoingevilthatgoodmightcomefromit，"shesaid。"Well，mothermine，it"ssomethinglikethatwithme。I"mwillingtobearthehardparttopayforwhatI"lllearn。AlreadyIhaveselectedthewardbuildinginwhichIshallteachinaboutfouryears。
IamgoingtoaskforaroomwithasouthexposuresothattheflowersandmothsItakeinfromtheswamptoshowthechildrenwilldowell。"
"Youlittleidiot!"saidMrs。Comstock。"Howareyougoingtopayyourexpenses?"
"NowthatisjustwhatIwasgoingtoaskyou!"saidElnora。
"Yousee，Ihavehadtwostartlingpiecesofnewsto-day。
IdidnotknowIwouldneedanymoney。Ithoughtthecityfurnishedthebooks，andthereisanout-of-towntuition，also。
Ineedtendollarsinthemorning。Willyoupleaseletmehaveit?"
"Tendollars!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Tendollars!
Whydon"tyousayahundredandbedonewithit!Icouldgetoneaseasyastheother。Itoldyou!ItoldyouIcouldn"traiseacent。Everyyearexpensesgrowbiggerandbigger。Itoldyounottoaskformoney!"
"Inevermeantto，"repliedElnora。"IthoughtclotheswereallIneededandIcouldbearthem。
Ineverknewaboutbuyingbooksandtuition。"
"Well，Idid!"saidMrs。Comstock。"Iknewwhatyouwouldruninto!Butyouaresobull-dogstubborn，andsosetinyourway，IthoughtIwouldjustletyoutrytheworldalittleandseehowyoulikedit!"
Elnorapushedbackherchairandlookedathermother。
"Doyoumeantosay，"shedemanded，"thatyouknew，whenyouletmegointoacityclassroomandrevealthefactbeforeallofthemthatIexpectedtohavemybookshandedouttome；doyoumeantosaythatyouknewIhadtopayforthem?"
Mrs。Comstockevadedthedirectquestion。
"Anybodybutanidiotmooningoverabookorwastingtimeprowlingthewoodswouldhaveknownyouhadtopay。Everybodyhastopayforeverything。Lifeismadeupofpay，pay，pay!It"salwaysandforeverpay!
Ifyoudon"tpayonewayyoudoanother!Ofcourse，Iknewyouhadtopay。Ofcourse，Iknewyouwouldcomehomeblubbering!Butyoudon"tgetapenny!Ihaven"tonecent，andcan"tgetone!Haveyourwayifyouaredetermined，butIthinkyouwillfindtheroadsomewhatrocky。"
"Swampy，youmean，mother，"correctedElnora。Shearosewhiteandtrembling。"PerhapssomedayGodwillteachmehowtounderstandyou。HeknowsIdonotnow。
Youcan"tpossiblyrealizejustwhatyouletmegothroughto-day，orhowyouletmego，butI"lltellyouthis:
Youunderstandenoughthatifyouhadthemoney，andwouldofferittome，Iwouldn"ttouchitnow。AndI"lltellyouthismuchmore。I"llgetitmyself。I"llraiseit，anddoitsomehonestway。Iamgoingbackto-morrow，thenextday，andthenext。Youneednotcomeout，I"lldothenightwork，andhoetheturnips。"
Itwasteno"clockwhenthechickens，pigs，andcattlewerefed，theturnipshoed，andaheapofbeanvineswasstackedbesidethebackdoor。
CHAPTERII
WHEREINWESLEYANDMARGARETGOSHOPPING，ANDELNORA"SWARDROBEISREPLENISHED
WesleySintonwalkeddowntheroadhalfamileandturnedatthelaneleadingtohishome。
Hisheartwashotandfilledwithindignation。
HehadtoldElnorahedidnotblamehermother，buthedid。Hiswifemethimatthedoor。
"DidyouseeanythingofElnora?"shequestioned。
"Mosttoomuch，Maggie，"heanswered。"Whatdoyousaytogoingtotown?There"safewthingshastobegotrightaway。"
"Wheredidyouseeher，Wesley?"
"AlongtheoldLimberlosttrail，mygirl，torntopiecessobbing。Hercouragealwayshasbeenfine，butthethingshemetto-daywastoomuchforher。Weoughttohaveknownbetterthantolethergothatway。Itwasn"tonlyclothes；therewerebooks，andentrancefeesforout-of-
townpeople，thatshedidn"tknowabout；whiletheremusthavebeenjeers，whispers，andlaughing。Maggie，IfeelasifI"dbeenatraitortothosegirlsofours。Ioughttohavegoneinandseenaboutthisschoolbusiness。
Don"tcry，Maggie。Getmesomesupper，andI"llhitchupandseewhatwecandonow。"
"Whatcanwedo，Wesley?
"Idon"tjustknow。Butwe"vegottodosomething。
KateComstockwillbeahandful，whileElnorawillbetwo，butbetweenuswemustseethatthegirlisnottoohardpressedaboutmoney，andthatsheisdressedsosheisnotridiculous。She"ssavedusthewagesofawomanmanyaday，can"tyoumakehersomedecentdresses?"
"Well，I"mnotjustwhatyoucallexpert，butIcouldbeatKateComstockalltopieces。Iknowthatskirtsshouldbepleatedtothebandinsteadofgathered，andfullenoughtositin，andshortenoughtowalkin。Icouldtry。
Therearepatternsforsale。Let"sgorightaway，Wesley。"
"Setmeabitofsupper，whileIhitchup。"
Margaretbuiltafire，madecoffee，andfriedhamandeggs。
Shesetoutpieandcakeandhadenoughforahungrymanbythetimethecarriagewasatthedoor，butshehadnoappetite。ShedressedwhileWesleyate，putawaythefoodwhilehedressed，andthentheydrovetowardthecitythroughthebeautifulSeptemberevening，andastheywenttheyplannedforElnora。Thetroublewas，notwhethertheyweregenerousenoughtobuywhatsheneeded，butwhethershewouldaccepttheirpurchases，andwhathermotherwouldsay。
Theywenttoadrygoodsstoreandwhenaclerkaskedwhattheywantedtoseeneitherofthemknew，sotheysteppedasideandheldawhisperedconsultation。
"Whathadwebetterget，Wesley?"
"Dresses，"saidWesleypromptly，"Buthowmanydresses，andwhatkind?"
"BlestifIknow!"exclaimedWesley。"Ithoughtyouwouldmanagethat。IknowaboutsomethingsI"mgoingtoget。"
Atthatinstantseveralhighschoolgirlscameintothestoreandapproachedthem。
"There!"exclaimedWesleybreathlessly。"There，Maggie!
Likethem!That"swhatsheneeds!Buyliketheyhave!"
Margaretstared。Whatdidtheywear?Theywererapidlypassing；theyseemedtohavesomuch，andshecouldnotdecidesoquickly。Beforesheknewitshewasamongthem。
"Ibegyourpardon，butwon"tyouwaitoneminute?"
sheasked。
Thegirlsstoppedwithwonderingfaces。
"It"syourclothes，"explainedMrs。Sinton。"Youlookjustbeautifultome。YoulookexactlyasIshouldhavewantedtoseemygirls。Theybothdiedofdiphtheriawhentheywerelittle，buttheyhadyellowhair，darkeyesandpinkcheeks，andeverybodythoughttheywerelovely。
Iftheyhadlived，they"dbeennearyouragenow，andI"dwantthemtolooklikeyou。"
Therewassympathyoneverygirlface。
"Whythankyou!"saidoneofthem。"Weareverysorryforyou。"
"Ofcourseyouare，"saidMargaret。"Everybodyalwayshasbeen。AndbecauseIcan"teverhavethejoyofamotherinthinkingformygirlsandbuyingprettythingsforthem，thereisnothingleftforme，buttodowhatIcanforsomeonewhohasnomothertocareforher。Iknowagirl，whowouldbejustasprettyasanyofyou，ifshehadtheclothes，buthermotherdoesnotthinkabouther，soI
motherhersomemyself。"
"Shemustbealuckygirl，"saidanother。
"Oh，shelovesme，"saidMargaret，"andIloveher。
Iwanthertolookjustlikeyoudo。Pleasetellmeaboutyourclothes。Arethesethedressesandhatsyouweartoschool?Whatkindofgoodsarethey，andwheredoyoubuythem?"
ThegirlsbegantolaughandclusteraroundMargaret。
Wesleystrodedownthestorewithhisheadhighthroughprideinher，buthisheartwassoreoverthememoryoftwolittlefacesunderBrushwoodsod。Heinquiredhiswaytotheshoedepartment。
"Why，everyoneofushaveonginghamorlinendresses，"theysaid，"andtheyareourschoolclothes。"
ForafewmomentstherewasababeloflaughingvoicesexplainingtothedelightedMargaretthatschooldressesshouldbebrightandpretty，butsimpleandplain，anduntilcoldweathertheyshouldwash。
"I"lltellyou，"saidEllenBrownlee，"myfatherownsthisstore，Iknowalltheclerks。I"lltakeyoutoMissHartley。Youtellherjusthowmuchyouwanttospend，andwhatyouwanttobuy，andshewillknowhowtogetthemostforyourmoney。I"veheardpapasayshewasthebestclerkinthestoreforpeoplewhodidn"tknowpreciselywhattheywanted。"
"That"stheverything，"agreedMargaret。"Butbeforeyougo，tellmeaboutyourhair。Elnora"shairisbrightandwavy，butyoursissilkyashackledflax。
Howdoyoudoit?"
"Elnora?"askedfourgirlsinconcert。
"Yes，ElnoraisthenameofthegirlIwantthesethingsfor。"
"Didshecometothehighschoolto-day?"questionedoneofthem。
"Wassheinyourclasses?"demandedMargaretwithoutreply。
Fourgirlsstoodsilentandthoughtfast。Hadtherebeenastrangegirlamongthem，andhadshebeenoverlookedandpassedbywithindifference，becauseshewassoveryshabby?Ifshehadappearedasmuchbetterthanthey，asshehadlookedworse，wouldherreceptionhavebeenthesame?
"TherewasastrangegirlfromthecountryintheFreshmanclassto-day，"saidEllenBrownlee，"andhernamewasElnora。"
"Thatwasthegirl，"saidMargaret。
"Areherpeoplesoverypoor?"questionedEllen。
"No，notpooratall，cometothinkofit，"answeredMargaret。
"It"sapeculiarcase。Mrs。Comstockhadagreattroubleandsheletitchangeherwholelifeandmakeadifferentwomanofher。Sheusedtobelovely；nowsheisforeversavingandscaredtodeathforfeartheywillgotothepoorhouse；butthereisabigfarm，coveredwithlotsofgoodtimber。Thetaxesarehighforwomenwhocan"tmanagetoclearandworktheland。Thereoughttobeenoughtokeeptwoofthemingoodshapealltheirlives，iftheyonlyknewhowtodoit。ButnooneevertoldKateComstockanything，andneverwill，forshewon"tlisten。
Allshedoesisdroopallday，andwalktheedgeoftheswamphalfthenight，andneglectElnora。Ifyougirlswouldmakelifejustalittleeasierforheritwouldbethefinestthingyoueverdid。"
Allofthempromisedtheywould。
"Nowtellmeaboutyourhair，"persistedMargaretSinton。
Sotheytookhertoatoiletcounter，andsheboughttheproperhairsoap，alsoanailfile，andcoldcream，foruseafterwindydays。Thentheyleftherwiththeexperiencedclerk，andwhenatlastWesleyfoundhershewasloadedwithbundlesandthelightofotherdayswasinherbeautifuleyes。
Wesleyalsocarriedsomepackages。
"Didyougetanystockings?"hewhispered。
"No，Ididn"t，"shesaid。"Iwassointerestedindressesandhairribbonsanda——ahat——"shehesitatedandglancedatWesley。"Ofcourse，ahat!"promptedWesley。"ThatIforgotallaboutthosehorribleshoes。
She"sgottohavedecentshoes，Wesley。"
"Sure!"saidWesley。"She"sgotdecentshoes。Butthemansaidsomebrownstockingsoughttogowiththem。
Takeapeep，willyou!"
Wesleyopenedaboxanddisplayedapairofthick-
soled，beautifullyshapedbrownwalkingshoesoflowcut。Margaretcriedoutwithpleasure。
"Butdoyousupposetheyaretherightsize，Wesley?
Whatdidyouget?"
"Ijustsaidforagirlofsixteenwithaslenderfoot。"
"Well，that"saboutasnearasIcouldcome。Iftheydon"tfitwhenshetriesthem，wewilldrivestraightinandchangethem。Comeonnow，let"sgethome。"
AllthewaytheydiscussedhowtheyshouldgiveElnoratheirpurchasesandwhatMrs。Comstockwouldsay。
"Iamafraidshewillbeawfulmad，"saidMargaret。
"She"lljustrip!"repliedWesleygraphically。"Butifshewantstoleavetheraisingofhergirltotheneighbours，sheneedn"tgetfractiousiftheytakesomeprideindoingagoodjob。FromnowonIcalculateElnorashallgotoschool；andsheshallhavealltheclothesandbookssheneeds，ifIgoaroundonthebackofKateComstock"slandandcutatree，ordriveoffacalftopayforthem。
WhyIknowonetreesheownsthatwouldputElnorainheavenforayear。Justthinkofit，Margaret!It"snotfair。One-thirdofwhatistherebelongstoElnorabylaw，andifKateComstockraisesarowI"lltellherso，andseethatthegirlgetsit。YougotoseeKateinthemorning，andI"llgowithyou。TellheryouwantElnora"spattern，thatyouaregoingtomakeheradress，forhelpingus。Andsortofhintatafewmorethings。
IfKatebalks，I"lltakeahandandsettleher。I"llgotolawforElnora"sshareofthatlandandsellenoughtoeducateher。"
"Why，WesleySinton，you"reperfectlywild。"
"I"mnot!Didyoueverstoptothinkthatsuchcasesaresofrequenttherehavebeenlawsmadetoprovideforthem?
IcanbringitupincourtandforceKatetoeducateElnora，andboardandclothehertillshe"sofage，andthenshecantakehershare。"
"Wesley，Katewouldgocrazy!"
"She"scrazynow。TheideaofanymotherlivingwithassweetagirlasElnora。andlettinghersuffertillIfindhercryinglikeafuneral。Itmakesmefightingmad。
Alluncalledfor。Notagrainofsenseinit。I"veofferedandofferedtooverseeclearingherlandandworkingherfields。Lethersellagoodtree，orafewacres。
Somethingisgoingtobedone，rightnow。Elnora"sbeenfairlyhappyuptothis，buttospoiltheschoollifeshe"splanned，istoruinallherlife。Iwon"thaveit!IfElnorawon"ttakethesethings，sohelpme，I"lltellherwhatsheisworth，andloanherthemoneyandshecanpaymebackwhenshecomesofage。IamgoingtohaveitoutwithKateComstockinthemorning。Hereweare!
YouopenupwhatyougotwhileIputawaythehorses，andthenI"llshowyou。"
WhenWesleycamefromthebarnMargarethadfourpiecesofcrispgingham，apaleblue，apink，agraywithgreenstripesandarichbrownandblueplaid。Oneachofthemlayayardandahalfofwideribbontomatch。
Therewerehandkerchiefsandabrownleatherbelt。Inherhandssheheldawide-brimmedtanstrawhat，havingahighcrownbandedwithvelvetstripseachofwhichfastenedwithatinygoldbuckle。
"Itlookskindofbarenow，"sheexplained。"Ithadthreequillsonithere。"
"Didyouhavethemtakenoff?"askedWesley。
"Yes，Idid。Thepricewastwoandahalfforthehat，andthosethingswereadollarandahalfapiece。
Icouldn"tpaythat。"
"Itdoesseemconsiderable，"admittedWesley，"butwillitlookrightwithoutthem?"
"No，itwon"t!"saidMargaret。"It"sgoingtohavequillsonit。DoyourememberthosebeautifulpeacockwingfeathersthatPhoebeSimmsgaveme?Threeofthemgoonjustwherethosecameoff，andnobodywilleverknowthedifference。Theymatchthehattoamoral，andtheyarejustalittlelongerandricherthantheonesthatIhadtakenoff。IwaswonderingwhetherIbettersewthemonto-nightwhileIrememberhowtheyset，orwaittillmorning。"
"Don"triskit!"exclaimedWesleyanxiously。"Don"tyouriskit!Sewthemonrightnow!"
"Openyourbundles，whileIgetthethread，"saidMargaret。
Wesleyunwrappedtheshoes。Margarettookthemupandpinchedtheleatherandstrokedthem。
"My，buttheyarefine!"shecried。
Wesleypickeduponeandslowlyturneditinhisbighands。
Heglancedathisfootandbacktotheshoe。
"It"salittlebitofathing，Margaret，"hesaidsoftly。
"LikeasnotI"llhavetotakeitback。Itseemsasifitcouldn"tfit。"
"Itseemsasifitdidn"tdaredoanythingelse，"saidMargaret。
"That"sahappylittleshoetogetthechancetocarryasfineagirlasElnoratohighschool。Nowwhat"sintheotherbox?"
WesleylookedatMargaretdoubtfully。
"Why，"hesaid，"youknowthere"sgoingtoberainydays，andthosethingsshehasnowain"tfitforanythingbuttodriveupthecows——"
"Wesley，didyougethighshoes，too?"
"Well，sheoughttohavethem!ThemansaidhewouldmakethemcheaperifItookbothpairsatonce。"
Margaretlaughedaloud。"ThosewilldoherpastChristmas，"sheexulted。"Whatelsedidyoubuy?"
"Wellsir，"saidWesley，"Isawsomethingto-day。
YoutoldmeaboutKategettingthattinpailforElnoratocarrytohighschoolandyousaidyoutoldheritwasashame。IguessElnorawasashamedallright，forto-nightshestoppedattheoldcaseDuncangaveher，andtookoutthatpail，whereithadbeenallday，andputanapkininsideit。Cominghomesheconfessedshewashalfstarvedbecauseshehidherdinnerunderaculvert，andatramptookit。Shehadn"thadabitetoeatthewholeday。Butshenevercomplainedatall，shewaspleasedthatshehadn"tlostthenapkin。SoI
justinquiredaroundtillIfoundthis，andIthinkit"sabouttheticket。"
Wesleyopenedthepackageandlaidabrownleatherlunchboxonthetable。"Mightbeacoupleofbooks，ordrawingtoolsormostanythingthat"sneatandgenteel。
Yousee，itopensthisway。"
Itdidopen，andinsidewasaspaceforsandwiches，alittleporcelainboxforcoldmeatorfriedchicken，anotherforsalad，aglasswithalidwhichscrewedon，heldbyaringinacorner，forcustardorjelly，aflaskforteaormilk，abeautifullittleknife，fork，andspoonfastenedinholders，andaplaceforanapkin。
Margaretwasalmostcryingoverit。
"HowI"dlovetofillit!"sheexclaimed。
"Doitthefirsttime，justtoshowKateComstockwhatloveis!"saidWesley。"Getupearlyinthemorningandmakeoneofthosedressesto-morrow。Can"tyoumakeaplainginghamdressinaday?I"llpickachicken，andyoufryitandfixalittlecustardforthecup，anddoitupbrown。Goon，Maggie，youdoit!"
"Inevercan，"saidMargaret。"Iamslowastheitchaboutsewing，andthesearenotgoingtobeplaindresseswhenitcomestomakingthem。Therearegoingtobeedgingsofplaingreen，pink，andbrowntothebiasstrips，andtucksandpleatsaroundthehips，fancybeltsandcollars，andallofittakestime。"
"ThenKateComstock"sgottohelp，"saidWesley。"Canthetwoofyoumakeone，andgetthatlunchto-morrow?"
"Easy，butshe"llneverdoit!"