第1章

ElnoraComstock，haveyoulostyoursenses?"

demandedtheangryvoiceofKatharineComstockwhilesheglaredatherdaughter。

"Whymother!"falteredthegirl。

"Don\'tyou`whymother\'me!"criedMrs。Comstock。

"YouknowverywellwhatImean。You\'vegivenmenopeaceuntilyou\'vehadyourwayaboutthisgoingtoschoolbusiness；I\'vefixedyougoodenough，andyou\'rereadytostart。ButnochildofminewalksthestreetsofOnabashalookinglikeaplay-actresswoman。Youwetyourhairandcombitdownmodestanddecentandthenbeoff，oryou\'llhavenotimetofindwhereyoubelong。"

Elnoragaveonedespairingglanceatthewhiteface，framedinamostbecomingriotofreddish-brownhair，whichshesawinthelittlekitchenmirror。Thensheuntiedthenarrowblackribbon，wetthecombandplasteredthewavingcurlsclosetoherhead，boundthemfast，pinnedontheskimpyblackhatandopenedthebackdoor。

"You\'vegonesoplumbdaffyyouareforgettingyourdinner，"jeeredhermother。

"Idon\'twantanythingtoeat，"repliedElnora。

"You\'lltakeyourdinneroryou\'llnotgoonestep。

Areyoucrazy?Walkalmostthreemilesandnofoodfromsixinthemorninguntilsixatnight。Aprettyfigureyou\'dcutifyouhadyourway!AndafterI\'vegoneandboughtyouthisnicenewpailandfilleditespecialtostarton!"

Elnoracamebackwithafacestillwhiterandpickedupthelunch。"Thankyou，mother!Good-bye!"shesaid。Mrs。Comstockdidnotreply。Shewatchedthegirlfollowthelongwalktothegateandgofromsightontheroad，inthebrightsunshineofthefirstMondayofSeptember。

"Ibetadollarshegetsenoughofitbynight!"

commentedMrs。Comstock。

Elnorawalkedbyinstinct，forhereyeswereblindedwithtears。Shelefttheroadwhereitturnedsouth，atthecorneroftheLimberlost，climbedasnakefenceandenteredapathwornbyherownfeet。Dodgingunderwillowandscruboakbranchesshecameatlasttothefaintoutlineofanoldtrailmadeinthedayswhentheprecioustimberoftheswampwasguardedbyarmedmen。Thispathshefolloweduntilshereachedathickclumpofbushes。Fromthedebrisintheendofahollowlogshetookakeythatunlockedthepadlockofalargeweatherbeatenoldbox，insideofwhichlayseveralbooks，abutterflyapparatus，andasmallcrackedmirror。Thewallswerelinedthicklywithgaudybutterflies，dragonflies，andmoths。Shesetupthemirrorandoncemorepullingtheribbonfromherhair，sheshookthebrightmassoverhershoulders，tossingitdryinthesunshine。

Thenshestraightenedit，bounditloosely，andreplacedherhat。Shetuggedvainlyatthelowbrowncalicocollarandgazeddespairinglyatthegenerouslengthofthenarrowskirt。Shelifteditasshewouldhavecutitifpossible。Thatdisclosedtheheavyhighleathershoes，atsightofwhichsheseemedpositivelyill，andhastilydroppedtheskirt。Sheopenedthepail，removedthelunch，wrappeditinthenapkin，andplaceditinasmallpasteboardbox。Lockingthecaseagainshehidthekeyandhurrieddownthetrail。

Shefolloweditaroundthenorthendoftheswampandthenenteredafootpathcrossingafarmleadinginthedirectionofthespiresofthecitytothenortheast。

Againsheclimbedafenceandwasontheopenroad。Foraninstantsheleanedagainstthefencestaringbeforeher，thenturnedandlookedback。Behindherlaythelandonwhichshehadbeenborntodrudgeryandamotherwhomadenopretenceoflovingher；beforeherlaythecitythroughwhoseschoolsshehopedtofindmeansofescapeandthewaytoreachthethingsforwhichshecared。Whenshethoughtofhowsheappearedsheleanedmoreheavilyagainstthefenceandgroaned；

whenshethoughtofturningbackandwearingsuchclothinginignoranceallthedaysofherlifeshesetherteethfirmlyandwenthastilytowardOnabasha。

Onthebridgecrossingadeepculvertatthesuburbssheglancedaround，andthenkneelingshethrustthelunchboxbetweenthefoundationandtheflooring。

Thisleftherempty-handedassheapproachedthebigstonehighschoolbuilding。Sheenteredbravelyandinquiredherwaytotheofficeofthesuperintendent。Thereshelearnedthatsheshouldhavecomethepreviousweekandarrangedaboutherclasses。Thereweremanythingsincidenttotheopeningofschool，andonemanunabletocopewithallofthem。

"Wherehaveyoubeenattendingschool?"heasked，whileheadvisedtheteacherofDomesticSciencenottotelephoneforgroceriesuntilsheknewhowmanyshewouldhaveinherclasses；wroteanorderforchemicalsforthestudentsofscience；andadvisedtheleaderoftheorchestratohireaprofessionaltotaketheplaceofthebassviolist，reportedsuddenlyill。

"IfinishedlastspringatBrushwoodschool，districtnumbernine，"saidElnora。"Ihavebeenstudyingallsummer。

IamquitesureIcandothefirstyearwork，ifIhaveafewdaystogetstarted。"

"Ofcourse，ofcourse，"assentedthesuperintendent。

"Almostinvariablycountrypupilsdogoodwork。Youmayenterfirstyear，andifitistoodifficult，wewillfinditoutspeedily。Yourteacherswilltellyouthelistofbooksyoumusthave，andifyouwillcomewithmeIwillshowyouthewaytotheauditorium。Itisnowtimeforopeningexercises。Takeanyseatyoufindvacant。"

Elnorastoodbeforetheentranceandstaredintothelargestroomsheeverhadseen。Thefloorslopedtoayawningstageonwhichabandofmusicians，groupedaroundagrandpiano，weretuningtheirinstruments。

Shehadtwofleetingimpressions。Thatitwasallamistake；thiswasnoschool，butagranddisplayofenormousribbonbows；andthesecond，thatshewassinking，andhadforgottenhowtowalk。Thenaburstfromtheorchestranervedherwhileabevyofdaintilyclad，sweet-

smellingthingsthatmighthavebeenbirds，orflowers，orpossiblygailydressed，happyyounggirls，pushedherforward。Shefoundherselfploddingacrossthebackoftheauditorium，prayingforguidance，toanemptyseat。

Asthegirlspassedher，vacanciesseemedtoopentomeetthem。Theirfriendsweremovingover，beckoningandwhisperinginvitations。Everyoneelsewasseated，butnoonepaidanyattentiontothewhite-facedgirlstumblinghalf-blindlydowntheaislenextthefarthestwall。

Soshewentontotheveryendfacingthestage。

Noonemoved，andshecouldnotsummoncouragetocrowdpastotherstoseveralemptyseatsshesaw。

Attheendoftheaisleshepausedindesperation，whileshestaredbackatthewholeforestoffacesmostofwhichwerenowturneduponher。

Inaflashcamethefullrealizationofherscantydress，herpitifullittlehatandribbon，herbig，heavyshoes，herignoranceofwheretogoorwhattodo；andfromasickeningwavewhichcreptoverher，shefeltshewasgoingtobecomeveryill。Thenoutofthemassshesawapairofbig，brownboyeyes，threeseatsfromher，andtherewasamessageinthem。Withoutmovinghisbodyhereachedforwardandwithapenciltouchedthebackoftheseatbeforehim。InstantlyElnoratookanotherstepwhichbroughthertoarowofvacantfrontseats。

Sheheardlaughterbehindher；theknowledgethatsheworetheonlyhatintheroomburnedher；everymatterofmoment，andsomeofnoneatall，cutandstung。

Shehadnobooks。Whereshouldshegowhenthiswasover?Whatwouldshegivetobeonthetrailgoinghome!Shewasshakingwithanervouschillwhenthemusicceased，andthesuperintendentarose，andcomingdowntothefrontoftheflower-deckedplatform，openedaBibleandbegantoread。Elnoradidnotknowwhathewasreading，andshefeltthatshedidnotcare。

Wildlyshewasrackingherbraintodecidewhethersheshouldsitstillwhentheotherslefttheroomorfollow，andasksomeonewheretheFreshmenwentfirst。

Inthemidstofthestruggleonesentencefellonherear。

"HidemeundertheshadowofThywings。"

Elnorabegantoprayfrantically。"Hideme，OGod，hideme，undertheshadowofThywings。"

Againandagainsheimploredthatprayer，andbeforesherealizedwhatwascoming，everyonehadarisenandtheroomwasemptyingrapidly。Elnorahurriedafterthenearestgirlandinthepressatthedoortouchedhersleevetimidly。

"WillyoupleasetellmewheretheFreshmengo?"sheaskedhuskily。

Thegirlgaveheronesurprisedglance，anddrewaway。

"Sameplaceasthefreshwomen，"sheanswered，andthosenearestherlaughed。

Elnorastoppedprayingsuddenlyandthecolourcreptintoherface。"I\'llwageryouarethefirstpersonImeetwhenIfindit，"shesaidandstoppedshort。"Notthat!

Oh，Imustnotdothat!"shethoughtindismay。"MakeanenemythefirstthingIdo。Oh，notthat!"

Shefollowedwithhereyesastheyoungpeopleseparatedinthehall，someclimbingstairs，somedisappearingdownsidehalls，someenteringadjoiningdoors。Shesawthegirlovertakethebrown-eyedboyandspeaktohim。

HeglancedbackatElnorawithascowlonhisface。

Thenshestoodaloneinthehall。

Presentlyadooropenedandayoungwomancameoutandenteredanotherroom。Elnorawaiteduntilshereturned，andhurriedtoher。"WouldyoutellmewheretheFreshmenare?"shepanted。

"Straightdownthehall，threedoorstoyourleft，"

wastheanswer，asthegirlpassed。

"Oneminuteplease，ohplease，"beggedElnora:

"ShouldIknockorjustopenthedoor?"

"Goinandtakeaseat，"repliedtheteacher。

"Whatiftherearen\'tanyseats?"gaspedElnora。

"Classroomsareneverhalf-filled，therewillbeplenty，"

wastheanswer。

Elnoraremovedherhat。Therewasnoplacetoputit，soshecarrieditinherhand。Shelookedinfinitelybetterwithoutit。Afterseveraleffortssheatlastopenedthedoorandsteppinginsidefacedasmallerandmoreconcentratedbatteryofeyes。

"Thesuperintendentsentme。HethinksIbelonghere，"shesaidtotheprofessorinchargeoftheclass，butsheneverbeforeheardthevoicewithwhichshespoke。

Asshestoodwaiting，thegirlofthehallpassedonherwaytotheblackboard，andsuppressedlaughtertoldElnorathatherthrusthadbeenrepeated。

"Beseated，"saidtheprofessor，andthenbecausehesawElnorawasdesperatelyembarrassedheproceededtolendherabookandtoaskherifshehadstudiedalgebra。

Shesaidshehadalittle，butnotthesamebooktheywereusing。

Heaskedherifshefeltthatshecoulddotheworktheywerebeginning，andshesaidshedid。

Thatwashowithappened，thatthreeminutesafterenteringtheroomshewastoldtotakeherplacebesidethegirlwhohadgonelasttotheboard，andwhoseflushedfaceandangryeyesavoidedmeetingElnora\'s。Beingcompelledtoconcentrateonherpropositionsheforgotherself。

Whentheprofessoraskedthatallpupilssigntheirworkshefirmlywrote"ElnoraComstock"underherdemonstration。

Thenshetookherseatandwaitedwithwhitelipsandtremblinglimbs，asoneafteranotherprofessorcalledthenamesontheboard，whiletheirownersaroseandexplainedtheirpropositions，or"flunked"iftheyhadnotfoundacorrectsolution。Shewassoeagertocatchtheirformsofexpressionandprepareherselfforherrecitation，thatsheneverlookedfromtheworkontheboard，untilclearlyanddistinctly，"ElnoraComstock，"

calledtheprofessor。

Thedazedgirlstaredattheboard。Onetinycurladdedtothetopofthefirstcurveoftheminhername，hadtransformeditfromagoodoldEnglishpatronymicthatanygirlmightbearproudly，toCornstock。

Elnorasatspeechless。Whenandhowdidithappen?

Shecouldfeelthewaveofsmotheredlaughterintheairaroundher。Arushofangerturnedherfacescarletandhersoulsick。Thevoiceoftheprofessoraddressedherdirectly。

"Thispropositionseemstobebeautifullydemonstrated，MissCornstalk，"hesaid。"Surely，youcantellushowyoudidit。"

Thatwordofpraisesavedher。Shecoulddogoodwork。

Theymightweartheirprettyclothes，havetheirfriendsandmakelifeagreatermiserythaniteverbeforehadbeenforher，butnotoneofthemshoulddobetterworkorbemorewomanly。Thatlaywithher。Shewastall，straight，andhandsomeasshearose。

"OfcourseIcanexplainmywork，"shesaidinnaturaltones。

"WhatIcan\'texplainishowIhappenedtobesostupidastomakeamistakeinwritingmyownname。Imusthavebeenalittlenervous。Pleaseexcuseme。"

Shewenttotheboard，sweptoffthesignaturewithonestroke，thenrewroteitplainly。"MynameisComstock，"

shesaiddistinctly。Shereturnedtoherseatandfollowingtheformulausedbytheothersmadeherfirsthighschoolrecitation。

AsElnoraresumedherseatProfessorHenleylookedathersteadily。"Itpuzzlesme，"hesaiddeliberately，howyoucanwriteasbeautifulademonstration，andexplainitasclearlyaseverhasbeendoneinanyofmyclassesandstillbesodisturbedastomakeamistakeinyourownname。

Areyouverysureyoudidthatyourself，MissComstock?"

"Itisimpossiblethatanyoneelseshouldhavedoneit，"

answeredElnora。

"Iamverygladyouthinkso，"saidtheprofessor。

"BeingFreshmen，allofyouarestrangerstome。

Ishoulddisliketobegintheyearwithyoufeelingtherewasoneamongyousmallenoughtodoatricklikethat。

Thenextproposition，please。"

WhenthehourhadgonetheclassfiledbacktothestudyroomandElnorafollowedindesperation，becauseshedidnotknowwhereelsetogo。Shecouldnotstudyasshehadnobooks，andwhentheclassagainlefttheroomtogotoanotherprofessorforthenextrecitation，shewentalso。

Atleasttheycouldputheroutifshedidnotbelongthere。

Nooncameatlast，andshekeptwiththeothersuntiltheydispersedonthesidewalk。Shewassoabnormallyself-

consciousshefanciedallthehundredsofthatlaughing，throngsawandjestedather。Whenshepassedthebrown-eyedboywalkingwiththegirlofherencounter，sheknew，forsheheardhimsay:"Didyoureallyletthatgawkypieceofcalicogetaheadofyou?"Theanswerwasindistinct。

Elnorahurriedfromthecity。Sheintendedtogetherlunch，eatitintheshadeofthefirsttree，andthendecidewhethershewouldgobackorgohome。Shekneltonthebridgeandreachedforherbox，butitwassoverylightthatshewaspreparedforthefactthatitwasempty，beforeopeningit。Therewasonethingforwhichtobethankful。

Theboyortrampwhohadseenherhideit，hadleftthenapkin。

Shewouldnothavetofacehermotherandaccountforitsloss。Sheputitinherpocket，andthrewtheboxintotheditch。Thenshesatonthebridgeandtriedtothink，butherbrainwasconfused。

"Perhapstheworstisover，"shesaidatlast。"Iwillgoback。WhatwouldmothersaytomeifIcamehomenow?"

Soshereturnedtothehighschool，followedsomeotherpupilstothecoatroom，hungherhat，andfoundherwaytothestudywhereshehadbeeninthemorning。Twicethatafternoon，withachingheadandemptystomach，shefacedstrangeprofessors，indifferentbranches。Oncesheescapednotice；thesecondtimetheworsthappened。Shewasaskedaquestionshecouldnotanswer。

"Haveyounotdecidedonyourcourse，andsecuredyourbooks?"

inquiredtheprofessor。

"Ihavedecidedonmycourse，"repliedElnora，"I

donotknowwheretoaskformybooks。"

"Ask?"theprofessorwasbewildered。

"Iunderstoodthebookswerefurnished，"falteredElnora。

"Onlytothosebringinganorderfromthetownshiptrustee，"repliedtheProfessor。

"No!Ohno!"criedElnora。"Iwillhavethemto-

morrow，"andgrippedherdeskforsupportforsheknewthatwasnottrue。Fourbooks，rangingperhapsatadollarandahalfapiece；wouldhermotherbuythem?

Ofcourseshewouldnot——couldnot。

DidnotElnoraknowthestoryofold。Therewasenoughland，butnoonetodoclearingandfarm。Taxonallthoseacres，recentlythenewgravelroadtaxadded，theexpenseoflivingandonlytheworkoftwowomentomeetallofit。Shewasinsanetothinkshecouldcometothecitytoschool。Hermotherhadbeenright。Thegirldecidedthatifonlyshelivedtoreachhome，shewouldstaythereandleadanysortoflifetoavoidmoreofthistorture。Badaswhatshewishedtoescapehadbeen，itwasnothinglikethis。Shenevercouldlivedownthemovementthatwentthroughtheclasswhensheinadvertentlyrevealedthefactthatshehadexpectedbookstobefurnished。Hermotherwouldnotsecurethem；thatsettledthequestion。

Buttheendofmiseryisneverinahurrytocome；beforethedaywasoverthesuperintendententeredtheroomandexplainedthatpupilsfromthecountrywerechargedatuitionoftwentydollarsayear。Thatreallywastheend。

PreviouslyElnorahadcanvassedadozenmethodsforsecuringthemoneyforbooks，rangingallthewayfromofferingtowashthesuperintendent\'sdishestobreakingintothebank。Thisadditionalexpensemadeherplanssowildlyimpossible，therewasnothingtodobutholdupherheaduntilshewasfromsight。

Downthelongcorridoraloneamonghundreds，downthelongstreetaloneamongthousands，outintothecountryshecameatlast。Acrossthefenceandfield，alongtheoldtrailoncetroddenbyaboy\'sbitteragony，nowstumbledawhite-facedgirl，sickatheart。Shesatonalogandbegantosobinspiteofhereffortsatself-control。Atfirstitwasphysicalbreakdown，later，thoughtcamecrowding。

Ohtheshame，themortification!Whyhadshenotknownofthetuition?Howdidshehappentothinkthatinthecitybookswerefurnished?Perhapsitwasbecauseshehadreadtheywereinseveralstates。Butwhydidshenotknow?Whydidnothermothergowithher?Othermothers——

butwhenhadhermothereverbeenordoneanythingatalllikeothermothers?Becausesheneverhadbeenitwasuselesstoblamehernow。Elnorarealizedsheshouldhavegonetotowntheweekbefore，calledonsomeoneandlearnedallthesethingsherself。Sheshouldhaverememberedhowherclothingwouldlook，beforesheworeitinpublicplaces。Nowsheknew，andherdreamswereover。

Shemustgohometofeedchickens，calves，andpigs，wearcalicoandcoarseshoes，andwithavertedhead，passalibraryallherlife。Shesobbedagain。

"Forpity\'ssake，honey，what\'sthematter?"askedthevoiceofthenearestneighbour，WesleySinton，asheseatedhimselfbesideElnora。"There，there，"hecontinued，smearingtearsalloverherfaceinanefforttodrythem。

"Wasitasbadasthat，now?Maggiehasbeenjustwildoveryouallday。She\'sgotnervousereveryminute。

Shesaidwewerefoolishtoletyougo。Shesaidyourclotheswerenotright，yououghtnottocarrythattinpail，andthattheywouldlaughatyou。Bygum，Iseetheydid!"

"Oh，UncleWesley，"sobbedthegirl，"whydidn\'tshetellme?"

"Well，yousee，Elnora，shedidn\'tliketo。Yougotsuchawayofholdingupyourhead，andgoingthroughwiththings。Shethoughtsomewaythatyou\'dmakeit，tillyougotstarted，andthenshebeguntoseeahundredthingsweshouldhavedone。Ireckonyouhadn\'treachedthatbuildingbeforesherememberedthatyourskirtshouldhavebeenpleatedinsteadofgathered，yourshoesbeenlow，andlighterforhotSeptemberweather，andanewhat。Wereyourclothesright，Elnora?"

Thegirlbrokeintohystericallaughter。"Right!"shecried。

"Right!UncleWesley，youshouldhaveseenmeamongthem!

Iwasapicture!They\'llneverforgetme。No，theywon\'tgetthechance，forthey\'llseemeagainto-morrow!

"NowthatiswhatIcallspunk，Elnora!Downrightgrit，"

saidWesleySinton。"Don\'tyouletthemlaughyouout。

You\'vehelpedMargaretandmeforyearsatharvestandbusytimes，whatyou\'veearnedmustamounttoquiteasum。

Youcangetyourselfagoodmanyclotheswithit。"

"Don\'tmentionclothes，UncleWesley，"sobbedElnora，"Idon\'tcarenowhowIlook。IfIdon\'tgobackallofthemwillknowit\'sbecauseIamsopoorIcan\'tbuymybooks。"

"Oh，Idon\'tknowasyouaresodrattedpoor，"saidSintonmeditatively。"Therearethreehundredacresofgoodland，withfinetimberasevergrewonit。"

"Ittakesallwecanearntopaythetax，andmotherwouldn\'tcutatreeforherlife。"

"Wellthen，maybe，I\'llbecompelledtocutoneforher，"

suggestedSinton。"Anyway，stoptearingyourselftopiecesandtellme。Ifitisn\'tclothes，whatisit?"

"It\'sbooksandtuition。Overtwentydollarsinall。"

"Humph!FirsttimeIeverknewyoutobestumpedbytwentydollars，Elnora，"saidSinton，pattingherhand。

"It\'sthefirsttimeyoueverknewmetowantmoney，"

answeredElnora。"Thisisdifferentfromanythingthateverhappenedtome。Oh，howcanIgetit，UncleWesley?"

"DrivetotownwithmeinthemorningandI\'lldrawitfromthebankforyou。Ioweyoueverycentofit。"

"Youknowyoudon\'towemeapenny，andIwouldn\'ttouchonefromyou，unlessIreallycouldearnit。

Foranythingthat\'spastIoweyouandAuntMargaretforallthehomelifeandloveI\'veeverknown。Iknowhowyouwork，andI\'llnottakeyourmoney。"

"Justaloan，Elnora，justaloanforalittlewhileuntilyoucanearnit。Youcanbeproudwithalltherestoftheworld，buttherearenosecretsbetweenus，arethere，Elnora?"

"No，"saidElnora，"therearenone。YouandAuntMargarethavegivenmeallthelovetherehasbeeninmylife。Thatistheonereasonaboveallotherswhyyoushallnotgivemecharity。Handmemoneybecauseyoufindmecryingforit!Thisisn\'tthefirsttimethisoldtrailhasknowntearsandheartache。Allofusknowthatstory。Frecklesstucktowhatheundertookandwonout。Istick，too。WhenDuncanmovedawayhegavemeallFrecklesleftintheswamp，andasIhaveinheritedhispropertymaybehisluckwillcomewithit。

Iwon\'ttouchyourmoney，butI\'llwinsomeway。First，I\'mgoinghomeandtrymother。It\'sjustpossibleIcouldfindsecond-handbooks，andperhapsallthetuitionneednotbepaidatonce。Maybetheywouldacceptitquarterly。

Butoh，UncleWesley，youandAuntMargaretkeeponlovingme!

I\'msolonely，andnooneelsecares!"

WesleySinton\'sjawsmetwithaclick。Heswallowedhardonbitterwordsandchangedwhathewouldhavelikedtosaythreetimesbeforeitbecamearticulate。

"Elnora，"hesaidatlast，"ifithadn\'tbeenforonethingI\'dhavetriedtotakelegalstepstomakeyouourswhenyouwerethreeyearsold。Maggiesaidthenitwasn\'tanyuse，butI\'vealwaysheldon。Yousee，Iwasthefirstmanthere，honey，andtherearethingsyousee，thatyoucan\'tevermakeanybodyelseunderstand。

ShelovedhimElnora，shejustmadeanidolofhim。

Therewasthatoozygreenhole，withthethickscumbroke，andtwoorthreebigbubblesslowlyrisingthatwerethebreathofhisbody。Thereshewasinspasmsofagony，andbesideherthegreatheavylogshe\'dtriedtothrowhim。Ican\'teverforgiveherforturningagainstyou，andspoilingyourchildhoodasshehas，butIcouldn\'tforgiveanybodyelseforabusingher。

Maggiehasgotnomercyonher，butMaggiedidn\'tseewhatIdid，andI\'venevertriedtomakeitverycleartoher。

It\'sbeenalittletooplainformeeversince。WheneverI

lookatyourmother\'sface，Iseewhatshesaw，soIholdmytongueandsay，inmyheart，`Giveheramitemoretime。\'Somedayitwillcome。Shedoesloveyou，Elnora。Everybodydoes，honey。It\'sjustthatshe\'sfeelingsomuch，shecan\'texpressherself。Youbeapatientgirlandwaitalittlelonger。Afterall，she\'syourmother，andyou\'reallshe\'sgot，butamemory，anditmightdohergoodtoletherknowthatshewasfooledinthat。"

"Itwouldkillher!"criedthegirlswiftly。"UncleWesley，itwouldkillher!Whatdoyoumean?"