第2章

"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!"