第4章
"Isthatthetruth，MagSinton?"demandedMrs。Comstock。
"YouheardWesleysayso，"proudlyaffirmedMrs。Sinton。
"Iwanttomakeyouaproposition，"saidWesley。
"WaittillElnoracomes。Thenwe"llshowherthethingsandseewhatshesays。"
"Howwoulditdotoseewhatshesayswithoutbribingher，"sneeredMrs。Comstock。
"Ifshecanstandwhatshedidyesterday，andwillto-
day，shecanbear"mostanything，"saidWesley。"Putawaytheclothesifyouwantto，tillwetellher。"
"Well，youdon"ttakethiswaistI"mworkingon，"
saidMargaret，"forIhavetobasteinthesleevesandsetthecollar。Puttherestoutofsightifyoulike。"
Mrs。Comstockpickedupthebasketandbundles，placedtheminsideherroomandclosedthedoor。
Margaretthreadedherneedleandbegantosew。
Mrs。Comstockreturnedtoherbook，whileWesleyfidgetedandragedinwardly。HecouldseethatMargaretwasnervousandalmostintears，butthelinesinMrs。
Comstock"simpassivefaceweresetandcold。Sotheysatwhiletheclocktickedoffthetime——onehour，two，dusk，andnoElnora。JustwhenMargaretandWesleywerediscussingwhetherhehadnotbettergototowntomeetElnora，theyheardhercomingupthewalk。Wesleydroppedhistiltedchairandsquaredhimself。Margaretgrippedhersewing，andturnedpleadingeyestowardthedoor。
Mrs。Comstockclosedherbookandgrimlysmiled。
"Mother，pleaseopenthedoor，"calledElnora。
Mrs。Comstockarose，andswungbackthescreen。
Elnorasteppedinbesideher，benthalfdouble，thewholefrontofherdressgatheredintoasortofbagfilledwithaheavyload，andonearmstackedhighwithbooks。InthedimlightshedidnotseetheSintons。
"Pleasehandmetheemptybucketinthekitchen，mother，"shesaid。"Ijusthadtobringthesearrowpointshome，butI"mscaredforfearI"vespoiledmydressandwillhavetowashit。I"mtocleanthem，andtakethemtothebankerinthemorning，andoh，mother，I"vesoldenoughstufftopayformybooks，mytuition，andmaybeadressandsomelightershoesbesides。Oh，motherI"msohappy!Takethebooksandbringthebucket!"
ThenshesawMargaretandWesley。"Oh，glory!"
sheexulted。"IwasjustwonderinghowI"deverwaittotellyou，andhereyouare!It"stooperfectlysplendidtobetrue!"
"Tellus，Elnora，"saidSinton。
"Wellsir，"saidElnora，doublingdownonthefloorandspreadingoutherskirt，"setthebuckethere，mother。
Thesepointsarebrittle，andshouldbeputinoneatatime。
IftheyarechippedIcan"tsellthem。Wellsir!I"vehadatime!YouknowIjusthadtohavebooks。Itriedthreestores，andtheywouldn"ttrustme，noteventhreedays，Ididn"tknowwhatinthisworldIcoulddoquicklyenough。
JustwhenIwasalmostfranticIsawasigninabankwindowaskingforcaterpillars，cocoons，butterflies，arrowpoints，andeverything。Iwentin，anditwasthisBirdWomanwhowantstheinsects，andthebankerwantsthestones。Ihadtogotoschoolthen，but，ifyou"llbelieveit"——Elnorabeamedonalloftheminturnasshetalkedandslippedthearrowpointsfromherdresstothepail——"ifyou"llbelieveit——butyouwon"t，hardly，untilyoulookatthebooks——therewasthemathematicsteacher，waitingathisdoor，andhehadasetofbooksformethathehadtelephonedaSophomoretobring。"
"Howdidhehappentodothat，Elnora?"interruptedSinton。
Elnorablushed。
"ItwasafoolmistakeImadeyesterdayinthinkingbookswerejusthandedouttoone。Therewasateachers"
meetinglastnightandthehistoryteachertoldaboutthat。
ProfessorHenleythoughtofme。YouknowItoldyouwhathesaidaboutmyalgebra，mother。Ain"tIgladIstudiedoutsomeofitmyselfthissummer!Sohetelephonedandagirlbroughtthebooks。BecausetheyaremarkedandabusedsomeIgetthewholeoutfitfortwodollars。
Icanerasemostofthemarks，pastedownthecovers，andfixthemsotheylookbetter。ButImusthurrytothejoypart。Ididn"tstoptoeat，atnoon，IjustrantotheBirdWoman"s，andIhadlunchwithher。Itwassalad，hotchocolate，andlovelythings，andshewantstobuymosteveryoldscrapIevergathered。Shewantsdragonflies，moths，butterflies，andhe——thebanker，I
mean——wantseverythingIndian。Thisverynightshecametotheswampwithmeandtookawayenoughstufftopayforthebooksandtuition，andto-morrowsheisgoingtobuysomemore。"
Elnoralaidthelastarrowpointinthepailandarose，shakingleavesandbitsofbakedearthfromherdress。
Shereachedintoherpocket，producedhermoneyandwaveditbeforetheirwonderingeyes。
"Andthat"sthejoypart!"sheexulted。"Putitupintheclocktillmorning，mother。Thatpaysforthebooksandtuitionand——"Elnorahesitated，forshesawthenervousgraspwithwhichhermother"sfingersclosedonthebills。Thenshecontinued，butmoreslowlyandthinkingbeforeshespoke。
"WhatIgetto-morrowpaysformorebooksandtuition，andmaybeafew，justafew，thingstowear。Theseshoesaresodreadfullyheavyandhot，andtheymakesuchanoiseonthefloor。Thereisn"tanothercalicodressinthewholebuilding，notamonghundredsofus。Why，whatisthat?AuntMargaret，whatareyouhidinginyourlap?"
Shesnatchedthewaistandshookitout，andherfacewasbeaming。"Haveyoutakentowaistsallfancyandbuttonedintheback?Ibetyouthisismine!"
"Ibetyousotoo，"saidMargaretSinton。"Youundressrightawayandtryiton，andifitfits，itwillbedoneformorning。Therearesomelowshoes，too!"
Elnorabegantodance。"Oh，youdearpeople!"
shecried。"Icanpayforthemto-morrownight!
Isn"tittoosplendid!IwasjustthinkingonthewayhomethatIcertainlywouldbecompelledtohavecoolershoesuntillater，andIwaswonderingwhatI"ddowhenthefallrainsbegin。"
"Imeanttogetyousomeheavydressskirtsandacoatthen，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Iknowyousaidso!"criedElnora。"Butyouneedn"t，now!
IcanbuyeverysinglestitchIneedmyself。NextsummerIcangatherupalotmorestuff，andallwinteronthewaytoschool。IamsureIcansellferns，IknowIcannuts，andtheBirdWomansaysthegraderoomswantleaves，grasses，birds"nests，andcocoons。Oh，isn"tthisworldlovely!I"llbehelpingwiththetax，next，mother!"
Elnorawavedthewaistandstartedforthebedroom。
Whensheopenedthedoorshegavealittlecry。
"Whathaveyoupeoplebeendoing?"shedemanded。
"Ineversawsomanyinterestingbundlesinallmylife。
I"m`skeered"todeathforfearIcan"tpayforthem，andwillhavetogiveupsomething。"
"Wouldn"tyoutakethem，ifyoucouldnotpayforthem，Elnora?"askedhermotherinstantly。
"Why，notunlessyoudid，"answeredElnora。"Peoplehavenorighttowearthingstheycan"tafford，havethey?"
"ButfromsucholdfriendsasMaggieandWesley!"
Mrs。Comstock"svoicewasoilywithtriumph。
"Fromthemleastofall，"criedElnorastoutly。"Fromastrangersoonerthanfromthem，towhomIowesomuchmorethanIevercanpaynow。"
"Well，youdon"thaveto，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Maggiejustselectedthesethings，becausesheismoreintouchwiththeworld，andhasgotsuchgoodtaste。
Youcanpayaslongasyourmoneyholdsout，andifthere"smorenecessary，maybeIcansellthebutcheracalf，orifthingsaretoocostlyforus，ofcourse，theycantakethemback。Putonthewaistnow，andthenyoucanlookovertherestandseeiftheyaresuitable，andwhatyouwant。"
Elnorasteppedintotheadjoiningroomandclosedthedoor。
Mrs。Comstockpickedupthebucketandstartedforthewellwithit。Atthebedroomshepaused。
"Elnora，wereyougoingtowashthesearrowpoints?"
"Yes。TheBirdWomansaystheysellbetteriftheyareclean，soitcanbeseenthattherearenodefectsinthem。"
"Ofcourse，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Someofthemseemquitebaked。ShallIputthemtosoak?Doyouwanttotaketheminthemorning?"
"Yes，Ido，"answeredElnora。"Ifyouwouldjustfillthepailwithwater。"
Mrs。Comstocklefttheroom。WesleySintonsatwithhisbacktothewindowinthewestendofthecabinwhichoverlookedthewell。Asuppressedsoundbehindhimcausedhimtoturnquickly。ThenhearoseandleanedoverMargaret。
"She"souttherelaughinglikeablamedmonkey!"
hewhisperedindignantly。
"Well，shecan"thelpit!"exclaimedMargaret。
"I"mgoinghome!"saidWesley。
"Ohno，youarenot!"retortedMargaret。"Youaremissingthepoint。Thepointisnothowyoulook，orfeel。ItistogetthesethingsinElnora"spossessionpastdispute。Yougonow，andto-morrowElnorawillwearcalico，andKateComstockwillreturnthesegoods。
RighthereIstayuntileverythingweboughtisElnora"s。"
"Whatareyougoingtodo?"askedWesley。
"Idon"tknowyet，myself，"saidMargaret。
Thenshearoseandpeeredfromthewindow。AtthewellcurbstoodKatharineComstock。Thestrainofthedaywasfindingreaction。Herchinwasintheair，shewasheaving，shakingandstranglingtosuppressanysound。ThewordthatslippedbetweenMargaretSinton"slipsshockedWesleyuntilhedroppedonhischair，andrecalledhertohersenses。ShewasfairlycomposedassheturnedtoElnora，andbeganthefitting。
Whenshehadpinched，pulled，andpattedshecalled，"Comeseeifyouthinkthisfits，Kate。"
Mrs。Comstockhadgonearoundtothebackdoorandansweredfromthekitchen。"YouknowmoreaboutitthanIdo。Goahead!I"mgettingsupper。
Don"tforgettoallowforwhatitwillshrinkinwashing!"
"Isetthecoloursandwashedthegoodslastnight；
itcanbemadetofitrightnow，"answeredMargaret。
WhenshecouldfindnothingmoretoaltershetoldElnoratoheatsomewater。Aftershehaddonethatthegirlbeganopeningpackages。
Thehatcamefirst。
"Mother!"criedElnora。"Mother，ofcourse，youhaveseenthis，butyouhaven"tseenitonme。Imusttryiton。"
"Don"tyoudareputthatonyourheaduntilyourhairiswashedandproperlycombed，"saidMargaret。
"Oh!"criedElnora。"Isthatwatertowashmyhair?
Ithoughtitwastosetthecolourinanotherdress。"
"Well，youthoughtwrong，"saidMargaretsimply。
"Yourhairisgoingtobewashedandbrusheduntilitshineslikecopper。Whileitdriesyoucaneatyoursupper，andthisdresswillbefinished。Thenyoucanputonyournewribbon，andyourhat。Youcantryyourshoesnow，andiftheydon"tfit，youandWesleycandrivetotownandchangethem。Thatlittleroundbundleonthetopofthebasketisyourstockings。"
Margaretsatdownandbegansewingswiftly，andalittlelateropenedthemachine，andranseverallongseams。
Elnorareturnedinafewminutesholdingupherskirtsandsteppingdaintilyinthenewshoes。
"Don"tsoilthem，honey，elseyou"resuretheyfit，"
cautionedWesley。
"Theyseemjustatriflelarge，maybe，"saidElnoradubiously，andWesleyknelttofeel。HeandMargaretthoughtthemafit，andthenElnoraappealedtohermother。Mrs。Comstockappearedwipingherhandsonherapron。Sheexaminedtheshoescritically。
"Theyseemtofit，"shesaid，"buttheyareawaytoofinetowalkcountryroads。"
"Ithinkso，too，"saidElnorainstantly。"Wehadbettertakethesebackandgetacheaperpair。"
"Oh，letthemgoforthistime，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Theyaresopretty，Ihatetopartwiththem。Youcangetcheaperonesafterthis。"
WesleyandMargaretscarcelybreathedforalongtime。
WhenWesleywenttodothefeeding。Elnorasetthetable。Whenthewaterwashot，MargaretpinnedabigtowelaroundElnora"sshouldersandwashedanddriedthelovelyhairaccordingtotheinstructionsshehadbeengiventhepreviousnight。Asthehairbegantodryitbillowedoutinasparklingsheenthatcaughtthelightandgleamedandflashed。
"Now，theideaistoletitstandnaturally，justasthecurlwillmakeit。Don"tyoudoanyofthatnasty，untidysnarling，Elnora，"cautionedMargaret。"Washitthiswayeverytwoweekswhileyouareinschool，shakeitout，anddryit。Thenpartitinthemiddleandturnafrontquarteroneachsidefromyourface。Youtiethebackatyourneckwithastring——so，andtheribbongoesinabig，loosebow。I"llshowyou。"OneafteranotherMargaretSintontiedtheribbons，creasingeachofthemsotheycouldnotbereturned，assheexplainedthatshewastryingtofindthecolourmostbecoming。ThensheproducedtheraincoatwhichcarriedElnoraintotransports。
Mrs。Comstockobjected。"Thatwon"tbewarmenoughforcoldweather，andyoucan"tafforditandacoat，too。"
"I"lltellyouwhatIthought，"saidElnora。"Iwasplanningonthewayhome。Thesecoatsarefinebecausetheykeepyoudry。IthoughtIwouldgetone，andawarmsweatertowearunderitcolddays。ThenIalwayswouldbedry，andwarm。Thesweateronlycoststhreedollars，soIcouldgetitandtheraincoatbothforhalfthepriceofaheavyclothcoat。"
"Youarerightaboutthat，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Youcanchangemorewiththeweather，too。Keeptheraincoat，Elnora。"
"Wearituntilyoutrythehat，"saidMargaret。"Itwillhavetodountilthedressisfinished。"
Elnorapickedupthehatdubiously。"Mother，mayIwearmyhairasitisnow?"sheasked。
"Letmetakeagoodlook，"saidKatharineComstock。
Heavenonlyknowswhatshesaw。ToWesleyandtoMargaretthebrightyoungfaceofElnora，withitspinktints，itsheavydarkbrows，itsbrightblue-grayeyes，anditsframeofcurlingreddish-brownhairwasthesweetestsightonearth，andatthatinstantElnorawasradiant。
"Solongasit"syourownhair，andcombedbackasplainasitwillgo，Idon"tsupposeitcutsmuchicewhetherit"stiedalittletighterorlooser，"concededMrs。Comstock。
"Ifyoustoprightthere，youmayletitgoatthat。"
Elnorasetthehatonherhead。Itwasonlyawidetanstrawwiththreeexquisitepeacockquillsatoneside。
MargaretSintoncriedout，WesleyslappedhiskneeandsigheddeeplywhileMrs。Comstockstoodspeechlessforasecond。
"Iwishyouhadaskedthepricebeforeyouputthaton，"shesaidimpatiently。"Wenevercanaffordit。"
"It"snotsomuchasyouthink，"saidMargaret。
"Don"tyouseewhatIdid?Ihadthemtakeoffthequills，andputonsomeofthosePhoebeSimmsgavemefromherpeacocks。Thehatwillonlycostyouadollarandahalf。"
SheavoidedWesley"seyes，andlookedstraightatMrs。Comstock。Elnoraremovedthehattoexamineit。
"Why，theyarethosereddish-tanquillsofyours!"
shecried。"Mother，lookhowbeautifullytheyareseton!I"dmuchratherhavethemthanthosefromthestore。"
"SowouldI，"saidMrs。Comstock。"IfMargaretwantstosparethem，thatwillmakeyouabeautifulhat；dirtcheap，too!YoumustgopastMrs。Simmsandshowher。Shewouldbepleasedtoseethem。"
Elnorasankintoachairandcontemplatedhertoe。
"Landy，ain"tIaqueen?"shemurmured。"WhatelsehaveIgot?"
"Justabelt，somehandkerchiefs，andapairoftopshoesforrainydaysandcolderweather，"saidMargaret。
"Aboutthosehighshoes，thatwasmyidea，"saidWesley。
"Soonasitrains，lowshoeswon"tdo，andbytakingtwopairsatonceIcouldgetthemsomecheaper。Thelowonesaretwoandthehighonestwofifty，togetherthreeseventy-five。Ain"tthatcheap?"
"That"sarealbargain，"saidMrs。Comstock，"iftheyaregoodshoes，andtheylookit。"
"This"saidWesley，producingthelastpackage，"isyourChristmaspresentfromyourAuntMaggie。Igotmine，too，butit"satthehouse。I"llbringitupinthemorning。"
HehandedMargarettheumbrella，andshepasseditovertoElnorawhoopeneditandsatlaughingunderitsshelter。Thenshekissedbothofthem。Shebroughtapencilandaslipofpapertosetdownthepricestheygaveherofeverythingtheyhadbroughtexcepttheumbrella，addedthesum，andsaidlaughingly:"Willyoupleasewaittillto-morrowforthemoney?Iwillhaveitthen，sure。"
"Elnora，"saidWesleySinton。"Wouldn"tyou——"
"Elnora，hustlehereaminute!"calledMrs。Comstockfromthekitchen。"Ineedyou!"
"Onesecond，mother，"answeredElnora，throwingoffthecoatandhat，andclosingtheumbrellaassheran。
Therewereseveralerrandstodoinahurry，andthensupper。
Elnorachatteredincessantly，WesleyandMargarettalkedalltheycould，whileMrs。Comstocksaidawordnowandthen，whichwasallsheeverdid。ButWesleySintonwaswatchingher，andtimeandagainhesawapeculiarlittletwistaroundhermouth。Heknewthatforthefirsttimeinsixteenyearsshereallywaslaughingoversomething。
Shehadallshecoulddotopreserveherusuallysoberface。
Wesleyknewwhatshewasthinking。
Aftersupperthedresswasfinished，thepatternforthenextonediscussed，andthentheSintonswenthome。
Elnoragatheredhertreasures。Whenshestartedupstairsshestopped。"MayIkissyougood-night，mother?"
sheaskedlightly。
"Nevermindanyslobbering，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Ishouldthinkyou"dlivedwithmelongenoughtoknowthatIdon"tcareforit。"
"Well，I"dlovetoshowyouinsomewayhowhappyI
am，andhowIthankyou。"
"Iwonderwhatfor?"saidMrs。Comstock。"MagSintonchosethatstuffandbroughtithereandyoupayforit。"
"Yes，butyouseemedwillingformetohaveit，andyousaidyouwouldhelpmeifIcouldn"tpayall。"
"MaybeIdid，"saidMrs。Comstock。"MaybeIdid。
ImeanttogetyousomeheavydressskirtsaboutThanksgiving，andIstillcangetthem。Gotobed，andforanysakedon"tbeginmooningbeforeamirror，andmakeadunceofyourself。"
Mrs。Comstockpickedupseveralpapersandblewoutthekitchenlight。Shestoodinthemiddleofthesitting-
roomfloorforatimeandthenwentintoherroomandclosedthedoor。Sittingontheedgeofthebedshethoughtforafewminutesandthensuddenlyburiedherfaceinthepillowandagainheavedwithlaughter。
DowntheroadploddedMargaretandWesleySinton。
Neitherofthemhadwordstouttertheirunitedthought。
"Done!"hissedWesleyatlast。"Donebrown!Didyoueverfeellikeabloomin"，confoundeddonkey?Howdidthewomandoit?"
"Shedidn"tdoit!"gulpedMargaretthroughhertears。
"Shedidn"tdoanything。ShetrustedtoElnora"sgreatbigsoultobringheroutright，andreallyshewasright，andsoithadtobringher。She"sadarling，Wesley!
Butshe"sgotatimebeforeher。DidyouseeKateComstockgrabthatmoney?Beforesixmonthsshe"llbeoutcombingtheLimberlostforbugsandarrowpointstohelppaythetax。
Iknowher。"
"Well，Idon"t!"exclaimedSinton，"she"stoomanyforme。
Butthereisalaughleftinheryet!Ididn"ts"posetherewas。Betyouadollar，ifwecouldseeherthisminute，she"dbechucklingoverthewaywegotleft。"
Bothofthemstoppedintheroadandlookedback。
"There"sElnora"slightinherroom，"saidMargaret。
"Thepoorchildwillfeelthoseclothes，andporeoverherbookstillmorning，butshe"lllookdecenttogotoschool，anyway。Nothingistoobigapricetopayforthat。"
"Yes，ifKateletsherwearthem。Tentoone，shemakesherfinishtheweekwiththatoldstuff!"
"No，shewon"t，"saidMargaret。"She"llhardlydare。
Katemadesomeconcessions，allright；bigonesforher——
ifshedidgetherwayinthemain。Shebentsome，andifElnoraprovesthatshecanwalkoutbarehandedinthemorningandcomebackwiththatmuchmoneyinherpocket，anarmfulofbooks，andbuyaturnoutlikethat，sheprovesthatsheisofsomeconsideration，andKate"ssmartenough。She"llthinktwicebeforeshe"lldothat。
Elnorawon"twearacalicodresstohighschoolagain。
Youwatchandseeifshedoes。Shemayhavethebestclothesshe"llgetforatime，fortheleastmoney，butshewon"tknowituntilshetriestobuygoodsherselfatthesamerates。Wesley，whataboutthoseprices?Didn"ttheyshrinkconsiderable?"
"Youbeganit，"saidWesley。"Thosepriceswereallright。
Wedidn"tsaywhatthegoodscostus，wesaidwhattheywouldcosther。Surely，she"smistakenaboutbeingabletopayallthat。CanshepickupstuffofthatvaluearoundtheLimberlost?Didn"ttheBirdWomanseehertrouble，andjustgiveherthemoney?"
"Idon"tthinkso，"saidMargaret。"SeemstomeI"veheardofherpaying，orofferingtopaythosewhowouldtakethemoney，forbugsandbutterflies，andI"veknownpeoplewhosoldthatbankerIndianstuff。OnceI
heardthathispipecollectionbeatthatoftheGovernmentatthePhiladelphiaCentennial。Thosethingshavecometohaveavalue。"
"Well，there"saboutabushelofthatkindofvaluablespiledupinthewoodshed，thatbelongstoElnora。Atleast，Ipickedthemupbecauseshesaidshewantedthem。
Ain"titqueerthatshe"dtaketostones，bugs，andbutterflies，andsavethem。Nowtheyaregoingtobringhertheverythingshewantstheworst。Lord，butthisisafunnyworldwhenyougettostudying!Lookslikethingsdidn"tallcomebyaccident。Looksasiftherewasaplanbackofit，andsomebodydrivingthatknowstheroad，andhowtohandlethelines。Anyhow，Elnora"sinthewagon，andwhenIgetoutinthenightandthedarkclosesaroundme，andIseethestars，Idon"tfeelsocheap。Maggie，howthenationdidKateComstockdothat?"
"Youwillkeeponharping，Wesley。Itoldyoushedidn"tdoit。Elnoradidit!Shewalkedinandtookthingsrightoutofourhands。AllKatehadtodowastoenjoyhavingitgoherway，andshewascuteenoughtoputinafewquestionsthatsortofguidedElnora。ButI
don"tknow，Wesley。Thisthingmakesmethink，too。
S"posewe"dtakenElnorawhenshewasababy，andwe"dheapedonherallthelovewecan"tonourown，andwe"dcoddled，petted，andshieldedher，wouldshehavemadethewomanthatlivingalone，learningtothinkforherself，andtakingalltheknocksKateComstockcouldgive，havemadeofher?"
"Youbetyourlife!"criedWesley，warmly。"Lovinganybodydon"thurtthem。Wewouldn"thavedoneanythingbutloveher。
Youcan"thurtachildlovingit。She"dhavelearnedtowork，tostudy，andgrownintoawomanwithus，withoutsufferinglikeapoorhomelessdog。"
"Butyoudon"tseethepoint，Wesley。Shewouldhavegrownintoafinewomanwithus；butaswewouldhaveraisedher，wouldherhearteverhaveknowntheworldasitdoesnow?Where"stheanguish，Wesley，thatchildcan"tcomprehend?Seeingwhatshe"sseenofhermotherhasn"thardenedher。Shecanunderstandanymother"ssorrow。
Livinglifefromtheroughsidehasonlybroadenedher。
Where"sthegirlorboyburningwithshame，orstrugglingtofindaway，thatwillcrossElnora"spathandnotgetaliftfromher?She"shadtheknocks，butthere"llneverbeanyofthethingyoucall`falsepride"inher。Iguesswebetterkeepout。MaybeKateComstockknowswhatshe"sdoing。
Sureasyoulive，Elnorahasgrownbiggeronknocksthanshewouldonlove。"
"Idon"ts"posethereeverwasaveryfinepointtoanythingbutImissedit，"saidWesley，"becauseIamblunt，rough，andhavenobooklearningtospeakof。
SinceyouputitintowordsIseewhatyoumean，butit"sdingedhardonElnora，justthesame。AndIdon"tkeepout。
Ikeepwatchingcloserthanever。Igotmyslapintheface，butifIdon"tmissmyguess，KateComstocklearnedherlesson，sameasIdid。ShelearnedthatIwasinearnest，thatIwouldhaulhertocourtifshedidn"tloosenupabit，andshe"llloosen。Youseeifshedoesn"t。
Itmaycomehard，andthehingescreak，butshe"llfixElnoradecentafterthis，ifElnoradoesn"tprovethatshecanfixherself。Asforme，IfoundoutthatwhatIwasdoingwasasmuchformyselfasforElnora。Iwantedhertotakethosethingsfromus，andloveusforgivingthem。
Itdidn"twork，andbutforyou，I"dmessedthewholethingandstucklikeapigincrossingabridge。Butyouhelpedmeout；Elnora"sgottheclothes，andbymorning，maybeIwon"tgrudgeKatetheonlylaughshe"shadinsixteenyears。Youbeenshowingmethewayquiteaspellnow，ain"tyou，Maggie?"
InheratticElnoralightedtwocandles，setthemonherlittletable，stackedthebooks，andputawaythepreciousclothes。Howlovinglyshehungthehatandumbrella，foldedtheraincoat，andspreadthenewdressoverachair。
Shefingeredtheribbons，andtriedtosmooththecreasesfromthem。Sheputawaythehoseneatlyfolded，touchedthehandkerchiefs，andtriedthebelt。Thensheslippedintoherwhitenightdress，shookdownherhairthatitmightbecomethoroughlydry，setachairbeforethetable，andreverentlyopenedoneofthebooks。Astiffdraughtswepttheattic，foritstretchedthelengthofthecabin，andhadawindowineachend。Elnoraaroseandgoingtotheeastwindowclosedit。Shestoodforaminutelookingatthestars，thesky，andthedarkoutlineofthestragglingtreesoftherapidlydismantlingLimberlost。Intheregionofhercaseatinypointoflightflashedanddisappeared。
Elnorastraightenedandwondered。Wasitwisetoleaveherpreciousmoneythere?Thelightflashedoncemore，waveredafewseconds，anddiedout。Thegirlwaited。
Shedidnotseeitagain，sosheturnedtoherbooks。
IntheLimberlostthehulkingfigureofamansneakeddownthetrail。
"TheBirdWomanwasatFreckles"sroomthisevening，"
hemuttered。"Wonderwhatfor?"
Heleftthetrail，enteredtheenclosurestilldistinctlyoutlined，andapproachedthecase。Thefirstpointoflightflashedfromthetinyelectriclamponhisvest。Hetookaduplicatekeyfromhispocket，feltforthepadlockandopenedit。Thedoorswungwide。Thelightflashedthesecondtime。Swiftlyhisglanceswepttheinterior。
""Boutafourthofhermothsgone。ElnoramusthavebeenwiththeBirdWomanandgiventhemtoher。"
Thenhestoodtense。Hiskeeneyesdiscoveredtherollofbillshastilythrustbackinthebottomofthecase。