第8章

"Theregoeshisfootthroughit!"criedMargaret。

"Wesley，heshallnotruinmyhammock。"

"Ofcourseheshan\'t!"saidWesley。"Wait，Billy，letmeshowyou。"

ThereuponheexplainedtoBillythatladieswearingbeautifulwhitedressessatinhammocks，solittleboysmustnotputtheirdustyfeetinthem。Billyimmediatelysat，andallowedhisfeettoswing。

"Margaret，"saidWesleyafteralongsilenceontheporch，"isn\'tittruethatifBillyhadbeenahalf-starvedsorecat，dog，oranimalofanysort，thatyouwouldhavepitied，andhelpedcareforit，andbeengladtoseemegetanypleasureoutofitIcould?"

"Yes，"saidMargaretcoldly。

"ButbecauseIbroughtachildwithanimmortalsoul，thereisnowelcome。"

"Thatisn\'tachild，it\'sananimal。"

"Youjustsaidyouwouldhavewelcomedananimal。"

"Notawildone。Imeantatamebeast。"

"Billyisnotabeast!"saidWesleyhotly。"Heisaverydearlittleboy。Margaret，you\'vealwaysdonethechurch-goingandBiblereadingforthisfamily。Howdoyoureconcilethat`SufferlittlechildrentocomeuntoMe\'

withthewayyouaretreatingBilly?"

Margaretarose。"Ihaven\'ttreatedthatchild。Ihaveonlylethimalone。Icanbarelyholdmyself。Heneedsthehidetannedaboutoffhim!"

"Ifyou\'dcaredtolookathisbody，you\'dknowthatyoucouldn\'tfindaplacetostrikewithoutcuttingintoarawspot，"saidWesley。"Besides，Billyhasnotdoneathingforwhichachildshouldbepunished。Heisonlyfulloflife，notraining，andwithaboy\'sloveofmischief。

Hedidabuseyourkittens，butanhourbeforeIsawhimriskhislifetosaveonefrombeingrunover。Hemindswhatyoutellhim，anddoesn\'tdoanythingheistoldnotto。

Hethinksofhisbrotherandsisterrightawaywhenanythingpleaseshim。Hetookthatstingingmedicinewiththegritofabulldog。Heisjustabullylittlechap，andIlovehim。"

"Ohgoodheavens!"criedMargaret，goingintothehouseasshespoke。

Sintonsatstill。AtlastBillytiredoftheswing，cametohimandleanedhisslightbodyagainstthebigknee。

"AmIgoingtosleephere?"heasked。

"Sureyouare!"saidSinton。

BillyswunghisfeetashelaidacrossWesley\'sknee。

"Comeon，"saidWesley，"Imustcleanyouupforbed。"

"Youhavetobejustawfulcleanhere，"announcedBilly。

"Iliketobeclean，youfeelsogood，afterthehurtisover。"

Sintonregisteredthatremark，andworkedwithespecialtendernessasheredressedtheailingplacesandwashedthedustfromBilly\'sfeetandhands。

"Wherecanhesleep?"heaskedMargaret。

"I\'msureIdon\'tknow，"sheanswered。

"Oh，Icansleepistanyplace，"saidBilly。"Onthefloororanywhere。Home，Isleeponpa\'scoatonastore-

box，andJimmyandBelletheysleeponthestorebox，too。

"Isleepbetweenthem，so\'sIdon\'trolloffandcrackmyhead。Ain\'tyougotastoreboxandaoldcoat?"

Wesleyaroseandopenedafoldinglounge。Thenhebroughtanarmloadofcleanhorseblanketsfromacloset。

"Thesedon\'tlooklikethenicewhitebedalittleboyshouldhave，Billy，"hesaid，"butwe\'llmakethemdo。

Thiswillbeatastoreboxallhollow。"

Billytookalongleapforthelounge。Whenhefounditbounced，heproceededtobounce，untilhewastired。

Bythattimetheblanketshadtoberefolded。WesleyhadBillytakeoneendandhelp，whilebothofthemseemedtoenjoythejob。ThenBillylaydownandcurledupinhisclotheslikeasmalldog。Butsleepwouldnotcome。

Finallyhesatup。Hestaredaroundrestlessly。Thenhearose，wenttoWesley，andleanedagainsthisknee。Hepickeduptheboyandfoldedhisarmsaroundhim。Billysighedinrapturouscontent。

"Thatbedfeelssolostlike，"hesaid。"Jimmyalwaysjabbedmeononeside，andBelleontheother，andsoI

knewIwasthere。Doyouknowwheretheyare?"

"Theyarewithkindpeoplewhogavethemafinesupper，acleanbed，andwillalwaystakegoodcareofthem。"

"IwishtIwas——"BillyhesitatedandlookedearnestlyatWesley。"ImeanIwishtheywashere。"

"YouareaboutallIcanmanage，Billy，"saidWesley。

Billysatup。"Can\'tshemanageanything?"heasked，wavingtowardMargaret。

"Indeed，yes，"saidWesley。"Shehasmanagedmefortwentyyears。"

"My，butshemadeyounice!"saidBilly。"Ijustloveyou。

Iwishtshe\'dtakeJimmyandBelleandmakethemniceasyou。"

"Sheisn\'tstrongenoughtodothat，Billy。Theywillgrowintoagoodboyandgirlwheretheyare。"

BillyslidfromWesley\'sarmsandwalkedtowardMargaretuntilhereachedthemiddleoftheroom。Thenhestopped，andatlastsatonthefloor。Finallyhelaydownandclosedhiseyes。"Thisfeelsmorelikemybed；

ifonlyJimmyandBellewasheretocrowdupalittle，soitwasn\'tsoalonelike。"

"Won\'tIdo，Billy?"askedWesleyinahuskyvoice。

Billymovedrestlessly。"Seemslike——seemsliketowardnightasifabodygotkindo\'lonesomeforawomanperson——likeher。"

BillyindicatedMargaretandthenclosedhiseyessotighthissmallfacewrinkled。

Soonhewasupagain。"WishtIhadSnap，"hesaid。

"Oh，IistwishtIhadSnap!"

"IthoughtyoulaidaboardonSnapandjumpedonit，"saidWesley。

"Wedid!"criedBilly——"oh，yououghttoheardhimsqueal!"Billylaughedloudly，thenhisfaceclouded。

"ButIwantSnaptolaybesidemesobadnow——thatifhewashereI\'dgivehimapieceofmychicken，\'for，Iateany。

Doyoulikedogs?"

"Yes，Ido，"saidWesley。

Billywasupinstantly。"WouldyoulikeSnap?"

"IamsureIwould，"saidWesley。

"Wouldshe?"BillyindicatedMargaret。Andthenheansweredhisownquestion。"Butofcourse，shewouldn\'t，cosshelikescats，anddogschasescats。

Oh，dear，IthoughtforaminutemaybeSnapcouldcomehere。"Billylaydownandclosedhiseyesresolutely。

Suddenlytheyflewopen。"Doesithurttobedead?"

hedemanded。

"Nothinghurtsyouafteryouaredead，Billy，"saidWesley。

"Yes，butImeandoesithurtgettingtobedead?"

"Sometimesitdoes。Itdidnothurtyourfather，Billy。

Itcamesoftlywhilehewasasleep。"

"Itistcamesoftly?"

"Yes。"

"Ikindo\'wishthewasn\'tdead!"saidBilly。"\'CourseI

liketostaywithyou，andthefriedchicken，andthenicesoftbed，and——andeverything，andIliketobeclean，buthetookustotheshow，andhegotusgum，andheneverhurtuswhenhewasn\'tdrunk。"

Billydrewadeepbreath，andtightlyclosedhiseyes。

Butverysoontheyopened。Thenhesatup。HelookedatWesleypitifully，andthenheglancedatMargaret。

"Youdon\'tlikeboys，doyou?"hequestioned。

"Ilikegoodboys，"saidMargaret。

Billywasatherkneeinstantly。"Wellsay，I\'magoodboy!"heannouncedjoyously。

"Idonotthinkboyswhohurthelplesskittensandpulloutturkeys\'tailsaregoodboys。"

"Yes，butIdidn\'thurtthekittens，"explainedBilly。

"Theygotmad\'boutistalittlefunandscratchedeachother。

Ididn\'ts\'posethey\'dactlikethat。AndIdidn\'tpulltheturkey\'stail。IistheldontothefirstthingI

grabbed，andtheturkeypulled。Honest，itwastheturkeypulled。"HeturnedtoWesley。"Youtellher!

Didn\'ttheturkeypull?Ididn\'tknowitstailwasloose，didI?"

"Idon\'tthinkyoudid，Billy，"saidWesley。

BillystaredintoMargaret\'scoldface。"Sometimesatnight，Bellesitsonthefloor，andIlaymyheadinherlap。

Icouldpullupachairandlaymyheadinyourlap。

Likethis，Imean。"Billypulledupachair，climbedonitandlaidhisheadonMargaret\'slap。Thenheshuthiseyesagain。Margaretcouldhavelookedlittlemorerepulsedifhehadbeenasnake。Billywassoonup。

"My，butyourlapishard，"hesaid。"Andyouareagooddealfatter\'anBelle，too!"Heslidfromthechairandcamebacktothemiddleoftheroom。

"OhbutIwishthewasn\'tdead!"hecried。ThefloodbrokeandBillyscreamedindesperation。

Outofthenightasoft，warmyoungfigureflashedthroughthedoorandwithaswoopcaughthiminherarms。

Shedroppedintoachair，nestledhimclosely，droopedherfragrantbrownheadoverhislittlebullet-eyedredone，androckedsoftlywhileshecroonedoverhim——

"Billy，boy，wherehaveyoubeen?

Oh，Ihavebeentoseekawife，She\'sthejoyofmylife，Butthenshe\'sayoungthingandshecan\'tleavehermammy!"

Billyclungtoherfrantically。Elnorawipedhiseyes，kissedhisface，swayedandsang。

"Whyaren\'tyouasleep?"sheaskedatlast。

"Idon\'tknow，"saidBilly。"Itried。ItriedawfulhardcosIthoughthewantedmeto，butitistwouldn\'tcome。

PleasetellherItried。"HeappealedtoMargaret。

"Hedidtrytogotosleep，"admittedMargaret。

"Maybehecan\'tsleepinhisclothes，"suggestedElnora。

"Haven\'tyouanolddressingsacque?Icouldrollthesleeves。"

Margaretgotanoldsacque，andElnoraputitonBilly。

Thenshebroughtabasinofwaterandbathedhisfaceandhead。Shegatheredhimupandbegantorockagain。

"Haveyougotapa?"askedBilly。

"No，"saidElnora。

"Ishedeadlikemine?"

"Yes。"

"Didithurthimtodie?"

"Idon\'tknow。"

Billywaswideawakeagain。"Itdidn\'thurtmypa，"

heboasted；"heistdiedwhilehewasasleep。Hedidn\'tevenknowitwascoming。"

"Iamgladofthat，"saidElnora，pressingthesmallheadagainstherbreastagain。

Billyescapedherhandandsatup。"IguessIwon\'tgotosleep，"hesaid。"Itmight`comesoftly\'andgetme。"

"Itwon\'tgetyou，Billy，"saidElnora，rockingandsingingbetweensentences。"Itdoesn\'tgetlittleboys。

Itjusttakesbigpeoplewhoaresick。"

"Wasmypasick?"

"Yes，"saidElnora。"Hehadadreadfulsicknessinsidehimthatburned，andmadehimdrinkthings。

Thatwaswhyhewouldforgethislittleboysandgirl。

Ifhehadbeenwell，hewouldhavegottenyougoodthingstoeat，cleanclothes，andhadthemostfunwithyou。"

Billyleanedagainstherandclosedhiseyes，andElnorarockedhopefully。

"IfIwasdeadwouldyoucry?"hewasupagain。

"Yes，Iwould，"saidElnora，grippinghimcloseruntilBillyalmostsquealedwiththeembrace。

"Doyoulovemetightasthat?"hequestionedblissfully。

"Yes，bushelsandbushels，"saidElnora。"Betterthananylittleboyinthewholeworld。"

BillylookedatMargaret。"Shedon\'t!"hesaid。

"She\'dbegladifitwouldgetme`softly，\'rightnow。

Shedon\'twantmehere\'tall。"

Elnorasmotheredhisfaceagainstherbreastandrocked。

"Youloveme，don\'tyou?"

"Iwill，ifyouwillgotosleep。"

"Everysingledayyouwillgivemeyourdinnerforthebologna，won\'tyou，"saidBilly。

"Yes，Iwill，"repliedElnora。"ButyouwillhaveasgoodlunchasIdoafterthis。Youwillhavemilk，eggs，chicken，allkindsofgoodthings，littlepies，andcakes，maybe。"

Billyshookhishead。"Iamgoingbackhomesoonasitislight，"hesaid，"shedon\'twantme。ShethinksI\'mabadboy。She\'sgoingtowhipme——ifheletsher。

Shesaidso。Iheardher。Oh，Iwishhehadn\'tdied!

Iwanttogohome。"Billyshriekedagain。

Mrs。ComstockhadstartedtowalkslowlytomeetElnora。

ThegirlhadbeensolatethathermotherreachedtheSintongateandfollowedthepathuntilthepictureinsidebecamevisible。ElnorahadtoldheraboutWesleytakingBillyhome。Mrs。ComstockhadsomecuriositytoseehowMargaretboretheunexpectedadditiontoherfamily。Billy\'svoice，raisedwithexcitement，wasplainlyaudible。ShecouldseeElnoraholdinghim，andhearhisexcitedwail。Wesley\'sfacewasdrawnandhaggard，andMargaret\'ssetanddefiant。AveryimpofperversityenteredthebreastofMrs。Comstock。

"Hoity，toity!"shesaidasshesuddenlyappearedinthedoor。"BlestifIeverheardamanmakingsoundslikethatbefore!"

Billyceasedsuddenly。Mrs。Comstockwastall，angular，andherhairwasprematurelywhite。Shewasonlythirty-six，althoughsheappearedfifty。Buttherewasanexpressiononherusuallycoldfacethatwasattractivejustthen，andBillywasinsearchofattractions。

"HaveIstayedtoolate，mother?"askedElnoraanxiously。

"Itrulyintendedtocomestraightback，butIthoughtIcouldrockBillytosleepfirst。Everythingisstrange，andhe\'ssonervous。"

"Isthatyourma?"demandedBilly。

"Yes。"

"Doessheloveyou?"

"Ofcourse!"

"Mymotherdidn\'tloveme，"saidBilly。"Shewentawayandleftme，andnevercameback。Shedon\'tcarewhathappenstome。Youwouldn\'tgoawayandleaveyourlittlegirl，wouldyou?"questionedBilly。

"No，"saidKatharineComstock，"andIwouldn\'tleavealittleboy，either。"

BillybeganslidingfromElnora\'sknees。

"Doyoulikeboys?"hequestioned。

"IfthereisanythingIloveitisaboy，"saidMrs。

Comstockassuringly。Billywasonthefloor。

"Doyoulikedogs?"

"Yes。Almostaswellasboys。IamgoingtobuyadogassoonasIcanfindagoodone。"

Billyswepttowardherwithawhoop。

"Doyouwantaboy?"heshouted。

KatharineComstockstretchedoutherarms，andgatheredhimin。

"Ofcourse，Iwantaboy!"sherejoiced。

"Maybeyou\'dliketohaveme?"offeredBilly。

"SureIwould，"triumphedMrs。Comstock。"Anyonewouldliketohaveyou。Youarejustarealboy，Billy。"

"WillyoutakeSnap?"

"I\'dliketohaveSnapalmostaswellasyou。"

"Mother!"breathedElnoraimploringly。"Don\'t!Oh，don\'t!

Hethinksyoumeanit!"

"AndsoIdomeanit，"saidMrs。Comstock。"I\'lltakehiminajiffy。Ithrowawayenoughtofeedalittletykelikehimeveryday。Hischatterwouldbegreatcompanywhileyouaregone。Bloodsooncanbepurifiedwithrightfoodandbaths，andasforSnap，Imeanttobuyabulldog，butpossiblySnapwillservejustaswell。

AllIaskofadogistobarkattherighttime。I\'lldotherest。Wouldyouliketocomeandbemyboy，Billy?"

BillyleanedagainstMrs。Comstock，reachedhisarmsaroundherneckandgrippedherwithallhispunymight。

"Youcanwhipmeallyouwantto，"hesaid。"Iwon\'tmakeasound。"

Mrs。Comstockheldhimcloselyandherhardfacewassoftening；ofthattherecouldbenodoubt。

"Now，whywouldanyonewhipanicelittleboylikeyou?"sheaskedwonderingly。

"She"——BillyfromhisrefugewavedtowardMargaret——"shewasgoingtowhipme\'causehercatsfought，whenItiedtheirtailstogetherandhungthemoverthelinetodry。HowdidIknowheroldcatswouldfight?"

Mrs。Comstockbegantolaughsuddenly，andtryasshewouldshecouldnotstopsosoonasshedesired。

Billystudiedher。

"Haveyougotturkeys?"hedemanded。

"Yes，flocksofthem，"saidMrs。Comstock，vainlystrugglingtosuppresshermirth，andsettleherfaceinitsaccustomedlines。

"Aretheirtailsfast?"demandedBilly。

"Why，Ithinkso，"marvelledMrs。Comstock。

"Hersain\'t!"saidBillywiththewavetowardMargaretthatwasbecomingfamiliar。"Herturkeypulled，anditstailcomedrightoff。She\'sgoingtowhipmeifheletsher。Ididn\'tknowtheturkeywouldpull。Ididn\'tknowitstailwouldcomeoff。Iwon\'tevertouchoneagain，willI?"

"Ofcourse，youwon\'t，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Andwhat\'smore，Idon\'tcareifyoudo!I\'dratherhaveafinelittlemanlikeyouthanalltheturkeysinthecountry。

Letthemlosetheiroldtailsiftheywantto，andletthecatsfight。Catsandturkeysdon\'tcomparewithboys，whoaregoingtobefinebigmensomeofthesedays。"

ThenBillyandMrs。Comstockhuggedeachotherrapturously，whiletheiraudiencestaredinsilentamazement。

"Youlikeboys!"exultedBilly，andhisheaddroppedagainstMrs。Comstockinunspeakablecontent。

"Yes，andifIdon\'thavetocarryyouthewholewayhome，wemuststartrightnow，"saidMrs。Comstock。

"Youaregoingtobeasleepbeforeyouknowit。"

Billyopenedhiseyesandbracedhimself。"Icanwalk，"hesaidproudly。

"Allright，wemuststart。Come，Elnora!Good-night，folks!"

Mrs。ComstocksetBillyonthefloor，andarosegrippinghishand。"Youtaketheotherside，Elnora，andwewillhelphimasmuchaswecan，"shesaid。

ElnorastaredpiteouslyatMargaret，thenatWesley，andaroseinwhite-facedbewilderment。

"Billy，areyougoingtoleavewithoutevensayinggood-

byetome?"askedWesley，withagulp。

BillyheldtighttoMrs。ComstockandElnora。

"Good-bye!"hesaidcasually。"I\'llcomeandseeyousometime。"

WesleySintongaveasmotheredsob，andstrodefromtheroom。

Mrs。Comstockstartedtowardthedoor，draggingatBillywhileElnorapulledback，butMrs。Sintonwasbeforethem，hereyesflashing。

"KateComstock，youthinkyouaremightysmart，don\'tyou?"shecried。

"Iain\'tinthelunaticasylum，whereyoubelong，anyway，"saidMrs。Comstock。"IamsmartenoughtotelladandyboywhenIseehim，andI\'mgoodandgladtogethim。I\'lllovetohavehim!"

"Well，youwon\'thavehim!"exclaimedMargaretSinton。

"ThatboyisWesley\'s!Hefoundhim，andbroughthimhere。

Youcan\'tcomeinandtakehimlikethat!Letgoofhim!"

"Notmuch，Iwon\'t!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Leavethepoorsicklittlesoulhereforyoutobeat，becausehedidn\'tknowjusthowtohandlethings!Ofcourse，he\'llmakemistakes。Hemusthavealotofteaching，butnotthekindhe\'llgetfromyou!Clearoutofmyway!"

"Youletgoofourboy，"orderedMargaret。

"Why?Doyouwanttowhiphim，beforehecangotosleep?"jeeredMrs。Comstock。

"No，Idon\'t!"saidMargaret。"He\'sWesley\'s，andnobodyshalltouchhim。Wesley!"

WesleySintonappearedbehindMargaretinthedoorway，andsheturnedtohim。"MakeKateComstockletgoofourboy!"shedemanded。

"Billy，shewantsyounow，"saidWesleySinton。"Shewon\'twhipyou，andshewon\'tletanyoneelse。Youcanhavestacksofgoodthingstoeat，rideinthecarriage，andhaveagreattime。Won\'tyoustaywithus?"

BillydrewawayfromMrs。ComstockandElnora。

HefacedMargaret，hiseyesshrewdwithunchildishwisdom。

Necessityhadtaughthimtostrikethehotiron，todrivethehardbargain。

"CanIhaveSnaptoliveherealways?"hedemanded。

"Yes，youcanhaveallthedogsyouwant，"saidMargaretSinton。

"CanIsleepcloseenoughso\'sIcantouchyou?"

"Yes，youcanmoveyourloungeupsothatyoucanholdmyhand，"saidMargaret。

"Doyoulovemenow?"questionedBilly。

"I\'lltrytoloveyou，ifyouareagoodboy，"saidMargaret。

"ThenIguessI\'llstay，"saidBilly，walkingovertoher。

OutinthenightElnoraandhermotherwentdowntheroadinthemoonlight；everyfewrodsMrs。Comstocklaughedaloud。

"Mother，Idon\'tunderstandyou，"sobbedElnora。

"Well，maybewhenyouhavegonetohighschoollongeryouwill，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Anyway，yousawmebringMagSintontohersenses，didn\'tyou?"

"Yes，Idid，"answeredElnora，"butIthoughtyouwereinearnest。SodidBilly，andUncleWesley，andAuntMargaret。"

"Well，wasn\'tI?"inquiredMrs。Comstock。

"ButyoujustsaidyoubroughtAuntMargaretto!"

"Well，didn\'tI?"

"Idon\'tunderstandyou。"

"That\'sthereasonIamrecommendingmoreschooling!"

Elnoratookhercandleandwenttobed。Mrs。Comstockwasfeelingtoogoodtosleep。Twiceoflateshereallyhadenjoyedherselfforthefirstinsixteenyears，andgreedinessformoreofthesamefeelingcreptintoherbloodlikeintoxication。Asshesatbroodingalonesheknewthetruth。ShewouldhavelovedtohavetakenBilly。

Shewouldnothavemindedhismischief，hischatter，orhisdog。

Hewouldhavemeantadistractionfromherselfthatshegreatlyneeded；shewasevensincereaboutthedog。

ShehadintendedtotellWesleytobuyheroneattheveryfirstopportunity。HerlastthoughtwasofBilly。

Shechuckledsoftly，forshewasnotsaintly，andnowsheknewhowshecouldevenalongscorewithMargaretandWesleyinamannerthatwouldfillhersoulwithgrimsatisfaction。

CHAPTERVIII

WHEREINTHELIMBERLOSTTEMPTSELNORA，ANDBILLY

BURIESHISFATHER

ImmediatelyafterdinneronSundayWesleySintonstoppedattheComstockgatetoaskifElnorawantedtogototownwiththem。Billysatbesidehimandhedidnotappearasifhewereonhiswaytoafuneral。

Elnorasaidshehadtostudyandcouldnotgo，butshesuggestedthathermothertakeherplace。Mrs。Comstockputonherhatandwentatonce，whichsurprisedElnora。

ShedidnotknowthathermotherwasanxiousforanopportunitytospeakwithSintonalone。Elnoraknewwhyshewasrepeatedlycautionednottoleavetheirland，ifshewentspecimenhunting。

Shestudiedtwohoursandwasseverallessonsaheadofherclasses。Therewasnousetogofurther。Shewouldtakeawalkandseeifshecouldgatheranycaterpillarsorfindanyfreshlyspuncocoons。Shesearchedthebushesandlowtreesbehindthegardenandallaroundtheedgeofthewoodsontheirland，andhavinglittlesuccess，atlastcametotheroad。AlmostthefirstthornbushsheexaminedyieldedaPolyphemuscocoon。Elnoraliftedherheadwiththeinstinctofahunteronthechase，andbeganwork。Shereachedtheswampbeforesheknewit，carryingfivefinecocoonsofdifferentspeciesasherreward。

Shepushedbackherhairandgazedaroundlongingly。Afewrodsinsideshethoughtshesawcocoonsonabush，towhichshewent，andfoundseveral。Senseofcautionwasrapidlyvanishing；shewasinafairwaytoforgeteverythingandplungeintotheswampwhenshethoughtsheheardfootstepscomingdownthetrail。Shewentback，andcameoutalmostfacingPeteCorson。

Thatendedherdifficulty。Shehadknownhimsincechildhood。

WhenshesatonthefrontbenchoftheBrushwoodschoolhouse，Petehadbeenoneofthebigboysatthebackoftheroom。

Hehadbeenroughandwild，butsheneverhadbeenafraidofhim，andoftenhehadgivenherprettythingsfromtheswamp。

"Whatluck!"shecried。"IpromisedmotherIwouldnotgoinsidetheswampalone，andwillyoulookatthecocoonsI\'vefound!Therearemorejustscreamingformetocomegetthem，becausetheleaveswillfallwiththefirstfrost，andthenthejaysandcrowswillbegintotearthemopen。Ihaven\'tmuchtime，sinceI\'mgoingtoschool。

Youwillgowithme，Pete!Pleasesayyes!Justalittleway!"

"Whatarethosethings?"askedtheman，hiskeenblackeyesstaringather。

"Theyarethecasesthesebigcaterpillarsspinforwinter，andinthespringtheycomeoutgreatnightmoths，andIcansellthem。Oh，Pete，IcansellthemforenoughtotakemethroughhighschoolanddressmesoliketheothersthatIdon\'tlookdifferent，andifIhaveverygoodluckIcansavesomeforcollege。Pete，pleasegowithme?"

"Whydon\'tyougolikeyoualwayshave?"

"Well，thetruthis，Ihadalittlescare，"saidElnora。

"Ineverdidmeantogoalone；sometimesIsortofwanderedinsidefartherthanIintended，chasingthings。YouknowDuncangavemeFreckles\'sbooks，andIhavebeengatheringmothslikehedid。LatelyIfoundIcouldsellthem。

IfIcanmakeacompletecollection，Icangetthreehundreddollarsforit。Threesuchcollectionswouldtakemealmostthroughcollege，andI\'vefouryearsinthehighschoolyet。That\'salongtime。Imightcollectthem。"

"Caneverykindthereisbefoundhere?"

"No，notallofthem，butwhenIgetmorethanIneedofonekind，Icantradethemwithcollectorsfarthernorthandwest，soIcancompletesets。It\'stheonlywayIseetoearnthemoney。LookwhatIhavealready。BiggrayCecropiascomefromthiskind；brownPolyphemusfromthat，andgreenLunasfromthese。Youaren\'tworkingonSunday。

Gowithmeonlyanhour，Pete!"

Themanlookedathernarrowly。Shewasyoung，wholesome，andbeautiful。Shewasinnocent，intenselyinearnest，andsheneededthemoney，heknewthat。

"Youdidn\'ttellmewhatscaredyou，"hesaid。

"Oh，IthoughtIdid!WhyyouknowIhadFreckles\'sboxpackedfullofmothsandspecimens，andoneeveningIsoldsometotheBirdWoman。NextmorningIfoundanotetellingmeitwasn\'tsafetogoinsidetheswamp。

Thatsortofscaredme。IthinkI\'llgoalone，ratherthanmissthechance，butI\'dbesohappyifyouwouldtakecareofme。ThenIcouldgoanywhereIchose，becauseifImiredyoucouldpullmeout。Youwilltakecareofme，Pete?"

"Yes，I\'lltakecareofyou，"promisedPeteCorson。

"Goody!"saidElnora。"Let\'sstartquick!AndPete，youlookattheseclosely，andwhenyouarehuntingorgoingalongtheroad，ifonedanglesunderyournose，youcutoffthelittletwigandsaveitforme，willyou?"

"Yes，I\'llsaveyouallIsee，"promisedPete。HepushedbackhishatandfollowedElnora。Sheplungedfearlesslyamongbushes，overunderbrush，andacrossdeadlogs。

Oneminuteshewascryingwildly，thatherewasabigone，thenextshewasreachingforalimbaboveherheadoronherkneesoverturningdeadleavesunderahickoryoroaktree，orworkingasideblackmuckwithherbarehandsasshesearchedforburiedpupaecases。ForthefirsthourPetebentbackbushesandfollowed，carryingwhatElnoradiscovered。Thenhefoundone。

"Isthisthekindofthingyouarelookingfor?"heaskedbashfully，ashepresentedawildcherrytwig。

"OhPete，that\'saPromethea!Ididn\'tevenhopetofindone。"

"What\'sthebirdlike?"askedPete。

"Almostblackwings，"saidElnora，"withclay-colourededges，andthemostwonderfulwine-colouredflushovertheundersideifit\'samale，andstrongerwineaboveandbelowifit\'safemale。Oh，aren\'tIhappy!"

"Howwoulditdotomakewhatyouhaveintoabunchthatwecouldleavehere，andcomebackforthem?"

"Thatwouldbeallright。"

RelievedofhisloadPetebeganwork。First，henarrowlyexaminedthecocoonsElnorahadfound。Hequestionedherastowhatotherkindswouldbelike。Hebegantousetheeyesofatrainedwoodmanandhunterinherbehalf。

Hesawseveralsoeasily，andmovedthroughtheforestsosoftly，thatElnoraforgotthemothsinwatchinghim。

Presentlyshewascarryingthespecimens，andhewasmakingthetripsofinvestigationtoseewhichwasacocoonandwhichacurledleaf，orhewasonhiskneesdiggingaroundstumps。Asheworkedhekeptaskingquestions。

Whatkindoflogswerebesttolookbeside，whattreeswerepupaecasesmostlikelytobeunder；onwhatbushesdidcaterpillarsspinmostfrequently?Timepassed，asitalwaysdoeswhenone\'soccupationisabsorbing。

WhentheSintonstookMrs。Comstockhome，theystoppedtoseeElnora。Shewasnotthere。Mrs。Comstockcalledattheedgeofherwoodsandreceivednoreply。

ThenWesleyturnedanddrovebacktotheLimberlost。

HeleftMargaretandMrs。ComstockholdingtheteamandentertainingBilly，whileheenteredtheswamp。

ElnoraandPetehadmadeawidetrailbehindthem。

BeforeSintonhadthoughtofcalling，heheardvoicesandapproachedwithsomecaution。SoonhesawElnora，herflushedfacebeamingasshebentwithanarmloadoftwigsandbranchesandtalkedtoakneelingman。

"Nowgocautiously!"shewassaying。"IamjustsurewewillfindanImperialishere。It\'stheirverykindofaplace。There!WhatdidItellyou!Isn\'tthatsplendid?

Oh，Iamsogladyoucamewithme!"

Wesleystoodstaringinspeechlessastonishment，forthemanhadarisen，brushedthedirtfromhishands，andheldouttoElnoraasmallshiningdarkpupacase。

AshisfacecameintoviewSintonalmostcriedout，forhewastheonemanofallothersWesleyknewwithwhomhemostfearedforElnora\'ssafety。Shehadhimonhiskneesdiggingpupaecasesforherfromtheswamp。

"Elnora!"calledSinton。"Elnora!"

"Oh，UncleWesley!"criedthegirl。"Seewhatluckwe\'vehad!Iknowwehaveadozenandahalfcocoonsandwehavethreepupaecases。It\'smuchhardertogetthecasesbecauseyouhavetodigforthem，andyoucan\'tseewheretolook。ButPeteisfineatit!He\'sfoundthree，andhesayshewillkeepwatchbesidetheroads，andthroughthewoodswhilehehunts。Isn\'tthatsplendidofhim?UncleWesley，thereisacollegeoverthereonthewesternedgeoftheswamp。Lookclosely，andyoucanseethegreatdomeupamongtheclouds。"

"Ishouldsayyouhavehadluck，"saidWesley，strivingtomakehisvoicenatural。"ButIthoughtyouwerenotcomingtotheswamp?"

"Well，Iwasn\'t，"saidElnora，"butIcouldn\'tfindmanyanywhereelse，honest，Icouldn\'t，andjustassoonasIcametotheedgeIbegantoseethemhere。Ikeptmypromise。Ididn\'tcomeinalone。Petecamewithme。