第10章

Elnorasprangupandrandowntheroad，butwhensheapproachedthecabinsheclimbedthefence，crossedtheopenwoodspasturediagonallyandenteredatthebackgardengate。Assheoftencamethatwaywhenshehadbeenlookingforcocoonshermotheraskednoquestions。

ElnoralivedbytheminuteuntilSaturday，when，contrarytohisusualcustom，Wesleywenttotownintheforenoon，takingheralongtobuysomegroceries。

Wesleydrovestraighttothemusicstore，andaskedfortheviolinhehadlefttobemended。

Initsnewcoatofvarnish，withnewkeysandstrings，itseemedmuchlikeanyotherviolintoSinton，buttoElnoraitwasthemostbeautifulinstrumentevermade，andapricelesstreasure。Shehelditinherarms，touchedthestringssoftlyandthenshedrewthebowacrosstheminwhisperingmeasure。Shehadnotimetothinkwhataremarkablygoodbowitwasforsixteenyears\'disuse。

Thetanleathercasemighthaveimpressedherasbeinginfineconditionalso，hadshebeeninastatetoquestionanything。Shedidremembertoaskforthebillandshewasgravelypresentedwithaslipcallingforfourstrings，onekey，andacoatofvarnish，total，onedollarfifty。ItseemedtoElnorashenevercouldputthepreciousinstrumentinthecaseandstarthome。Wesleyleftherinthemusicstorewheretheproprietorshowedherallhecouldabouttuning，andgaveherseveralbeginners\'

sheetsofnotesandscales。Shecarriedtheviolininherarmsasfarasthecrossroadsatthecorneroftheirland，thenreluctantlyputitunderthecarriageseat。

AssoonasherworkwasdonesherandowntoSintons\'

andbegantoplay，andonMondaytheviolinwenttoschoolwithher。Shemadearrangementswiththesuperintendenttoleaveitinhisofficeandscarcelytooktimeforherfoodatnoon，shewassoeagertopractise。Oftenoneofthegirlsaskedhertostayintownallnightforsomelectureorentertainment。Shecouldtaketheviolinwithher，practise，andsecurehelp。Herskillwassogreatthattheleaderoftheorchestraofferedtogiveherlessonsifshewouldplaytopayforthem，soherprogresswasrapidintechnicalwork。Butfromthefirstdaytheinstrumentbecamehers，withperfectfaiththatshecouldplayasherfatherdid，shespenthalfherpracticetimeinimitatingthesoundsofalloutdoorsandimprovisingthesongsherhappyheartsanginthosedays。

Sothefirstyearwent，andthesecondandthirdwerearepetition；butthefourthwasdifferent，forthatwasthecloseofthecourse，endingwithgraduationandallitsattendantceremoniesandexpenses。ToElnoratheseappearedmountainhigh。Shehadhoardedeverycent，thinkingtwicebeforeshepartedwithapenny，butteachingnaturalhistoryinthegradeshadtakentimefromherstudiesinschoolwhichmustbemadeupoutside。Shewasaconscientiousstudent，rankingfirstinmostofherclasses，andstandinghighinallbranches。Herinterestinherviolinhadgrownwiththeyears。Shewenttoschoolearlyandpractisedhalfanhourinthelittleroomadjoiningthestage，whiletheorchestragathered。Sheputinafullhouratnoon，andremainedanotherhalfhouratnight。

ShecarriedtheviolintoSintons\'onSaturdayandpractisedallthetimeshecouldthere，whileMargaretwatchedtheroadtoseethatMrs。Comstockwasnotcoming。Shehadbecomesoskilfulthatitwasadelighttohearherplaymusicofanycomposer，butwhensheplayedherown，thatwasjoyinexpressible，forthenthewindblew，thewaterrippled，theLimberlostsanghersongsofsunshine，shadow，blackstorm，andwhitenight。

SinceherdreamElnorahadregardedhermotherwithpeculiartenderness。Thegirlrealized，inameasure，whathadhappened。Sheavoidedanythingthatpossiblycouldstirbittermemoriesordrawdeeperalineonthehard，whiteface。Thiscostmanysacrifices，muchwork，andsometimesdelayedprogress，butthehorrorofthatawfuldreamremainedwithElnora。Sheworkedherwaycheerfully，doingallshecouldtointeresthermotherinthingsthathappenedinschool，inthecity，andbycarryingbooksthatwereentertainingfromthepubliclibrary。

ThreeyearshadchangedElnorafromthegirlofsixteentotheveryvergeofwomanhood。Shehadgrowntall，round，andherfacehadthelovelinessofperfectcomplexion，beautifuleyesandhairandanaddedtouchfromwithinthatmighthavebeencalledcomprehension。

Itwasacompoundofself-reliance，hardknocks，hearthunger，unceasingwork，andgenerosity。Therewasnoformofsufferingwithwhichthegirlcouldnotsympathize，noworkshewasafraidtoattempt，nosubjectshehadinvestigatedshedidnotunderstand。Thesethingscombinedtoproduceabreadthanddepthofcharacteraltogetherunusual。

Shewassoabsorbedinherclassesandhermusicthatshehadnotbeenabletogathermanyspecimens。Whensherealizedthisandhuntedassiduously，shesoonfoundthatchangingnaturalconditionshadaffectedsuchwork。

Menallaroundwereclearingavailableland。Thetreesfellwherevercornwouldgrow。Theswampwasbrokenbyseveralgravelroads，dottedinplacesaroundtheedgewithlittleframehouses，andthemachineryofoilwells；

oneespeciallylowplacearoundtheregionofFreckles\'sroomwasnearlyallthatremainedoftheoriginal。

Whereverthetreesfellthemoisturedried，thecreeksceasedtoflow，theriverranlow，andattimesthebedwasdry。Withunbrokensweepthewindsofthewestcame，gatheringforcewitheverymileandhowledandraved；threateningtoteartheshinglesfromtheroof，blowingthesurfacefromthesoilincloudsoffinedustandrapidlychangingeverything。Fromcominginwithtwoorthreedozenraremothsinaday，inthreeyears\'timeElnorahadgrowntobedelightedwithfindingtwoorthree。

Bigpursycaterpillarscouldnotbepickedfromtheirfavouritebushes，whentherewerenobushes。Dragonflieswouldnothoveroverdryplaces，andbutterfliesbecamescarceinproportiontotheflowers，whilenolandyieldsoverthreecropsofIndianrelics。

Allthetimetheexpenseofbooks，clothingandincidentalshadcontinued。Elnoraaddedtoherbankaccountwhenevershecould，anddrewoutwhenshewascompelled，butsheomittedtheimportantfeatureofcallingforabalance。So，oneearlyspringmorninginthelastquarterofthefourthyear，shealmostfaintedwhenshelearnedthatherfundsweregone。Commencementwithitsextraexpensewascoming，shehadnomoney，andveryfewcocoonstoopeninJune，whichwouldbetoolate。ShehadonecollectionfortheBirdWomancompletetoapairofImperialismoths，andthatwasheronlyasset。OnthedaysheaddedthesebigYellowEmperorsshehadbeenpromisedacheckforthreehundreddollars，butshewouldnotgetituntilthesespecimensweresecured。

SherememberedthatsheneverhadfoundanEmperorbeforeJune。

Moreover，thatsumwasforherfirstyearincollege。

Thenshewouldbeofage，andshemeanttosellenoughofhershareofherfather\'slandtofinish。Sheknewhermotherwouldopposeherbitterlyinthat，forMrs。

Comstockhadclungtoeveryacreandtreethatbelongedtoherhusband。Herlandwasalmostcompleteforestwhereherneighboursownedclearedfarms，dottedwithwellsthateveryhoursuckedoilfrombeneathherholdings，butshewastooabsorbedinthegriefshenursedtoknoworcare。

TheBrushwoodroadandtheredredgingofthebigLimberlostditchhadbeenmorethanshecouldpayfromherincome，andshehadtrembledbeforethewicketassheaskedthebankerifshehadfundstopayit，andwonderedwhyhelaughedwhenheassuredhershehad。ForMrs。Comstockhadspentnotimeoncompoundinginterest，andneveraddedthesumsshehadbeendepositingthroughnearlytwentyyears。Nowshethoughtherfundswerealmostgone，andeverydaysheworriedoverexpenses。

Shecouldseenoreasoningoingthroughtheformsofgraduationwhenpupilshadallintheirheadsthatwasrequiredtograduate。Elnoraknewshehadtohaveherdiplomainordertoenterthecollegeshewantedtoattend，butshedidnotdareuttertheword，untilhighschoolwasfinished，for，insteadofsofteningasshehopedhermotherhadbeguntodo，sheseemedtoremainverymuchthesame。

Whenthegirlreachedtheswampshesatonalogandthoughtovertheexpenseshewascompelledtomeet。

Everymemberofherparticularsetwashavingalargephotographtakentoexchangewiththeothers。Elnoralovedthesegirlsandboys，andtosayshecouldnothavetheirpicturestokeepwasmorethanshecouldendure。

Eachonewouldgivetoalltheothersahandsomegraduationpresent。Sheknewtheywouldpreparegiftsforherwhethershecouldmakeapresentinreturnornot。

Thenitwasthecustomforeachgraduatingclasstogiveagreatentertainmentandusethefundstopresenttheschoolwithastatuefortheentrancehall。Elnorahadbeencastforandwaspractisingapartinthatperformance。Shewasexpectedtofurnishherdressandpersonalnecessities。

Shehadbeentoldthatshemusthaveagreengauzedress，andwherewasittocomefrom?

EverygirloftheclasswouldhavethreebeautifulnewfrocksforCommencement:oneforthebaccalaureatesermon，another，whichcouldbeplain，forgraduationexercises，andahandsomeoneforthebanquetandball。

Elnorafacedthepastthreeyearsandwonderedhowshecouldhavespentsomuchmoneyandnotkeptaccountofit。

Shedidnotrealizewhereithadgone。Shedidnotknowwhatshecoulddonow。Shethoughtoverthephotographs，andatlastsettledthatquestiontohersatisfaction。Shestudiedlongeroverthegifts，tenhandsomeonestheremustbe，andatlastdecidedshecouldarrangeforthem。Thegreendresscamefirst。

Thelightswouldbediminthescene，andthesettingdeepwoods。Shecouldmanagethat。Shesimplycouldnothavethreedresses。Shewouldhavetogetaverysimpleoneforthesermonanddothebestshecouldforgraduation。

Whatevershegotforthatmustbemadewithaguimpethatcouldbetakenouttomakeitalittlemorefestivefortheball。Butwherecouldshegeteventwoprettydresses?

TheonlyhopeshecouldseewastobreakintothecollectionofthemanfromIndia，sellsomemoths，andtrytoreplacetheminJune。Butinhersoulsheknewthatneverwoulddo。NoJuneeverbroughtjustthethingsshehopeditwould。Ifshespentthecollegemoneysheknewshecouldnotreplaceit。Ifshedidnot，theonlywaywastosecurearoominthegradesandteachayear。HerworktherehadbeensoappreciatedthatElnorafeltwiththerecommendationsheknewshecouldgetfromthesuperintendentandteachersshecouldsecureaposition。

Shewassureshecouldpasstheexaminationseasily。

ShehadoncegoneonSaturday，takenthemandsecuredalicenseforayearbeforeshelefttheBrushwoodschool。

Shewantedtostarttocollegewhentheothergirlsweregoing。

Ifshecouldmakethefirstyearalone，shecouldmanagetheremainder。Butmakethatfirstyearherself，shemust。

Insteadofsellinganyofhercollection，shemusthuntassheneverbeforehadhuntedandfindaYellowEmperor。

Shehadtohaveit，thatwasall。Also，shehadtohavethosedresses。ShethoughtofWesleyanddismissedit。

ShethoughtoftheBirdWoman，andknewshecouldnottellher。Shethoughtofeverywayinwhichsheeverhadhopedtoearnmoneyandrealizedthatwiththeplay，committeemeetings，practising，andfinalexaminationsshescarcelyhadtimetolive，muchlesstodomorethantheworkrequiredforherpicturesandgifts。AgainElnorawasintrouble，andthistimeitseemedtheworstofall。

Itwasdarkwhenshearoseandwenthome。

"Mother，"shesaid，"Ihaveapieceofnewsthatisdecidedlynotcheerful。"

"Thenkeepittoyourself!"saidMrs。Comstock。"IthinkIhaveenoughtobearwithoutagreatgirllikeyoupilingtroubleonme。"

"Mymoneyisallgone!"saidElnora。

"Well，didyouthinkitwouldlastforever?It\'sbeenamarveltomethatit\'sheldoutaswellasithas，thewayyou\'vedressedandgone。"

"Idon\'tthinkI\'vespentanythatIwasnotcompelledto，"saidElnora。"I\'vedressedonjustaslittleasI

possiblycouldtokeepgoing。Iamheartsick。IthoughtIhadoverfiftydollarstoputmethroughCommencement，buttheytellmeitisallgone。"

"Fiftydollars!ToputyouthroughCommencement!

Whatonearthareyouproposingtodo?"

"Thesameastherestofthem，intheverycheapestwaypossible。"

"Andwhatmightthatbe?"

Elnoraomittedthephotographs，thegiftsandtheplay。

Shetoldonlyofthesermon，graduationexercises，andtheball。

"Well，Iwouldn\'ttroublemyselfoverthat，"sniffedMrs。Comstock。"Ifyouwanttogotoasermon，putonthedressyoualwaysuseformeeting。Ifyouneedwhitefortheexerciseswearthenewdressyougotlastspring。

Asfortheball，thebestthingforyoutodoistostayamileawayfromsuchfolly。Inmyopinionyou\'dbestbringhomeyourbooks，andquitrightnow。Youcan\'tbefixedliketherestofthem，don\'tbesofoolishastorunintoit。Juststayhereandlettheselastfewdaysgo。Youcan\'tlearnenoughmoretobeofanyaccount。"

"But，mother，"gaspedElnora。"Youdon\'tunderstand!"

"Oh，yes，Ido!"saidMrs。Comstock。"Iunderstandperfectly。

Solongasthemoneylasted，youheldupyourhead，andwentsailingwithoutevenexplaininghowyougotitfromthestuffyougathered。GoodnessknowsIcouldn\'tsee。

Butnowit\'sgone，youcomewhiningtome。WhathaveIgot?

Haveyouforgotthattheditchandtheroadcompletelystrappedme?Ihaven\'tanymoney。There\'snothingforyoutodobutgetoutofit。"

"Ican\'t!"saidElnoradesperately。"I\'vegoneontoolong。

Itwouldmakeabreakineverything。Theywouldn\'tletmehavemydiploma!"

"What\'sthedifference?You\'vegotthestuffinyourhead。

Iwouldn\'tgivearapforascrapofpaper。Thatdon\'tmeananything!"

"ButI\'veworkedfouryearsforit，andIcan\'tenter——

Ioughttohaveittohelpmegetaschool，whenIwanttoteach。IfIdon\'thavemygradestoshow，peoplewillthinkIquitbecauseIcouldn\'tpassmyexaminations。

Imusthavemydiploma!"

"Thengetit!"saidMrs。Comstock。

"Theonlywayistograduatewiththeothers。"

"Well，graduateifyouareboundto!"

"ButIcan\'t，unlessIhavethingsenoughliketheclass，thatIdon\'tlookasIdidthatfirstday。"

"Well，pleaserememberIdidn\'tgetyouintothis，andIcan\'tgetyouout。Youaresetonhavingyourownway。Goon，andhaveit，andseehowyoulikeit!"

Elnorawentupstairsanddidnotcomedownagainthatnight，whichhermothercalledpouting。

"I\'vethoughtallnight，"saidthegirlatbreakfast，"andIcan\'tseeanywaybuttoborrowthemoneyofUncleWesleyandpayitbackfromsomethattheBirdWomanwilloweme，whenIgetonemorespecimen。

ButthatmeansthatIcan\'tgoto——thatIwillhavetoteachthiswinter，ifIcangetacitygradeoracountryschool。"

"JustyoudaregodingingafterWesleySintonformoney，"

criedMrs。Comstock。"Youwon\'tdoanysuchathing!"

"Ican\'tseeanyotherway。I\'vegottohavethemoney!"

"Quit，Itellyou!"

"Ican\'tquit!——I\'vegonetoofar!"

"Wellthen，letmegetyourclothes，andyoucanpaymeback。"

"Butyousaidyouhadnomoney!"

"MaybeIcanborrowsomeatthebank。ThenyoucanreturnitwhentheBirdWomanpaysyou。"

"Allright，"saidElnora。"Idon\'tneedexpensivethings。

Justsomekindofaprettycheapwhitedressforthesermon，andawhiteonealittlebetterthanIhadlastsummer，forCommencementandtheball。IcanusethewhiteglovesandshoesIgotmyselfforlastyear，andyoucangetmydressmadeatthesameplaceyoudidthatone。

Theyhavemymeasurements，anddoperfectwork。

Don\'tgetexpensivethings。ItwillbewarmsoIcangobareheaded。"

Thenshestartedtoschool，butwassotiredanddiscouragedshescarcelycouldwalk。Fouryears\'plansgoinginoneday!Forshefeltthatifshedidnotstarttocollegethatfallsheneverwould。Insteadoffeelingrelievedathermother\'soffer，shewasalmosttooilltogoon。Forthethousandthtimeshegroaned:"Oh，whydidn\'tIkeepaccountofmymoney?"

Afterthatthedayspassedsoswiftlyshescarcelyhadtimetothink，butseveraltripshermothermadetotown，andtheassurancethateverythingwasallright，satisfiedElnora。Sheworkedveryhardtopassgoodfinalexaminationsandperfectherselffortheplay。

FortwodaysshehadremainedintownwiththeBirdWomaninordertospendmoretimepractisingandatherwork。

OftenMargarethadaskedaboutherdressesforgraduation，andElnorahadrepliedthattheywerewithawomaninthecitywhohadmadeherawhitedressforlastyear\'sCommencementwhenshewasajuniorusher，andtheywouldbeallright。SoMargaret，Wesley，andBillyconcernedthemselvesoverwhattheywouldgiveherforapresent。

Margaretsuggestedabeautifuldress。Wesleysaidthatwouldlooktoeveryoneasifsheneededdresses。

Thethingwastogetahandsomegiftlikealltheotherswouldhave。Billywantedtopresentherafive-dollargoldpiecetobuymusicforherviolin。HewaspositiveElnorawouldlikethatbestofanything。

Itwastowardthecloseofthetermwhentheydrovetotownoneeveningtotrytosettlethisimportantquestion。

TheyknewMrs。Comstockhadbeenaloneseveraldays，sotheyaskedhertoaccompanythem。Shehadbeenmorelonelythanshewouldadmit，filledwithunusualunrestbesides，andsoshewasgladtogo。ButbeforetheyhaddrivenamileBillyhadtoldthattheyweregoingtobuyElnoraagraduationpresent，andMrs。Comstockdevoutlywishedthatshehadremainedathome。ShewaspreparedwhenBillyasked:"AuntKate，whatareyougoingtogiveElnorawhenshegraduates?"

"Plentytoeat，agoodbedtosleepin，anddoalltheworkwhileshetrollops，"answeredMrs。Comstockdryly。

Billyreflected。"Iguessallofthemhavethat，"hesaid。

"Imeanapresentyoubuyatthestore，likeChristmas?"

"Itisonlyrichfolkswhobuypresentsatstores，"

repliedMrs。Comstock。"Ican\'taffordit。"

"Well，weain\'trich，"hesaid，"butwearegoingtobuyElnorasomethingasfineastherestofthemhaveifwesellacornerofthefarm。UncleWesleysaidso。"

"Afoolandhislandaresoonparted，"saidMrs。

Comstocktersely。WesleyandBillylaughed，butMargaretdidnotenjoytheremark。

Whiletheyweresearchingthestoresforsomethingonwhichallofthemcoulddecide，andMargaretwasholdingBillytokeephimfromsayinganythingbeforeMrs。Comstockaboutthemusiconwhichhewasdetermined，Mr。BrownleemetWesleyandstoppedtoshakehands。

"Iseeyourboycameoutfinely，"hesaid。

"Idon\'tallowanyboyanywheretobefinerthanBilly，"

saidWesley。

"Iguessyoudon\'tallowanygirltosurpassElnora，"

saidMr。Brownlee。"ShecomeshomewithEllenoften，andmywifeandIloveher。Ellensayssheisgreatinherpartto-night。Bestthinginthewholeplay!Ofcourse，youareintoseeit!Ifyouhaven\'treservedseats，you\'dbetterstartprettysoon，forthehighschoolauditoriumonlyseatsathousand。It\'salwaysjammedatthesehome-

talentplays。Allofuswanttoseehowourchildrenperform。"

"Whyyes，ofcourse，"saidthebewilderedWesley。

ThenhehurriedtoMargaret。"Say，"hesaid，"thereisgoingtobeaplayatthehighschoolto-night；andElnoraisinit。Whyhasn\'tshetoldus?"

"Idon\'tknow，"saidMargaret，"butI\'mgoing。"

"SoamI，"saidBilly。

"Metoo!"saidWesley，"unlessyouthinkforsomereasonshedoesn\'twantus。Lookslikeshewouldhavetoldusifshehad。I\'mgoingtoaskhermother。"

"Yes，that\'swhat\'sshe\'sbeenstayingintownfor，"saidMrs。Comstock。"It\'ssomesortofaswindletoraisemoneyforherclasstobuysomesillythingtostickupintheschoolhousehalltorememberthemby。Idon\'tknowwhetherit\'snowornextweek，butthere\'ssomethingofthekindtobedone。"

"Well，it\'sto-night，"saidWesley，"andwearegoing。

It\'smytreat，andwe\'vegottohurryorwewon\'tgetin。

Therearereservedseats，andwehavenone，soit\'sthegalleryforus，butIdon\'tcaresoIgettotakeonegoodpeepatElnora。"

"S\'posesheplays?"whisperedMargaretinhisear。

"Aw，tush!Shecouldn\'t!"saidWesley。

"Well，she\'sbeendoingitthreeyearsintheorchestra，andworkinglikeaslaveatit。"

"Oh，wellthat\'sdifferent。She\'sintheplayto-night。

Brownleetoldmeso。Comeon，quick!We\'lldriveandhitchclosestplacewecanfindtothebuilding。"

Margaretwentintheexcitementofthemoment，butshewastroubled。

WhentheyreachedthebuildingWesleytiedtheteamtoarailingandBillysprangouttohelpMargaret。

Mrs。Comstocksatstill。

"Comeon，Kate，"saidWesley，reachinghishand。

"I\'mnotgoinganywhere，"saidMrs。Comstock，settlingcomfortablybackagainstthecushions。

Allofthembeggedandpleaded，butitwasnouse。NotaninchwouldMrs。Comstockbudge。Thenightwaswarmandthecarriagecomfortable，thehorsesweresecurelyhitched。

Shedidnotcaretoseewhatidioticthingapackofschoolchildrenweredoing，shewouldwaituntiltheSintonsreturned。

Wesleytoldheritmightbetwohours，andshesaidshedidnotcareifitwerefour，sotheylefther。

"Didyoueverseesuch——?"

"Cookies!"criedBilly。

"Suchblamedstubbornnessinallyourlife?"demandedWesley。

"Won\'tcometoseeasfineagirlasElnorainastageperformance。Why，Iwouldn\'tmissitforfiftydollars!

"Ithinkit\'sablessingshedidn\'t，"saidMargaretplacidly。

"Ibeggedunusuallyhardsoshewouldn\'t。I\'mscaredofmylifeforfearElnorawillplay。"

Theyfoundseatsnearthedoorwheretheycouldseefairlywell。Billystoodatthebackofthehallandhadagoodview。Byandby，agreatvolumeofsoundwelledfromtheorchestra，butElnorawasnotplaying。

"Toldyouso!"saidSinton。"GotanotiontogooutandseeifKatewon\'tcomenow。Shecantakemyseat，andI\'llstandwithBilly。"

"Yousitstill!"saidMargaretemphatically。"Thisisnotoveryet。"

SoWesleyremainedinhisseat。Theplayopenedandprogressedverymuchasallhighschoolplayshavegoneforthepastfiftyyears。ButElnoradidnotappearinanyofthescenes。

Outinthewarmsummernightasour，grimwomannursedanachingheartandtriedtojustifyherself。

Theeffortirritatedherintensely。Shefeltthatshecouldnotaffordthethingsthatwerebeingdone。

TheoldfearoflosingthelandthatsheandRobertComstockhadpurchasedandstartedclearingwasstronguponher。Shewasthinkingofhim，howsheneededhim，whentheorchestramusicpouredfromtheopenwindowsnearher。Mrs。Comstockendureditaslongasshecould，andthenslippedfromthecarriageandfleddownthestreet。

Shedidnotknowhowfarshewentorhowlongshestayed，buteverythingwasstill，saveanoccasionalraisedvoicewhenshewanderedback。Shestoodlookingatthebuilding。Slowlysheenteredthewidegatesandfollowedupthewalk。Elnorahadbeencominghereforalmostfouryears。WhenMrs。Comstockreachedthedoorshelookedinside。Thewidehallwaslightedwithelectricity，andthestatuaryandthedecorationsofthewallsdidnotseemlikepiecesoffoolishness。Themarbleappearedpure，white，andthebigpicturesmostinteresting。

Shewalkedthelengthofthehallandslowlyreadthetitlesofthestatuesandthenamesofthepupilswhohaddonatedthem。

ShespeculatedonwherethepieceElnora\'sclasswouldbuycouldbeplacedtoadvantage。

Thenshewonderediftheywerehavingalargeenoughaudiencetobuymarble。Shelikeditbetterthanthebronze，butitlookedasifitcostmore。Howwhitethebroadstairwaywas!Elnorahadbeenclimbingthosestairsforyearsandnevertoldhertheyweremarble。

Ofcourse，shethoughttheywerewood。Probablytheupperhallwasevengranderthanthis。Shewentovertothefountain，tookadrink，climbedtothefirstlandingandlookedaroundher，andthenwithoutthoughttothesecond。

Thereshecameoppositethewide-opendoorsandtheentrancetotheauditoriumpackedwithpeopleandacrowdstandingoutside。Whentheynoticedatallwomanwithwhitefaceandhairandblackdress，onebyonetheysteppedalittleaside，sothatMrs。Comstockcouldseethestage。Itwascoveredwithcurtains，andnoonewasdoinganything。Justassheturnedtogoasoundsofaintthateveryoneleanedforwardandlistened，drifteddowntheauditorium。Itwasdifficulttotelljustwhatitwas；afteroneinstanthalftheaudiencelookedtowardthewindows，foritseemedonlyabreathofwindrustlingfreshlyopenedleaves；merelyahintofstirringair。

Thenthecurtainsweresweptasideswiftly。Thestagehadbeentransformedintoalovelylittlecornerofcreation，wheretreesandflowersgrewandmosscarpetedtheearth。

Asoftwindblewanditwasthegrayofdawn。Suddenlyarobinbegantosing，thenasongsparrowjoinedhim，andthenseveraloriolesbegantalkingatonce。Thelightgrewstronger，thedewdropstrembled，flowerperfumebegantocreepouttotheaudience；theairmovedthebranchesgentlyandaroostercrowed。Thenallthescenewasshakenwithababelofbirdnotesinwhichyoucouldhearacardinalwhistling，andabluefinchpiping。Backsomewhereamongthehighbranchesadovecooedandthenahorseneighedshrilly。Thatsetablackbirdcrying，"T\'check，"

andawholeflockansweredit。Thecrowsbegantocawandalambbleated。Thenthegrosbeaks，chats，andvireoshadsomethingtosay，andthesunrosehigher，thelightgrewstrongerandthebreezerustledthetreetopsloudly；acowbawledandthewholebarnyardanswered。

Theguineaswereclucking，theturkeygobblerstrutting，thehenscalling，thechickenscheeping，thelightstreameddownstraightoverheadandthebeesbegantohum。Theairstirredstrongly，andawayinanunseenfieldareaperclackedandrattledthroughripeningwheatwhilethedriverwhistled。Anuneasymarewhickeredtohercolt，thecoltanswered，andthelightbegantodecline。

Milesawayaroostercrowedfortwilight，andduskwascomingdown。Thenacatbirdandabrownthrushsangagainstagrosbeakandahermitthrush。Theairwastremulouswithheavenlynotes，thelightswentoutinthehall，dusksweptacrossthestage，acricketsangandakatydidanswered，andawoodpeweewrungtheheartwithitslonesomecry。Thenanighthawkscreamed，awhip-

poor-willcomplained，abelatedkilldeersweptthesky，andthenightwindsangaloudersong。Alittlescreechowltunedupinthedistance，abarnowlreplied，andagreathornedowldrownedboththeirvoices。Themoonshoneandthescenewaswarmwithmellowlight。Thebirdvoicesdiedandsoftexquisitemelodybegantoswellandroll。Inthecentreofthestage，piecebypiecethegrasses，mossesandleavesdroppedfromanembankment，thefoliagesoftlyblewaway，whileplainerandplainercametheoutlinesofalovelygirlfiguredrapedinsoftclinginggreen。Inhershowerofbrighthairafewgreenleavesandwhiteblossomsclung，andtheyfelloverherrobedowntoherfeet。Herwhitethroatandarmswerebare，sheleanedforwardalittleandswayedwiththemelody，hereyesfastonthecloudsaboveher，herlipsparted，apinktingeofexerciseinhercheeksasshedrewherbow。Sheplayedasonlyapeculiarchainofcircumstancesputsitinthepowerofaveryfewtoplay。

Allnaturehadgrownstill，theviolinsobbed，sang，dancedandquaveredonalone，novoiceinparticular；

thesoulofthemelodyofallnaturecombinedinonegreatoutpouring。

Atthedoorway，awhite-facedwomanendureditaslongasshecouldandthenfellsenseless。Themennearestcarriedherdownthehalltothefountain，revivedher，andthenplacedherinthecarriagetowhichshedirectedthem。

Thegirlplayedonandneverknew。Whenshefinished，theuproarofapplausesoundedablockdownthestreet，butthehalf-senselesswomanscarcelyrealizedwhatitmeant。

Thenthegirlcametothefrontofthestage，bowed，andliftingtheviolinsheplayedherconceptionofaninvitationtodance。Everylivingsoulwithinsoundofhernotesstrainedtheirnervestositstillandletonlytheirheartsdancewithher。Whenthatbeganthewomanrantowardthecountry。Sheneverstoppeduntilthecarriageovertookherhalf-waytohercabin。Shesaidshehadgrowntiredofsitting，andwalkedonahead。ThatnightsheaskedBillytoremainwithherandsleeponElnora\'sbed。

Thenshepitchedheadlonguponherown，andsufferedagonyofsoulsuchassheneverbeforehadknown。

Theswamphadsentbackthesoulofherloveddeadandputitintothebodyofthedaughtersheresented，anditwasalmostmorethanshecouldendureandlive。

CHAPTERXI

WHEREINELNORAGRADUATES，ANDFRECKLESANDTHEANGELSENDGIFTS

ThatwasFridaynight。ElnoracamehomeSaturdaymorningandbeganwork。Mrs。Comstockaskednoquestions，andthegirlonlytoldherthattheaudiencehadbeenlargeenoughtomorethanpayforthepieceofstatuarytheclasshadselectedforthehall。Thensheinquiredaboutherdressesandwastoldtheywouldbereadyforher。ShehadbeeninvitedtogototheBirdWoman\'stoprepareforboththesermonandCommencementexercises。Sincetherewassomuchpractisingtodo，ithadbeenarrangedthatsheshouldremaintherefromthenightofthesermonuntilaftershewasgraduated。IfMrs。ComstockdecidedtoattendshewastodriveinwiththeSintons。WhenElnorabeggedhertocomeshesaidshecarednothingaboutsuchsilliness。

ItwasalmosttimeforWesleytocometotakeElnoratothecity，whenfreshfromherbath，anddressedtoheroutergarment，shestoodwithexpectantfacebeforehermotherandcried:"Nowmydress，mother!"

Mrs。Comstockwaspaleasshereplied:"It\'sonmybed。

Helpyourself。"

Elnoraopenedthedoorandsteppedintohermother\'sroomwithneveramisgiving。SincethenightMargaretandWesleyhadbroughtherclothing，whenshefirststartedtoschool，hermotherhadselectedallofherdresses，withMrs。Sinton\'shelpmademostofthem，andElnorahadpaidthebills。Thewhitedressofthepreviousspringwasthefirstmadeatadressmaker\'s。ShehadwornthatasjuniorusheratCommencement；buthermotherhadselectedthematerial，haditmade，andithadfittedperfectlyandhadbeensuitableineveryway。Sowithherheartatrestonthatpoint，Elnorahurriedtothebedtofindonlyherlastsummer\'swhitedress，freshlywashedandironed。Foraninstantshestaredatit，thenshepickedupthegarment，lookedatthebedbeneathit，andhergazeslowlyswepttheroom。

Itwasunfamiliar。Perhapsthiswasthethirdtimeshehadbeeninitsinceshewasaverysmallchild。Hereyesrangedoverthebeautifulwalnutdresser，thetallbureau，thebigchest，insidewhichsheneverhadseen，andtherowofmasculineattirehangingaboveit。Somewhereadaintylawnormulldresssimplymustbehanging:butitwasnot。Elnoradroppedonthechestbecauseshefelttooweaktostand。Inlessthantwohoursshemustbeinthechurch，atOnabasha。Shecouldnotwearalastyear\'swasheddress。Shehadnothingelse。Sheleanedagainstthewallandherfather\'sovercoatbrushedherface。

Shecaughtthefoldsandclungtoitwithallhermight。

"Ohfather!Father!"shemoaned。"Ineedyou!Idon\'tbelieveyouwouldhavedonethis!"Atlastsheopenedthedoor。

"Ican\'tfindmydress，"shesaid。

"Well，asit\'stheonlyonethereIshouldn\'tthinkitwouldbemuchtrouble。"

"Youmeanformetowearanoldwasheddressto-night?"

"It\'sagooddress。Thereisn\'taholeinit!There\'snoreasononearthwhyyoushouldn\'twearit。"

"ExceptthatIwillnot，"saidElnora。"Didn\'tyouprovideanydressforCommencement，either?"

"Ifyousoilthatto-night，I\'veplentyoftimetowashitagain。"

Wesley\'svoicecalledfromthegate。

"Inaminute，"answeredElnora。

Sheranupstairsandinanincrediblyshorttimecamedownwearingoneofherginghamschooldresses。Herfacecoldandhard，shepassedhermotherandwentintothenight。HalfanhourlaterMargaretandBillystoppedforMrs。Comstockwiththecarriage。Shehaddeterminedfullythatshewouldnotgobeforetheycalled。Withthesoundoftheirvoicesasortofhorrorofbeingleftseizedher，sosheputonherhat，lockedthedoorandwentouttothem。

"HowdidElnoralook?"inquiredMargaretanxiously。

"Likeshealwaysdoes，"answeredMrs。Comstockcurtly。

"Idohopeherdressesareasprettyastheothers，"

saidMargaret。"Noneofthemwillhaveprettierfacesornicerways。"

Wesleywaswaitingbeforethebigchurchtotakecareoftheteam。Astheystoodwatchingthepeopleenterthebuilding，Mrs。Comstockfeltherselfgrowingill。Whentheywentinsideamongthelights，sawtheflower-deckedstage，andthemassesoffinelydressedpeople，shegrewnobetter。

ShecouldhearMargaretandBillysoftlycommentingonwhatwasbeingdone。

"ThatfirstchairintheveryfrontrowisElnora\'s，"

exultedBilly，"cosshe\'sgotthehighestgrades，andsoshegetstoleadtheprocessiontotheplatform。"

"Thefirstchair!""Leadtheprocession!"Mrs。Comstockwasdumbfounded。Thenotesofthepipeorganbegantofillthebuildinginaslowrollingmarch。WouldElnoraleadtheprocessioninaginghamdress?Orwouldshebeabsentandherchairvacantonthisgreatoccasion?Fornow，Mrs。

Comstockcouldseethatitwasagreatoccasion。EveryonewouldrememberhowElnorahadplayedafewnightsbefore，andtheywouldmissherandpityher。Pity?Becauseshehadnoonetocareforher。Becauseshewasworseoffthanifshehadnomother。Forthefirsttimeinherlife，Mrs。Comstockbegantostudyherselfasshewouldappeartoothers。

Everytimeajuniorgirlcameflutteringdowntheaisle，leadingsomeonetoaseat，andMrs。Comstocksawabeautifulwhitedresspass，awaveofpositiveillnesssweptoverher。

Whathadshedone?WhatwouldbecomeofElnora?

AsElnorarodetothecity，sheansweredWesley\'squestionsinmonosyllablessothathethoughtshewasnervousorrehearsingherspeechanddidnotcaretotalk。

Severaltimesthegirltriedtotellhimandrealizedthatifshesaidthefirstworditwouldbringuncontrollabletears。

TheBirdWomanopenedthescreenandstaredunbelievingly。

"Why，Ithoughtyouwouldbeready；youaresolate!"

shesaid。"Ifyouhavewaitedtodresshere，wemusthurry。"

"Ihavenothingtoputon，"saidElnora。

InbewildermenttheBirdWomandrewherinside。

"Did——did——"shefaltered。"Didyouthinkyouwouldwearthat?"

"No。IthoughtIwouldtelephoneEllenthattherehadbeenanaccidentandIcouldnotcome。Idon\'tknowyethowtoexplain。I\'mtoosicktothink。Oh，doyousupposeIcangetsomethingmadebyTuesday，sothatIcangraduate?"

"Yes；andyou\'llgetsomethingonyouto-night，sothatyoucanleadyourclass，asyouhavedoneforfouryears。

Gotomyroomandtakeoffthatgingham，quickly。Anna，dropeverything，andcomehelpme。"

TheBirdWomanrantothetelephoneandcalledEllenBrownlee。

"Elnorahashadanaccident。Shewillbealittlelate，"

shesaid。"Youhavegottomakethemwait。Havethemplayextramusicbeforethemarch。"

Thensheturnedtothemaid。"TellBensontohavethecarriageatthegate，justassoonashecangetitthere。

Thencometomyroom。Bringthethreadboxfromthesewing-room，thatrollofwidewhiteribbononthecuttingtable，andgatherallthewhitepinsfromeverydresserinthehouse。Butfirstcomewithmeaminute。"

"IwantthattrunkwiththeSwampAngel\'sstuffinit，fromthecedarcloset，"shepantedastheyreachedthetopofthestairs。

TheyhurrieddownthehalltogetheranddraggedthebigtrunktotheBirdWoman\'sroom。Sheopeneditandbegantossingoutwhitestuff。

"Howluckythatsheleftthesethings!"shecried。

"Herearewhiteshoes，gloves，stockings，fans，everything!"

"Iamallreadybutadress，"saidElnora。

TheBirdWomanbeganopeningclosetsandpullingoutdrawersandboxes。

"IthinkIcanmakeitthisway，"shesaid。

Shesnatchedupacreamylaceyokewithlongsleevesthatrecentlyhadbeenmadeforherandhelditout。

Elnoraslippedintoit，andtheBirdWomanbegansmoothingoutwrinklesandsewinginpins。Itfittedverywellwithalittlelappingintheback。Next，fromamongtheAngel\'sclothingshecaughtupawhitesilkwaistwithlowneckandelbowsleeves，andElnoraputiton。Itwaslargeenough，butdistressinglyshortinthewaist，fortheAngelhadwornitatapartywhenshewassixteen。TheBirdWomanloosenedthesleevesandpushedthemtoapuffontheshoulders，catchingtheminplaceswithpins。

Shebeganonthewidedrapingoftheyoke，fasteningitfront，backandateachshoulder。Shepulleddownthewaistandpinnedit。Nextcameasoftwhitedressskirtofherown。BypinningherwaistbandquitefourinchesaboveElnora\'s，theBirdWomancouldsecureaperfectEmpiresweep，withtheclingingsilk。Thenshebeganwiththewidewhiteribbonthatwastotrimanewfrockforherself，bounditthreetimesaroundthehighwaisteffectshehadmanaged，tiedtheendsinaknotandletthemfalltothefloorinabeautifulsash。

"Iwantfourwhiteroses，eachwithtwoorthreeleaves，"shecried。

Annarantobringthem，whiletheBirdWomanaddedpins。

"Elnora，"shesaid，"forgiveme，buttellmetruly。Isyourmothersopoorastomakethisnecessary?"

"No，"answeredElnora。"NextyearIamheirtomyshareofoverthreehundredacresoflandcoveredwithalmostasvaluabletimberaswasintheLimberlost。Weadjoinit。

Therecouldbethirtyoilwellsdrilledthatwouldyieldtousthethousandsourneighboursaredrainingfromunderus，andthebarelandisworthoveronehundreddollarsanacreforfarming。Sheisnotpoor，sheis——Idon\'tknowwhatsheis。Agreattroublesouredandwarpedher。

Itmadeherpeculiar。Shedoesnotintheleastunderstand，butitisbecauseshedoesn\'tcareto，insteadofignorance。