\"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。