第5章

Hesnatchedthemup，shutoffthelight，relockedthecasebytouch，andswiftlywentdownthetrail。Everyfewsecondshepausedandlistenedintently。Justashereachedtheroad，asecondfigureapproachedhim。

"Isityou，Pete?"camethewhisperedquestion。

"Yes，"saidthefirstman。

"Iwascomingdowntotakeapeep，whenIsawyourflash，"hesaid。"IheardtheBirdWomanhadbeenatthecaseto-day。Anythingdoing?"

"Notathing，"saidPete。"Shejusttookawayaboutafourthofthemoths。ProbablyhadtheComstockgirlgettingthemforher。Heardtheyweretogether。

Likelyshe\'llgettherestto-morrow。Ain\'tpickinggettin\'barethesedays?"

"Well，Ishouldsayso，"saidthesecondman，turningbackindisgust。"Cominghome，now?"

"No，Iamgoingdownthisway，"answeredPete，forhiseyescaughtthegleamfromthewindowoftheComstockcabin，andhehadadesiretolearnwhyElnora\'satticwaslightedatthathour。

Hesloucheddowntheroad，occasionallyfeelingthesizeoftherollhehadnottakentimetocount。

Theatticwastoolong，thelighttooneartheotherend，andthecabinstoodmuchtoofarbackfromtheroad。

Hecouldseenothingalthoughheclimbedthefenceandwalkedbackoppositethewindow。HeknewMrs。Comstockwasprobablyawake，andthatshesometimeswenttotheswampbehindherhomeatnight。

Attimesacrywentupfromthatlocalitythatparalyzedanyonenear，orsentthemfleeingasifforlife。Hedidnotcaretocrossbehindthecabin。Hereturnedtotheroad，passed，andagainclimbedthefence。OppositethewestwindowhecouldseeElnora。Shesatbeforeasmalltablereadingfromabookbetweentwocandles。

Herhairfellinabrightsheenaroundher，andwithonehandshelightlyshook，andtosseditasshestudied。

Themanstoodoutinthenightandwatched。

Foralongtimealeafturnedatintervalsandthehair-dryingwenton。Themandrewnearer。Thepicturegrewmorebeautifulasheapproached。Hecouldnotseesowellashedesired，forthescreenwasofwhitemosquitonetting，anditangeredhim。Hecautiouslycreptcloser。Theelevationshutoffhisview。Thenherememberedthelargewillowtreeshadingthewellandbranchingacrossthewindowfitthewestendofthecabin。

FromchildhoodElnorahadsteppedfromthesilltoalimbandsliddowntheslantingtrunkofthetree。Hereacheditandnoiselesslyswunghimselfup。Threestepsoutonthebiglimbthemanshuddered。Hewaswithinafewfeetofthegirl。

Hecouldseethethrobofherbreastunderitsthincoveringandsmellthefragranceofthetossinghair。

Hecouldseethenarrowbedwithitspiecedcalicocover，thewhitewashedwallswithgaylithographs，andeverycrevicestuckfulloftwigswithdanglingcocoons。

Therewerepegsforthefewclothes，theoldchest，thelittletable，thetwochairs，theunevenfloorcoveredwithragrugsandbraidedcornhusk。Butnothingwasworthaglanceexcepttheperfectfaceandformwithinreachbyonespringthroughtherottenmosquitobar。Hegrippedthelimbabovethatonwhichhestood，lickedhislips，andbreathedthroughhisthroattobesurehewasmakingnosound。Elnoraclosedthebookandlaiditaside。

Shepickedupatowel，andturningthegatheredendsofherhairrubbedthemacrossit，anddroppingthetowelonherlap，tossedthehairagain。Thenshesatindeepthought。

Byandbywordsbegantocomesoftly。Nearashewasthemancouldnothearatfirst。Hebentcloserandlistenedintently。

"——evercouldbesohappy，"murmuredthesoftvoice。

"Thedressissopretty，suchshoes，thecoat，andeverything。

Iwon\'thavetobeashamedagain，noteveragain，fortheLimberlostisfullofpreciousmoths，andIalwayscancollectthem。TheBirdWomanwillbuymoreto-morrow，andthenextday，andthenext。Whentheyareallgone，Icanspendeveryminutegatheringcocoons，andhuntingotherthingsIcansell。Oh，thankGod，formyprecious，preciousmoney。Why，Ididn\'tprayinvainafterall!IthoughtwhenIaskedtheLordtohideme，thereinthatbighall，thatHewasn\'tdoingit，becauseIwasn\'tcoveredfromsightthatinstant。

ButI\'mhiddennow，Ifeelthat。"Elnoraliftedhereyestothebeamsaboveher。"Idon\'tknowmuchaboutprayingproperly，"shemuttered，"butIdothankyou，Lord，forhidingmeinyourowntimeandway。"

Herfacewassobrightthatitshonewithawhiteradiance。

Twobigtearswelledfromhereyes，androlleddownhersmilingcheeks。"Oh，Idofeelthatyouhavehiddenme，"

shebreathed。Thensheblewoutthelights，andthelittlewoodenbedcreakedunderherweight。

PeteCorsondroppedfromthelimbandfoundhiswaytotheroad。Hestoodstillalongtime，thenstartedbacktotheLimberlost。Atinypointoflightflashedintheregionofthecase。Hestoppedwithanoath。

"Anotherhoundtryingtostealfromagirl，"heexclaimed。

"Butit\'slikelyhethinksifhegetsanythingitwillbefromawomanwhocanaffordit，asIdid。"

Hewenton，butbesidethefences，andverycautiously。

"Swampseemstobealiveto-night，"hemuttered。

"That\'sthreeofusout。"

Heenteredadeepplaceatthenorthwestcorner，satonthegroundandtakingapencilfromhispocket，hetorealeaffromalittlenotebook，andlaboriouslywroteafewlinesbythelighthecarried。Thenhewentbacktotheregionofthecaseandwaited。Beforehiseyessweptthevisionoftheslenderwhitecreaturewithtossinghair。Hesmiled，andworshippedit，untiladistantroosterfaintlyannounceddawn。

Thenheunlockedthecaseagain，andreplacedthemoney，laidthenoteuponit，andwentbacktoconcealment，whereheremaineduntilElnoracamedownthetrailinthemorning，appearingverylovelyinhernewdressandhat。

CHAPTERV

WHEREINELNORARECEIVESAWARNING，ANDBILLYAPPEARSONTHESCENE

ItwouldbedifficulttodescribehowhappyElnorawasthatmorningasshehurriedthroughherwork，bathedandputontheneat，daintyginghamdress，andthetanshoes。Shehadastrugglewithherhair。

Itcrinkled，billowed，andshone，andshecouldnotavoidseeingthebecomingframeitmadearoundherface。Butindeferencetohermother\'sfeelingsthegirlsetherteeth，andboundherhaircloselytoherheadwithashoe-string。"Nottobechangedatthecase，"

shetoldherself。

Thathermotherwaswatchingshewasunaware。JustasshepickedupthebeautifulbrownribbonMrs。Comstockspoke。

"Youhadbetterletmetiethat。Youcan\'treachbehindyourselfanddoitright。"

Elnoragavealittlegasp。Hermotherneverbeforehadproposedtodoanythingforthegirlthatbyanypossibilityshecoulddoherself。Herheartquakedatthethoughtofhowhermotherwouldarrangethatbow，butElnoradarednotrefuse。Theofferwastooprecious。

Itmightneverbemadeagain。

"Ohthankyou!"saidthegirl，andsittingdownsheheldouttheribbon。

Hermotherstoodbackandlookedathercritically。

"Youhaven\'tgotthatlikeMagSintonhaditlastnight，"sheannounced。"Youlittleidiot!You\'vetriedtoplasteritdowntosuitme，andyoumissedit。IlikeditawaybetterasMagfixedit，afterIsawit。Youdidn\'tlooksopeeled。"

"Ohmother，mother!"laughedElnora，withahalfsobinhervoice。

"Holdstill，willyou?"criedMrs。Comstock。"You\'llbelate，andIhaven\'tpackedyourdinneryet。"

Sheuntiedthestringandshookoutthehair。Itrosewithelectricityandclungtoherfingersandhands。Mrs。

Comstockjumpedbackasifbitten。Sheknewthattouch。

Herfacegrewwhite，andhereyesangry。

"Tieityourself，"shesaidshortly，"andthenI\'llputontheribbon。ButrollitbacklooselikeMagdid。

Itlookedsoprettythatway。"

AlmostfaintingElnorastoodbeforetheglass，dividedoffthefrontpartsofherhair，androlledthemasMrs。

Sintonhaddone；tieditatthenapeofherneck，thensatwhilehermotherarrangedtheribbon。

"IfIpullitdowntillitcomestightinthesecreaseswhereshehadit，itwillbejustright，won\'tit?"queriedMrs。Comstock，andtheamazedElnorastammered"Yes。"

Whenshelookedintheglassthebowwasperfectlytied，andhowthegoldtoneofthebrowndidmatchthelustreoftheshininghair!"That\'spretty，"commentedMrs。Comstock\'ssoul，butherstifflipshadsaidallthatcouldbeforcedfromthemforonce。JustthenWesleySintoncametothedoor。

"Goodmorning，"hecriedheartily。"Elnora，youlookapicture!My，butyou\'resweet!IfanyofthecityboysgetsassyyoutellyourUncleWesley，andhe\'llhorsewhipthem。Here\'syourChristmaspresentfromme。"HehandedElnoratheleatherlunchbox，withhernamecarvedacrossthestrapinartisticlettering。

"OhUncleWesley!"wasallElnoracouldsay。

"YourAuntMaggiefilleditformeforastarter，"hesaid。

"Now，ifyouareready，I\'mgoingtodrivepastyourwayandyoucanridealmosttoOnabashawithme，andsavethenewshoesthatmuch。"

Elnorawasstaringatthebox。"OhIhopeitisn\'timpolitetoopenitbeforeyou，"shesaid。"IjustfeelasifImustseeinside。"

"Don\'tyoustandonformalitywiththeneighbours，"

laughedSinton。"Lookinyourboxifyouwantto!"

Elnoraslippedthestrapandturnedbackthelid。

Thisdisclosedtheknife，fork，napkin，andspoon，themilkflask，andtheinteriorpackedwithdaintysandwicheswrappedintissuepaper，andthelittlecompartmentsformeat，salad，andthecustardcup。

"Ohmother!"criedElnora。"Ohmother，isn\'titfine?

Whatmadeyouthinkofit，UncleWesley?HowwillIeverthankyou?NoonewillhaveafinerlunchboxthanI。

OhIdothankyou!That\'sthenicestgiftIeverhad。

HowIloveChristmasinSeptember!"

"It\'samightyhandything，"assentedMrs。Comstock，takingineverydetailwithsharpeyes。"IguessyouaregladnowyouwentandhelpedMagandWesleywhenyoucould，Elnora?"

"Deedy，yes，"laughedElnora，"andI\'mgoingagainfirsttimetheyhaveabigdayifIstayfromschooltodoit。"

"You\'lldonosuchthing!"saidthedelightedSinton。

"Comenow，ifyou\'regoing!"

"IfIride，canyousparemetimetorunintotheswamptomyboxaminute?"askedElnora。

Thelightshehadseenthepreviousnighttroubledher。

"Sure，"saidWesleylargely。Sotheydroveawayandleftawhite-facedwomanwatchingthemfromthedoor，herheartalittlesorerthanusual。

"I\'dgiveaprettytohearwhathe\'llsaytoher!"shecommentedbitterly。"Alwaysstickingin，alwaysdoingthingsIcan\'teverafford。Whereonearthdidhegetthatthingandwhatdiditcost?"

Thensheenteredthecabinandbegantheday\'swork，butmingledwiththebroodingbitternessofhersoulwasthevisionofasweetyoungface，gladwithagladnessneverbeforeseenonit，andoverandoversherepeated:

"Iwonderwhathe\'llsaytoher!"

Whathesaidwasthatshelookedasfreshandsweetasaposy，andtobecarefulnottostepinthemudorscratchhershoeswhenshewenttothecase。

Elnorafoundherkeyandopenedthedoor。Notwhereshehadplacedit，butconspicuouslyinfrontlayherlittleheapofbills，andacrudescrawlofwritingbesideit。

Elnorapickedupthenoteinastonishment。

DEREELNORY，thelordamightyishidingyouallrightdoneyoueverdoutitthismoneyofyournwastookforsometimelasnitebutitisreturnedwithintresforgodsakedoneevercometotheswampatniteorlateevninormorninorfarinanytimesompinworseanyouknowcouldgityouAFREND。

Elnorabegantotremble。Shehastilyglancedaround。

Thedampearthbeforethecasehadbeentroddenbylarge，roughlyshodfeet。Shecaughtupthemoneyandthenote，thrustthemintoherguimpe，lockedthecase，andrantotheroad。

ShewassobreathlessandherfacesowhiteSintonnoticedit。

"Whatintheworld\'sthematter，Elnora?"heasked。

"Iamhalfafraid!"shepanted。

"Tut，tut，child!"saidWesleySinton。"Nothingintheworldtobeafraidof。Whathappened?"

"UncleWesley，"saidElnora，"IhadmoremoneythanI

broughthomelastnight，andIputitinmycase。Someonehasbeenthere。Thegroundisalltrampled，andtheyleftthisnote。"

"Andtookyourmoney，I\'llwager，"saidSintonangrily。

"No，"answeredElnora。"Readthenote，andohUncleWesley，tellmewhatitmeans!"

Sinton\'sfacewasastudy。"Idon\'tknowwhatitmeans，"hesaid。"Onlyonethingisclear。Itmeanssomebeastwhodoesn\'treallywanttoharmyouhasgothiseyeonyou，andheistellingyouplainashecan，nottogivehimachance。Yougottokeepalongtheroads，intheopen，andnotletthebiggestmoththateverflewtollyououtofhearingofus，oryourmother。Itmeansthat，plainanddistinct。"

"JustwhenIcansellthem!Justwheneverythingissolovelyonaccountofthem!Ican\'t!Ican\'tstayawayfromtheswamp。TheLimberlostisgoingtobuythebooks，theclothes，paythetuition，andevenstartacollegefund。

Ijustcan\'t!"

"You\'vegotto，"saidSinton。"Thisisplainenough。

Yougofarintheswampatyourownrisk，evenindaytime。"

"UncleWesley，"saidthegirl，"lastnightbeforeIwenttobed，IwassohappyItriedtopray，andIthankedGodforhidingme`undertheshadowofHiswing。\'Buthowintheworldcouldanyoneknowit?"

WesleySinton\'sheartleapedinhisbreast。Hisfacewaswhiterthanthegirl\'snow。

"Wereyouprayingoutloud，honey?"healmostwhispered。

"Imighthavesaidwords，"answeredElnora。"IknowIdosometimes。I\'veneverhadanyonetotalkwith，andI\'veplayedwithandtalkedtomyselfallmylife。

You\'vecaughtmeatitoften，butitalwaysmakesmotherangrywhenshedoes。Shesaysit\'ssilly。Iforgetanddoit，whenI\'malone。ButUncleWesley，ifIsaidanythinglastnight，youknowitwasthemerestwhisper，becauseI\'dhavebeensoafraidofwakingmother。

Don\'tyousee?Isatuplate，andstudiedtwolessons。"

Sintonwassteadyinghimself"I\'llstopandexaminethecaseasIcomeback，"hesaid。"MaybeIcanfindsomeclue。Thatother——thatwasjustaccidental。It\'sacommonexpression。Allthepreachersuseit。IfItriedtopray，thatwouldbetheveryfirstthingI\'dsay。"

ThecolourreturnedtoElnora\'sface。

"Didyoutellyourmotheraboutthismoney，Elnora?"

heasked。

"No，Ididn\'t，"saidElnora。"It\'sdreadfulnotto，butIwasafraid。Youseetheyareclearingtheswampsofast。

Everyyearitgrowsmoredifficulttofindthings，andIndianstuffbecomesscarcer。Iwanttograduate，andthat\'sfouryearsunlessIcandoubleonthecourse。

Thatmeanstwentydollarstuitioneachyear，andnewbooks，andclothes。Therewon\'teverbesomuchatonetimeagain，thatIknow。Ijustgottohangtomymoney。Iwasafraidtotellher，forfearshewouldwantitfortaxes，andshereallymustsellatreeorsomecattleforthat，mustn\'tshe，UncleWesley?"

"Onyourlife，shemust!"saidWesley。"Youputyourlittlewadinthebankallsafe，andnevermentionittoalivingsoul。Itdoesn\'tseemright，butyourcaseispeculiar。Everywordyousayisatrueword。Eachyearyouwillfindlessintheswamp，andthingseverywherewillbescarcer。Ifyouevergetafewdollarsahead，thatcanstartyourcollegefund。Youknowyouaregoingtocollege，Elnora!"

"OfcourseIam，"saidElnora。"IsettledthatassoonasIknewwhatacollegewas。Iwillputallmymoneyinthebank，exceptwhatIoweyou。I\'llpaythatnow。"

"Ifyourarrowsareheavy，"saidWesley，"I\'lldriveontoOnabashawithyou。"

"Buttheyarenot。Halfofthemwerenicked，andthislittleboxheldallthegoodones。It\'ssosurprisinghowmanyarespoiledwhenyouwashthem。"

"Whatdoeshepay?"

"Tencentsforanycommonperfectone，fiftyforrevolvers，adollarforobsidian，andwhateverisrightforenormousbigones。"

"Well，thatsoundsfair，"saidSinton。"YoucancomedownSaturdayandwashthestuffatourhouse，andI\'lltakeitinwhenwegomarketingintheafternoon。"

Elnorajumpedfromthecarriage。Shesoonfoundthatwithherbooks，herlunchbox，andthepointsshehadaheavyload。Shehadalmostreachedthebridgecrossingtheculvertwhenshehearddistressedscreamsofachild。

Acrossanorchardofthesuburbscameasmallboy，afterhimabigdog，urgedbyamaninthebackground。

Elnora\'sheartwaswiththesmallfleeingfigureinanyeventwhatever。Shedroppedherloadonthebridge，andwithpractisedhandflungastoneatthedog。

Thebeastcurleddoublewithahowl。Theboyreachedthefence，andElnorawastheretohelphimover。Ashetouchedthetopsheswunghimtotheground，butheclungtoher，claspinghertightly，sobbingwithfear。

Elnorahelpedhimtothebridge，andsatwithhiminherarms。

Foratimehisrepliestoherquestionswereindistinct，butatlasthebecamequieterandshecouldunderstand。

Hewasamiteofaboy，nothingbutskin-coveredbones，hisburned，freckledfaceinamortaroftearsanddust，hisclothingunspeakablydirty，onegreattoeinafesteringmassfromabrokennail，andsoresalloverthevisibleportionsofthesmallbody。

"Youwon\'tletthemeanoldthingmakehisdoggetme!"hewailed。

"Indeedno，"saidElnora，holdinghimclosely。

"Youwouldn\'tsetadogonaboyforjusttakingafewoldappleswhenyoufed\'emtopigswithashoveleveryday，wouldyou?"

"No，Iwouldnot，"saidElnorahotly。

"You\'dgiveaboyalltheappleshewanted，ifhehadn\'tanybreakfast，andwassohungryhewasalltwistyinside，wouldn\'tyou?"

"Yes，Iwould，"saidElnora。

"Ifyouhadanythingtoeatyouwouldgivemesomethingrightnow，wouldn\'tyou?"

"Yes，"saidElnora。"There\'snothingbutjuststonesinthepackage。Butmydinnerisinthatcase。I\'llgladlydivide。"

Sheopenedthebox。Thefamishedchildgavealittlecryandreachedbothhands。Elnoracaughtthemback。

"Didyouhaveanysupper?"

"No。"

"Anydinneryesterday?"

"AnappleandsomegrapesIstole。"

"Whoseboyareyou?"

"OldTomBillings\'s。"

"Whydoesn\'tyourfathergetyousomethingtoeat?"

"Hedoesmostdays，buthe\'sdrunknow。"

"Hush，youmustnot!"saidElnora。"He\'syourfather!"

"He\'sspentallthemoneytogetdrunk，too，"saidtheboy，"andJimmyandBellearebothcryingforbreakfast。

I\'dagotoutallrightwithanappleformyself，butItriedtogetsomeforthemandthedoggottooclose。Say，youcanthrow，can\'tyou?"

"Yes，"admittedElnora。Shepouredhalfthemilkintothecup。"Drinkthis，"shesaid，holdingittohim。

Theboygulpedthemilkandsworejoyously，grippingthecupwithshakingfingers。

"Hush!"criedElnora。"That\'sdreadful!"

"What\'sdreadful?"

"Tosaysuchawfulwords。"

"Huh!pasaysworser\'anthateverybreathhedraws。"

Elnorasawthatthechildwasolderthanshehadthought。

Hemighthavebeenfortyjudgingbyhishard，unchildishexpression。

"Doyouwanttobelikeyourfather?"

"No，Iwanttobelikeyou。Couldn\'taangelbeprettier\'anyou。CanIhavemoremilk?"

Elnoraemptiedtheflask。Theboydrainedthecup。

Hedrewabreathofsatisfactionashegazedintoherface。

"Youwouldn\'tgooffandleaveyourlittleboy，wouldyou?"heasked。

"Didsomeonegoawayandleaveyou?"

"Yes，mymotherwentoffandleftme，andleftJimmyandBelle，too，"saidtheboy。"Youwouldn\'tleaveyourlittleboy，wouldyou?"

"No。"

Theboylookedeagerlyatthebox。Elnoraliftedasandwichanduncoveredthefriedchicken。Theboygaspedwithdelight。

"Say，IcouldeatthestuffintheglassandtheotherboxandcarrythebreadandthechickentoJimmyandBelle，"heoffered。

Elnorasilentlyuncoveredthecustardwithpreservedcherriesontopandhandeditandthespoontothechild。

Neverdidfooddisappearfaster。Thesaladwentnext，andasandwichandhalfachickenbreastfollowed。

"IbetterleavetherestforJimmyandBelle，"hesaid，"they\'re\'istfightin\'hungry。"

Elnoragavehimtheremainderofthecarefullypreparedlunch。

Theboyclutcheditandranwithasidewisehoplikeawildthing。Shecoveredthedishesandcup，polishedthespoon，replacedit，andclosedthecase。Shecaughtherbreathinatremulouslaugh。

"IfAuntMargaretknewthat，she\'dneverforgiveme，"

shesaid。"Itseemsasifsecrecyisliterallyforceduponme，andIhateit。WhatshallIdoforlunch?I\'llhavetosellmyarrowsandkeepenoughmoneyforarestaurantsandwich。"

Soshewalkedhurriedlyintotown，soldherpointsatagoodprice，depositedherfunds，andwentawaywithaneatlittlebankbookandthenotefromtheLimberlostcarefullyfoldedinside。Elnorapasseddownthehallthatmorning，andnoonepaidtheslightestattentiontoher。

Thetruthwasshelookedsolikeeveryoneelsethatshewasperfectlyinconspicuous。Butinthecoatroomthereweremembersofherclass。Surelynooneintendedit，butthewhisperwastooloud。

"LookatthegirlfromtheLimberlostintheclothesthatwomangaveher!"

Elnoraturnedonthem。"Ibegyourpardon，"shesaidunsteadily，"Icouldn\'thelphearingthat!Noonegavemetheseclothes。Ipaidforthemmyself。"

Someonemuttered，"Pardonme，"butincredulousfacesgreetedher。

Elnorafeltdriven。"AuntMargaretselectedthem，andshemeanttogivethemtome，"sheexplained，"butIwouldn\'ttakethem。Ipaidforthemmyself。"Therewassilence。

"Don\'tyoubelieveme?"pantedElnora。

"Really，itisnoneofouraffair，"saidanothergirl。

"Comeon，let\'sgo。"

Elnorasteppedbeforethegirlwhohadspoken。"Youhavemadethisyouraffair，"shesaid，"becauseyoutoldathingwhichwasnottrue。NoonegavemewhatIamwearing。

IpaidformyclothesmyselfwithmoneyIearnedsellingmothstotheBirdWoman。IjustcamefromthebankwhereIdepositedwhatIdidnotuse。Hereismycredit。"

Elnoradrewoutandofferedthelittleredbook。

"Surelyyouwillbelievethat，"shesaid。

"Whyofcourse，"saidthegirlwhofirsthadspoken。

"WemetsuchalovelywomaninBrownlee\'sstore，andshesaidshewantedourhelptobuysomethingsforagirl，andthat\'showwecametoknow。"

"DearAuntMargaret，"saidElnora，"itwaslikehertoaskyou。Isn\'tshesplendid?"

"Sheisindeed，"chorusedthegirls。Elnorasetdownherlunchboxandbooks，unpinnedherhat，hangingitbesidetheothers，andtakingupthebooksshereachedtosettheboxinitsplaceanddroppedit。Withalittlecryshesnatchedatitandcaughtthestrapontop。Thatpulledfromthefastening，thecoverunrolled，theboxfellawayasfarasitcould，twoporcelainlidsrattledonthefloor，andtheonesandwichrolledlikeacartwheelacrosstheroom。

Elnoraliftedaghastlyface。Foroncenoonelaughed。

Shestoodaninstantstaring。

"Itseemstobemylucktobecrucifiedateverypointofthecompass，"shesaidatlast。"FirsttwodaysyouthoughtIwasapauper，nowyouwillthinkI\'mafraud。

AllofyouwillbelieveIboughtanexpensivebox，andthenwastoopoortoputanythingbutarestaurantsandwichinit。

YoumuststoptillIprovetoyouthatI\'mnot。"

Elnoragatheredupthelids，andkickedthesandwichintoacorner。

"Ihadmilkinthatbottle，see!Andcustardinthecup。

Therewassaladinthelittlebox，friedchickeninthelargeone，andnutsandwichesinthetray。Youcanseethecrumbsofallofthem。Amansetadogonachildwhowassostarvedhewasstealingapples。Italkedwithhim，andIthoughtIcouldbearhungerbetter，hewassuchalittleboy，soIgavehimmylunch，andgotthesandwichattherestaurant。"

Elnoraheldoutthebox。Thegirlswerelaughingbythattime。"Yougoose，"saidone，"whydidn\'tyougivehimthemoney，andsaveyourlunch?"

"Hewassuchalittlefellow，andhereallywashungry，"

saidElnora。"Ioftengowithoutanythingtoeatatnooninthefieldsandwoods，andneverthinkofit。"