第11章

Shedoesnot——"

Elnorastopped。

"Sheis——isdifferent，"finishedthegirl。

Annacamewiththeroses。TheBirdWomansetoneonthefrontofthedrapedyoke，oneoneachshoulderandthelastamongthebrightmassesofbrownhair。Thensheturnedthegirlfacingthetallmirror。

"Oh!"pantedElnora。"Youareagenius!Why，I

willlookaswellasanyofthem。"

"Thankgoodnessforthat!"criedtheBirdWoman。

"Ifitwouldn\'tdo，Ishouldhavebeenill。Youarelovely；

altogetherlovely!OrdinarilyIshouldn\'tsaythat；butwhenIthinkofhowyouarecarpentered，I\'madmiringtheresult。"

Theorganbeganrollingoutthemarchastheycameinsight。

Elnoratookherplaceattheheadoftheprocession，whileeveryonewondered。Secretlytheyhadhopedthatshewouldbedressedwellenough，thatshewouldnotappearpoorandneglected。Whatthisradiantyoungcreature，gownedinthemostrecentstyle，hersmoothskinflushedwithexcitement，andarose-setcoronetofredgoldonherhead，hadtodowiththegirltheyknewwasdifficulttodecide。ThesignalwasgivenandElnorabegantheslowmarchacrossthevestryanddowntheaisle。Themusicwelledsoftly，andMargaretbegantosobwithoutknowingwhy。

Mrs。Comstockgrippedherhandstogetherandshuthereyes。ItseemedaneternitytothesufferingwomanbeforeMargaretcaughtherarmandwhispered，"Oh，Kate!

Foranysakelookather!Here!Theaisleacross!"

Mrs。Comstockopenedhereyesanddirectingthemwhereshewastold，gazedintently，andsliddowninherseatclosetocollapse。ShewassavedbyMargaret\'stenseclaspandhercommand:"Here!Idiot!Stopthat!"

IntheblazeoflightElnoraclimbedthestepstothepalm-emboweredplatform，crosseditandtookherplace。

Sixtyyoungmenandwomen，eachofthemdressedthebestpossible，followedher。Thereweremanly，fine-

lookingmeninthatclasswhichElnoraled。Thereweregirlsofbeautyandgrace，butnotoneofthemwashandsomerorclothedinbettertastethanshe。

BillythoughtthetimeneverwouldcomewhenElnorawouldseehim，butatlastshemethiseye，thenMargaretandWesleyhadfaintsignsofrecognitioninturn，buttherewasnosofteningofthegirl\'sfaceandnohintofasmilewhenshesawhermother。

Heartsick，KatharineComstocktriedtoprovetoherselfthatshewasjustifiedinwhatshehaddone，butshecouldnot。ShetriedtoblameElnorafornotsayingthatshewastoleadaprocessionandsitonaplatforminthesightofhundredsofpeople；butthatwasimpossible，forsherealizedthatshewouldhavescoffedandnotunderstoodifshehadbeentold。Herheartpaineduntilshesufferedwitheverybreath。

Whenatlasttheexerciseswereoversheclimbedintothecarriageandrodehomewithoutaword。ShedidnothearwhatMargaretandBillyweresaying。ShescarcelyheardWesley，whodrovebehind，whenhetoldherthatElnorawouldnotbehomeuntilWednesday。EarlythenextmorningMrs。ComstockwasonherwaytoOnabasha。

ShewaswaitingwhentheBrownleestoreopened。

Sheexaminedready-madewhitedresses，buttheyhadonlyoneoftherightsize，anditwasmarkedfortydollars。

Mrs。Comstockdidnothesitateovertheprice，butwhetherthedresswouldbesuitable。ShewouldhavetoaskElnora。

SheinquiredherwaytothehomeoftheBirdWomanandknocked。

"IsElnoraComstockhere?"sheaskedthemaid。

"Yes，butsheisstillinbed。Iwastoldtolethersleepaslongasshewould。"

"MaybeIcouldsithereandwait，"saidMrs。Comstock。

"Iwanttoseeaboutgettingheradressforto-morrow。

Iamhermother。"

"Thenyoudon\'tneedwaitorworry，"saidthegirlcheerfully。

"Therearetwowomenupinthesewing-roomatworkonadressforherrightnow。Itwillbedoneintime，anditwillbeabeauty。"

Mrs。ComstockturnedandtrudgedbacktotheLimberlost。

Thebitternessinhersoulbecameaphysicalactuality，whichwaterwouldnotwashfromherlips。Shewastoolate!Shewasnotneeded。Anotherwomanwasmotheringhergirl。AnotherwomanwouldprepareabeautifuldresssuchasElnorahadwornthepreviousnight。

Thegirl\'sloveandgratitudewouldgotoher。Mrs。Comstocktriedtheoldprocessofblamingsomeoneelse，butshefeltnobetter。Shenursedhergriefascloselyaseverinthelongdaysofthegirl\'sabsence。ShebroodedoverElnora\'spossessionoftheforbiddenviolinandherabilitytoplayituntiltheperformancecouldnothavebeentoldfromherfather\'s。Shetriedeveryrefugehermindcouldconjure，toquietherheartandremovethefearthatthegirlneverwouldcomehomeagain，butitpersisted。

Mrs。Comstockcouldneithereatnorsleep。Shewanderedaroundthecabinandgarden。ShekeptfarfromthepoolwhereRobertComstockhadsunkfromsightforshefeltthatitwouldentombheralsoifElnoradidnotcomehomeWednesdaymorning。Themothertoldherselfthatshewouldwait，butthewaitingwasasbitterasanythingsheeverhadknown。

WhenElnoraawokeMondayanotherdresswasinthehandsofaseamstressandwassoonfitted。IthadbelongedtotheAngel，andwasasoftwhitethingthatwithalittlealterationwouldserveadmirablyforCommencementandtheball。AllthatdayElnoraworked，helpingpreparetheauditoriumfortheexercises，rehearsingthemarchandthespeechshewastomakeinbehalfoftheclass。

Thefollowingdaywasevenbusier。Buthermindwasatrest，forthedresswasasoftdelicatelaceeasytochange，andthemarksofalterationimpossibletodetect。

TheBirdWomanhadtelephonedtoGrandRapids，explainedthesituationandaskedtheAngelifshemightuseit。

Thereplyhadbeentogivethegirlthecontentsofthechest。

WhentheBirdWomantoldElnora，tearsfilledhereyes。

"Iwillwriteatonceandthankher，"shesaid。"Withallherbeautifulgownsshedoesnotneedthem，andIdo。

Theywillserveformeoften，andbemuchfinerthananythingIcouldafford。Itislovelyofhertogivemethedressandofyoutohaveitalteredforme，asInevercould。"

TheBirdWomanlaughed。"Ifeelreligiousto-day，"

shesaid。"Youknowthefirstandgreatestrockofmysalvationis`Dountoothers。\'I\'monlydoingtoyouwhattherewasnoonetodoformewhenIwasagirlverylikeyou。Annatellsmeyourmotherwashereearlythismorningandthatshecametoseeaboutgettingyouadress。"

"Sheistoolate!"saidElnoracoldly。"Shehadoveramonthtopreparemydresses，andIwastopayforthem，sothereisnoexcuse。"

"Nevertheless，sheisyourmother，"saidtheBirdWoman，softly。"Ithinkalmostanykindofamothermustbebetterthannoneatall，andyousayshehashadgreattrouble。"

"Shelovedmyfatherandhedied，"saidElnora。"Thesamething，inquiteastragicamanner，hashappenedtothousandsofotherwomen，andtheyhavegoneonwithcalmfacesandfoundhappinessinlifebylovingothers。

TherewassomethingelseIamafraidInevershallforget；

thisIknowIshallnot，buttalkingdoesnothelp。Imustdelivermypresentsandphotographstothecrowd。IhaveapictureandImadeapresentforyou，too，ifyouwouldcareforthem。"

"Ishallloveanythingyougiveme，"saidtheBirdWoman。

"Iknowyouwellenoughtoknowthatwhateveryoudowillbebeautiful。"

Elnorawaspleasedoverthat，andasshetriedonherdressforthelastfittingshewasreallyhappy。Shewaslovelyinthedaintygown:itwouldservefinelyfortheballandmanyotherlikeoccasions，anditwasherveryown。

TheBirdWoman\'sdrivertookElnorainthecarriageandshecalledonallthegirlswithwhomshewasespeciallyintimate，andleftherpictureandthepackagecontaininghergifttothem。Bythetimeshereturnedparcelsforherwerearriving。Friendsseemedtospringfromeverywhere。

Almosteveryonesheknewhadsomegiftforher，whilebecausetheysolovedherthemembersofhercrowdhadmadeherbeautifulpresents。Therewerebooks，vases，silverpieces，handkerchiefs，fans，boxesofflowersandcandy。OnebigpackagesettledthetroubleatSinton\'s，foritcontainedadaintydressfromMargaret，afive-dollargoldpiece，conspicuouslylabelled，"Iearnedthismyself，"fromBilly，withwhichtobuymusic；andagorgeouscut-glassperfumebottle，itwouldhavecostfivedollarstofillwithevenamoderate-

pricedscent，fromWesley。

Inanexpressedcratewasafinecurly-mapledressingtable，sentbyFreckles。ThedrawerswerefilledwithwonderfultoiletarticlesfromtheAngel。TheBirdWomanaddedanembroideredlinencoverandasmallsilvervaseforafewflowers，sonogirloftheclasshadfinergifts。Elnoralaidherheadonthetablesobbinghappily，andtheBirdWomanwasalmostcryingherself。

ProfessorHenleysentabutterflybook，thegraderoomsinwhichElnorahadtaughtgaveherasetofvolumescoveringeveryphaseoflifeafield，inthewoods，andwater。

Elnorahadnotimetoreadsoshecarriedoneofthesebooksaroundwithherhuggingitasshewent。Aftershehadgonetodressaqueer-lookingpackagewasbroughtbyasmallboywhohoppedononefootashehandeditinandsaid:"TellElnorathatisfromherma。"

"Whoareyou?"askedtheBirdWomanasshetookthebundle。

"I\'mBilly!"announcedtheboy。"Igaveherthefivedollars。

Iearneditmyselfdroppingcorn，stickingonions，andpullingweeds。My，butyougottodrop，andstick，andpullalotbeforeit\'sfivedollars\'worth。"

"WouldyouliketocomeinandseeElnora\'sgifts?"

"Yes，ma\'am!"saidBilly，tryingtostandquietly。

"Gee-mentley!"hegasped。"DoesElnoragetallthis?"

"Yes。"

"IbetyouathousanddollarsIbefirstinmyclasswhenIgraduate。Say，havetheothersgotalotmorethanElnora?"

"Ithinknot。"

"Well，UncleWesleysaidtofindoutifIcould，andifshedidn\'thaveasmuchastherest，he\'dbuytillshedid，ifittookahundreddollars。Say，yououghttoknowhim!

He\'sjustscrumptious!Thereain\'tanybodyanywherefiner\'anheis。My，he\'sgrand!"

"I\'mverysureofit!"saidtheBirdWoman。"I\'veoftenheardElnorasayso。"

"Ibetyounobodycanbeatthis!"heboasted。Thenhestopped，thinkingdeeply。"Idon\'tknow，though，"

hebeganreflectively。"Someofthemareawfulrich；

theygotbigfamiliestogivethemthingsandwagonloadsoffriends，andIhaven\'tseenwhattheyhave。Now，maybeElnoraisgettingleft，afterall!"

"Don\'tworry，Billy，"shesaid。"Iwillwatch，andifIfindElnorais`gettingleft\'I\'llbuyhersomemorethingsmyself。ButI\'msuresheisnot。Shehasmorebeautifulgiftsnowthanshewillknowwhattodowith，andotherswillcome。TellyourUncleWesleyhisgirlisbountifullyremembered，veryhappy，andshesendsherdearestlovetoallofyou。Nowyoumustgo，soIcanhelpherdress。Youwillbethereto-nightofcourse?"

"Yes，sir-ee!Shegotmeaseat，thirdrowfromthefront，middlesection，soIcansee，andshe\'sgoingtowinkatme，aftershegetsherspeechoffhermind。

Shekissedme，too!She\'saperfectlady，Elnorais。

I\'mgoingtomarryherwhenIambigenough。"

"Whyisn\'tthatsplendid!"laughedtheBirdWomanasshehurriedupstairs。

"Dear!"shecalled。"Hereisanothergiftforyou。"

Elnorawashalfdisrobedasshetookthepackageand，sittingonacouch，openedit。TheBirdWomanbentoverherandtestedthefabricwithherfingers。

"Why，blessmysoul!"shecried。"Hand-woven，hand-

embroideredlinen，fineassilk。It\'spriceless\'Ihaven\'tseensuchthingsinyears。MymotherhadgarmentslikethosewhenIwasachild，butmysistershadthemcutupforcollars，belts，andfancywaistswhileIwassmall。

Lookattheexquisitework!"

"Wherecouldithavecomefrom?"criedElnora。

Sheshookoutapetticoat，withahand-wroughtruffleafootdeep，thenanold-fashionedchemisetheneckandsleeveworkofwhichwaselaborateandperfectlywrought。

Onthebreastwaspinnedanotethatshehastilyopened。

"Iwasmarriedinthese，"itread，"andIhadintendedtobeburiedinthem，butperhapsitwouldbemoresensibleforyoutograduateandgetmarriedinthemyourself，ifyoulike。Yourmother。"

"Frommymother!"Wide-eyed，ElnoralookedattheBirdWoman。"Ineverinmylifesawthelike。

MotherdoesthingsIthinkInevercanforgive，andwhenIfeelhardest，sheturnsaroundanddoessomethingthatmakesmethinkshejustmustlovemealittlebit，afterall。

Anyofthegirlswouldgivealmostanythingtograduateinhand-embroideredlinenlikethat。Moneycan\'tbuysuchthings。AndtheycamewhenIwasthinkingshedidn\'tcarewhatbecameofme。Doyousupposeshecanbeinsane?"

"Yes，"saidtheBirdWoman。"Wildlyinsane，ifshedoesnotloveyouandcarewhatbecomesofyou。"

Elnoraaroseandheldthepetticoattoher。"Willyoulookatit?"shecried。"Onlyimaginehernotgettingmydressready，andthensendingmesuchapetticoatasthis!

Ellenwouldpayfiftydollarsforitandneverblink。

Isupposemotherhashaditallmylife，andIneversawitbefore。"

"Gotakeyourbathandputonthosethings，"saidtheBirdWoman。"Forgeteverythingandbehappy。Sheisnotinsane。Sheisembittered。Shedidnotunderstandhowthingswouldbe。Whenshesaw，shecameatoncetoprovideyouadress。Thisisherwayofsayingsheissorryshedidnotgettheother。Younoticeshehasnotspentanymoney，soperhapssheisquitehonestinsayingshehasnone。"

"Oh，sheishonest!"saidElnora。"Shewouldn\'tcareenoughtotellanuntruth。She\'dsayjusthowthingswere，nomatterwhathappened。"

SoonElnorawasreadyforherdress。Sheneverhadlookedsowellaswhensheagainheadedtheprocessionalacrosstheflowerandpalmdeckedstageofthehighschoolauditorium。AsshesatthereshecouldhavereachedoveranddroppedaroseshecarriedintotheseatshehadoccupiedthatSeptembermorningwhensheenteredthehighschool。Shespokethefewwordsshehadtosayinbehalfoftheclassbeautifully，hadthetinywinkreadyforBilly，andthesmileandnodofrecognitionforWesleyandMargaret。Whenatlastshelookedintotheeyesofawhite-facedwomannextthem，sheslippedahandtohersideandraisedherskirtthefractionofaninch，justenoughtolettheembroiderededgeofapetticoatshowatrifle。Whenshesawthelookofreliefwhichfloodedhermother\'sface，Elnoraknewthatforgivenesswasinherheart，andthatshewouldgohomeinthemorning。

Itwaslateafternoonbeforeshearrived，andadrayfollowedwithaloadofpackages。Mrs。Comstockwasoverwhelmed。ShesathalfdazedandmadeElnorashowhereachcostlyandbeautifulorsimpleandusefulgift，tellhercarefullywhatitwasandfromwhereitcame。

ShestudiedthefacesofElnora\'sparticularfriends。

Thegiftsfromthemhadtobesetinagroup。Severaltimesshestartedtospeakandthenstopped。Atlast，betweenherdrylips，cameaharshwhisper。

"Elnora，whatdidyougivebackforthesethings?"

"I\'llshowyou，"saidElnoracheerfully。"ImadethesamegiftsfortheBirdWoman，AuntMargaretandyouifyoucareforit。ButIhavetorunupstairstogetit。"

Whenshereturnedshehandedhermotheranoblongframe，handcarved，enclosingElnora\'spicture，takenbyaschoolmate\'scamera。Sheworeherstorm-coatandcarriedadrippingumbrella。Fromunderitlookedherbrightface；

herbooksandlunchboxwereonherarm，andacrossthebottomoftheframewascarved，"YourCountryClassmate。"

Thensheofferedanotherframe。

"Iamstrongonframes，"shesaid。"TheyseemedtobethebestIcoulddowithoutmoney。Ilocatedthemapleandtheblackwalnutmyself，inalittlecornerthathadbeenoverlookedbetweentheriverandtheditch。

Theydidn\'tseemtobelongtoanyonesoIjusttookthem。

UncleWesleysaiditwasallright，andhecutandhauledthemforme。Igavethemillhalfofeachtreeforsawingandcuringtheremainder。ThenIgavethewood-carverhalfofthatformakingmyframes。Aphotographergavemealotofspoiledplates，andIboiledofftheemulsion，andtookthespecimensIframedfrommystuff。Themansaidthewhiteframeswereworththreeandahalf，andtheblackonesfive。Iexchangedthoselittleframedpicturesforthephotographsoftheothers。Forpresents，Igaveeachoneofmycrowdonelikethis，onlyadifferentmoth。

TheBirdWomangavemethebirchbark。Shegotitupnorthlastsummer。"

Elnorahandedhermotherahandsomeblack-walnutframeafootandahalfwidebytwolong。Itfinishedasmall，shallowglass-coveredboxofbirchbark，tothebottomofwhichclungabignightmothwithdelicatepalegreenwingsandlongexquisitetrailers。

"SoyouseeIdidnothavetobeashamedofmygifts，"

saidElnora。"Imadethemmyselfandraisedandmountedthemoths。"

"Moth，youcallit，"saidMrs。Comstock。"I\'veseenafewofthethingsbefore。"

"TheyarenumerousarounduseveryJunenight，oratleasttheyusedtobe，"saidElnora。"I\'vesoldhundredsofthem，withbutterflies，dragonflies，andotherspecimens。

Now，Imustputawaytheseandgettowork，foritisalmostJuneandthereareafewmoreIwantdreadfully。

IfIfindthemIwillbepaidsomemoneyforwhichIhavebeenworking。"

Shewasafraidtosaycollegeatthattime。Shethoughtitwouldbebettertowaitafewdaysandseeifanopportunitywouldnotcomewhenitwouldworkinmorenaturally。

Besides，unlessshecouldsecuretheYellowEmperorsheneededtocompletehercollection，shecouldnottalkcollegeuntilshewasofage，forshewouldhavenomoney。

CHAPTERXII

WHEREINMARGARETSINTONREVEALSASECRET，ANDMRS。COMSTOCKPOSSESSESTHELIMBERLOST

Elnora，bringmethetowel，quick!"criedMrsComstock。

"Inaminute，mother，"mumbledElnora。

Shewasstandingbeforethekitchenmirror，tyingthebackpartofherhair，whilethefrontturnedoverherface。

"Hurry!There\'savarmintofsomekind!"

Elnoraranintothesitting-roomandthrusttheheavykitchentowelintohermother\'shand。Mrs。Comstockswungopenthescreendoorandstruckatsomeobject，Elnoratossedthehairfromherfacesothatshecouldseepasthermother。Thegirlscreamedwildly。

"Don\'t!Mother，don\'t!"

Mrs。Comstockstruckagain。Elnoracaughtherarm。

"It\'stheoneIwant!It\'sworthalotofmoney!

Don\'t!Oh，youshallnot!"

"Shan\'t，missy?"blazedMrs。Comstock。"Whendidyougettobossingme?"

Thehandthatheldthescreensweptahalf-circleandstoppedatElnora\'scheek。Shestaggeredwiththeblow，andacrossherface，paledwithexcitement，aredmarkaroserapidly。Thescreenslammedshut，throwingthecreatureonthefloorbeforethem。InstantlyMrs。

Comstockcrusheditwithherfoot。Elnorasteppedback。

Exceptingtheredmark，herfacewasverywhite。

"ThatwasthelastmothIneeded，"shesaid，"tocompleteacollectionworththreehundreddollars。You\'veruineditbeforemyeyes!"

"Moth!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Yousaythatbecauseyouaremad。Mothshavebigwings。Iknowamoth!"

"I\'vekeptthingsfromyou，"saidElnora，"becauseI

didn\'tdareconfideinyou。Youhadnosympathywithme。

ButyouknowInevertoldyouuntruthsinallmylife。"

"It\'snomoth!"reiteratedMrs。Comstock。

"Itis!"criedElnora。"It\'sfromacaseintheground。

Itswingstaketwoorthreehourstoexpandandharden。"

"IfIhadknownitwasamoth——"Mrs。Comstockwavered。

"Youdidknow!Itoldyou!Ibeggedyoutostop!

Itmeantjustthreehundreddollarstome。"

"Bah!Threehundredfiddlesticks!"

"Theyarewhathavepaidforbooks，tuition，andclothesforthepastfouryears。TheyarewhatIcouldhavestartedontocollege。You\'veruinedtheveryoneIneeded。

Younevermadeanypretenceoflovingme。AtlastI\'llbeequallyfrankwithyou。Ihateyou!Youareaselfish，wickedwoman!Ihateyou!"

Elnoraturned，wentthroughthekitchenandfromthebackdoor。Shefollowedthegardenpathtothegateandwalkedtowardtheswampashortdistancewhenreactionovertookher。Shedroppedonthegroundandleanedagainstabiglog。Whenalittlechild，desperateasnow，shehadtriedtodiebyholdingherbreath。Shehadthoughtinthatwaytomakehermothersorry，butshehadlearnedthatlifewasathingthrustuponherandshecouldnotleaveitatherwish。

Shewassostunnedoverthelossofthatmoth，whichshehadchildishlynamedtheYellowEmperor，thatshescarcelyrememberedtheblow。Shehadthoughtnoluckinalltheworldwouldbesorareastocompletehercollection；nowshehadbeenforcedtoseeasplendidImperialisdestroyedbeforeher。Therewasapossibilitythatshecouldfindanother，butshewasfacingthecertaintythattheoneshemighthavehadandwithwhichsheundoubtedlycouldhaveattractedothers，wasspoiledbyhermother。HowlongshesatthereElnoradidnotknoworcare。Shesimplysufferedindumb，abjectmisery，anoccasionaldrysobshakingher。AuntMargaretwasright。

Elnorafeltthatmorningthathermotherneverwouldbeanydifferent。Thegirlhadreachedtheplacewheresherealizedthatshecouldendureitnolonger。

AsElnoralefttheroom，Mrs。Comstocktookonestepafterher。

"Youlittlehuzzy!"shegasped。

ButElnorawasgone。Hermotherstoodstaring。

"Sheneverdidlietome，"shemuttered。"Iguessitwasamoth。Andtheonlyonesheneededtogetthreehundreddollars，shesaid。IwishIhadn\'tbeensofast!

Ineversawanythinglikeit。Ithoughtitwassomedeadly，stinging，bitingthing。Abodydoeshavetobemightycarefulhere。ButlikelyI\'vespiltthemilknow。

Pshaw!Shecanfindanother!There\'snousetobefoolish。

Maybemothsarelikesnakes，wherethere\'sone，therearetwo。"

Mrs。Comstocktookthebroomandsweptthemothoutofthedoor。Thenshegotdownonherkneesandcarefullyexaminedthesteps，logsandtheearthoftheflowerbedsateachside。Shefoundtheplacewherethecreaturehademergedfromtheground，andthehard，dark-browncasewhichhadenclosedit，stillwetinside。

ThensheknewElnorahadbeenright。Itwasamoth。

Itswingshadbeendampandnotexpanded。Mrs。Comstockneverbeforehadseenoneinthatstate，andshedidnotknowhowtheyoriginated。Shehadthoughtallofthemcamefromcasesspunontreesoragainstwallsorboards。Shehadseenonlyenoughtoknowthatthereweresuchthings；asaflashofwhitetoldherthatanerminewasonherpremises，orasharp"buzzzzz"warnedherofarattler。

SoitwasfromcreatureslikethatElnorahadsecuredherschoolmoney。Inonesickeningsweepthererushedintotheheartofthewomanafullrealizationofthewidthofthegulfthatseparatedherfromherchild。

Latelymanythingshadpointedtowardit，nonemoreplainlythanwhenElnora，likeareincarnationofherfather，hadstoodfearlesslybeforealargecityaudienceandplayedwithevengreaterskillthanhe，onwhatMrs。Comstockfeltverycertainwashisviolin。Butthatlittlecrawlingcreatureofearth，crushedbyherbeforeitssplendidyellowandlavenderwingscouldspreadandcarryitintothemysteryofnight，hadperformedamiracle。

"Wearenearerstrangerstoeachotherthanwearewithanyoftheneighbours，"shemuttered。

SooneoftheAlmighty\'smostdelicateandbeautifulcreationswassacrificedwithoutfulfillingthelaw，yetnoneofitsspecieseverservedsogloriousacause，foratlastMrs。Comstock\'sinnervisionhadcleared。Shewentthroughthecabinmechanically。EveryfewminutessheglancedtowardthebackwalktoseeifElnorawerecoming。SheknewarrangementshadbeenmadewithMargarettogotothecitysometimethatday，soshegrewmorenervousanduneasyeverymoment。ShewashauntedbythefearthattheblowmightdiscolourElnora\'scheek；thatshewouldtellMargaret。Shewentdownthebackwalk，lookingintentlyinalldirections，leftthegardenandfollowedtheswamppath。Herstepwasnoiselessonthesoft，blackearth，andsoonshecamecloseenoughtoseeElnora。Mrs。Comstockstoodlookingatthegirlintroubleduncertainty。Notknowingwhattosay，atlastsheturnedandwentbacktothecabin。

Nooncameandsheprepareddinner，calling，asshealwaysdid，whenElnorawasinthegarden，butshegotnoresponse，andthegirldidnotcome。Alittleafteroneo\'clockMargaretstoppedatthegate。

"Elnorahaschangedhermind。Sheisnotgoing，"

calledMrs。Comstock。

ShefeltthatshehatedMargaretasshehitchedherhorseandcameupthewalkinsteadofdrivingon。

"Youmustbemistaken，"saidMargaret。"Iwasgoingonpurposeforher。Sheaskedmetotakeher。

Ihadnoerrand。Whereisshe?"

"Iwillcallher，"saidMrs。Comstock。

Shefollowedthepathagain，andthistimefoundElnorasittingonthelog。Herfacewasswollenanddiscoloured，andhereyesredwithcrying。Shepaidnoattentiontohermother。

"MagSintonishere，"saidMrs。Comstockharshly。

"Itoldheryouhadchangedyourmind，butshesaidyouaskedhertogowithyou，andshehadnothingtogoforherself。"

Elnoraarose，recklesslywadedthroughthedeepswampgrassesandsoreachedthepathaheadofhermother。

Mrs。Comstockfollowedasfarasthegarden，butshecouldnotenterthecabin。Shebusiedherselfamongthevegetables，barelylookingupwhentheback-doorscreenslammednoisily。MargaretSintonapproachedcolourless，hereyessoangrythatMrs。Comstockshrankback。

"What\'sthematterwithElnora\'sface?"demandedMargaret。

Mrs。Comstockmadenoreply。

"Youstruckher，didyou?"

"Ithoughtyouwasn\'tblind!"

"Ihavebeen，fortwentylongyearsnow，KateComstock，"

saidMargaretSinton，"butmyeyesareopenatlast。

WhatIseeisthatI\'vedoneyounogoodandElnoraabigwrong。Ihadanideathatitwouldkillyoutoknow，butIguessyouaretoughenoughtostandanything。

Killorcure，yougetitnow!"

"Whatareyoufrothingabout?"coollyaskedMrs。Comstock。

"You!"criedMargaret。"You!Thewomanwhodoesn\'tpretendtoloveheronlychild。Wholetshergrowtoawoman，asyouhaveletElnora，andcan\'tbesatisfiedwitheverysortofneglect，butmustaddabuseyet；

andallforafoolideaaboutamanwhowasn\'tworthhissalt!"

Mrs。Comstockpickedupahoe。

"Gorighton!"shesaid。"Emptyyourself。It\'sthelastthingyou\'lleverdo!"

"ThenI\'llmakeatidyjobofit，"saidMargaret。

"You\'llnottouchme。You\'llstandthereandhearthetruthatlast，andbecauseIdarefaceyouandtellit，youwillknowinyoursoulitistruth。WhenRobertComstockshavedthatquagmireouttheresoclosehewentin，hewantedtokeepyoufromknowingwherehewascomingfrom。He\'dbeentoseeElviraCarney。

Theyhadplanstogotoadancethatnight——"

"Closeyourlips!"saidMrs。Comstockinavoiceofdeadlyquiet。

"YouknowIwouldn\'tdareopenthemifIwasn\'ttellingyouthetruth。IcanprovewhatIsay。IwascomingfromReeds。ItwashotinthewoodsandI

stoppedatCarney\'sasIpassedforadrink。

Elvira\'sbedriddenoldmotherheardme，andshewassocrazyforsomeonetotalkwith，Isteppedinaminute。

IsawRobertcomedownthepath。Elvirasawhim，too，sosheranoutofthehousetoheadhimoff。Itlookedfunny，andIjustdeliberatelymovedwhereIcouldseeandhear。

Hebroughtherhisviolin，andtoldhertogetreadyandmeethiminthewoodswithitthatnight，andtheywouldgotoadance。Shetookitandhiditinthelofttothewell-houseandpromisedshe\'dgo。"

"Areyoudone?"demandedMrs。Comstock。

"No。Iamgoingtotellyouthewholestory。Youdon\'tspareElnoraanything。Ishan\'tspareyou。Ihadn\'tbeenherethatday，butIcantellyoujusthowhewasdressed，whichwayhewentandeverywordtheysaid，thoughtheythoughtIwasbusywithhermotherandwouldn\'tnoticethem。Putdownyourhoe，Kate。

IwenttoElvira，toldherwhatIknewandmadehergivemeComstock\'sviolinforElnoraoverthreeyearsago。

She\'sbeenplayingiteversince。Iwon\'tseeherslightedandabusedanotherdayonaccountofamanwhowouldhavebrokenyourheartifhehadlived。

Sixmonthsmorewouldhaveshowedyouwhateverybodyelseknew。Hewasoneofthosemenwhocouldn\'ttrusthimself，andsonowomanwassafewithhim。Now，willyoudropgrievingoverhim，anddoElnorajustice?"

Mrs。Comstockgraspedthehoetighterandturningshewentdownthewalk，andstartedacrossthewoodstothehomeofElviraCarney。Withavertedheadshepassedthepool，steadilypursuingherway。ElviraCarney，hangingtowelsacrossthebackfence，sawhercomingandwenttowardthegatetomeether。Twentyyearsshehaddreadedthatvisit。SinceMargaretSintonhadcompelledhertoproducetheviolinshehadhiddensolong，becauseshewasafraidtodestroyit，shehadcomecloserexpectationthandread。Thewagesofsinarethehardestdebtsonearthtopay，andtheyarealwayscollectedatinconvenienttimesandunexpectedplaces。

Mrs。Comstock\'sfaceandhairweresowhite，thatherdarkeyesseemedburnedintotheirsetting。Silentlyshestaredatthewomanbeforeheralongtime。

"Imighthavesavedmyselfthetroubleofcoming，"

shesaidatlast，"Iseeyouareguiltyassin!"

"WhathasMagSintonbeentellingyou?"pantedthemiserablewoman，grippingthefence。

"Thetruth!"answeredMrs。Comstocksuccinctly。

"Guiltisineverylineofyourface，inyoureyes，alloveryourwretchedbody。IfI\'dtakenagoodlookatyouanytimeinallthesepastyears，nodoubtIcouldhaveseenitjustasplainasIcannow。Nowomanormancandowhatyou\'vedone，andnotgetamarksetonthemforeveryonetoread。"

"Mercy!"gaspedweaklittleElviraCarney。"Havemercy!"

"Mercy?"scoffedMrs。Comstock。"Mercy!That\'sanicewordfromyou!Howmuchmercydidyouhaveonme?Where\'sthemercythatsentComstocktotheslimeofthebottomlessquagmire，andleftmetoseeit，andthenstruggleoninagonyalltheseyears?

Howaboutthemercyoflettingmeneglectmybabyallthedaysofherlife?Mercy!Doyoureallydareusethewordtome?"

"IfyouknewwhatI\'vesuffered!"

"Suffered?"jeeredMrs。Comstock。"That\'sinteresting。

Andpray，whathaveyousuffered?"

"Alltheneighbourshavesuspectedandbeendownonme。Iain\'thadafriend。I\'vealwaysfeltguiltyofhisdeath!I\'veseenhimgodownathousandtimes，plainaseveryoudid。Many\'sthenightI\'vestoodontheotherbankofthatpoolandlistenedtoyou，andItriedtothrowmyselfintokeepfromhearingyou，butI

didn\'tdare。IknewGodwouldsendmetoburnforever，butI\'dbetterdoneit；fornow，Hehassettheburningonmybody，andeveryhouritisslowlyeatingthelifeoutofme。Thedoctorsaysit\'sacancer——"

Mrs。Comstockexhaledalongbreath。Hergriponthehoerelaxedandherstatureliftedtotoweringheight。

"Ididn\'tknow，orcare，whenIcamehere，justwhatI

did，"shesaid。"Butmywayisbeginningtoclear。Iftheguiltofyoursoulhascometoahead，inacanceronyourbody，itlooksasiftheAlmightydidn\'tneedanyofmyhelpinmetingoutHispunishments。Ireallycouldn\'tfixupanythingtocomeanywherenearthat。Ifyouaregoingtoburnuntilyourlifegoesoutwiththatsortoffire，youdon\'towemeanything!"

"Oh，KatharineComstock!"groanedElviraCarney，clingingtothefenceforsupport。

"LooksasiftheBibleisrightwhenitsays，`Thewagesofsinisdeath，\'doesn\'tit?"askedMrs。Comstock。

"Insteadofdoingawoman\'sworkinlife，youchosethesmileofinvitation，andthedressofunearnedcloth。

Nowyoutellmeyouaremarkedtoburntodeathwiththeunquenchablefire。Andhim!Itwasshorterwithhim，butletmetellyouhegothisshare!Heleftmewithanuntruthonhislips，forhetoldmehewasgoingtotakehisviolintoOnabashaforanewkey，whenhecarriedittoyou。Everyvowofloveandconstancyheevermademewasalie，afterhetouchedyourlips，sowhenhetriedthewrongsideofthequagmire，tohidefrommethedirectioninwhichhewascoming，itreachedoutforhim，anditgothim。Itdidn\'thurry，either!Itsuckedhimdown，slowanddeliberate。"

"Mercy!"groanedElviraCarney。"Mercy!"

"Idon\'tknowtheword，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Youtookallthatoutofmelongago。Thepasttwentyyearshaven\'tbeenofthesortthattaughtmercy。I\'veneverhadanyonmyselfandnoneonmychild。Whyinthenameofjustice，shouldIhavemercyonyou，oronhim?

YouwerebotholderthanI，bothstrong，sanepeople，youdeliberatelychoseyourcoursewhenyouluredhim，andhe，whenhewasunfaithfultome。WhenaLooseManandaLightWomanfacetheendtheAlmightyordainedforthem，whyshouldtheyshoutatmeformercy?WhatdidIhavetodowithit?"

ElviraCarneysobbedinpantinggasps。

"You\'vegottears，haveyou?"marvelledMrs。Comstock。