\"Billy，Iseeyourfuture，\"saidElnora。\"WewilleducateyouandsendyouuptoMr。Ammontomakeagreatlawyer。You\'dbeattheworldasaspecialpleader。
YouactuallymakemefeelthatIamdoingthemothsakindnesstotakethem。\"
\"Andsoyouare!\"criedBilly。\"Why，justfromwhatyouhavetaughtthemUncleWesleyandAuntMargaretneverthinkofkillingacaterpillaruntiltheylookwhetherit\'sthebeautifulJunemothkind，orthehorridtentones。
That\'swhatyoucando。Yougostraightahead!\"
\"Billy，youareajewel!\"criedElnora，throwingherarmacrosshisshouldersastheycamedownthepath。
\"My，Iwasscared!\"saidBillywithadeepbreath。
\"Scared?\"questionedElnora。
\"Yessir-ee!AuntMargaretscaredme。MayIaskyouaquestion?\"
\"Ofcourse，youmay!\"
\"Isthatmangoingtobeyourbeau?\"
\"Billy!No!Whatmadeyouthinksuchathing?\"
\"AuntMargaretsaidlikelyhewouldfallinlovewithyou，andyouwouldn\'twantmearoundanymore。Oh，butIwasscared!Itisn\'tso，isit?\"
\"Indeed，no!\"
\"Iamyourbeau，ain\'tI?\"
\"Surelyyouare!\"saidElnora，tighteningherarm。
\"IdohopeAuntKatehasgingercookies，\"saidBillywithalittleskipofdelight。
CHAPTERXV
WHEREINMRS。COMSTOCKFACESTHEALMIGHTY，ANDPHILIPAMMONWRITESALETTER
Mrs。ComstockandElnorawerefinishingbreakfastthefollowingmorningwhentheyheardacheerywhistledowntheroad。Elnorawithsurprisedeyeslookedathermother。
\"CouldthatbeMr。Ammon?\"shequestioned。
\"Ididnotexpecthimsosoon，\"commentedMrs。Comstock。
Itwassunrise，butthemusicianwasPhilipAmmon。
Heappearedstrongerthanonyesterday。
\"IhopeIamnottooearly，\"hesaid。\"Iamconsumedwithanxietytolearnifwehavemadeacatch。Ifwehave，weshouldbeatthebirdstoit。IpromisedUncleDoctoputonmywadersandkeepdryforafewdaysyet，whenIgotothewoods。Let\'shurry!Iamafraidofcrows。
Theremightbeararemoth。\"
ThesunwastoppingtheLimberlostwhentheystarted。
AstheynearedtheplacePhilipstopped。
\"Nowwemustusegreatcaution，\"hesaid。\"Thelightsandtheodoursalwaysattractnumbersthatdon\'tsettleonthebaitedtrees。Everybush，shrub，andlimbmayhideaspecimenwewant。\"
Sotheyapproachedwithmuchcare。
\"Thereissomething，anyway!\"criedPhilip。
\"Therearemoths!Icanseethem!\"exultedElnora。
\"Thoseyouseearefastenough。It\'stheonesforwhichyoumustsearchthatwillescape。Thegrassesaredripping，andIhaveboots，soyoulookbesidethepathwhileItaketheoutside，\"suggestedAmmon。
Mrs。Comstockwantedtohuntmoths，butshewastimidaboutmakingawrongmovement，soshewiselysatonalogandwatchedPhilipandElnoratolearnhowtheyproceeded。Backinthedeepwoodsahermitthrushwassinginghischanttotherisingsun。Oriolesweresowingthepure，sweetairwithnotesofgold，pouredoutwhileonwing。Therobinswereonlychirpingnow，fortheirmorningsongshadawakenedalltheotherbirdsanhourago。Scoldingred-wingstiltedonhalfthebushes。
Exceptinglatespeciesofhaws，treebloomwasalmostgone，butwildflowersmadethepathborderandallthewoodfloorariotofcolour。Elnora，bornamongsuchscenes，workedeagerly，buttothecityman，recentlyfromahospital，theyseemedtoogoodtomiss。Hefrequentlystoopedtoexamineaflowerface，pausedtolistenintentlytothethrushorliftedhisheadtoseethegoldflashwhichaccompaniedtheoriole\'strailingnotes。
SoElnorautteredthefirstcry，asshesoftlyliftedbranchesandpeeredamongthegrasses。
\"Myfind!\"shecalled。\"Bringthebox，mother!\"
Philipcamehurryingalso。Whentheyreachedhershestoodonthepathholdingapairofmoths。Hereyeswerewidewithexcitement，hercheekspink，herredlipsparted，andonthehandsheheldouttothemclungapairofdelicateblue-greenmoths，withwhitebodies，andtouchesoflavenderandstrawcolour。
Allaroundherlayflower-brocadedgrasses，behindthedeepgreenbackgroundoftheforest，whilethesunslowlysiftedgoldfromheaventoburnishherhair。Mrs。Comstockheardasharpbreathbehindher。
\"Oh，whatapicture!\"exultedPhilipathershoulder。
\"Sheisabsolutelyandaltogetherlovely!I\'dgiveasmallfortuneforthatfaithfullysetoncanvas!\"
HepickedtheboxfromMrs。Comstock\'sfingersandslowlyadvancedwithit。Elnorahelddownherhandandtransferredthemoths。Philipclosedtheboxcarefully，butthewatchingmothersawthathiseyeswerefollowingthegirl\'sface。Hewasnotmakingtheslightestattempttoconcealhisadmiration。
\"IwonderifawomaneverdidanythinglovelierthantofindapairofLunamothsonaforestpath，earlyonaperfectJunemorning，\"hesaidtoMrs。Comstock，whenhereturnedthebox。
SheglancedatElnorawhowasintentlysearchingthebushes。
\"Lookhere，youngman，\"saidMrs。Comstock。\"Youseemtofindthatgirlofmineaboutright。\"
\"Icouldsuggestnoimprovement，\"saidPhilip。\"Ineversawamoreattractivegirlanywhere。Sheseemsabsolutelyperfecttome。\"
\"Thensupposeyoudon\'tstartanyschemecalculatedtospoilher!\"proposedMrs。Comstockdryly。\"Idon\'tthinkyoucan，orthatanymancould，butI\'mnottakinganyrisks。Youaskedtocomeheretohelpinthiswork。
Wearebothgladtohaveyou，ifyouconfineyourselftowork；
butit\'stheleastyoucandotoleaveusasyoufindus。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon!\"saidPhilip。\"Iintendednooffence。
IadmireherasIadmireanyperfectcreation。\"
\"Andnothinginallthisworldspoilstheaveragegirlsoquicklyandsosurely，\"saidMrs。Comstock。Sheraisedhervoice。\"Elnora，fastenupthattagofhairoveryourleftear。Thesebushesmussyousoyouremindmeofasheeppokingitsnosethroughahedgefence。\"
Mrs。Comstockstarteddownthepathtowardthelogagain，whenshereacheditshecalledsharply:\"Elnora，comehere!IbelieveIhavefoundsomethingmyself。\"
The\"something\"wasaCitheroniaRegaliswhichhademergedfromitscaseonthesoftearthunderthelog。
Itclimbedupthewood，itsstoutlegsdraggingabigpursybody，whileitwildlyflappedtinywingsthesizeofaman\'sthumb-nail。ElnoragaveonelookandacrywhichbroughtPhilip。
\"That\'stherarestmothinAmerica!\"heannounced。
\"Mrs。Comstock，you\'vegoneuphead。Youcanputthatinaboxwithascreencoverto-night，andattracthalfadozen，possibly。\"
\"Isitrare，Elnora?\"inquiredMrs。Comstock，asifnooneelseknew。
\"Itsurelyis，\"answeredElnora。\"Ifwecanfinditamateto-night，itwilllayfromtwohundredandfiftytothreehundredeggsto-morrow。WithanyluckatallIcanraisetwohundredcaterpillarsfromthem。
Ididoncebefore。Andtheyareworthadollarapiece。\"
\"WastheoneIkilledlikethat?\"
\"No。Thatwasadifferentmoth，butitslifeprocesseswerethesameasthis。TheBirdWomancallsthistheKingofthePoets。\"
\"Whydoesshe?\"
\"BecauseitisnamedforCitheronwhowasapoet，andregalisreferstoaking。Youmustn\'ttouchitoryoumaystuntwingdevelopment。Youwatchanddon\'tletthatmothoutofsight，oranythingtouchit。Whenthewingsareexpandedandhardenedwewillputitinabox。\"
\"Iamafraiditwillraceitselftodeath，\"objectedMrs。Comstock。
\"That\'sapartofthegame，\"saidPhilip。\"Itisstartingcirculationnow。Whentherightmomentcomes，itwillstopandexpanditswings。Ifyouwatchcloselyyoucanseethemexpand。\"
Presentlythemothfoundaroughprojectionofbarkandclungwithitsfeet，backdown，itswingshanging。
Thebodywasanunusualorangered，thetinywingsweregray，stripedwiththeredandsplotchedhereandtherewithmarkingsofcanaryyellow。Mrs。Comstockwatchedbreathlessly。Presentlysheslippedfromthelogandknelttosecureabetterview。
\"Areitswingsdeveloping?\"calledElnora。
\"Theyaregrowinglargerandthemarkingscomingstrongereveryminute。\"
\"Let\'swatch，too，\"saidElnoratoPhilip。
TheycameandlookedoverMrs。Comstock\'sshoulder。
Lowerdroopedthegaywings，widertheyspread，brightergrewthemarkingsasiflaidoffingeometricalpatterns。
TheycouldhearMrs。Comstock\'stensebreathandseeherabsorbedexpression。
\"Youngpeople，\"shesaidsolemnly，\"ifyourstudyingscienceandtheelementshaseverledyoutofeelthatthingsjusthappen，kindofevolvebychance，asitwere，thissightwillbegoodforyou。Maybeearthandairaccumulate，butittakesthewisdomoftheAlmightyGodtodevisethewingofamoth。Ifthereeverwasamiracle，thiswholeprocessisone。Now，asIunderstandit，thiscreatureisgoingtokeeponspreadingthosewings，untiltheygrowtosizeandhardentostrengthsufficienttobearitsbody。Thenitfliesaway，mateswithitskind，laysitseggsontheleavesofacertaintree，andtheeggshatchtinycaterpillarswhicheatjustthatkindofleaves，andthewormsgrowandgrow，andtakeondifferentformsandcoloursuntilatlasttheyarebigcaterpillarssixincheslong，withlargehorns。Thentheyburrowintotheearth，buildawater-proofhousearoundthemselvesfrommaterialwhichisinsidethem，andliethroughrainandfreezingcoldformonths。Ayearfromegglayingtheycomeoutlikethis，andbegintheprocessalloveragain。
Theydon\'teat，theydon\'tseedistinctly，theylivebutafewdays，andflyonlyatnight；thentheydropoffeasy，buttheprocessgoeson。\"
Ashiveringmovementwentoverthemoth。Thewingsdroopedandspreadwider。Mrs。Comstocksankintosoftawedtones。
\"Thereneverwasamomentinmylife，\"shesaid，\"whenIfeltsointhePresence，asIdonow。IfeelasiftheAlmightyweresoreal，andsonear，thatIcouldreachoutandtouchHim，asIcouldthiswonderfulworkofHis，ifIdared。IfeellikesayingtoHim:`TotheextentofmybrainpowerIrealizeYourpresence，andallitisinmetocomprehendofYourpower。Helpmetolearn，eventhislate，thelessonsofYourwonderfulcreations。
HelpmetounshackleandexpandmysoultothefullestrealizationofYourwonders。AlmightyGod，makemebigger，makemebroader!\'\"
Themothclimbedtotheendoftheprojection，upitalittleway，thensuddenlyreverseditswings，turnedthehiddensidesoutanddroppedthembesideitsabdomen，likealargefly。Theuppersideofthewings，thusexposed，wasfarrichercolour，moreexquisitetexturethantheunder，andtheyslowlyhalfliftedanddroopedagain。
Mrs。ComstockturnedherfacetoPhilip。
\"AmIanoldfool，ordoyoufeelit，too?\"shehalfwhispered。
\"Youarewiserthanyoueverhavebeenbefore，\"
answeredhe。\"Ifeelit，also。\"
\"AndI，\"breathedElnora。
Themothspreaditswings，shiveredthemtremulously，openingandclosingthemrapidly。PhiliphandedtheboxtoElnora。
Sheshookherhead。
\"Ican\'ttakethatone，\"shesaid。\"Giveherfreedom。\"
\"But，Elnora，\"protestedMrs。Comstock，\"Idon\'twanttolethergo。She\'smine。She\'sthefirstoneIeverfoundthisway。Can\'tyouputherinabigbox，andletherlive，withouthurtingher?Ican\'tbeartolethergo。Iwanttolearnallabouther。\"
\"Thenwatchwhilewegathertheseonthetrees，\"saidElnora。
\"Wewilltakeherhomeuntilnightandthendecidewhattodo。
Shewon\'tflyforalongtimeyet。\"
Mrs。Comstocksettledontheground，gazingatthemoth。
ElnoraandPhilipwenttothebaitedtrees，placingseverallargemothsandanumberofsmalleronesinthecyanidejar，andsearchingthebushesbeyondwheretheyfoundseveralpairedspecimensofdifferingfamilies。
WhentheyreturnedElnorashowedhermotherhowtoholdherhandbeforethemothsothatitwouldclimbuponherfingers。Thentheystartedbacktothecabin，ElnoraandPhilipleadingtheway；Mrs。Comstockfollowedslowly，steppingwithgreatcarelestshestumbleandinjurethemoth。Herfaceworealookofcomprehension，inhereyeswasanexaltedlight。Onshecametotheblue-
borderedpoollyingbesideherpath。
Aturtlescrambledfromalogandsplashedintothewater，whileared-wingshouted，\"O-ka-lee!\"toher。
Mrs。Comstockpausedandlookedintentlyattheslime-
coveredquagmire，framedinaflowerriotandhomedoverbysweet-voicedbirds。Thenshegazedatthethingofincomparablebeautyclingingtoherfingersandsaidsoftly:
\"Ifyouhadknownaboutwondersliketheseinthedaysofyouryouth，RobertComstock，couldyoueverhavedonewhatyoudid?\"
Elnoramissedhermother，andturningtolookforher，sawherstandingbesidethepool。Wouldtheoldfascinationreturn?Apanicoffearseizedthegirl。
Shewentbackswiftly。
\"Areyouafraidsheisgoing?\"Elnoraasked。\"Ifyouare，cupyourotherhandoverherforshelter。Carryingherthroughthisairandinthehotsunshinewilldryherwingsandmakethemreadyforflightveryquickly。Youcan\'ttrustherinsuchairandlightasyoucaninthecooldarkwoods。\"
Whileshetalkedshetookholdofhermother\'ssleeve，anxiouslysmilingapitifullittlesmilethatMrs。
Comstockunderstood。Philipsethisloadatthebackdoor，returningtoholdopenthegardengateforElnoraandMrs。Comstock。Hereacheditintimetoseethemstandingtogetherbesidethepool。Themotherbentswiftlyandkissedthegirlonthelips。Philipturnedandwasbusilyhuntingmothsontheraspberrybusheswhentheyreachedthegate。Andsoexcellentaretherewardsofattendingyourownbusiness，thathefoundaPrometheaonalilacinacorner；amothofsuchrarewine-coloured，velvetyshadesthatitalmostsentMrs。Comstocktoherkneesagain。
Butthisonewasfullydeveloped，abletofly，andhadtobetakenintothecabinhurriedly。Mrs。ComstockstoodinthemiddleoftheroomholdingupherRegalis。
\"NowwhatmustIdo?\"sheasked。
ElnoraglancedatPhilipAmmon。Theireyesmetandbothofthemsmiled；hewithamusementatthetall，sparefigure，withdarkeyesandwhitecrown，askingthechildishquestionsoconfidingly；andElnorawithpride。Shewasbeginningtoappreciatethecharacterofhermother。
\"Howwouldyouliketositandseeherfinishdevelopment?
I\'llgetdinner，\"proposedthegirl。
Aftertheyhaddined，PhilipandElnoracarriedthedishestothekitchen，broughtoutboxes，sheetsofcork，pins，ink，paperslipsandeverythingnecessaryformountingandclassifyingthemothstheyhadtaken。WhenthehouseworkwasfinishedMrs。Comstockwithherrufflesatnear，watchingandlistening。Sherememberedalltheysaidthatsheunderstood，andwhenuncertainsheaskedquestions。
Occasionallyshelaiddownherworktostraightensomeflowerwhichneededattentionortosearchthegardenforabugforthegrosbeak。InoneoftheseabsencesElnorasaidtoPhilip:\"ThesereplacequiteanumberofthemothsI
lostforthemanofIndia。Withaweekofsuchluck，Icouldalmostbegintotalkcollegeagain。\"
\"Thereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnothavetheweekandtheluck，\"saidhe。\"IhavetakenmothsuntilthemiddleofAugust，thoughIsuspectoneismorelikelytofindlateonesinthenorthwhereitiscolderthanhere。
Thenextweekishay-time，butwecancountonafewdouble-broodersandstrays，andbyworkingtheexchangemethodforallitisworth，Ithinkwecancompletethecollectionagain。\"
\"Youalmostmakemehope，\"saidElnora，\"butImustnotallowmyself。Idon\'ttrulythinkIcanreplaceallI
lost，notevenwithyourhelp。IfIcould，Iscarcelyseemywaycleartoleavemotherthiswinter。Ihavefoundhersorecently，andsheissoprecious，Ican\'trisklosingheragain。IamgoingtotakethenaturepositionintheOnabashaschools，andIshallbemosthappydoingthework。
Only，theseareatemptation。\"
\"Iwishyoumightgotocollegethisfallwiththeothergirls，\"saidPhilip。\"Ifeelthatifyoudon\'tyouneverwill。
Isn\'ttheresomeway?\"
\"Ican\'tseeitifthereis，andIreallydon\'twanttoleavemother。\"
\"Well，motherismightygladtohearit，\"saidMrs。
Comstock，enteringthearbour。
Philipnoticedthatherfacewaspale，herlipsquivering，hervoicecold。
\"Iwastellingyourdaughterthatsheshouldgotocollegethiswinter，\"heexplained，\"butshesaysshedoesn\'twanttoleaveyou。\"
\"Ifshewantstogo，Iwishshecould，\"saidMrs。Comstock，alookofreliefspreadingoverherface。
\"Oh，allgirlswanttogotocollege，\"saidPhilip。\"It\'stheonlyproperplacetolearnbridgeandembroidery；nottomentionmidnightlunchesofmixedpicklesandfruitcake，andallthedelightsofthesororities。\"
\"Ihavethoughtforyearsofgoingtocollege，\"saidElnora，\"butIneverthoughtofanyofthosethings。\"
\"Thatisbecauseyoureducationinfudgeandbridgehasbeensadlyneglected，\"saidPhilip。\"YoushouldhearmysisterPolly!Thiswasherfinalyear!LunchesandsororitieswereallIheardhermention，untilTomLeveringcameondeck；nowheistheleadingsubject。Ican\'tseefromherdailyconversationthatsheknowshalfasmuchreallyworthknowingasyoudo，butshe\'saheadofyoumilesonfun。\"
\"Oh，wehadsomegoodtimesinthehighschool，\"saidElnora。
\"Lifehasn\'tbeenallworkandstudy。IsEdithCarracollegegirl?\"
\"No。Sheistheveryselectestkindofaprivateboarding-
schoolgirl。\"
\"Whoisshe?\"askedMrs。Comstock。
Philipopenedhislips。
\"SheisagirlinChicago，thatMr。Ammonknowsverywell，\"saidElnora。\"Sheisbeautifulandrich，andafriendofhissister\'s。Or，didn\'tyousaythat?\"
\"Idon\'tremember，butsheis，\"saidPhilip。\"Thismothneedsanalcoholbathtoremovethedope。\"
\"Won\'tthedowncome，too?\"askedElnoraanxiously。
\"No。Youwatchandyouwillseeitcomeout，asPollywouldsay，`aperfectlygood\'moth。\"
\"Isyoursisteryoungerthanyou?\"inquiredElnora。
\"Yes，\"saidPhilip，\"butsheisthreeyearsolderthanyou。
Sheisthedearestsisterinalltheworld。I\'dlovetoseehernow。\"
\"Whydon\'tyousendforher，\"suggestedElnora。
\"Perhapsshe\'dliketohelpuscatchmoths。\"
\"Yes，IthinkPollyinaVirothat，Picotembroideredfrockandthree-inchheelswouldtakemoremothsthananyonewhoevertriedtheLimberlost，\"laughedPhilip。
\"Well，youfindmanyofthem，andyouareherbrother。\"
\"Yes，butthatisdifferent。FatherwasrearedinOnabasha，andhelovedthecountry。HetrainedmehiswayandmothertookchargeofPolly。Idon\'tquiteunderstandit。Motherisagreathomebodyherself，butshedidsucceedinmakingPollystrictlyornamental。\"
\"DoesTomLeveringneeda`strictlyornamental\'girl?\"
\"Youaretoomatteroffact!Too`strictly\'material。
Heneedsadarlinggirlwhowilllovehimplenty，andPollyisthat。\"
\"Well，then，doestheLimberlostneeda`strictlyornamental\'girl?\"
\"No!\"criedPhilip。\"YouareornamentenoughfortheLimberlost。Ihavechangedmymind。Idon\'twantPollyhere。Shewouldnotenjoycatchingmoths，oranythingwedo。\"
\"Shemight，\"persistedElnora。\"Youareherbrother，andsurelyyoucareforthesethings。\"
\"Theargumentdoesnothold，\"saidPhilip。\"PollyandIdonotlikethesamethingswhenweareathome，butweareveryfondofeachother。Thememberofmyfamilywhowouldgocrazyaboutthisismyfather。Iwishhecouldcome，ifonlyforaweek。I\'dsendforhim，butheistiedupinpreparingsomepapersforagreatcorporationcasethissummer。Helikesthecountry。Itwashisvotethatbroughtmehere。\"
Philipleanedbackagainstthearbour，watchingthegrosbeakasithuntedfoodbetweenatomatovineandadaylily。Elnorasethimtomakinglabels，andwhenhefinishedthemheaskedpermissiontowritealetter。
Hetooknopainstoconcealhispage，andfromwhereshesatoppositehim，Elnoracouldnotlookhiswaywithoutreading:\"MydearestEdith。\"Hewrotebusilyforatimeandthensatstaringacrossthegarden。
\"Haveyourunoutofmaterialsoquickly?\"askedElnora。
\"That\'saboutit，\"saidPhilip。\"IhavesaidthatIamgettingwellasrapidlyaspossible，thattheairisfine，thefolksatUncleDoc\'sallwell，andentirelytoogoodtome；
thatIamspendingmostofmytimeinthecountryhelpingcatchmothsforacollection，whichissplendidexercise；
nowIcan\'tthinkofanotherthingthatwillbeinteresting。\"
Therewasaburstofexquisitenotesinthemaple。
\"Putinthegrosbeak，\"suggestedElnora。\"Tellheryouaresofriendlywithhimyoufeedhimpotatobugs。\"
Philiploweredthepentothesheet，bentforward，thenhesitated。
\"BlestifIdo!\"hecried。\"She\'dthinkagrosbeakwasadepravedpersonwithalargenose。She\'dneverdreamthatitwasablack-robedlover，withabreastofsnowandacrimsonheart。Shedoesn\'tcareforhungrybabiesandpotatobugs。Ishallwritethattofather。Hewillfinditdelightful。\"
Elnoradeftlypickedupamoth，pinneditandplaceditswings。
Shestraightenedtheantennae，dreweachlegintopositionandsetitinperfectlylifelikemanner。Assheliftedherworktoseeifshehaditright，sheglancedatPhilip。
Hewasstillfrowningandhesitatingoverthepaper。
\"Idareyoutoletmedictateacoupleofparagraphs。\"
\"Done!\"criedPhilip。\"GoslowlyenoughthatIcanwriteit。\"
Elnoralaughedgleefully。
\"Iamwritingthis，\"shebegan，\"inanoldgrapearbourinthecountry，nearalogcabinwhereIhadmydinner。
FromwhereIsitIcanseedirectlyintothehomeofthenext-doorneighbouronthewest。HisnameisR。B。Grosbeak。
FromallIhaveseenofhim，heisagentlemanoftheoldschool；theoldestschoolthereis，nodoubt。Healwayswearsablacksuitandcapandawhitevest，decoratedwithonelargeredheart，whichIthinkmustbetheemblemofsomeancientorder。Ihavebeenhereanumberoftimes，andIneverhaveseenhimwearanythingelse，orhiswifeappearinotherthanabrowndresswithtouchesofwhite。
\"Ithasappealedtomeattimesthatshewasashadeneglectfulofherhomeduties，buthedoesnotseemtofeelthatway。Hecheerfullystaysinthesitting-room，whilesheisawayhavingagoodtime，andsingswhilehecaresforthefoursmallchildren。Imusttellyouabouthismusic。Iamsureheneversawinsideaconservatory。
Ithinkhemerelypickedupwhatheknowsbyearandwithoutvocaltraining，butthereisatendernessinhistones，adepthofpuremelody，thatIneverhaveheardsurpassed。
ItmaybethatIthinkmoreofhismusicthanthatofsomeothergoodvocalistshereabout，becauseIseemoreofhimandappreciatehisdevotiontohishomelife。
\"Ijusthadanencounterwithhimatthewestfence，andinducedhimtocarryasmallgifttohischildren。
WhenIseetheperfectharmonyinwhichhelives，andthedepthofcontentheandthebrownladyfindinlife，Iamalmostpersuadedto——Nowthisisgoingtobepoetry，\"saidElnora。\"Moveyourpenoverhereandbeginwithaquoteandacap。\"
Philip\'sfacehadbeenaninterestingstudywhilehewrotehersentences。Nowhegravelysetthepenwheresheindicated，andElnoradictated——
\"Buyanicelittlehomeinthecountry，Andsettledownthereforlife。\"
\"That\'sthetruth!\"criedPhilip。\"It\'sasbigatemptationasIeverhad。Goon!\"
\"That\'sall，\"saidElnora。\"Youcanfinish。Themothsaredone。IamgoinghuntingforwhateverIcanfindforthegrades。\"
\"Waitaminute，\"beggedPhilip。\"Iamgoing，too。\"
\"No。Youstaywithmotherandfinishyourletter。\"
\"Itisdone。Icouldn\'taddanythingtothat。\"
\"Verywell!Signyournameandcomeon。ButI
forgottotellyouallthebargain。Maybeyouwon\'tsendtheletterwhenyouhearthat。Theremainderisthatyoushowmethereplytomypartofit。\"
\"Oh，that\'seasy!Iwouldn\'thavetheslightestobjectiontoshowingyouthewholeletter。\"
Hesignedhisname，foldedthesheetsandslippedthemintohispocket。
\"Wherearewegoingandwhatdowetake?\"
\"Willyougo，mother?\"askedElnora。
\"Ihavealittleworkthatshouldbedone，\"saidMrs。Comstock。\"Couldyouspareme?Wheredoyouwanttogo?\"
\"WewillgodowntoAuntMargaret\'sandseeherafewminutesandgetBilly。Wewillbebackintimeforsupper。\"
Mrs。Comstocksmiledasshewatchedthemdowntheroad。
Whatasplendid-lookingpairofyoungcreaturestheywere!
Howfinelyproportioned，howfullofvitality!Thenherfacegrewtroubledasshesawtheminearnestconversation。
Justasshewaswishingshehadnottrustedherpreciousgirlwithsomuchofastranger，shesawElnorastooptoliftabranchandpeerunder。Themothergrewcontent。
Elnorawasthinkingonlyofherwork。Shewastobetrustedutterly。
CHAPTERXVI
WHEREINTHELIMBERLOSTSINGSFORPHILIP，ANDTHETALKINGTREESTELLGREATSECRETS
AfewdayslaterPhiliphandedElnoraasheetofpaperandsheread:\"InyourconditionI
shouldthinkthemothhuntingandlifeatthatcabinwouldbeverygoodforyou，butforanysakekeepawayfromthatGrosbeakperson，anddon\'tcomehomewithyourheadfullofgrangerideas。Nodoubthehasaremarkablevoice，butIcan\'tbearuntrainedsingers，anddon\'tyougettheideathataJunesongisperennial。
Youarenothearingthemusichewillmakewhenthefourbabieshavethescarletfeverandthemeasles，andthegaddingwifeleaveshimathometocareforthemthen。
Poorsoul，Ipityher!Howsheexistswhererampantcowsbellowatyou，frogscroak，mosquitoesconsumeyou，thebuttergoestooilinsummerandbricksinwinter，whilethepumpfreezeseveryday，andthereisnoearthlyamusement，andnosociety!Poorthings!
Can\'tyouinfluencehimtomove?Nowondershegadswhenshehasachance!Ishoulddie。Ifyouarethinkingofsettlinginthecountry，thinkalsoofawomanwhoissatisfiedwithwhiteandbrowntoaccompanyyou!
Brown!Ofalldeadlycolours!Ishouldgomadinbrown。\"
Elnoralaughedwhilesheread。Herfacewasdimpling，asshereturnedthesheet。\"Who\'sahead?\"sheasked。
\"Whodoyouthink?\"heparried。
\"Sheis，\"saidElnora。\"AreyougoingtotellherinyournextthatR。B。Grosbeakisabird，andthatheprobablywillspendthewinterinawildplumthicketinTennessee?\"
\"No，\"saidPhilip。\"IshalltellherthatIunderstandherideasoflifeperfectly，and，ofcourse，Inevershallaskhertodealwithoilybutterandfrozenpumps——\"
\"——andmeasleybabies，\"interpolatedElnora。
\"Exactly!\"saidPhilip。\"AtthesametimeIfindsomuchtocounterbalancethosethings，thatIshouldnotobjecttobearingthemmyself，inviewoftherecompense。
Wheredowegoandwhatdowedoto-day?\"
\"WewillhavetohuntbesidetheroadsandaroundtheedgeoftheLimberlostto-day，\"saidElnora。\"Motherismakingstrawberrypreserves，andshecan\'tcomeuntilshefinishes。SupposewegodowntotheswampandI\'llshowyouwhatisleftoftheflower-roomthatTerenceO\'More，thebiglumbermanofGreatRapids，madewhenhewasahomelessboyhere。Ofcourse，youhaveheardthestory?\"
\"Yes，andI\'vemettheO\'MoreswhoarefrequentlyinChicagosociety。Theyhavefriendsthere。Ithinkthemoneidealcouple。\"
\"Thatsoundsasiftheymightbetheonlyone，\"saidElnora，\"and，indeed，theyarenot。Iknowdozens。
AuntMargaretandUncleWesleyareanother，theBrownleesanother，andmymathematicsprofessorandhiswife。
Theworldisfullofhappypeople，butnooneeverhearsofthem。Youmustfightandmakeascandaltogetintothepapers。Nooneknowsaboutallthehappypeople。
Iamhappymyself，andlookhowperfectlyinconspicuousIam。\"
\"Youonlyneedgowhereyouwillbeseen，\"beganPhilip，whenherememberedandfinished。\"Whatdowetaketo-day?\"
\"Ourselves，\"saidElnora。\"Ihaveavagabondstreakinmybloodandit\'sinevidence。Iamgoingtoshowyouwhererealflowersgrow，realbirdssing，andifIfeelquiterightaboutit，perhapsIshallraiseanoteortwomyself。\"
\"Oh，doyousing?\"askedPhilippolitely。
\"Attimes，\"answeredElnora。\"`Asdothebirds；
becauseImust，\'butdon\'tbescared。Themooddoesnotpossessmeoften。PerhapsIshan\'traiseanote。\"
Theywentdowntheroadtotheswamp，climbedthesnakefence，followedthepathtotheoldtrailandthenturnedsouthuponit。ElnoraindicatedtoPhilipthetrailwithremnantsofsaggingbarbedwire。
\"Itwastenyearsago，\"shesaid。\"Iwasalittleschoolgirl，butIwanderedwidelyeventhen，andnoonecared。
Isawhimoften。Hehadbeeninacityinstitutionallhislife，whenhetookthejobofkeepingtimberthievesoutofthisswamp，beforemanytreeshadbeencut。Itwasastrongman\'swork，andhewasafrailboy，buthegrewhardierashelivedoutofdoors。Thistrailweareonisthepathhisfeetfirstwore，inthosedayswhenhewasinsanewithfearandeatenupwithloneliness，buthestucktohisworkandwonout。IusedtocomedowntotheroadandcreepamongthebushesasfarasIdared，towatchhimpass。Hewalkedmostly，attimesherodeawheel。
\"Somedayshisfacewasdreadfullysad，othersitwassodeterminedalittlechildcouldseetheforceinit，andoncehewasradiant。ThatdaytheSwampAngelwaswithhim。Ican\'ttellyouwhatshewaslike。Ineversawanyonewhoresembledher。Hestoppedcloseheretoshowherabird\'snest。Thentheywentontoasortofflower-roomhehadmade，andhesangforher。Bythetimeheleft，Ihadgottenboldenoughtocomeoutonthetrail，andImetthebigScotchmanFreckleslivedwith。
Hesawmecatchingmothsandbutterflies，sohetookmetotheflower-roomandgavemeeverythingthere。
Idon\'tdarecomealoneoften，soIcan\'tkeepitupashedid，butyoucanseesomethingofhowitwas。\"
ElnoraledthewayandPhilipfollowed。Theoutlinesoftheroomwerenotdistinct，becausemanyofthetreesweregone，butElnorashowedhowithadbeenasnearlyasshecould。
\"Theswampisalmostruinednow，\"shesaid。\"Themaples，walnuts，andcherriesareallgone。Thetalkingtreesaretheonlythingsleftworthwhile。\"
\"The`talkingtrees!\'Idon\'tunderstand，\"commentedPhilip。
\"Nowonder!\"laughedElnora。\"Theyaremydiscovery。
Youknowalltreeswhisperandtalkduringthesummer，buttherearetwothathavesomuchtosaytheykeeponthewholewinter，whentheothersaresilent。Thebeechesandoakssolovetotalk，theyclingtotheirdead，dryleaves。Inthewinterthewindsarestiffestandblowmost，sothesetreeswhisper，chatter，sob，laugh，andattimesroaruntilthesoundisdeafening。
Theyneverceaseuntilnewleavescomeoutinthespringtopushofftheoldones。Ilovetostandbeneaththemwithmyeartothetrunks，interpretingwhattheysaytofitmymoods。Thebeechesbranchlow，andtheirleavesaresmallsotheyonlyknowcommonearthlythings；
buttheoaksrunstraightabovealmostallothertreesbeforetheybranch，theirarmsaremighty，theirleaveslarge。
Theymeetthewindsthattravelaroundtheglobe，andfromthemlearnthebigthings。\"
Philipstudiedthegirlsface。\"Whatdothebeechestellyou，Elnora?\"heaskedgently。
\"Tobepatient，tobeunselfish，todountoothersasIwouldhavethemdotome。\"
\"Andtheoaks?\"
\"Theysay`betrue，\'`liveacleanlife，\'`sendyoursouluphereandthewindsoftheworldwillteachitwhathonourachieves。\'\"
\"Wonderfulsecrets，those!\"marvelledPhilip。\"Aretheytellingthemnow?CouldIhear?\"
\"No。Theyareonlygossipingnow。Thisisplay-time。
Theytellthebigsecretstoawhiteworld，whenthemusicinspiresthem。\"
\"Themusic?\"
\"Allothertreesareharpsinthewinter。Theirtrunksaretheframes，theirbranchesthestrings，thewindsthemusicians。
Whentheairiscoldandclear，theworldverywhite，andtheharpmusicswelling，thenthetalkingtreestellthestrengthening，upliftingthings。\"
\"Youwonderfulgirl!\"criedPhilip。\"Whatawomanyouwillbe!\"
\"IfIamawomanatallworthwhile，itwillbebecauseIhavehadsuchwonderfulopportunities，\"saidElnora。
\"NoteverygirlisdriventotheforesttolearnwhatGodhastosaythere。HerearetheremainsofFreckles\'sroom。
ThetimetheAngelcameherehesangtoher，andIlistened。