第8章
"Theregoeshisfootthroughit!"criedMargaret。
"Wesley，heshallnotruinmyhammock。"
"Ofcourseheshan"t!"saidWesley。"Wait，Billy，letmeshowyou。"
ThereuponheexplainedtoBillythatladieswearingbeautifulwhitedressessatinhammocks，solittleboysmustnotputtheirdustyfeetinthem。Billyimmediatelysat，andallowedhisfeettoswing。
"Margaret，"saidWesleyafteralongsilenceontheporch，"isn"tittruethatifBillyhadbeenahalf-starvedsorecat，dog，oranimalofanysort，thatyouwouldhavepitied，andhelpedcareforit，andbeengladtoseemegetanypleasureoutofitIcould?"
"Yes，"saidMargaretcoldly。
"ButbecauseIbroughtachildwithanimmortalsoul，thereisnowelcome。"
"Thatisn"tachild，it"sananimal。"
"Youjustsaidyouwouldhavewelcomedananimal。"
"Notawildone。Imeantatamebeast。"
"Billyisnotabeast!"saidWesleyhotly。"Heisaverydearlittleboy。Margaret，you"vealwaysdonethechurch-goingandBiblereadingforthisfamily。Howdoyoureconcilethat`SufferlittlechildrentocomeuntoMe"
withthewayyouaretreatingBilly?"
Margaretarose。"Ihaven"ttreatedthatchild。Ihaveonlylethimalone。Icanbarelyholdmyself。Heneedsthehidetannedaboutoffhim!"
"Ifyou"dcaredtolookathisbody，you"dknowthatyoucouldn"tfindaplacetostrikewithoutcuttingintoarawspot，"saidWesley。"Besides，Billyhasnotdoneathingforwhichachildshouldbepunished。Heisonlyfulloflife，notraining，andwithaboy"sloveofmischief。
Hedidabuseyourkittens，butanhourbeforeIsawhimriskhislifetosaveonefrombeingrunover。Hemindswhatyoutellhim，anddoesn"tdoanythingheistoldnotto。
Hethinksofhisbrotherandsisterrightawaywhenanythingpleaseshim。Hetookthatstingingmedicinewiththegritofabulldog。Heisjustabullylittlechap，andIlovehim。"
"Ohgoodheavens!"criedMargaret，goingintothehouseasshespoke。
Sintonsatstill。AtlastBillytiredoftheswing，cametohimandleanedhisslightbodyagainstthebigknee。
"AmIgoingtosleephere?"heasked。
"Sureyouare!"saidSinton。
BillyswunghisfeetashelaidacrossWesley"sknee。
"Comeon，"saidWesley，"Imustcleanyouupforbed。"
"Youhavetobejustawfulcleanhere，"announcedBilly。
"Iliketobeclean，youfeelsogood，afterthehurtisover。"
Sintonregisteredthatremark，andworkedwithespecialtendernessasheredressedtheailingplacesandwashedthedustfromBilly"sfeetandhands。
"Wherecanhesleep?"heaskedMargaret。
"I"msureIdon"tknow，"sheanswered。
"Oh，Icansleepistanyplace，"saidBilly。"Onthefloororanywhere。Home，Isleeponpa"scoatonastore-
box，andJimmyandBelletheysleeponthestorebox，too。
"Isleepbetweenthem，so"sIdon"trolloffandcrackmyhead。Ain"tyougotastoreboxandaoldcoat?"
Wesleyaroseandopenedafoldinglounge。Thenhebroughtanarmloadofcleanhorseblanketsfromacloset。
"Thesedon"tlooklikethenicewhitebedalittleboyshouldhave，Billy，"hesaid，"butwe"llmakethemdo。
Thiswillbeatastoreboxallhollow。"
Billytookalongleapforthelounge。Whenhefounditbounced，heproceededtobounce，untilhewastired。
Bythattimetheblanketshadtoberefolded。WesleyhadBillytakeoneendandhelp，whilebothofthemseemedtoenjoythejob。ThenBillylaydownandcurledupinhisclotheslikeasmalldog。Butsleepwouldnotcome。
Finallyhesatup。Hestaredaroundrestlessly。Thenhearose，wenttoWesley，andleanedagainsthisknee。Hepickeduptheboyandfoldedhisarmsaroundhim。Billysighedinrapturouscontent。
"Thatbedfeelssolostlike，"hesaid。"Jimmyalwaysjabbedmeononeside，andBelleontheother，andsoI
knewIwasthere。Doyouknowwheretheyare?"
"Theyarewithkindpeoplewhogavethemafinesupper，acleanbed，andwillalwaystakegoodcareofthem。"
"IwishtIwas——"BillyhesitatedandlookedearnestlyatWesley。"ImeanIwishtheywashere。"
"YouareaboutallIcanmanage，Billy，"saidWesley。
Billysatup。"Can"tshemanageanything?"heasked，wavingtowardMargaret。
"Indeed，yes，"saidWesley。"Shehasmanagedmefortwentyyears。"
"My，butshemadeyounice!"saidBilly。"Ijustloveyou。
Iwishtshe"dtakeJimmyandBelleandmakethemniceasyou。"
"Sheisn"tstrongenoughtodothat，Billy。Theywillgrowintoagoodboyandgirlwheretheyare。"
BillyslidfromWesley"sarmsandwalkedtowardMargaretuntilhereachedthemiddleoftheroom。Thenhestopped，andatlastsatonthefloor。Finallyhelaydownandclosedhiseyes。"Thisfeelsmorelikemybed；
ifonlyJimmyandBellewasheretocrowdupalittle，soitwasn"tsoalonelike。"
"Won"tIdo，Billy?"askedWesleyinahuskyvoice。
Billymovedrestlessly。"Seemslike——seemsliketowardnightasifabodygotkindo"lonesomeforawomanperson——likeher。"
BillyindicatedMargaretandthenclosedhiseyessotighthissmallfacewrinkled。
Soonhewasupagain。"WishtIhadSnap，"hesaid。
"Oh，IistwishtIhadSnap!"
"IthoughtyoulaidaboardonSnapandjumpedonit，"saidWesley。
"Wedid!"criedBilly——"oh，yououghttoheardhimsqueal!"Billylaughedloudly，thenhisfaceclouded。
"ButIwantSnaptolaybesidemesobadnow——thatifhewashereI"dgivehimapieceofmychicken，"for，Iateany。
Doyoulikedogs?"
"Yes，Ido，"saidWesley。
Billywasupinstantly。"WouldyoulikeSnap?"
"IamsureIwould，"saidWesley。
"Wouldshe?"BillyindicatedMargaret。Andthenheansweredhisownquestion。"Butofcourse，shewouldn"t，cosshelikescats，anddogschasescats。
Oh，dear，IthoughtforaminutemaybeSnapcouldcomehere。"Billylaydownandclosedhiseyesresolutely。
Suddenlytheyflewopen。"Doesithurttobedead?"
hedemanded。
"Nothinghurtsyouafteryouaredead，Billy，"saidWesley。
"Yes，butImeandoesithurtgettingtobedead?"
"Sometimesitdoes。Itdidnothurtyourfather，Billy。
Itcamesoftlywhilehewasasleep。"
"Itistcamesoftly?"
"Yes。"
"Ikindo"wishthewasn"tdead!"saidBilly。""CourseI
liketostaywithyou，andthefriedchicken，andthenicesoftbed，and——andeverything，andIliketobeclean，buthetookustotheshow，andhegotusgum，andheneverhurtuswhenhewasn"tdrunk。"
Billydrewadeepbreath，andtightlyclosedhiseyes。
Butverysoontheyopened。Thenhesatup。HelookedatWesleypitifully，andthenheglancedatMargaret。
"Youdon"tlikeboys，doyou?"hequestioned。
"Ilikegoodboys，"saidMargaret。
Billywasatherkneeinstantly。"Wellsay，I"magoodboy!"heannouncedjoyously。
"Idonotthinkboyswhohurthelplesskittensandpulloutturkeys"tailsaregoodboys。"
"Yes，butIdidn"thurtthekittens，"explainedBilly。
"Theygotmad"boutistalittlefunandscratchedeachother。
Ididn"ts"posethey"dactlikethat。AndIdidn"tpulltheturkey"stail。IistheldontothefirstthingI
grabbed，andtheturkeypulled。Honest，itwastheturkeypulled。"HeturnedtoWesley。"Youtellher!
Didn"ttheturkeypull?Ididn"tknowitstailwasloose，didI?"
"Idon"tthinkyoudid，Billy，"saidWesley。
BillystaredintoMargaret"scoldface。"Sometimesatnight，Bellesitsonthefloor，andIlaymyheadinherlap。
Icouldpullupachairandlaymyheadinyourlap。
Likethis，Imean。"Billypulledupachair，climbedonitandlaidhisheadonMargaret"slap。Thenheshuthiseyesagain。Margaretcouldhavelookedlittlemorerepulsedifhehadbeenasnake。Billywassoonup。
"My，butyourlapishard，"hesaid。"Andyouareagooddealfatter"anBelle，too!"Heslidfromthechairandcamebacktothemiddleoftheroom。
"OhbutIwishthewasn"tdead!"hecried。ThefloodbrokeandBillyscreamedindesperation。
Outofthenightasoft，warmyoungfigureflashedthroughthedoorandwithaswoopcaughthiminherarms。
Shedroppedintoachair，nestledhimclosely，droopedherfragrantbrownheadoverhislittlebullet-eyedredone，androckedsoftlywhileshecroonedoverhim——
"Billy，boy，wherehaveyoubeen?
Oh，Ihavebeentoseekawife，She"sthejoyofmylife，Butthenshe"sayoungthingandshecan"tleavehermammy!"
Billyclungtoherfrantically。Elnorawipedhiseyes，kissedhisface，swayedandsang。
"Whyaren"tyouasleep?"sheaskedatlast。
"Idon"tknow，"saidBilly。"Itried。ItriedawfulhardcosIthoughthewantedmeto，butitistwouldn"tcome。
PleasetellherItried。"HeappealedtoMargaret。
"Hedidtrytogotosleep，"admittedMargaret。
"Maybehecan"tsleepinhisclothes，"suggestedElnora。
"Haven"tyouanolddressingsacque?Icouldrollthesleeves。"
Margaretgotanoldsacque，andElnoraputitonBilly。
Thenshebroughtabasinofwaterandbathedhisfaceandhead。Shegatheredhimupandbegantorockagain。
"Haveyougotapa?"askedBilly。
"No，"saidElnora。
"Ishedeadlikemine?"
"Yes。"
"Didithurthimtodie?"
"Idon"tknow。"
Billywaswideawakeagain。"Itdidn"thurtmypa，"
heboasted；"heistdiedwhilehewasasleep。Hedidn"tevenknowitwascoming。"
"Iamgladofthat，"saidElnora，pressingthesmallheadagainstherbreastagain。
Billyescapedherhandandsatup。"IguessIwon"tgotosleep，"hesaid。"Itmight`comesoftly"andgetme。"
"Itwon"tgetyou，Billy，"saidElnora，rockingandsingingbetweensentences。"Itdoesn"tgetlittleboys。
Itjusttakesbigpeoplewhoaresick。"
"Wasmypasick?"
"Yes，"saidElnora。"Hehadadreadfulsicknessinsidehimthatburned，andmadehimdrinkthings。
Thatwaswhyhewouldforgethislittleboysandgirl。
Ifhehadbeenwell，hewouldhavegottenyougoodthingstoeat，cleanclothes，andhadthemostfunwithyou。"
Billyleanedagainstherandclosedhiseyes，andElnorarockedhopefully。
"IfIwasdeadwouldyoucry?"hewasupagain。
"Yes，Iwould，"saidElnora，grippinghimcloseruntilBillyalmostsquealedwiththeembrace。
"Doyoulovemetightasthat?"hequestionedblissfully。
"Yes，bushelsandbushels，"saidElnora。"Betterthananylittleboyinthewholeworld。"
BillylookedatMargaret。"Shedon"t!"hesaid。
"She"dbegladifitwouldgetme`softly，"rightnow。
Shedon"twantmehere"tall。"
Elnorasmotheredhisfaceagainstherbreastandrocked。
"Youloveme，don"tyou?"
"Iwill，ifyouwillgotosleep。"
"Everysingledayyouwillgivemeyourdinnerforthebologna，won"tyou，"saidBilly。
"Yes，Iwill，"repliedElnora。"ButyouwillhaveasgoodlunchasIdoafterthis。Youwillhavemilk，eggs，chicken，allkindsofgoodthings，littlepies，andcakes，maybe。"
Billyshookhishead。"Iamgoingbackhomesoonasitislight，"hesaid，"shedon"twantme。ShethinksI"mabadboy。She"sgoingtowhipme——ifheletsher。
Shesaidso。Iheardher。Oh，Iwishhehadn"tdied!
Iwanttogohome。"Billyshriekedagain。
Mrs。ComstockhadstartedtowalkslowlytomeetElnora。
ThegirlhadbeensolatethathermotherreachedtheSintongateandfollowedthepathuntilthepictureinsidebecamevisible。ElnorahadtoldheraboutWesleytakingBillyhome。Mrs。ComstockhadsomecuriositytoseehowMargaretboretheunexpectedadditiontoherfamily。Billy"svoice，raisedwithexcitement，wasplainlyaudible。ShecouldseeElnoraholdinghim，andhearhisexcitedwail。Wesley"sfacewasdrawnandhaggard，andMargaret"ssetanddefiant。AveryimpofperversityenteredthebreastofMrs。Comstock。
"Hoity，toity!"shesaidasshesuddenlyappearedinthedoor。"BlestifIeverheardamanmakingsoundslikethatbefore!"
Billyceasedsuddenly。Mrs。Comstockwastall，angular，andherhairwasprematurelywhite。Shewasonlythirty-six，althoughsheappearedfifty。Buttherewasanexpressiononherusuallycoldfacethatwasattractivejustthen，andBillywasinsearchofattractions。
"HaveIstayedtoolate，mother?"askedElnoraanxiously。
"Itrulyintendedtocomestraightback，butIthoughtIcouldrockBillytosleepfirst。Everythingisstrange，andhe"ssonervous。"
"Isthatyourma?"demandedBilly。
"Yes。"
"Doessheloveyou?"
"Ofcourse!"
"Mymotherdidn"tloveme，"saidBilly。"Shewentawayandleftme，andnevercameback。Shedon"tcarewhathappenstome。Youwouldn"tgoawayandleaveyourlittlegirl，wouldyou?"questionedBilly。
"No，"saidKatharineComstock，"andIwouldn"tleavealittleboy，either。"
BillybeganslidingfromElnora"sknees。
"Doyoulikeboys?"hequestioned。
"IfthereisanythingIloveitisaboy，"saidMrs。
Comstockassuringly。Billywasonthefloor。
"Doyoulikedogs?"
"Yes。Almostaswellasboys。IamgoingtobuyadogassoonasIcanfindagoodone。"
Billyswepttowardherwithawhoop。
"Doyouwantaboy?"heshouted。
KatharineComstockstretchedoutherarms，andgatheredhimin。
"Ofcourse，Iwantaboy!"sherejoiced。
"Maybeyou"dliketohaveme?"offeredBilly。
"SureIwould，"triumphedMrs。Comstock。"Anyonewouldliketohaveyou。Youarejustarealboy，Billy。"
"WillyoutakeSnap?"
"I"dliketohaveSnapalmostaswellasyou。"
"Mother!"breathedElnoraimploringly。"Don"t!Oh，don"t!
Hethinksyoumeanit!"
"AndsoIdomeanit，"saidMrs。Comstock。"I"lltakehiminajiffy。Ithrowawayenoughtofeedalittletykelikehimeveryday。Hischatterwouldbegreatcompanywhileyouaregone。Bloodsooncanbepurifiedwithrightfoodandbaths，andasforSnap，Imeanttobuyabulldog，butpossiblySnapwillservejustaswell。
AllIaskofadogistobarkattherighttime。I"lldotherest。Wouldyouliketocomeandbemyboy，Billy?"
BillyleanedagainstMrs。Comstock，reachedhisarmsaroundherneckandgrippedherwithallhispunymight。
"Youcanwhipmeallyouwantto，"hesaid。"Iwon"tmakeasound。"
Mrs。Comstockheldhimcloselyandherhardfacewassoftening；ofthattherecouldbenodoubt。
"Now，whywouldanyonewhipanicelittleboylikeyou?"sheaskedwonderingly。
"She"——BillyfromhisrefugewavedtowardMargaret——"shewasgoingtowhipme"causehercatsfought，whenItiedtheirtailstogetherandhungthemoverthelinetodry。HowdidIknowheroldcatswouldfight?"
Mrs。Comstockbegantolaughsuddenly，andtryasshewouldshecouldnotstopsosoonasshedesired。
Billystudiedher。
"Haveyougotturkeys?"hedemanded。
"Yes，flocksofthem，"saidMrs。Comstock，vainlystrugglingtosuppresshermirth，andsettleherfaceinitsaccustomedlines。
"Aretheirtailsfast?"demandedBilly。
"Why，Ithinkso，"marvelledMrs。Comstock。
"Hersain"t!"saidBillywiththewavetowardMargaretthatwasbecomingfamiliar。"Herturkeypulled，anditstailcomedrightoff。She"sgoingtowhipmeifheletsher。Ididn"tknowtheturkeywouldpull。Ididn"tknowitstailwouldcomeoff。Iwon"tevertouchoneagain，willI?"
"Ofcourse，youwon"t，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Andwhat"smore，Idon"tcareifyoudo!I"dratherhaveafinelittlemanlikeyouthanalltheturkeysinthecountry。
Letthemlosetheiroldtailsiftheywantto，andletthecatsfight。Catsandturkeysdon"tcomparewithboys，whoaregoingtobefinebigmensomeofthesedays。"
ThenBillyandMrs。Comstockhuggedeachotherrapturously，whiletheiraudiencestaredinsilentamazement。
"Youlikeboys!"exultedBilly，andhisheaddroppedagainstMrs。Comstockinunspeakablecontent。
"Yes，andifIdon"thavetocarryyouthewholewayhome，wemuststartrightnow，"saidMrs。Comstock。
"Youaregoingtobeasleepbeforeyouknowit。"
Billyopenedhiseyesandbracedhimself。"Icanwalk，"hesaidproudly。
"Allright，wemuststart。Come，Elnora!Good-night，folks!"
Mrs。ComstocksetBillyonthefloor，andarosegrippinghishand。"Youtaketheotherside，Elnora，andwewillhelphimasmuchaswecan，"shesaid。
ElnorastaredpiteouslyatMargaret，thenatWesley，andaroseinwhite-facedbewilderment。
"Billy，areyougoingtoleavewithoutevensayinggood-
byetome?"askedWesley，withagulp。
BillyheldtighttoMrs。ComstockandElnora。
"Good-bye!"hesaidcasually。"I"llcomeandseeyousometime。"
WesleySintongaveasmotheredsob，andstrodefromtheroom。
Mrs。Comstockstartedtowardthedoor，draggingatBillywhileElnorapulledback，butMrs。Sintonwasbeforethem，hereyesflashing。
"KateComstock，youthinkyouaremightysmart，don"tyou?"shecried。
"Iain"tinthelunaticasylum，whereyoubelong，anyway，"saidMrs。Comstock。"IamsmartenoughtotelladandyboywhenIseehim，andI"mgoodandgladtogethim。I"lllovetohavehim!"
"Well，youwon"thavehim!"exclaimedMargaretSinton。
"ThatboyisWesley"s!Hefoundhim，andbroughthimhere。
Youcan"tcomeinandtakehimlikethat!Letgoofhim!"
"Notmuch，Iwon"t!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Leavethepoorsicklittlesoulhereforyoutobeat，becausehedidn"tknowjusthowtohandlethings!Ofcourse，he"llmakemistakes。Hemusthavealotofteaching，butnotthekindhe"llgetfromyou!Clearoutofmyway!"
"Youletgoofourboy，"orderedMargaret。
"Why?Doyouwanttowhiphim，beforehecangotosleep?"jeeredMrs。Comstock。
"No，Idon"t!"saidMargaret。"He"sWesley"s，andnobodyshalltouchhim。Wesley!"
WesleySintonappearedbehindMargaretinthedoorway，andsheturnedtohim。"MakeKateComstockletgoofourboy!"shedemanded。
"Billy，shewantsyounow，"saidWesleySinton。"Shewon"twhipyou，andshewon"tletanyoneelse。Youcanhavestacksofgoodthingstoeat，rideinthecarriage，andhaveagreattime。Won"tyoustaywithus?"
BillydrewawayfromMrs。ComstockandElnora。
HefacedMargaret，hiseyesshrewdwithunchildishwisdom。
Necessityhadtaughthimtostrikethehotiron，todrivethehardbargain。
"CanIhaveSnaptoliveherealways?"hedemanded。
"Yes，youcanhaveallthedogsyouwant，"saidMargaretSinton。
"CanIsleepcloseenoughso"sIcantouchyou?"
"Yes，youcanmoveyourloungeupsothatyoucanholdmyhand，"saidMargaret。
"Doyoulovemenow?"questionedBilly。
"I"lltrytoloveyou，ifyouareagoodboy，"saidMargaret。
"ThenIguessI"llstay，"saidBilly，walkingovertoher。
OutinthenightElnoraandhermotherwentdowntheroadinthemoonlight；everyfewrodsMrs。Comstocklaughedaloud。
"Mother，Idon"tunderstandyou，"sobbedElnora。
"Well，maybewhenyouhavegonetohighschoollongeryouwill，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Anyway，yousawmebringMagSintontohersenses，didn"tyou?"
"Yes，Idid，"answeredElnora，"butIthoughtyouwereinearnest。SodidBilly，andUncleWesley，andAuntMargaret。"
"Well，wasn"tI?"inquiredMrs。Comstock。
"ButyoujustsaidyoubroughtAuntMargaretto!"
"Well，didn"tI?"
"Idon"tunderstandyou。"
"That"sthereasonIamrecommendingmoreschooling!"
Elnoratookhercandleandwenttobed。Mrs。Comstockwasfeelingtoogoodtosleep。Twiceoflateshereallyhadenjoyedherselfforthefirstinsixteenyears，andgreedinessformoreofthesamefeelingcreptintoherbloodlikeintoxication。Asshesatbroodingalonesheknewthetruth。ShewouldhavelovedtohavetakenBilly。
Shewouldnothavemindedhismischief，hischatter，orhisdog。
Hewouldhavemeantadistractionfromherselfthatshegreatlyneeded；shewasevensincereaboutthedog。
ShehadintendedtotellWesleytobuyheroneattheveryfirstopportunity。HerlastthoughtwasofBilly。
Shechuckledsoftly，forshewasnotsaintly，andnowsheknewhowshecouldevenalongscorewithMargaretandWesleyinamannerthatwouldfillhersoulwithgrimsatisfaction。
CHAPTERVIII
WHEREINTHELIMBERLOSTTEMPTSELNORA，ANDBILLY
BURIESHISFATHER
ImmediatelyafterdinneronSundayWesleySintonstoppedattheComstockgatetoaskifElnorawantedtogototownwiththem。Billysatbesidehimandhedidnotappearasifhewereonhiswaytoafuneral。
Elnorasaidshehadtostudyandcouldnotgo，butshesuggestedthathermothertakeherplace。Mrs。Comstockputonherhatandwentatonce，whichsurprisedElnora。
ShedidnotknowthathermotherwasanxiousforanopportunitytospeakwithSintonalone。Elnoraknewwhyshewasrepeatedlycautionednottoleavetheirland，ifshewentspecimenhunting。
Shestudiedtwohoursandwasseverallessonsaheadofherclasses。Therewasnousetogofurther。Shewouldtakeawalkandseeifshecouldgatheranycaterpillarsorfindanyfreshlyspuncocoons。Shesearchedthebushesandlowtreesbehindthegardenandallaroundtheedgeofthewoodsontheirland，andhavinglittlesuccess，atlastcametotheroad。AlmostthefirstthornbushsheexaminedyieldedaPolyphemuscocoon。Elnoraliftedherheadwiththeinstinctofahunteronthechase，andbeganwork。Shereachedtheswampbeforesheknewit，carryingfivefinecocoonsofdifferentspeciesasherreward。
Shepushedbackherhairandgazedaroundlongingly。Afewrodsinsideshethoughtshesawcocoonsonabush，towhichshewent，andfoundseveral。Senseofcautionwasrapidlyvanishing；shewasinafairwaytoforgeteverythingandplungeintotheswampwhenshethoughtsheheardfootstepscomingdownthetrail。Shewentback，andcameoutalmostfacingPeteCorson。
Thatendedherdifficulty。Shehadknownhimsincechildhood。
WhenshesatonthefrontbenchoftheBrushwoodschoolhouse，Petehadbeenoneofthebigboysatthebackoftheroom。
Hehadbeenroughandwild，butsheneverhadbeenafraidofhim，andoftenhehadgivenherprettythingsfromtheswamp。
"Whatluck!"shecried。"IpromisedmotherIwouldnotgoinsidetheswampalone，andwillyoulookatthecocoonsI"vefound!Therearemorejustscreamingformetocomegetthem，becausetheleaveswillfallwiththefirstfrost，andthenthejaysandcrowswillbegintotearthemopen。Ihaven"tmuchtime，sinceI"mgoingtoschool。
Youwillgowithme，Pete!Pleasesayyes!Justalittleway!"
"Whatarethosethings?"askedtheman，hiskeenblackeyesstaringather。
"Theyarethecasesthesebigcaterpillarsspinforwinter，andinthespringtheycomeoutgreatnightmoths，andIcansellthem。Oh，Pete，IcansellthemforenoughtotakemethroughhighschoolanddressmesoliketheothersthatIdon"tlookdifferent，andifIhaveverygoodluckIcansavesomeforcollege。Pete，pleasegowithme?"
"Whydon"tyougolikeyoualwayshave?"
"Well，thetruthis，Ihadalittlescare，"saidElnora。
"Ineverdidmeantogoalone；sometimesIsortofwanderedinsidefartherthanIintended，chasingthings。YouknowDuncangavemeFreckles"sbooks，andIhavebeengatheringmothslikehedid。LatelyIfoundIcouldsellthem。
IfIcanmakeacompletecollection，Icangetthreehundreddollarsforit。Threesuchcollectionswouldtakemealmostthroughcollege，andI"vefouryearsinthehighschoolyet。That"salongtime。Imightcollectthem。"
"Caneverykindthereisbefoundhere?"
"No，notallofthem，butwhenIgetmorethanIneedofonekind，Icantradethemwithcollectorsfarthernorthandwest，soIcancompletesets。It"stheonlywayIseetoearnthemoney。LookwhatIhavealready。BiggrayCecropiascomefromthiskind；brownPolyphemusfromthat，andgreenLunasfromthese。Youaren"tworkingonSunday。
Gowithmeonlyanhour，Pete!"
Themanlookedathernarrowly。Shewasyoung，wholesome，andbeautiful。Shewasinnocent，intenselyinearnest，andsheneededthemoney，heknewthat。
"Youdidn"ttellmewhatscaredyou，"hesaid。
"Oh，IthoughtIdid!WhyyouknowIhadFreckles"sboxpackedfullofmothsandspecimens，andoneeveningIsoldsometotheBirdWoman。NextmorningIfoundanotetellingmeitwasn"tsafetogoinsidetheswamp。
Thatsortofscaredme。IthinkI"llgoalone，ratherthanmissthechance，butI"dbesohappyifyouwouldtakecareofme。ThenIcouldgoanywhereIchose，becauseifImiredyoucouldpullmeout。Youwilltakecareofme，Pete?"
"Yes，I"lltakecareofyou，"promisedPeteCorson。
"Goody!"saidElnora。"Let"sstartquick!AndPete，youlookattheseclosely，andwhenyouarehuntingorgoingalongtheroad，ifonedanglesunderyournose，youcutoffthelittletwigandsaveitforme，willyou?"
"Yes，I"llsaveyouallIsee，"promisedPete。HepushedbackhishatandfollowedElnora。Sheplungedfearlesslyamongbushes，overunderbrush，andacrossdeadlogs。
Oneminuteshewascryingwildly，thatherewasabigone，thenextshewasreachingforalimbaboveherheadoronherkneesoverturningdeadleavesunderahickoryoroaktree，orworkingasideblackmuckwithherbarehandsasshesearchedforburiedpupaecases。ForthefirsthourPetebentbackbushesandfollowed，carryingwhatElnoradiscovered。Thenhefoundone。
"Isthisthekindofthingyouarelookingfor?"heaskedbashfully，ashepresentedawildcherrytwig。
"OhPete，that"saPromethea!Ididn"tevenhopetofindone。"
"What"sthebirdlike?"askedPete。
"Almostblackwings，"saidElnora，"withclay-colourededges，andthemostwonderfulwine-colouredflushovertheundersideifit"samale，andstrongerwineaboveandbelowifit"safemale。Oh，aren"tIhappy!"
"Howwoulditdotomakewhatyouhaveintoabunchthatwecouldleavehere，andcomebackforthem?"
"Thatwouldbeallright。"
RelievedofhisloadPetebeganwork。First，henarrowlyexaminedthecocoonsElnorahadfound。Hequestionedherastowhatotherkindswouldbelike。Hebegantousetheeyesofatrainedwoodmanandhunterinherbehalf。
Hesawseveralsoeasily，andmovedthroughtheforestsosoftly，thatElnoraforgotthemothsinwatchinghim。
Presentlyshewascarryingthespecimens，andhewasmakingthetripsofinvestigationtoseewhichwasacocoonandwhichacurledleaf，orhewasonhiskneesdiggingaroundstumps。Asheworkedhekeptaskingquestions。
Whatkindoflogswerebesttolookbeside，whattreeswerepupaecasesmostlikelytobeunder；onwhatbushesdidcaterpillarsspinmostfrequently?Timepassed，asitalwaysdoeswhenone"soccupationisabsorbing。
WhentheSintonstookMrs。Comstockhome，theystoppedtoseeElnora。Shewasnotthere。Mrs。Comstockcalledattheedgeofherwoodsandreceivednoreply。
ThenWesleyturnedanddrovebacktotheLimberlost。
HeleftMargaretandMrs。ComstockholdingtheteamandentertainingBilly，whileheenteredtheswamp。
ElnoraandPetehadmadeawidetrailbehindthem。
BeforeSintonhadthoughtofcalling，heheardvoicesandapproachedwithsomecaution。SoonhesawElnora，herflushedfacebeamingasshebentwithanarmloadoftwigsandbranchesandtalkedtoakneelingman。
"Nowgocautiously!"shewassaying。"IamjustsurewewillfindanImperialishere。It"stheirverykindofaplace。There!WhatdidItellyou!Isn"tthatsplendid?
Oh，Iamsogladyoucamewithme!"
Wesleystoodstaringinspeechlessastonishment，forthemanhadarisen，brushedthedirtfromhishands，andheldouttoElnoraasmallshiningdarkpupacase。
AshisfacecameintoviewSintonalmostcriedout，forhewastheonemanofallothersWesleyknewwithwhomhemostfearedforElnora"ssafety。Shehadhimonhiskneesdiggingpupaecasesforherfromtheswamp。
"Elnora!"calledSinton。"Elnora!"
"Oh，UncleWesley!"criedthegirl。"Seewhatluckwe"vehad!Iknowwehaveadozenandahalfcocoonsandwehavethreepupaecases。It"smuchhardertogetthecasesbecauseyouhavetodigforthem，andyoucan"tseewheretolook。ButPeteisfineatit!He"sfoundthree，andhesayshewillkeepwatchbesidetheroads，andthroughthewoodswhilehehunts。Isn"tthatsplendidofhim?UncleWesley，thereisacollegeoverthereonthewesternedgeoftheswamp。Lookclosely，andyoucanseethegreatdomeupamongtheclouds。"
"Ishouldsayyouhavehadluck，"saidWesley，strivingtomakehisvoicenatural。"ButIthoughtyouwerenotcomingtotheswamp?"
"Well，Iwasn"t，"saidElnora，"butIcouldn"tfindmanyanywhereelse，honest，Icouldn"t，andjustassoonasIcametotheedgeIbegantoseethemhere。Ikeptmypromise。Ididn"tcomeinalone。Petecamewithme。