第11章

Shedoesnot——"

Elnorastopped。

"Sheis——isdifferent，"finishedthegirl。

Annacamewiththeroses。TheBirdWomansetoneonthefrontofthedrapedyoke，oneoneachshoulderandthelastamongthebrightmassesofbrownhair。Thensheturnedthegirlfacingthetallmirror。

"Oh!"pantedElnora。"Youareagenius!Why，I

willlookaswellasanyofthem。"

"Thankgoodnessforthat!"criedtheBirdWoman。

"Ifitwouldn"tdo，Ishouldhavebeenill。Youarelovely；

altogetherlovely!OrdinarilyIshouldn"tsaythat；butwhenIthinkofhowyouarecarpentered，I"madmiringtheresult。"

Theorganbeganrollingoutthemarchastheycameinsight。

Elnoratookherplaceattheheadoftheprocession，whileeveryonewondered。Secretlytheyhadhopedthatshewouldbedressedwellenough，thatshewouldnotappearpoorandneglected。Whatthisradiantyoungcreature，gownedinthemostrecentstyle，hersmoothskinflushedwithexcitement，andarose-setcoronetofredgoldonherhead，hadtodowiththegirltheyknewwasdifficulttodecide。ThesignalwasgivenandElnorabegantheslowmarchacrossthevestryanddowntheaisle。Themusicwelledsoftly，andMargaretbegantosobwithoutknowingwhy。

Mrs。Comstockgrippedherhandstogetherandshuthereyes。ItseemedaneternitytothesufferingwomanbeforeMargaretcaughtherarmandwhispered，"Oh，Kate!

Foranysakelookather!Here!Theaisleacross!"

Mrs。Comstockopenedhereyesanddirectingthemwhereshewastold，gazedintently，andsliddowninherseatclosetocollapse。ShewassavedbyMargaret"stenseclaspandhercommand:"Here!Idiot!Stopthat!"

IntheblazeoflightElnoraclimbedthestepstothepalm-emboweredplatform，crosseditandtookherplace。

Sixtyyoungmenandwomen，eachofthemdressedthebestpossible，followedher。Thereweremanly，fine-

lookingmeninthatclasswhichElnoraled。Thereweregirlsofbeautyandgrace，butnotoneofthemwashandsomerorclothedinbettertastethanshe。

BillythoughtthetimeneverwouldcomewhenElnorawouldseehim，butatlastshemethiseye，thenMargaretandWesleyhadfaintsignsofrecognitioninturn，buttherewasnosofteningofthegirl"sfaceandnohintofasmilewhenshesawhermother。

Heartsick，KatharineComstocktriedtoprovetoherselfthatshewasjustifiedinwhatshehaddone，butshecouldnot。ShetriedtoblameElnorafornotsayingthatshewastoleadaprocessionandsitonaplatforminthesightofhundredsofpeople；butthatwasimpossible，forsherealizedthatshewouldhavescoffedandnotunderstoodifshehadbeentold。Herheartpaineduntilshesufferedwitheverybreath。

Whenatlasttheexerciseswereoversheclimbedintothecarriageandrodehomewithoutaword。ShedidnothearwhatMargaretandBillyweresaying。ShescarcelyheardWesley，whodrovebehind，whenhetoldherthatElnorawouldnotbehomeuntilWednesday。EarlythenextmorningMrs。ComstockwasonherwaytoOnabasha。

ShewaswaitingwhentheBrownleestoreopened。

Sheexaminedready-madewhitedresses，buttheyhadonlyoneoftherightsize，anditwasmarkedfortydollars。

Mrs。Comstockdidnothesitateovertheprice，butwhetherthedresswouldbesuitable。ShewouldhavetoaskElnora。

SheinquiredherwaytothehomeoftheBirdWomanandknocked。

"IsElnoraComstockhere?"sheaskedthemaid。

"Yes，butsheisstillinbed。Iwastoldtolethersleepaslongasshewould。"

"MaybeIcouldsithereandwait，"saidMrs。Comstock。

"Iwanttoseeaboutgettingheradressforto-morrow。

Iamhermother。"

"Thenyoudon"tneedwaitorworry，"saidthegirlcheerfully。

"Therearetwowomenupinthesewing-roomatworkonadressforherrightnow。Itwillbedoneintime，anditwillbeabeauty。"

Mrs。ComstockturnedandtrudgedbacktotheLimberlost。

Thebitternessinhersoulbecameaphysicalactuality，whichwaterwouldnotwashfromherlips。Shewastoolate!Shewasnotneeded。Anotherwomanwasmotheringhergirl。AnotherwomanwouldprepareabeautifuldresssuchasElnorahadwornthepreviousnight。

Thegirl"sloveandgratitudewouldgotoher。Mrs。Comstocktriedtheoldprocessofblamingsomeoneelse，butshefeltnobetter。Shenursedhergriefascloselyaseverinthelongdaysofthegirl"sabsence。ShebroodedoverElnora"spossessionoftheforbiddenviolinandherabilitytoplayituntiltheperformancecouldnothavebeentoldfromherfather"s。Shetriedeveryrefugehermindcouldconjure，toquietherheartandremovethefearthatthegirlneverwouldcomehomeagain，butitpersisted。

Mrs。Comstockcouldneithereatnorsleep。Shewanderedaroundthecabinandgarden。ShekeptfarfromthepoolwhereRobertComstockhadsunkfromsightforshefeltthatitwouldentombheralsoifElnoradidnotcomehomeWednesdaymorning。Themothertoldherselfthatshewouldwait，butthewaitingwasasbitterasanythingsheeverhadknown。

WhenElnoraawokeMondayanotherdresswasinthehandsofaseamstressandwassoonfitted。IthadbelongedtotheAngel，andwasasoftwhitethingthatwithalittlealterationwouldserveadmirablyforCommencementandtheball。AllthatdayElnoraworked，helpingpreparetheauditoriumfortheexercises，rehearsingthemarchandthespeechshewastomakeinbehalfoftheclass。

Thefollowingdaywasevenbusier。Buthermindwasatrest，forthedresswasasoftdelicatelaceeasytochange，andthemarksofalterationimpossibletodetect。

TheBirdWomanhadtelephonedtoGrandRapids，explainedthesituationandaskedtheAngelifshemightuseit。

Thereplyhadbeentogivethegirlthecontentsofthechest。

WhentheBirdWomantoldElnora，tearsfilledhereyes。

"Iwillwriteatonceandthankher，"shesaid。"Withallherbeautifulgownsshedoesnotneedthem，andIdo。

Theywillserveformeoften，andbemuchfinerthananythingIcouldafford。Itislovelyofhertogivemethedressandofyoutohaveitalteredforme，asInevercould。"

TheBirdWomanlaughed。"Ifeelreligiousto-day，"

shesaid。"Youknowthefirstandgreatestrockofmysalvationis`Dountoothers。"I"monlydoingtoyouwhattherewasnoonetodoformewhenIwasagirlverylikeyou。Annatellsmeyourmotherwashereearlythismorningandthatshecametoseeaboutgettingyouadress。"

"Sheistoolate!"saidElnoracoldly。"Shehadoveramonthtopreparemydresses，andIwastopayforthem，sothereisnoexcuse。"

"Nevertheless，sheisyourmother，"saidtheBirdWoman，softly。"Ithinkalmostanykindofamothermustbebetterthannoneatall，andyousayshehashadgreattrouble。"

"Shelovedmyfatherandhedied，"saidElnora。"Thesamething，inquiteastragicamanner，hashappenedtothousandsofotherwomen，andtheyhavegoneonwithcalmfacesandfoundhappinessinlifebylovingothers。

TherewassomethingelseIamafraidInevershallforget；

thisIknowIshallnot，buttalkingdoesnothelp。Imustdelivermypresentsandphotographstothecrowd。IhaveapictureandImadeapresentforyou，too，ifyouwouldcareforthem。"

"Ishallloveanythingyougiveme，"saidtheBirdWoman。

"Iknowyouwellenoughtoknowthatwhateveryoudowillbebeautiful。"

Elnorawaspleasedoverthat，andasshetriedonherdressforthelastfittingshewasreallyhappy。Shewaslovelyinthedaintygown:itwouldservefinelyfortheballandmanyotherlikeoccasions，anditwasherveryown。

TheBirdWoman"sdrivertookElnorainthecarriageandshecalledonallthegirlswithwhomshewasespeciallyintimate，andleftherpictureandthepackagecontaininghergifttothem。Bythetimeshereturnedparcelsforherwerearriving。Friendsseemedtospringfromeverywhere。

Almosteveryonesheknewhadsomegiftforher，whilebecausetheysolovedherthemembersofhercrowdhadmadeherbeautifulpresents。Therewerebooks，vases，silverpieces，handkerchiefs，fans，boxesofflowersandcandy。OnebigpackagesettledthetroubleatSinton"s，foritcontainedadaintydressfromMargaret，afive-dollargoldpiece，conspicuouslylabelled，"Iearnedthismyself，"fromBilly，withwhichtobuymusic；andagorgeouscut-glassperfumebottle，itwouldhavecostfivedollarstofillwithevenamoderate-

pricedscent，fromWesley。

Inanexpressedcratewasafinecurly-mapledressingtable，sentbyFreckles。ThedrawerswerefilledwithwonderfultoiletarticlesfromtheAngel。TheBirdWomanaddedanembroideredlinencoverandasmallsilvervaseforafewflowers，sonogirloftheclasshadfinergifts。Elnoralaidherheadonthetablesobbinghappily，andtheBirdWomanwasalmostcryingherself。

ProfessorHenleysentabutterflybook，thegraderoomsinwhichElnorahadtaughtgaveherasetofvolumescoveringeveryphaseoflifeafield，inthewoods，andwater。

Elnorahadnotimetoreadsoshecarriedoneofthesebooksaroundwithherhuggingitasshewent。Aftershehadgonetodressaqueer-lookingpackagewasbroughtbyasmallboywhohoppedononefootashehandeditinandsaid:"TellElnorathatisfromherma。"

"Whoareyou?"askedtheBirdWomanasshetookthebundle。

"I"mBilly!"announcedtheboy。"Igaveherthefivedollars。

Iearneditmyselfdroppingcorn，stickingonions，andpullingweeds。My，butyougottodrop，andstick，andpullalotbeforeit"sfivedollars"worth。"

"WouldyouliketocomeinandseeElnora"sgifts?"

"Yes，ma"am!"saidBilly，tryingtostandquietly。

"Gee-mentley!"hegasped。"DoesElnoragetallthis?"

"Yes。"

"IbetyouathousanddollarsIbefirstinmyclasswhenIgraduate。Say，havetheothersgotalotmorethanElnora?"

"Ithinknot。"

"Well，UncleWesleysaidtofindoutifIcould，andifshedidn"thaveasmuchastherest，he"dbuytillshedid，ifittookahundreddollars。Say，yououghttoknowhim!

He"sjustscrumptious!Thereain"tanybodyanywherefiner"anheis。My，he"sgrand!"

"I"mverysureofit!"saidtheBirdWoman。"I"veoftenheardElnorasayso。"

"Ibetyounobodycanbeatthis!"heboasted。Thenhestopped，thinkingdeeply。"Idon"tknow，though，"

hebeganreflectively。"Someofthemareawfulrich；

theygotbigfamiliestogivethemthingsandwagonloadsoffriends，andIhaven"tseenwhattheyhave。Now，maybeElnoraisgettingleft，afterall!"

"Don"tworry，Billy，"shesaid。"Iwillwatch，andifIfindElnorais`gettingleft"I"llbuyhersomemorethingsmyself。ButI"msuresheisnot。Shehasmorebeautifulgiftsnowthanshewillknowwhattodowith，andotherswillcome。TellyourUncleWesleyhisgirlisbountifullyremembered，veryhappy，andshesendsherdearestlovetoallofyou。Nowyoumustgo，soIcanhelpherdress。Youwillbethereto-nightofcourse?"

"Yes，sir-ee!Shegotmeaseat，thirdrowfromthefront，middlesection，soIcansee，andshe"sgoingtowinkatme，aftershegetsherspeechoffhermind。

Shekissedme，too!She"saperfectlady，Elnorais。

I"mgoingtomarryherwhenIambigenough。"

"Whyisn"tthatsplendid!"laughedtheBirdWomanasshehurriedupstairs。

"Dear!"shecalled。"Hereisanothergiftforyou。"

Elnorawashalfdisrobedasshetookthepackageand，sittingonacouch，openedit。TheBirdWomanbentoverherandtestedthefabricwithherfingers。

"Why，blessmysoul!"shecried。"Hand-woven，hand-

embroideredlinen，fineassilk。It"spriceless"Ihaven"tseensuchthingsinyears。MymotherhadgarmentslikethosewhenIwasachild，butmysistershadthemcutupforcollars，belts，andfancywaistswhileIwassmall。

Lookattheexquisitework!"

"Wherecouldithavecomefrom?"criedElnora。

Sheshookoutapetticoat，withahand-wroughtruffleafootdeep，thenanold-fashionedchemisetheneckandsleeveworkofwhichwaselaborateandperfectlywrought。

Onthebreastwaspinnedanotethatshehastilyopened。

"Iwasmarriedinthese，"itread，"andIhadintendedtobeburiedinthem，butperhapsitwouldbemoresensibleforyoutograduateandgetmarriedinthemyourself，ifyoulike。Yourmother。"

"Frommymother!"Wide-eyed，ElnoralookedattheBirdWoman。"Ineverinmylifesawthelike。

MotherdoesthingsIthinkInevercanforgive，andwhenIfeelhardest，sheturnsaroundanddoessomethingthatmakesmethinkshejustmustlovemealittlebit，afterall。

Anyofthegirlswouldgivealmostanythingtograduateinhand-embroideredlinenlikethat。Moneycan"tbuysuchthings。AndtheycamewhenIwasthinkingshedidn"tcarewhatbecameofme。Doyousupposeshecanbeinsane?"

"Yes，"saidtheBirdWoman。"Wildlyinsane，ifshedoesnotloveyouandcarewhatbecomesofyou。"

Elnoraaroseandheldthepetticoattoher。"Willyoulookatit?"shecried。"Onlyimaginehernotgettingmydressready，andthensendingmesuchapetticoatasthis!

Ellenwouldpayfiftydollarsforitandneverblink。

Isupposemotherhashaditallmylife，andIneversawitbefore。"

"Gotakeyourbathandputonthosethings，"saidtheBirdWoman。"Forgeteverythingandbehappy。Sheisnotinsane。Sheisembittered。Shedidnotunderstandhowthingswouldbe。Whenshesaw，shecameatoncetoprovideyouadress。Thisisherwayofsayingsheissorryshedidnotgettheother。Younoticeshehasnotspentanymoney，soperhapssheisquitehonestinsayingshehasnone。"

"Oh，sheishonest!"saidElnora。"Shewouldn"tcareenoughtotellanuntruth。She"dsayjusthowthingswere，nomatterwhathappened。"

SoonElnorawasreadyforherdress。Sheneverhadlookedsowellaswhensheagainheadedtheprocessionalacrosstheflowerandpalmdeckedstageofthehighschoolauditorium。AsshesatthereshecouldhavereachedoveranddroppedaroseshecarriedintotheseatshehadoccupiedthatSeptembermorningwhensheenteredthehighschool。Shespokethefewwordsshehadtosayinbehalfoftheclassbeautifully，hadthetinywinkreadyforBilly，andthesmileandnodofrecognitionforWesleyandMargaret。Whenatlastshelookedintotheeyesofawhite-facedwomannextthem，sheslippedahandtohersideandraisedherskirtthefractionofaninch，justenoughtolettheembroiderededgeofapetticoatshowatrifle。Whenshesawthelookofreliefwhichfloodedhermother"sface，Elnoraknewthatforgivenesswasinherheart，andthatshewouldgohomeinthemorning。

Itwaslateafternoonbeforeshearrived，andadrayfollowedwithaloadofpackages。Mrs。Comstockwasoverwhelmed。ShesathalfdazedandmadeElnorashowhereachcostlyandbeautifulorsimpleandusefulgift，tellhercarefullywhatitwasandfromwhereitcame。

ShestudiedthefacesofElnora"sparticularfriends。

Thegiftsfromthemhadtobesetinagroup。Severaltimesshestartedtospeakandthenstopped。Atlast，betweenherdrylips，cameaharshwhisper。

"Elnora，whatdidyougivebackforthesethings?"

"I"llshowyou，"saidElnoracheerfully。"ImadethesamegiftsfortheBirdWoman，AuntMargaretandyouifyoucareforit。ButIhavetorunupstairstogetit。"

Whenshereturnedshehandedhermotheranoblongframe，handcarved，enclosingElnora"spicture，takenbyaschoolmate"scamera。Sheworeherstorm-coatandcarriedadrippingumbrella。Fromunderitlookedherbrightface；

herbooksandlunchboxwereonherarm，andacrossthebottomoftheframewascarved，"YourCountryClassmate。"

Thensheofferedanotherframe。

"Iamstrongonframes，"shesaid。"TheyseemedtobethebestIcoulddowithoutmoney。Ilocatedthemapleandtheblackwalnutmyself，inalittlecornerthathadbeenoverlookedbetweentheriverandtheditch。

Theydidn"tseemtobelongtoanyonesoIjusttookthem。

UncleWesleysaiditwasallright，andhecutandhauledthemforme。Igavethemillhalfofeachtreeforsawingandcuringtheremainder。ThenIgavethewood-carverhalfofthatformakingmyframes。Aphotographergavemealotofspoiledplates，andIboiledofftheemulsion，andtookthespecimensIframedfrommystuff。Themansaidthewhiteframeswereworththreeandahalf，andtheblackonesfive。Iexchangedthoselittleframedpicturesforthephotographsoftheothers。Forpresents，Igaveeachoneofmycrowdonelikethis，onlyadifferentmoth。

TheBirdWomangavemethebirchbark。Shegotitupnorthlastsummer。"

Elnorahandedhermotherahandsomeblack-walnutframeafootandahalfwidebytwolong。Itfinishedasmall，shallowglass-coveredboxofbirchbark，tothebottomofwhichclungabignightmothwithdelicatepalegreenwingsandlongexquisitetrailers。

"SoyouseeIdidnothavetobeashamedofmygifts，"

saidElnora。"Imadethemmyselfandraisedandmountedthemoths。"

"Moth，youcallit，"saidMrs。Comstock。"I"veseenafewofthethingsbefore。"

"TheyarenumerousarounduseveryJunenight，oratleasttheyusedtobe，"saidElnora。"I"vesoldhundredsofthem，withbutterflies，dragonflies，andotherspecimens。

Now，Imustputawaytheseandgettowork，foritisalmostJuneandthereareafewmoreIwantdreadfully。

IfIfindthemIwillbepaidsomemoneyforwhichIhavebeenworking。"

Shewasafraidtosaycollegeatthattime。Shethoughtitwouldbebettertowaitafewdaysandseeifanopportunitywouldnotcomewhenitwouldworkinmorenaturally。

Besides，unlessshecouldsecuretheYellowEmperorsheneededtocompletehercollection，shecouldnottalkcollegeuntilshewasofage，forshewouldhavenomoney。

CHAPTERXII

WHEREINMARGARETSINTONREVEALSASECRET，ANDMRS。COMSTOCKPOSSESSESTHELIMBERLOST

Elnora，bringmethetowel，quick!"criedMrsComstock。

"Inaminute，mother，"mumbledElnora。

Shewasstandingbeforethekitchenmirror，tyingthebackpartofherhair，whilethefrontturnedoverherface。

"Hurry!There"savarmintofsomekind!"

Elnoraranintothesitting-roomandthrusttheheavykitchentowelintohermother"shand。Mrs。Comstockswungopenthescreendoorandstruckatsomeobject，Elnoratossedthehairfromherfacesothatshecouldseepasthermother。Thegirlscreamedwildly。

"Don"t!Mother，don"t!"

Mrs。Comstockstruckagain。Elnoracaughtherarm。

"It"stheoneIwant!It"sworthalotofmoney!

Don"t!Oh，youshallnot!"

"Shan"t，missy?"blazedMrs。Comstock。"Whendidyougettobossingme?"

Thehandthatheldthescreensweptahalf-circleandstoppedatElnora"scheek。Shestaggeredwiththeblow，andacrossherface，paledwithexcitement，aredmarkaroserapidly。Thescreenslammedshut，throwingthecreatureonthefloorbeforethem。InstantlyMrs。

Comstockcrusheditwithherfoot。Elnorasteppedback。

Exceptingtheredmark，herfacewasverywhite。

"ThatwasthelastmothIneeded，"shesaid，"tocompleteacollectionworththreehundreddollars。You"veruineditbeforemyeyes!"

"Moth!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Yousaythatbecauseyouaremad。Mothshavebigwings。Iknowamoth!"

"I"vekeptthingsfromyou，"saidElnora，"becauseI

didn"tdareconfideinyou。Youhadnosympathywithme。

ButyouknowInevertoldyouuntruthsinallmylife。"

"It"snomoth!"reiteratedMrs。Comstock。

"Itis!"criedElnora。"It"sfromacaseintheground。

Itswingstaketwoorthreehourstoexpandandharden。"

"IfIhadknownitwasamoth——"Mrs。Comstockwavered。

"Youdidknow!Itoldyou!Ibeggedyoutostop!

Itmeantjustthreehundreddollarstome。"

"Bah!Threehundredfiddlesticks!"

"Theyarewhathavepaidforbooks，tuition，andclothesforthepastfouryears。TheyarewhatIcouldhavestartedontocollege。You"veruinedtheveryoneIneeded。

Younevermadeanypretenceoflovingme。AtlastI"llbeequallyfrankwithyou。Ihateyou!Youareaselfish，wickedwoman!Ihateyou!"

Elnoraturned，wentthroughthekitchenandfromthebackdoor。Shefollowedthegardenpathtothegateandwalkedtowardtheswampashortdistancewhenreactionovertookher。Shedroppedonthegroundandleanedagainstabiglog。Whenalittlechild，desperateasnow，shehadtriedtodiebyholdingherbreath。Shehadthoughtinthatwaytomakehermothersorry，butshehadlearnedthatlifewasathingthrustuponherandshecouldnotleaveitatherwish。

Shewassostunnedoverthelossofthatmoth，whichshehadchildishlynamedtheYellowEmperor，thatshescarcelyrememberedtheblow。Shehadthoughtnoluckinalltheworldwouldbesorareastocompletehercollection；nowshehadbeenforcedtoseeasplendidImperialisdestroyedbeforeher。Therewasapossibilitythatshecouldfindanother，butshewasfacingthecertaintythattheoneshemighthavehadandwithwhichsheundoubtedlycouldhaveattractedothers，wasspoiledbyhermother。HowlongshesatthereElnoradidnotknoworcare。Shesimplysufferedindumb，abjectmisery，anoccasionaldrysobshakingher。AuntMargaretwasright。

Elnorafeltthatmorningthathermotherneverwouldbeanydifferent。Thegirlhadreachedtheplacewheresherealizedthatshecouldendureitnolonger。

AsElnoralefttheroom，Mrs。Comstocktookonestepafterher。

"Youlittlehuzzy!"shegasped。

ButElnorawasgone。Hermotherstoodstaring。

"Sheneverdidlietome，"shemuttered。"Iguessitwasamoth。Andtheonlyonesheneededtogetthreehundreddollars，shesaid。IwishIhadn"tbeensofast!

Ineversawanythinglikeit。Ithoughtitwassomedeadly，stinging，bitingthing。Abodydoeshavetobemightycarefulhere。ButlikelyI"vespiltthemilknow。

Pshaw!Shecanfindanother!There"snousetobefoolish。

Maybemothsarelikesnakes，wherethere"sone，therearetwo。"

Mrs。Comstocktookthebroomandsweptthemothoutofthedoor。Thenshegotdownonherkneesandcarefullyexaminedthesteps，logsandtheearthoftheflowerbedsateachside。Shefoundtheplacewherethecreaturehademergedfromtheground，andthehard，dark-browncasewhichhadenclosedit，stillwetinside。

ThensheknewElnorahadbeenright。Itwasamoth。

Itswingshadbeendampandnotexpanded。Mrs。Comstockneverbeforehadseenoneinthatstate，andshedidnotknowhowtheyoriginated。Shehadthoughtallofthemcamefromcasesspunontreesoragainstwallsorboards。Shehadseenonlyenoughtoknowthatthereweresuchthings；asaflashofwhitetoldherthatanerminewasonherpremises，orasharp"buzzzzz"warnedherofarattler。

SoitwasfromcreatureslikethatElnorahadsecuredherschoolmoney。Inonesickeningsweepthererushedintotheheartofthewomanafullrealizationofthewidthofthegulfthatseparatedherfromherchild。

Latelymanythingshadpointedtowardit，nonemoreplainlythanwhenElnora，likeareincarnationofherfather，hadstoodfearlesslybeforealargecityaudienceandplayedwithevengreaterskillthanhe，onwhatMrs。Comstockfeltverycertainwashisviolin。Butthatlittlecrawlingcreatureofearth，crushedbyherbeforeitssplendidyellowandlavenderwingscouldspreadandcarryitintothemysteryofnight，hadperformedamiracle。

"Wearenearerstrangerstoeachotherthanwearewithanyoftheneighbours，"shemuttered。

SooneoftheAlmighty"smostdelicateandbeautifulcreationswassacrificedwithoutfulfillingthelaw，yetnoneofitsspecieseverservedsogloriousacause，foratlastMrs。Comstock"sinnervisionhadcleared。Shewentthroughthecabinmechanically。EveryfewminutessheglancedtowardthebackwalktoseeifElnorawerecoming。SheknewarrangementshadbeenmadewithMargarettogotothecitysometimethatday，soshegrewmorenervousanduneasyeverymoment。ShewashauntedbythefearthattheblowmightdiscolourElnora"scheek；thatshewouldtellMargaret。Shewentdownthebackwalk，lookingintentlyinalldirections，leftthegardenandfollowedtheswamppath。Herstepwasnoiselessonthesoft，blackearth，andsoonshecamecloseenoughtoseeElnora。Mrs。Comstockstoodlookingatthegirlintroubleduncertainty。Notknowingwhattosay，atlastsheturnedandwentbacktothecabin。

Nooncameandsheprepareddinner，calling，asshealwaysdid，whenElnorawasinthegarden，butshegotnoresponse，andthegirldidnotcome。Alittleafteroneo"clockMargaretstoppedatthegate。

"Elnorahaschangedhermind。Sheisnotgoing，"

calledMrs。Comstock。

ShefeltthatshehatedMargaretasshehitchedherhorseandcameupthewalkinsteadofdrivingon。

"Youmustbemistaken，"saidMargaret。"Iwasgoingonpurposeforher。Sheaskedmetotakeher。

Ihadnoerrand。Whereisshe?"

"Iwillcallher，"saidMrs。Comstock。

Shefollowedthepathagain，andthistimefoundElnorasittingonthelog。Herfacewasswollenanddiscoloured，andhereyesredwithcrying。Shepaidnoattentiontohermother。

"MagSintonishere，"saidMrs。Comstockharshly。

"Itoldheryouhadchangedyourmind，butshesaidyouaskedhertogowithyou，andshehadnothingtogoforherself。"

Elnoraarose，recklesslywadedthroughthedeepswampgrassesandsoreachedthepathaheadofhermother。

Mrs。Comstockfollowedasfarasthegarden，butshecouldnotenterthecabin。Shebusiedherselfamongthevegetables，barelylookingupwhentheback-doorscreenslammednoisily。MargaretSintonapproachedcolourless，hereyessoangrythatMrs。Comstockshrankback。

"What"sthematterwithElnora"sface?"demandedMargaret。

Mrs。Comstockmadenoreply。

"Youstruckher，didyou?"

"Ithoughtyouwasn"tblind!"

"Ihavebeen，fortwentylongyearsnow，KateComstock，"

saidMargaretSinton，"butmyeyesareopenatlast。

WhatIseeisthatI"vedoneyounogoodandElnoraabigwrong。Ihadanideathatitwouldkillyoutoknow，butIguessyouaretoughenoughtostandanything。

Killorcure，yougetitnow!"

"Whatareyoufrothingabout?"coollyaskedMrs。Comstock。

"You!"criedMargaret。"You!Thewomanwhodoesn"tpretendtoloveheronlychild。Wholetshergrowtoawoman，asyouhaveletElnora，andcan"tbesatisfiedwitheverysortofneglect，butmustaddabuseyet；

andallforafoolideaaboutamanwhowasn"tworthhissalt!"

Mrs。Comstockpickedupahoe。

"Gorighton!"shesaid。"Emptyyourself。It"sthelastthingyou"lleverdo!"

"ThenI"llmakeatidyjobofit，"saidMargaret。

"You"llnottouchme。You"llstandthereandhearthetruthatlast，andbecauseIdarefaceyouandtellit，youwillknowinyoursoulitistruth。WhenRobertComstockshavedthatquagmireouttheresoclosehewentin，hewantedtokeepyoufromknowingwherehewascomingfrom。He"dbeentoseeElviraCarney。

Theyhadplanstogotoadancethatnight——"

"Closeyourlips!"saidMrs。Comstockinavoiceofdeadlyquiet。

"YouknowIwouldn"tdareopenthemifIwasn"ttellingyouthetruth。IcanprovewhatIsay。IwascomingfromReeds。ItwashotinthewoodsandI

stoppedatCarney"sasIpassedforadrink。

Elvira"sbedriddenoldmotherheardme，andshewassocrazyforsomeonetotalkwith，Isteppedinaminute。

IsawRobertcomedownthepath。Elvirasawhim，too，sosheranoutofthehousetoheadhimoff。Itlookedfunny，andIjustdeliberatelymovedwhereIcouldseeandhear。

Hebroughtherhisviolin，andtoldhertogetreadyandmeethiminthewoodswithitthatnight，andtheywouldgotoadance。Shetookitandhiditinthelofttothewell-houseandpromisedshe"dgo。"

"Areyoudone?"demandedMrs。Comstock。

"No。Iamgoingtotellyouthewholestory。Youdon"tspareElnoraanything。Ishan"tspareyou。Ihadn"tbeenherethatday，butIcantellyoujusthowhewasdressed，whichwayhewentandeverywordtheysaid，thoughtheythoughtIwasbusywithhermotherandwouldn"tnoticethem。Putdownyourhoe，Kate。

IwenttoElvira，toldherwhatIknewandmadehergivemeComstock"sviolinforElnoraoverthreeyearsago。

She"sbeenplayingiteversince。Iwon"tseeherslightedandabusedanotherdayonaccountofamanwhowouldhavebrokenyourheartifhehadlived。

Sixmonthsmorewouldhaveshowedyouwhateverybodyelseknew。Hewasoneofthosemenwhocouldn"ttrusthimself，andsonowomanwassafewithhim。Now，willyoudropgrievingoverhim，anddoElnorajustice?"

Mrs。Comstockgraspedthehoetighterandturningshewentdownthewalk，andstartedacrossthewoodstothehomeofElviraCarney。Withavertedheadshepassedthepool，steadilypursuingherway。ElviraCarney，hangingtowelsacrossthebackfence，sawhercomingandwenttowardthegatetomeether。Twentyyearsshehaddreadedthatvisit。SinceMargaretSintonhadcompelledhertoproducetheviolinshehadhiddensolong，becauseshewasafraidtodestroyit，shehadcomecloserexpectationthandread。Thewagesofsinarethehardestdebtsonearthtopay，andtheyarealwayscollectedatinconvenienttimesandunexpectedplaces。

Mrs。Comstock"sfaceandhairweresowhite，thatherdarkeyesseemedburnedintotheirsetting。Silentlyshestaredatthewomanbeforeheralongtime。

"Imighthavesavedmyselfthetroubleofcoming，"

shesaidatlast，"Iseeyouareguiltyassin!"

"WhathasMagSintonbeentellingyou?"pantedthemiserablewoman，grippingthefence。

"Thetruth!"answeredMrs。Comstocksuccinctly。

"Guiltisineverylineofyourface，inyoureyes，alloveryourwretchedbody。IfI"dtakenagoodlookatyouanytimeinallthesepastyears，nodoubtIcouldhaveseenitjustasplainasIcannow。Nowomanormancandowhatyou"vedone，andnotgetamarksetonthemforeveryonetoread。"

"Mercy!"gaspedweaklittleElviraCarney。"Havemercy!"

"Mercy?"scoffedMrs。Comstock。"Mercy!That"sanicewordfromyou!Howmuchmercydidyouhaveonme?Where"sthemercythatsentComstocktotheslimeofthebottomlessquagmire，andleftmetoseeit，andthenstruggleoninagonyalltheseyears?

Howaboutthemercyoflettingmeneglectmybabyallthedaysofherlife?Mercy!Doyoureallydareusethewordtome?"

"IfyouknewwhatI"vesuffered!"

"Suffered?"jeeredMrs。Comstock。"That"sinteresting。

Andpray，whathaveyousuffered?"

"Alltheneighbourshavesuspectedandbeendownonme。Iain"thadafriend。I"vealwaysfeltguiltyofhisdeath!I"veseenhimgodownathousandtimes，plainaseveryoudid。Many"sthenightI"vestoodontheotherbankofthatpoolandlistenedtoyou，andItriedtothrowmyselfintokeepfromhearingyou，butI

didn"tdare。IknewGodwouldsendmetoburnforever，butI"dbetterdoneit；fornow，Hehassettheburningonmybody，andeveryhouritisslowlyeatingthelifeoutofme。Thedoctorsaysit"sacancer——"

Mrs。Comstockexhaledalongbreath。Hergriponthehoerelaxedandherstatureliftedtotoweringheight。

"Ididn"tknow，orcare，whenIcamehere，justwhatI

did，"shesaid。"Butmywayisbeginningtoclear。Iftheguiltofyoursoulhascometoahead，inacanceronyourbody，itlooksasiftheAlmightydidn"tneedanyofmyhelpinmetingoutHispunishments。Ireallycouldn"tfixupanythingtocomeanywherenearthat。Ifyouaregoingtoburnuntilyourlifegoesoutwiththatsortoffire，youdon"towemeanything!"

"Oh，KatharineComstock!"groanedElviraCarney，clingingtothefenceforsupport。

"LooksasiftheBibleisrightwhenitsays，`Thewagesofsinisdeath，"doesn"tit?"askedMrs。Comstock。

"Insteadofdoingawoman"sworkinlife，youchosethesmileofinvitation，andthedressofunearnedcloth。

Nowyoutellmeyouaremarkedtoburntodeathwiththeunquenchablefire。Andhim!Itwasshorterwithhim，butletmetellyouhegothisshare!Heleftmewithanuntruthonhislips，forhetoldmehewasgoingtotakehisviolintoOnabashaforanewkey，whenhecarriedittoyou。Everyvowofloveandconstancyheevermademewasalie，afterhetouchedyourlips，sowhenhetriedthewrongsideofthequagmire，tohidefrommethedirectioninwhichhewascoming，itreachedoutforhim，anditgothim。Itdidn"thurry，either!Itsuckedhimdown，slowanddeliberate。"

"Mercy!"groanedElviraCarney。"Mercy!"

"Idon"tknowtheword，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Youtookallthatoutofmelongago。Thepasttwentyyearshaven"tbeenofthesortthattaughtmercy。I"veneverhadanyonmyselfandnoneonmychild。Whyinthenameofjustice，shouldIhavemercyonyou，oronhim?

YouwerebotholderthanI，bothstrong，sanepeople，youdeliberatelychoseyourcoursewhenyouluredhim，andhe，whenhewasunfaithfultome。WhenaLooseManandaLightWomanfacetheendtheAlmightyordainedforthem，whyshouldtheyshoutatmeformercy?WhatdidIhavetodowithit?"

ElviraCarneysobbedinpantinggasps。

"You"vegottears，haveyou?"marvelledMrs。Comstock。