\"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!\"