第9章

He\'ssostrong，heisn\'tafraidofanything，andhe\'sperfectlysplendidtolocatecocoons!He\'sfoundhalfofthese。Comeon，Pete，it\'sgettingdarknow，andwemustgo。"

Theystartedtowardthetrail，Petecarryingthecocoons。

Heleftthematthecase，whileElnoraandWesleywentontothecarriagetogether。

"ElnoraComstock，whatdoesthismean?"demandedhermother。

"It\'sallright，oneoftheneighbourswaswithher，andshegotseveraldollars\'worthofstuff，"interposedWesley。

"Yououghterseenmypa，"shoutedBilly。"Hewasistallwhitedout，andhelaidasstillasanything。

Theyputhimawaydeepintheground。"

"Billy!"breathedMargaretinaprolongedgroan。

"JimmyandBellearegoingtobetogetherinaniceplace。

Theyarecomingtoseeme，andSnapisrightdownherebythewheel。Here，Snap!My，buthe\'llbetickledtogetsomethingtoeat!He\'s\'mosttwistedasme。

Theygetnewclothes，andalltheywanttoeat，too，butthey\'llmissme。Theycouldn\'thavegotalongwithoutme。Itookcareofthem。Ihadalotofthingsgivetome\'causeIwasthelittlest，andIalwaysdividedwiththem。Buttheywon\'tneedmenow。"

WhensheleftthecarriageMrs。ComstockgravelyshookhandswithBilly。"Remember，"shesaidtohim，"Iloveboys，andIlovedogs。Wheneveryoudon\'thaveagoodtimeupthere，takeyourdogandcomerightdownandbemylittleboy。Wewilljusthaveloadsoffun。

YoushouldhearthewhistlesIcanmake。Ifyouaren\'ttreatedrightyoucomestraighttome。"

Billywaggedhisheadsagely。"YouistbetIwill!"

hesaid。

"Mother，howcouldyou?"askedElnoraastheywalkedupthepath。

"HowcouldI，missy?Youbetteraskhowcouldn\'tI?

Ijustcouldn\'t!Notforenoughtopay，myroadtax!

Notforenoughtopaytheroadtax，andthedredgetax，too!"

"AuntMargaretalwayshasbeenlovelytome，andI

don\'tthinkit\'sfairtoworryher。"

"IchoosetobelovelytoBilly，andlethersweatoutherownworriesjustasshehasme，thesesixteenyears。

Thereisnothinginallthisworldsogoodforpeopleastakingadoseoftheirownmedicine。ThedifferenceisthatIamhonest。IjustsayinplainEnglish，`iftheydon\'ttreatyouright，cometome。\'Theyhaveonlysaiditinactionsandinferences。IwanttoteachMagSintonhowherowndosestaste，butshebeginstosputterbeforeIfairlygetthespoontoherlips。Justyouwait!"

"WhenIthinkwhatIoweher——"beganElnora。

"Well，thankgoodness，Idon\'toweheranything，andsoI\'mperfectlyfreetodowhatIchoose。Comeon，andhelpmegetsupper。I\'mhungryasBilly!"

MargaretSintonrockedslowlybackandforthinherchair。

OnherbreastlayBilly\'sredhead，onehandclutchedherdressfrontwithspasmodicgrip，evenafterhewasunconscious。

"Youmustn\'tbeginthat，Margaret，"saidSinton。

"He\'stooheavy。Andit\'sbadforhim。He\'sbetterofftoliedownandgotosleepalone。"

"He\'sverylight，Wesley。Hejumpsandquiversso。

Hehastobestrongerthanheisnow，beforehewillsleepsoundly。"

CHAPTERIX

WHEREINELNORADISCOVERSAVIOLIN，ANDBILLYDISCIPLINESMARGARET

Elnoramissedthelittlefigureatthebridgethefollowingmorning。Sheslowlywalkedupthestreetandturnedinatthewideentrancetotheschoolgrounds。Shescarcelycouldcomprehendthatonlyaweekagoshehadgonetherefriendless，alone，andsosickatheartthatshewasphysicallyill。To-dayshehaddecentclothing，books，friends，andhermindwasateasetoworkonherstudies。

Assheapproachedhomethatnightthegirlpausedinamazement。Hermotherhadcompany，andshewaslaughing。

Elnoraenteredthekitchensoftlyandpeepedintothesitting-room。Mrs。Comstocksatinherchairholdingabookandeveryfewsecondsasoftchucklebrokeintoareallaugh。MarkTwainwasdoinghiswork；whileMrs。Comstockwasnotlackinginasenseofhumour。

Elnoraenteredtheroombeforehermothersawher。

Mrs。Comstocklookedupwithflushedface。

"Wheredidyougetthis?"shedemanded。

"Iboughtit，"saidElnora。

"Boughtit!Withallthetaxesdue!"

"IpaidforitoutofmyIndianmoney，mother，"saidElnora。

"Icouldn\'tbeartospendsomuchonmyselfandnothingatallonyou。IwasafraidtobuythedressIshouldhavelikedto，andIthoughtthebookwouldbecompany，whileIwasgone。Ihaven\'treadit，butIdohopeit\'sgood。"

"Good!It\'sthebiggestpieceoffoolishnessIhavereadinallmylife。I\'velaughedallday，eversinceI

foundit。Ihadanotiontogooutandreadsomeofittothecowsandseeiftheywouldn\'tlaugh。"

"Ifitmadeyoulaugh，it\'sawisebook，"saidElnora。

"Wise!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Youcanstakeyourlifeit\'sawisebook。Ittakesthesmartestmanthereistodothiskindoffooling，"andshebeganlaughingagain。

Elnora，highlysatisfiedwithherpurchase，wenttoherroomandputonherworkingclothes。Thereaftershemadeapointofbringingabookthatshethoughtwouldinteresthermother，fromthelibraryeveryweek，andleavingitonthesitting-roomtable。Eachnightshecarriedhomeatleasttwoschoolbooksandstudieduntilshehadmasteredthepointsofherlessons。Shedidhershareoftheworkfaithfully，andeveryavailableminuteshewasinthefieldssearchingforcocoons，forthemothspromisedtobecomeherlargestsourceofincome。

Shegatheredbasketsofnests，flowers，mosses，insects，andallsortsofnaturalhistoryspecimensandsoldthemtothegradeteachers。Atfirstshetriedtotelltheseinstructorswhattoteachtheirpupilsaboutthespecimens；

butrecognizinghowmuchmoresheknewthanthey，oneafteranotherbeggedhertostudyathome，andusehersparehoursinschooltoexhibitandexplainnaturesubjectstotheirpupils。Elnoralovedthework，andsheneededthemoney，foreveryfewdayssomematterofexpensearosethatshehadnotexpected。

Fromthefirstweekshehadbeenreceivedandinvitedwiththecrowdofgirlsinherclass，anditwastheircustominpassingthroughthebusinesspartofthecitytostopattheconfectioners\'andtaketurnsintreatingtoexpensivecandies，icecreamsodas，hotchocolate，orwhatevertheyfancied。WhenfirstElnorawasaskedsheacceptedwithoutunderstanding。Thesecondtimeshewentbecausesheseldomhadtastedthesethings，andtheyweresodeliciousshecouldnotresist。Afterthatshewentbecausesheknewallaboutit，andhaddecidedtogo。

Shehadspenthalfanhouronthelogbesidethetrailindeepthoughtandhadarrivedatherconclusions。

Sheworkedharderthanusualforthenextweek，butsheseemedtothriveonwork。ItwasOctoberandtheredleaveswerefallingwhenherfirsttimecametotreat。

AsthecrowdflockeddownthebroadwalkthatnightElnoracalled，"Girls，it\'smytreatto-night!Comeon!"

Sheledthewaythroughthecitytothegrocerytheypatronizedwhentheyhadasmallspread，andenteringcameoutwithabasket，whichshecarriedtothebridgeonherhomeroad。Thereshearrangedthegirlsintworowsonthecementabutmentsandopeningherbasketshegravelyofferedeachgirlanexquisitelittlebasketofbark，linedwithredleaves，inoneendofwhichnestledajuicybigredappleandintheotheraspicydoughnutnotanhourfromMargaretSinton\'sfryingbasket。

Anothertimesheofferedbigballsofpoppedcornstucktogetherwithmaplesugar，andliberallysprinkledwithbeechnutkernels。Againitwashickory-nutkernelsglazedwithsugar，anothertimemaplecandy，andonceabasketofwarmpumpkinpies。Shenevermadeanyapology，orofferedanyexcuse。Shesimplygavewhatshecouldafford，andthechangewasaswelcometothosecitygirlsaccustomedtosodasandFrenchcandy，aswerethesesamethingstoElnorasurfeitedonpopcornandpie。

Inherroomwasalittleslipcontainingarecordofthenumberofweeksintheschoolyear，thetimesitwouldbeherturntotreatandthedatesonwhichsuchoccasionswouldfall，withanumberofsuggestionsbesideeach。

Oncethegirlsalmostfoughtoverabasketlinedwithyellowleaves，andfilledwithfat，veryriperedhaws。

InlateOctobertherewasariotoveronewhichwaslinedwithredleavesandcontainedbigfragrantpawpawsfrost-bittentoaperfectdegree。Thenhazelnutswereripe，andoncetheyserved。OnedayElnoraatherwits\'

end，explainedtohermotherthatthegirlshadgivenherthingsandshewantedtotreatthem。Mrs。Comstock，withcharacteristicstubbornness，hadsaidshewouldleaveabasketatthegroceryforher，butfirmlydeclinedtosaywhatwouldbeinit。AlldayElnorastruggledtokeephermindonherbooks。Forhoursshewaveredintenseuncertainty。Whatwouldhermotherdo?Shouldshetakethegirlstotheconfectioner\'sthatnightorriskthebasket?Mrs。Comstockcouldmakedeliciousthingstoeat，butwouldshe?

AstheyleftthebuildingElnoramadeafinalrapidmentalcalculation。Shecouldnotseeherwaycleartoadecenttreatfortenpeopleforlessthantwodollarsandifthebasketprovedtobenice，thenthemoneywouldbewasted。Shedecidedtoriskit。Astheywenttothebridgethegirlswerebettingonwhatthetreatwouldbe，andcrowdingnearElnoralikespoiledsmallchildren。

Elnorasetdownthebasket。

"Girls，"shesaid，"Idon\'tknowwhatthisismyself，soallofusaregoingtobesurprised。Heregoes!"

Sheliftedthecoverandperfumesfromthelandofspicesrolledup。Inoneendofthebasketlaytenenormoussugarcakesthetopsofwhichhadbeenliberallydottedwithcirclescutfromstickcandy。Thecandyhadmeltedinbakingandmadesmalltransparentwellsofwaxysweetnessandinthecentreofeachcakewasafatturtlemadefromaraisinwithclovesforheadandfeet。Theremainderofthebasketwasfilledwithbigspicedpearsthatcouldbeheldbytheirstemswhiletheywereeaten。Thegirlsshriekedandattackedthecookies，andofallthetreatsElnoraofferedperhapsnonewasquitesolongrememberedasthat。

WhenElnoratookherbasket，placedherbooksinit，andstartedhome，allthegirlswentwithherasfarasthefencewhereshecrossedthefieldtotheswamp。Atpartingtheykissedhergood-bye。Elnorawasahappygirlasshehurriedhometothankhermother。Shewashappyoverherbooksthatnight，andhappyallthewaytoschoolthefollowingmorning。

Whenthemusicswelledfromtheorchestraherheartalmostbrokewiththrobbingjoy。Formusicalwayshadaffectedherstrangely，andsinceshehadbeencomfortableenoughinhersurroundingstonoticethings，shehadlistenedtoeverynotetofindwhatitwasthatliterallyhurtherheart，andatlastsheknew。Itwasthetalkingoftheviolins。Theywerehumanvoices，andtheyspokealanguageElnoraunderstood。Itseemedtoherthatshemustclimbuponthestage，taketheinstrumentsfromthefingersoftheplayersandmakethemspeakwhatwasinherheart。

Thatnightshesaidtohermother，"Iamperfectlycrazyforaviolin。IamsureIcouldplayone，sureasIlive。

Didanyone——"Elnoranevercompletedthatsentence。

"Hush!"thunderedMrs。Comstock。"Bequiet!

Nevermentionthosethingsbeforemeagain——neveraslongasyoulive!Iloathethem!Theyareasnareoftheverydevilhimself!Theyweremadetoluremenandwomenfromtheirhomesandtheirhonour。IfeverIseeyouwithoneinyourfingersIwillsmashitinpieces。"

NaturallyElnorahushed，butshethoughtofnothingelseaftershehadfinishedherlessons。Atlasttherecameadaywhenforsomereasontheleaderoftheorchestralefthisviolinonthegrandpiano。ThatmorningElnoramadeherfirstmistakeinalgebra。Atnoon，assoonasthebuildingwasempty，sheslippedintotheauditorium，foundthesidedoorwhichledtothestage，andgoingthroughthemusicians\'entranceshetooktheviolin。Shecarrieditbackintothelittlesideroomwheretheorchestraassembled，closedallthedoors，openedthecaseandliftedouttheinstrument。

Shelaiditonherbreast，droppedherchinonitanddrewthebowsoftlyacrossthestrings。Oneafteranothershetestedtheopennotes。Graduallyherstrokeceasedtotrembleandshedrewthebowfirmly。Thenherfingersbegantofallandsoftly，slowlyshesearchedupanddownthosestringsforsoundssheknew。Standinginthemiddleofthefloor，shetriedoverandover。Itseemedscarcelyaminutebeforethehallwasfilledwiththesoundofhurryingfeet，andshewasforcedtoputawaytheviolinandgotoherclasses。Thenextdaysheprayedthattheviolinwouldbeleftagain，butherpetitionwasnotanswered。

ThatnightwhenshereturnedfromtheschoolshemadeanexcusetogodowntoseeBilly。Hewasengagedinhullingwalnutsbydrivingthemthroughholesinaboard。HishandswereprotectedbyapairofMargaret\'soldgloves，buthehadspeckledhisfacegenerously。Heappearedwell，andgreetedElnorahilariously。

"Mean\'thesquirrelsarelayingupourwinterstores，"

heshouted。"Costhecoldiscoming，an\'thesnowan\'

ifwehaveanynutswehavetofix\'emnow。ButI\'mahead，cosUncleWesleymademethisboard，andIcanhullabigpilewhiletheoldsquirreldoesonlyistonewithhisteeth。"

Elnorapickedhimupandkissedhim。"Billy，areyouhappy?"sheasked。

"Yes，andso\'sSnap，"answeredBilly。"Yououghttoseehimmakethedirtflywhenhegetsafterachipmunk。

Ibetyouhecoulddiguppa，ifanybodywantedhimto。"

"Billy!"gaspedMargaretasshecameouttothem。

"Well，meandSnapdon\'twanthimup，andIbetyouJimmyandBelledon\'t，either。Iain\'tbeentwistyinsideoncesinceIbeenhere，andIdon\'twanttogoaway，andSnapdon\'t，either。Hetoldmeso。"

"Billy!Thatisnottrue。Dogscan\'ttalk，"

cautionedMargaret。

"Thenwhatmakesyouopenthedoorwhenheasksyouto?"

demandedBilly。

"Scratchingandwhiningisn\'ttalking。"

"Anyway，it\'sthebestSnapcantalk，andyougetupanddothingshewantsdone。Chipmunkscantalktoo。

YououghttohearthemdamnthingshollerwhenSnapgetsthem!"

"Billy!WhenyouwantacookyforsupperandIdon\'tgiveittoyouitisbecauseyousaidawrongword。"

"Well，for——"Billyclappedhishandoverhismouthandstainedhisfaceinswipes。"Well，for——anything!

DidIgoan\'forgetagain!Thecookieswillgetallhard，won\'tthey?IbetyoutendollarsIdon\'tsaythatanymore。"

HeespiedWesleyandrantoshowhimawalnuttoobigtogothroughtheholes，andElnoraandMargaretenteredthehouse。

TheytalkedofmanythingsforatimeandthenElnorasaidsuddenly:"AuntMargaret，Ilikemusic。"

"I\'venoticedthatinyouallyourlife，"answeredMargaret。

"Ifdogscan\'ttalk，Icanmakeaviolintalk，"announcedElnora，andtheninamazementwatchedthefaceofMargaretSintongrowpale。

"Aviolin!"shewavered。"Wheredidyougetaviolin?"

"Theyfairlyseemedtospeaktomeintheorchestra。

Onedaytheconductorlefthisintheauditorium，andI

tookit，andAuntMargaret，Icanmakeitdothewindintheswamp，thebirds，andtheanimals。IcanmakeanysoundIeverheardonit。IfIhadachancetopractisealittle，Icouldmakeitdotheorchestramusic，too。

Idon\'tknowhowIknow，butIdo。"

"Did——didyouevermentionittoyourmother?"

falteredMargaret。

"Yes，andsheseemsprejudicedagainstthem。Butoh，AuntMargaret，Ineverfeltsoaboutanything，notevengoingtoschool。IjustfeelasifI\'ddieifIdidn\'thaveone。Icouldkeepitatschool，andpractiseatnoonawholehour。Soonthey\'daskmetoplayintheorchestra。

Icouldkeepitinthecaseandpractiseinthewoodsinsummer。You\'dletmeplayoverhereSunday。

Oh，AuntMargaret，whatdoesonecost?Woulditbewickedformetotakeofmymoney，andbuyaverycheapone?

Icouldplayontheleastexpensiveonemade。"

That\'swhyIcan!Whereisit!Isitinourhouse?

Isitinmother\'sroom?"

"Elnora!"pantedMargaret。"Yourmotherwillkillme!

Shealwayshatedit。"

"Motherdearlylovesmusic，"saidElnora。

"Notwhenittookthemanshelovedawayfromhertomakeit!"

"Whereismyfather\'sviolin?"

"Elnora!"

"I\'veneverseenapictureofmyfather。I\'veneverheardhisnamementioned。I\'veneverhadascrapthatbelongedtohim。Washemyfather，oramIacharitychildlikeBilly，andsoshehatesme?"

"Shehasgoodpicturesofhim。Seemsshejustcan\'tbeartohearhimtalkedabout。Ofcourse，hewasyourfather。

Theylivedrighttherewhenyouwereborn。Shedoesn\'tdislikeyou；shemerelytriestomakeherselfthinkshedoes。There\'snosenseintheworldinyounothavinghisviolin。I\'veagreatnotion——"

"Hasmothergotit?"

"No。I\'veneverheardhermentionit。Itwasnotathomewhenhe——whenhedied。"

"Doyouknowwhereitis?"

"Yes。I\'mtheonlypersononearthwhodoes，excepttheonewhohasit。"

"Whoisthat?"

"Ican\'ttellyou，butIwillseeiftheyhaveityet，andgetitifIcan。Butifyourmotherfindsitoutshewillneverforgiveme。"

"Ican\'thelpit，"saidElnora。Iwantthatviolin。"

"I\'llgoto-morrow，andseeifithasbeendestroyed。"

"Destroyed!Oh，AuntMargaret!Wouldanyonedare?"

"Ihardlythinkso。Itwasagoodinstrument。Heplayeditlikeamaster。"

"Tellme!"breathedElnora。

"Hishairwasredandcurledmorethanyours，andhiseyeswereblue。Hewastall，slim，andtheveryimpofmischief。Hejokedandteasedalldayuntilhepickedupthatviolin。Thenhisheadbentoverit，andhiseyesgotbigandearnest。Heseemedtolistenasifhefirstheardthenotes，andthencopiedthem。Sometimeshedrewthebowtrembly，likehewasn\'tsureitwasright，andhemighthavetotryagain。Hecouldalmostdriveyoucrazywhenhewantedto，andnomanthateverlivedcouldmakeyoudanceashecould。Hemadeitallupashewent。

Heseemedtolistenforhisdancingmusic，too。Itappearedtocometohim；he\'dbegintoplayandyouhadtokeeptime。

Youcouldn\'tbestill；helovedtosweepacrowdaroundwiththatbowofhis。Ithinkitwasthethingyoucallinspiration。

Icanseehimnow，hishandsomeheadbent，hischeeksred，hiseyessnapping，andthatbowgoingacrossthestrings，anddrivinguslikesheep。Healwayskepthisbodyswinging，andhelovedtoplay。Heoftenslightedhisworkshamefully，andsometimesheralittle；thatiswhyshehatedit——Elnora，whatareyoumakingmedo?"

ThetearswererollingdownElnora\'scheeks。"Oh，AuntMargaret，"shesobbed。"Whyhaven\'tyoutoldmeabouthimsooner?Ifeelasifyouhadgivenmyfathertomeliving，sothatIcouldtouchhim。Icanseehim，too!

Whydidn\'tyouevertellmebefore?Goon!Goon!"

"Ican\'t，Elnora!I\'mscaredsilly。Inevermeanttosayanything。IfIhadn\'tpromisedhernottotalkofhimtoyoushewouldn\'thaveletyoucomehere。

Shemademeswearit。"

"Butwhy?Why?Washeashame?Washedisgraced?"

"Maybeitwasthatunjustfeelingthattookpossessionofherwhenshecouldn\'thelphimfromtheswamp。Shehadtoblamesomeone，orgocrazy，soshetookitoutonyou。

Attimes，thosefirsttenyears，ifIhadtalkedtoyou，andyouhadrepeatedanythingtoher，shemighthavestruckyoutoohard。Shewasnotmasterofherself。

Youmustbepatientwithher，Elnora。Godonlyknowswhatshehasgonethrough，butIthinksheisalittlebetter，lately。"

"SodoI，"saidElnora。"Sheseemsmoreinterestedinmyclothes，andshefixesmesuchdeliciouslunchesthatthegirlsbringfinecandiesandcakeandbegtotrade。Igavehalfmylunchforaboxofcandyoneday，broughtithometoher，andtoldher。Since，shehaswantedmetocarryamarketbasketandtreatthecrowdeveryday，shewassopleased。Lifehasbeentoomonotonousforher。

Ithinksheenjoyseventhelittlechangemadebymygoingandcoming。ShesitsuphalfthenighttoreadthelibrarybooksIbring，butsheissostubbornshewon\'tevenadmitthatshetouchesthem。Tellmemoreaboutmyfather。"

"WaituntilIseeifIcanfindtheviolin。"

SoElnorawenthomeinsuspense，andthatnightsheaddedtoherprayers:"DearLord，bemercifultomyfather，andoh，dohelpAuntMargarettogethisviolin。"

WesleyandBillycameintosuppertiredandhungry。

Billyateheartily，buthiseyesoftenrestedonaplateoftemptingcookies，andwhenWesleyofferedthemtotheboyhereachedforone。Margaretwascompelledtoexplainthatcookieswereforbiddenthatnight。

"What!"saidWesley。"Wrongwordsbeencomingagain。

OhBilly，Idowishyoucouldremember!Ican\'tsitandeatcookiesbeforealittleboywhohasnone。

I\'llhavetoputmineback，too。"Billy\'sfacetwistedindespair。

"Awgoon!"hesaidgruffly，buthischinwasjumping，forWesleywashisidol。

"Can\'tdoit，"saidWesley。"Itwouldchokeme。"

BillyturnedtoMargaret。"Youmakehim，"heappealed。

"Hecan\'t，Billy，"saidMargaret。"Iknowhowhefeels。

Yousee，Ican\'tmyself。"

ThenBillyslidfromhischair，rantothecouch，buriedhisfaceinthepillowandcriedheart-brokenly。Wesleyhurriedtothebarn，andMargarettothekitchen。WhenthedisheswerewashedBillyslippedfromthebackdoor。

Wesleypilinghayintothemangersheardasoundbehindhimandinquired，"Thatyou，Billy?"

"Yes，"answeredBilly，"andit\'sallsodarkyoucan\'tseemenow，isn\'tit?"

"Well，mightynear，"answeredWesley。

"Thenyoustoopdownandopenyourmouth。"

Sintonhadsharedbitesofappleandnutsforweeks，forBillyhadnotlearnedhowtoeatanythingwithoutdividingwithJimmyandBelle。Sincehehadbeenseparatedfromthem，hesharedwithWesleyandMargaret。Sohebentovertheboyandreceivedaninstalmentofcookythatalmostchokedhim。

"Nowyoucaneatit!"shoutedBillyindelight。

"It\'salldark!Ican\'tseewhatyou\'redoingatall!"

Wesleypickedupthesmallfigureandsettheboyonthebackofahorsetobringhisfacelevelsothattheycouldtalkasmen。HenevertoweredfromhisheightaboveBilly，butalwaysliftedthelittlesoulwhenimportantmattersweretobediscussed。

"Nowwhatadandyscheme，"hecommented。"DidyouandAuntMargaretfixitup?"

"No。Sheain\'thadhersyet。ButIgotoneforher。

Istassoonasyoueatyours，Iamgoingtotakehers，andfeedherfirsttimeIfindherinthedark。"

"ButBilly，wheredidyougetthecookies?YouknowAuntMargaretsaidyouwerenottohaveany。"

"Iisttookthem，"saidBilly，"Ididn\'ttakethemforme。

Iisttookthemforyouandher。"

Wesleythoughtfast。Inthewarmdarknessofthebarnthehorsescrunchedtheircorn，aratgnawedatacornerofthegranary，andamongtheraftersthewhitepigeoncooedasoftsleepynotetohisduskymate。

"Did——did——Isteal?"waveredBilly。

Wesley\'sbighandscloseduntilhealmosthurttheboy。

"No!"hesaidvehemently。"Thatistoobigaword。

Youmadeamistake。Youweretryingtobeafinelittleman，butyouwentatitthewrongway。Youonlymadeamistake。Allofusdothat，Billy。Theworldgrowsthatway。Whenwemakemistakeswecanseethem；

thatteachesustobemorecarefulthenexttime，andsowelearn。"

"Howwouldn\'titbeamistake?"

"IfyouhadtoldAuntMargaretwhatyouwantedtodo，andaskedherforthecookiesshewouldhavegiventhemtoyou。"

"ButIwas\'fraidshewouldn\'t，andyouisthadtohaveit。"

"Notifitwaswrongformetohaveit，Billy。Idon\'twantitthatmuch。"

"MustItakeitback?"

"Youthinkhard，anddecideyourself。"

"Liftmedown，"saidBilly，afterasilence，"Igottoputthisinthejar，andtellher。"

Wesleysettheboyonthefloor，butashedidsohepausedonesecondandstrainedhimclosetohisbreast。

Margaretsatinherchairsewing；Billyslippedinandcreptbesideher。Thelittlefacewaslinedwithtragedy。

"WhyBilly，whateveristhematter?"shecriedasshedroppedhersewingandheldoutherarms。Billystoodback。

Hegrippedhislittlefiststightandsquaredhisshoulders。

"Igottobeshutupinthecloset，"hesaid。

"OhBilly!Whatanunluckyday!Whathaveyoudonenow?"

"Istold!"gulpedBilly。"Hesaiditwasistamistake，butitwasworser\'anthat。ItooksomethingyoutoldmeIwasn\'ttohave。"

"Stole!"Margaretwasindespair。"What，Billy?"

"Cookies!"answeredBillyinequaltrouble。

"Billy!"wailedMargaret。"Howcouldyou?"

"Itwasforhimandyou，"sobbedBilly。"Hesaidhecouldn\'teatit\'foreme，butoutinthebarnit\'salldarkandIcouldn\'tsee。Ithoughtmaybehecouldthere。

Thenwemightputoutthelightandyoucouldhaveyours。

HesaidIonlymadeitworse，cosImustn\'ttakethings，soIgottogointhecloset。Willyouholdmetightalittlebitfirst?Hedid。"

MargaretopenedherarmsandBillyrushedinandclungtoherafewseconds，withalltheforceofhisbeing，thenheslippedtothefloorandmarchedtothecloset。

Margaretopenedthedoor。Billygaveoneglanceatthelight，clinchedhisfistsand，walkinginside，climbedonabox。Margaretclosedthedoor。

Thenshesatandlistened。Wastheairpureenough?

Possiblyhemightsmother。Shehadreadsomethingonce。

Wasitverydark?Whatifthereshouldbeamouseintheclosetanditshouldrunacrosshisfootandfrightenhimintospasms。Somewhereshehadheard——

Margaretleanedforwardwithtensefaceandlistened。

Somethingdreadfulmighthappen。Shecouldbearitnolonger。Shearosehurriedlyandopenedthedoor。

Billywasdrawnupontheboxinalittleheap，andheliftedadisapprovingfacetoher。

"Shutthatdoor!"hesaid。"Iain\'tbeeninherenearlongenoughyet!"

CHAPTERX

WHEREINELNORAHASMOREFINANCIALTROUBLES，ANDMRS。COMSTOCKAGAINHEARSTHESONGOFTHELIMBERLOST

ThefollowingnightElnorahurriedtoSintons\'。

ShethrewopenthebackdoorandwithanxiouseyessearchedMargaret\'sface。

"Yougotit!"pantedElnora。"Yougotit!Icanseebyyourfacethatyoudid。Oh，giveittome!"

"Yes，Igotit，honey，Igotitallright，butdon\'tbesofast。Ithadbeenkeptinsuchadampplaceitneededglueing，ithadtohavestrings，andakeywasgone。

Iknewhowmuchyouwantedit，soIsentWesleyrighttotownwithit。Theysaidtheycouldfixitgoodasnew，butitshouldbevarnished，andthatitwouldtakeseveraldaysforthegluetoset。YoucanhaveitSaturday。"

"Youfounditwhereyouthoughtitwas?Youknowit\'shis?"

"Yes，itwasjustwhereIthought，andit\'sthesameviolinI\'veseenhimplayhundredsoftimes。It\'sallright，onlylayingsolongitneedsfixing。"

"OhAuntMargaret!CanIeverwait?"

"Itdoesseemalongtime，buthowcouldIhelpit?

Youcouldn\'tdoanythingwithitasitwas。Yousee，ithadbeenhiddenawayinagarret，anditneededcleaninganddryingtomakeitfittoplayagain。YoucanhaveitSaturdaysure。ButElnora，you\'vegottopromisemethatyouwillleaveithere，orintown，andnotletyourmothergetahintofit。Idon\'tknowwhatshe\'ddo。"

"UncleWesleycanbringithereuntilMonday。ThenIwilltakeittoschoolsothatIcanpractiseatnoon。Oh，I

don\'tknowhowtothankyou。Andthere\'smorethantheviolinforwhichtobethankful。You\'vegivenmemyfather。

LastnightIsawhimplainlyaslife。"

"Elnorayouweredreaming!"

"IknowIwasdreaming，butIsawhim。Isawhimsocloselythatatinywhitescaratthecornerofhiseyebrowshowed。Iwasjustreachingouttotouchhimwhenhedisappeared。"

"Whotoldyoutherewasascaronhisforehead?"

"Nooneeverdidinallmylife。Isawitlastnightashewentdown。Andoh，AuntMargaret!Isawwhatshedid，andIheardhiscries!Nomatterwhatshedoes，Idon\'tbelieveIevercanbeangrywithheragain。Herheartisbroken，andshecan\'thelpit。Oh，itwasterrible，butIamgladIsawit。Now，Iwillalwaysunderstand。"

"Idon\'tknowwhattomakeofthat，"saidMargaret。

Idon\'tbelieveinsuchstuffatall，butyoucouldn\'tmakeitup，foryoudidn\'tknow。"

"IonlyknowthatIplayedtheviolinlastnight，asheplayedit，andwhileIplayedhecamethroughthewoodsfromthedirectionofCarneys\'。Itwassummerandalltheflowerswereinbloom。Heworegraytrousersandablueshirt，hisheadwasbare，andhisfacewasbeautiful。Icouldalmosttouchhimwhenhesank。"

Margaretstoodperplexed。"Idon\'tknowwhattothinkofthat!"sheejaculated。"Iwasnexttothelastpersonwhosawhimbeforehewasdrowned。ItwaslateonaJuneafternoon，andhewasdressedasyoudescribe。

Hewasbareheadedbecausehehadfoundaquail\'snestbeforethebirdbegantobrood，andhegatheredtheeggsinhishatandleftitinafencecornertogetonhiswayhome；theyfounditafterward。"

"WashecomingfromCarneys\'?"

"Hewasonthatsideofthequagmire。Whyheeverskirteditsocloseastogetcaughtisamysteryyouwillhavetodreamout。Inevercouldunderstandit。"

"Washedoingsomethinghedidn\'twantmymothertoknow?"

"Why?"

"Becauseifhehadbeen，hemighthavecutclosetheswampsohecouldn\'tbeseenfromthegarden。Youknow，thewholepathstraighttothepoolwherehesankcanbeseenfromourbackdoor。It\'sfirmonourside。

Thedangerisonthenorthandeast。Ifhedidn\'twantmothertoknow，hemighthavetriedtopassoneitherofthosesidesandgonetooclose。Washeinahurry?"

"Yes，hewas，"saidMargaret。"Hehadbeenawaylongerthanheexpected，andhealmostranwhenhestartedhome。"

"Andhe\'dlefthisviolinsomewherethatyouknew，andyouwentandgotit。I\'llwagerhewasgoingtoplay，anddidn\'twantmothertofinditout!"

"Itwouldn\'tmakeanydifferencetoyouifyoukneweverylittlething，soquitthinkingaboutit，andjustbegladyouaretohavewhathelovedbestofanything。"

"That\'strue。NowImusthurryhome。Iamdreadfullylate。"