第14章

"Billy，Iseeyourfuture，"saidElnora。"WewilleducateyouandsendyouuptoMr。Ammontomakeagreatlawyer。You\'dbeattheworldasaspecialpleader。

YouactuallymakemefeelthatIamdoingthemothsakindnesstotakethem。"

"Andsoyouare!"criedBilly。"Why，justfromwhatyouhavetaughtthemUncleWesleyandAuntMargaretneverthinkofkillingacaterpillaruntiltheylookwhetherit\'sthebeautifulJunemothkind，orthehorridtentones。

That\'swhatyoucando。Yougostraightahead!"

"Billy，youareajewel!"criedElnora，throwingherarmacrosshisshouldersastheycamedownthepath。

"My，Iwasscared!"saidBillywithadeepbreath。

"Scared?"questionedElnora。

"Yessir-ee!AuntMargaretscaredme。MayIaskyouaquestion?"

"Ofcourse，youmay!"

"Isthatmangoingtobeyourbeau?"

"Billy!No!Whatmadeyouthinksuchathing?"

"AuntMargaretsaidlikelyhewouldfallinlovewithyou，andyouwouldn\'twantmearoundanymore。Oh，butIwasscared!Itisn\'tso，isit?"

"Indeed，no!"

"Iamyourbeau，ain\'tI?"

"Surelyyouare!"saidElnora，tighteningherarm。

"IdohopeAuntKatehasgingercookies，"saidBillywithalittleskipofdelight。

CHAPTERXV

WHEREINMRS。COMSTOCKFACESTHEALMIGHTY，ANDPHILIPAMMONWRITESALETTER

Mrs。ComstockandElnorawerefinishingbreakfastthefollowingmorningwhentheyheardacheerywhistledowntheroad。Elnorawithsurprisedeyeslookedathermother。

"CouldthatbeMr。Ammon?"shequestioned。

"Ididnotexpecthimsosoon，"commentedMrs。Comstock。

Itwassunrise，butthemusicianwasPhilipAmmon。

Heappearedstrongerthanonyesterday。

"IhopeIamnottooearly，"hesaid。"Iamconsumedwithanxietytolearnifwehavemadeacatch。Ifwehave，weshouldbeatthebirdstoit。IpromisedUncleDoctoputonmywadersandkeepdryforafewdaysyet，whenIgotothewoods。Let\'shurry!Iamafraidofcrows。

Theremightbeararemoth。"

ThesunwastoppingtheLimberlostwhentheystarted。

AstheynearedtheplacePhilipstopped。

"Nowwemustusegreatcaution，"hesaid。"Thelightsandtheodoursalwaysattractnumbersthatdon\'tsettleonthebaitedtrees。Everybush，shrub，andlimbmayhideaspecimenwewant。"

Sotheyapproachedwithmuchcare。

"Thereissomething，anyway!"criedPhilip。

"Therearemoths!Icanseethem!"exultedElnora。

"Thoseyouseearefastenough。It\'stheonesforwhichyoumustsearchthatwillescape。Thegrassesaredripping，andIhaveboots，soyoulookbesidethepathwhileItaketheoutside，"suggestedAmmon。

Mrs。Comstockwantedtohuntmoths，butshewastimidaboutmakingawrongmovement，soshewiselysatonalogandwatchedPhilipandElnoratolearnhowtheyproceeded。Backinthedeepwoodsahermitthrushwassinginghischanttotherisingsun。Oriolesweresowingthepure，sweetairwithnotesofgold，pouredoutwhileonwing。Therobinswereonlychirpingnow，fortheirmorningsongshadawakenedalltheotherbirdsanhourago。Scoldingred-wingstiltedonhalfthebushes。

Exceptinglatespeciesofhaws，treebloomwasalmostgone，butwildflowersmadethepathborderandallthewoodfloorariotofcolour。Elnora，bornamongsuchscenes，workedeagerly，buttothecityman，recentlyfromahospital，theyseemedtoogoodtomiss。Hefrequentlystoopedtoexamineaflowerface，pausedtolistenintentlytothethrushorliftedhisheadtoseethegoldflashwhichaccompaniedtheoriole\'strailingnotes。

SoElnorautteredthefirstcry，asshesoftlyliftedbranchesandpeeredamongthegrasses。

"Myfind!"shecalled。"Bringthebox，mother!"

Philipcamehurryingalso。Whentheyreachedhershestoodonthepathholdingapairofmoths。Hereyeswerewidewithexcitement，hercheekspink，herredlipsparted，andonthehandsheheldouttothemclungapairofdelicateblue-greenmoths，withwhitebodies，andtouchesoflavenderandstrawcolour。

Allaroundherlayflower-brocadedgrasses，behindthedeepgreenbackgroundoftheforest，whilethesunslowlysiftedgoldfromheaventoburnishherhair。Mrs。Comstockheardasharpbreathbehindher。

"Oh，whatapicture!"exultedPhilipathershoulder。

"Sheisabsolutelyandaltogetherlovely!I\'dgiveasmallfortuneforthatfaithfullysetoncanvas!"

HepickedtheboxfromMrs。Comstock\'sfingersandslowlyadvancedwithit。Elnorahelddownherhandandtransferredthemoths。Philipclosedtheboxcarefully，butthewatchingmothersawthathiseyeswerefollowingthegirl\'sface。Hewasnotmakingtheslightestattempttoconcealhisadmiration。

"IwonderifawomaneverdidanythinglovelierthantofindapairofLunamothsonaforestpath，earlyonaperfectJunemorning，"hesaidtoMrs。Comstock，whenhereturnedthebox。

SheglancedatElnorawhowasintentlysearchingthebushes。

"Lookhere，youngman，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Youseemtofindthatgirlofmineaboutright。"

"Icouldsuggestnoimprovement，"saidPhilip。"Ineversawamoreattractivegirlanywhere。Sheseemsabsolutelyperfecttome。"

"Thensupposeyoudon\'tstartanyschemecalculatedtospoilher!"proposedMrs。Comstockdryly。"Idon\'tthinkyoucan，orthatanymancould，butI\'mnottakinganyrisks。Youaskedtocomeheretohelpinthiswork。

Wearebothgladtohaveyou，ifyouconfineyourselftowork；

butit\'stheleastyoucandotoleaveusasyoufindus。"

"Ibegyourpardon!"saidPhilip。"Iintendednooffence。

IadmireherasIadmireanyperfectcreation。"

"Andnothinginallthisworldspoilstheaveragegirlsoquicklyandsosurely，"saidMrs。Comstock。Sheraisedhervoice。"Elnora，fastenupthattagofhairoveryourleftear。Thesebushesmussyousoyouremindmeofasheeppokingitsnosethroughahedgefence。"

Mrs。Comstockstarteddownthepathtowardthelogagain，whenshereacheditshecalledsharply:"Elnora，comehere!IbelieveIhavefoundsomethingmyself。"

The"something"wasaCitheroniaRegaliswhichhademergedfromitscaseonthesoftearthunderthelog。

Itclimbedupthewood，itsstoutlegsdraggingabigpursybody，whileitwildlyflappedtinywingsthesizeofaman\'sthumb-nail。ElnoragaveonelookandacrywhichbroughtPhilip。

"That\'stherarestmothinAmerica!"heannounced。

"Mrs。Comstock，you\'vegoneuphead。Youcanputthatinaboxwithascreencoverto-night，andattracthalfadozen，possibly。"

"Isitrare，Elnora?"inquiredMrs。Comstock，asifnooneelseknew。

"Itsurelyis，"answeredElnora。"Ifwecanfinditamateto-night，itwilllayfromtwohundredandfiftytothreehundredeggsto-morrow。WithanyluckatallIcanraisetwohundredcaterpillarsfromthem。

Ididoncebefore。Andtheyareworthadollarapiece。"

"WastheoneIkilledlikethat?"

"No。Thatwasadifferentmoth，butitslifeprocesseswerethesameasthis。TheBirdWomancallsthistheKingofthePoets。"

"Whydoesshe?"

"BecauseitisnamedforCitheronwhowasapoet，andregalisreferstoaking。Youmustn\'ttouchitoryoumaystuntwingdevelopment。Youwatchanddon\'tletthatmothoutofsight，oranythingtouchit。Whenthewingsareexpandedandhardenedwewillputitinabox。"

"Iamafraiditwillraceitselftodeath，"objectedMrs。Comstock。

"That\'sapartofthegame，"saidPhilip。"Itisstartingcirculationnow。Whentherightmomentcomes，itwillstopandexpanditswings。Ifyouwatchcloselyyoucanseethemexpand。"

Presentlythemothfoundaroughprojectionofbarkandclungwithitsfeet，backdown，itswingshanging。

Thebodywasanunusualorangered，thetinywingsweregray，stripedwiththeredandsplotchedhereandtherewithmarkingsofcanaryyellow。Mrs。Comstockwatchedbreathlessly。Presentlysheslippedfromthelogandknelttosecureabetterview。

"Areitswingsdeveloping?"calledElnora。

"Theyaregrowinglargerandthemarkingscomingstrongereveryminute。"

"Let\'swatch，too，"saidElnoratoPhilip。

TheycameandlookedoverMrs。Comstock\'sshoulder。

Lowerdroopedthegaywings，widertheyspread，brightergrewthemarkingsasiflaidoffingeometricalpatterns。

TheycouldhearMrs。Comstock\'stensebreathandseeherabsorbedexpression。

"Youngpeople，"shesaidsolemnly，"ifyourstudyingscienceandtheelementshaseverledyoutofeelthatthingsjusthappen，kindofevolvebychance，asitwere，thissightwillbegoodforyou。Maybeearthandairaccumulate，butittakesthewisdomoftheAlmightyGodtodevisethewingofamoth。Ifthereeverwasamiracle，thiswholeprocessisone。Now，asIunderstandit，thiscreatureisgoingtokeeponspreadingthosewings，untiltheygrowtosizeandhardentostrengthsufficienttobearitsbody。Thenitfliesaway，mateswithitskind，laysitseggsontheleavesofacertaintree，andtheeggshatchtinycaterpillarswhicheatjustthatkindofleaves，andthewormsgrowandgrow，andtakeondifferentformsandcoloursuntilatlasttheyarebigcaterpillarssixincheslong，withlargehorns。Thentheyburrowintotheearth，buildawater-proofhousearoundthemselvesfrommaterialwhichisinsidethem，andliethroughrainandfreezingcoldformonths。Ayearfromegglayingtheycomeoutlikethis，andbegintheprocessalloveragain。

Theydon\'teat，theydon\'tseedistinctly，theylivebutafewdays，andflyonlyatnight；thentheydropoffeasy，buttheprocessgoeson。"

Ashiveringmovementwentoverthemoth。Thewingsdroopedandspreadwider。Mrs。Comstocksankintosoftawedtones。

"Thereneverwasamomentinmylife，"shesaid，"whenIfeltsointhePresence，asIdonow。IfeelasiftheAlmightyweresoreal，andsonear，thatIcouldreachoutandtouchHim，asIcouldthiswonderfulworkofHis，ifIdared。IfeellikesayingtoHim:`TotheextentofmybrainpowerIrealizeYourpresence，andallitisinmetocomprehendofYourpower。Helpmetolearn，eventhislate，thelessonsofYourwonderfulcreations。

HelpmetounshackleandexpandmysoultothefullestrealizationofYourwonders。AlmightyGod，makemebigger，makemebroader!\'"

Themothclimbedtotheendoftheprojection，upitalittleway，thensuddenlyreverseditswings，turnedthehiddensidesoutanddroppedthembesideitsabdomen，likealargefly。Theuppersideofthewings，thusexposed，wasfarrichercolour，moreexquisitetexturethantheunder，andtheyslowlyhalfliftedanddroopedagain。

Mrs。ComstockturnedherfacetoPhilip。

"AmIanoldfool，ordoyoufeelit，too?"shehalfwhispered。

"Youarewiserthanyoueverhavebeenbefore，"

answeredhe。"Ifeelit，also。"

"AndI，"breathedElnora。

Themothspreaditswings，shiveredthemtremulously，openingandclosingthemrapidly。PhiliphandedtheboxtoElnora。

Sheshookherhead。

"Ican\'ttakethatone，"shesaid。"Giveherfreedom。"

"But，Elnora，"protestedMrs。Comstock，"Idon\'twanttolethergo。She\'smine。She\'sthefirstoneIeverfoundthisway。Can\'tyouputherinabigbox，andletherlive，withouthurtingher?Ican\'tbeartolethergo。Iwanttolearnallabouther。"

"Thenwatchwhilewegathertheseonthetrees，"saidElnora。

"Wewilltakeherhomeuntilnightandthendecidewhattodo。

Shewon\'tflyforalongtimeyet。"

Mrs。Comstocksettledontheground，gazingatthemoth。

ElnoraandPhilipwenttothebaitedtrees，placingseverallargemothsandanumberofsmalleronesinthecyanidejar，andsearchingthebushesbeyondwheretheyfoundseveralpairedspecimensofdifferingfamilies。

WhentheyreturnedElnorashowedhermotherhowtoholdherhandbeforethemothsothatitwouldclimbuponherfingers。Thentheystartedbacktothecabin，ElnoraandPhilipleadingtheway；Mrs。Comstockfollowedslowly，steppingwithgreatcarelestshestumbleandinjurethemoth。Herfaceworealookofcomprehension，inhereyeswasanexaltedlight。Onshecametotheblue-

borderedpoollyingbesideherpath。

Aturtlescrambledfromalogandsplashedintothewater，whileared-wingshouted，"O-ka-lee!"toher。

Mrs。Comstockpausedandlookedintentlyattheslime-

coveredquagmire，framedinaflowerriotandhomedoverbysweet-voicedbirds。Thenshegazedatthethingofincomparablebeautyclingingtoherfingersandsaidsoftly:

"Ifyouhadknownaboutwondersliketheseinthedaysofyouryouth，RobertComstock，couldyoueverhavedonewhatyoudid?"

Elnoramissedhermother，andturningtolookforher，sawherstandingbesidethepool。Wouldtheoldfascinationreturn?Apanicoffearseizedthegirl。

Shewentbackswiftly。

"Areyouafraidsheisgoing?"Elnoraasked。"Ifyouare，cupyourotherhandoverherforshelter。Carryingherthroughthisairandinthehotsunshinewilldryherwingsandmakethemreadyforflightveryquickly。Youcan\'ttrustherinsuchairandlightasyoucaninthecooldarkwoods。"

Whileshetalkedshetookholdofhermother\'ssleeve，anxiouslysmilingapitifullittlesmilethatMrs。

Comstockunderstood。Philipsethisloadatthebackdoor，returningtoholdopenthegardengateforElnoraandMrs。Comstock。Hereacheditintimetoseethemstandingtogetherbesidethepool。Themotherbentswiftlyandkissedthegirlonthelips。Philipturnedandwasbusilyhuntingmothsontheraspberrybusheswhentheyreachedthegate。Andsoexcellentaretherewardsofattendingyourownbusiness，thathefoundaPrometheaonalilacinacorner；amothofsuchrarewine-coloured，velvetyshadesthatitalmostsentMrs。Comstocktoherkneesagain。

Butthisonewasfullydeveloped，abletofly，andhadtobetakenintothecabinhurriedly。Mrs。ComstockstoodinthemiddleoftheroomholdingupherRegalis。

"NowwhatmustIdo?"sheasked。

ElnoraglancedatPhilipAmmon。Theireyesmetandbothofthemsmiled；hewithamusementatthetall，sparefigure，withdarkeyesandwhitecrown，askingthechildishquestionsoconfidingly；andElnorawithpride。Shewasbeginningtoappreciatethecharacterofhermother。

"Howwouldyouliketositandseeherfinishdevelopment?

I\'llgetdinner，"proposedthegirl。

Aftertheyhaddined，PhilipandElnoracarriedthedishestothekitchen，broughtoutboxes，sheetsofcork，pins，ink，paperslipsandeverythingnecessaryformountingandclassifyingthemothstheyhadtaken。WhenthehouseworkwasfinishedMrs。Comstockwithherrufflesatnear，watchingandlistening。Sherememberedalltheysaidthatsheunderstood，andwhenuncertainsheaskedquestions。

Occasionallyshelaiddownherworktostraightensomeflowerwhichneededattentionortosearchthegardenforabugforthegrosbeak。InoneoftheseabsencesElnorasaidtoPhilip:"ThesereplacequiteanumberofthemothsI

lostforthemanofIndia。Withaweekofsuchluck，Icouldalmostbegintotalkcollegeagain。"

"Thereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnothavetheweekandtheluck，"saidhe。"IhavetakenmothsuntilthemiddleofAugust，thoughIsuspectoneismorelikelytofindlateonesinthenorthwhereitiscolderthanhere。

Thenextweekishay-time，butwecancountonafewdouble-broodersandstrays，andbyworkingtheexchangemethodforallitisworth，Ithinkwecancompletethecollectionagain。"

"Youalmostmakemehope，"saidElnora，"butImustnotallowmyself。Idon\'ttrulythinkIcanreplaceallI

lost，notevenwithyourhelp。IfIcould，Iscarcelyseemywaycleartoleavemotherthiswinter。Ihavefoundhersorecently，andsheissoprecious，Ican\'trisklosingheragain。IamgoingtotakethenaturepositionintheOnabashaschools，andIshallbemosthappydoingthework。

Only，theseareatemptation。"

"Iwishyoumightgotocollegethisfallwiththeothergirls，"saidPhilip。"Ifeelthatifyoudon\'tyouneverwill。

Isn\'ttheresomeway?"

"Ican\'tseeitifthereis，andIreallydon\'twanttoleavemother。"

"Well，motherismightygladtohearit，"saidMrs。

Comstock，enteringthearbour。

Philipnoticedthatherfacewaspale，herlipsquivering，hervoicecold。

"Iwastellingyourdaughterthatsheshouldgotocollegethiswinter，"heexplained，"butshesaysshedoesn\'twanttoleaveyou。"

"Ifshewantstogo，Iwishshecould，"saidMrs。Comstock，alookofreliefspreadingoverherface。

"Oh，allgirlswanttogotocollege，"saidPhilip。"It\'stheonlyproperplacetolearnbridgeandembroidery；nottomentionmidnightlunchesofmixedpicklesandfruitcake，andallthedelightsofthesororities。"

"Ihavethoughtforyearsofgoingtocollege，"saidElnora，"butIneverthoughtofanyofthosethings。"

"Thatisbecauseyoureducationinfudgeandbridgehasbeensadlyneglected，"saidPhilip。"YoushouldhearmysisterPolly!Thiswasherfinalyear!LunchesandsororitieswereallIheardhermention，untilTomLeveringcameondeck；nowheistheleadingsubject。Ican\'tseefromherdailyconversationthatsheknowshalfasmuchreallyworthknowingasyoudo，butshe\'saheadofyoumilesonfun。"

"Oh，wehadsomegoodtimesinthehighschool，"saidElnora。

"Lifehasn\'tbeenallworkandstudy。IsEdithCarracollegegirl?"

"No。Sheistheveryselectestkindofaprivateboarding-

schoolgirl。"

"Whoisshe?"askedMrs。Comstock。

Philipopenedhislips。

"SheisagirlinChicago，thatMr。Ammonknowsverywell，"saidElnora。"Sheisbeautifulandrich，andafriendofhissister\'s。Or，didn\'tyousaythat?"

"Idon\'tremember，butsheis，"saidPhilip。"Thismothneedsanalcoholbathtoremovethedope。"

"Won\'tthedowncome，too?"askedElnoraanxiously。

"No。Youwatchandyouwillseeitcomeout，asPollywouldsay，`aperfectlygood\'moth。"

"Isyoursisteryoungerthanyou?"inquiredElnora。

"Yes，"saidPhilip，"butsheisthreeyearsolderthanyou。

Sheisthedearestsisterinalltheworld。I\'dlovetoseehernow。"

"Whydon\'tyousendforher，"suggestedElnora。

"Perhapsshe\'dliketohelpuscatchmoths。"

"Yes，IthinkPollyinaVirothat，Picotembroideredfrockandthree-inchheelswouldtakemoremothsthananyonewhoevertriedtheLimberlost，"laughedPhilip。

"Well，youfindmanyofthem，andyouareherbrother。"

"Yes，butthatisdifferent。FatherwasrearedinOnabasha，andhelovedthecountry。HetrainedmehiswayandmothertookchargeofPolly。Idon\'tquiteunderstandit。Motherisagreathomebodyherself，butshedidsucceedinmakingPollystrictlyornamental。"

"DoesTomLeveringneeda`strictlyornamental\'girl?"

"Youaretoomatteroffact!Too`strictly\'material。

Heneedsadarlinggirlwhowilllovehimplenty，andPollyisthat。"

"Well，then，doestheLimberlostneeda`strictlyornamental\'girl?"

"No!"criedPhilip。"YouareornamentenoughfortheLimberlost。Ihavechangedmymind。Idon\'twantPollyhere。Shewouldnotenjoycatchingmoths，oranythingwedo。"

"Shemight，"persistedElnora。"Youareherbrother，andsurelyyoucareforthesethings。"

"Theargumentdoesnothold，"saidPhilip。"PollyandIdonotlikethesamethingswhenweareathome，butweareveryfondofeachother。Thememberofmyfamilywhowouldgocrazyaboutthisismyfather。Iwishhecouldcome，ifonlyforaweek。I\'dsendforhim，butheistiedupinpreparingsomepapersforagreatcorporationcasethissummer。Helikesthecountry。Itwashisvotethatbroughtmehere。"

Philipleanedbackagainstthearbour，watchingthegrosbeakasithuntedfoodbetweenatomatovineandadaylily。Elnorasethimtomakinglabels，andwhenhefinishedthemheaskedpermissiontowritealetter。

Hetooknopainstoconcealhispage，andfromwhereshesatoppositehim，Elnoracouldnotlookhiswaywithoutreading:"MydearestEdith。"Hewrotebusilyforatimeandthensatstaringacrossthegarden。

"Haveyourunoutofmaterialsoquickly?"askedElnora。

"That\'saboutit，"saidPhilip。"IhavesaidthatIamgettingwellasrapidlyaspossible，thattheairisfine，thefolksatUncleDoc\'sallwell，andentirelytoogoodtome；

thatIamspendingmostofmytimeinthecountryhelpingcatchmothsforacollection，whichissplendidexercise；

nowIcan\'tthinkofanotherthingthatwillbeinteresting。"

Therewasaburstofexquisitenotesinthemaple。

"Putinthegrosbeak，"suggestedElnora。"Tellheryouaresofriendlywithhimyoufeedhimpotatobugs。"

Philiploweredthepentothesheet，bentforward，thenhesitated。

"BlestifIdo!"hecried。"She\'dthinkagrosbeakwasadepravedpersonwithalargenose。She\'dneverdreamthatitwasablack-robedlover，withabreastofsnowandacrimsonheart。Shedoesn\'tcareforhungrybabiesandpotatobugs。Ishallwritethattofather。Hewillfinditdelightful。"

Elnoradeftlypickedupamoth，pinneditandplaceditswings。

Shestraightenedtheantennae，dreweachlegintopositionandsetitinperfectlylifelikemanner。Assheliftedherworktoseeifshehaditright，sheglancedatPhilip。

Hewasstillfrowningandhesitatingoverthepaper。

"Idareyoutoletmedictateacoupleofparagraphs。"

"Done!"criedPhilip。"GoslowlyenoughthatIcanwriteit。"

Elnoralaughedgleefully。

"Iamwritingthis，"shebegan，"inanoldgrapearbourinthecountry，nearalogcabinwhereIhadmydinner。

FromwhereIsitIcanseedirectlyintothehomeofthenext-doorneighbouronthewest。HisnameisR。B。Grosbeak。

FromallIhaveseenofhim，heisagentlemanoftheoldschool；theoldestschoolthereis，nodoubt。Healwayswearsablacksuitandcapandawhitevest，decoratedwithonelargeredheart，whichIthinkmustbetheemblemofsomeancientorder。Ihavebeenhereanumberoftimes，andIneverhaveseenhimwearanythingelse，orhiswifeappearinotherthanabrowndresswithtouchesofwhite。

"Ithasappealedtomeattimesthatshewasashadeneglectfulofherhomeduties，buthedoesnotseemtofeelthatway。Hecheerfullystaysinthesitting-room，whilesheisawayhavingagoodtime，andsingswhilehecaresforthefoursmallchildren。Imusttellyouabouthismusic。Iamsureheneversawinsideaconservatory。

Ithinkhemerelypickedupwhatheknowsbyearandwithoutvocaltraining，butthereisatendernessinhistones，adepthofpuremelody，thatIneverhaveheardsurpassed。

ItmaybethatIthinkmoreofhismusicthanthatofsomeothergoodvocalistshereabout，becauseIseemoreofhimandappreciatehisdevotiontohishomelife。

"Ijusthadanencounterwithhimatthewestfence，andinducedhimtocarryasmallgifttohischildren。

WhenIseetheperfectharmonyinwhichhelives，andthedepthofcontentheandthebrownladyfindinlife，Iamalmostpersuadedto——Nowthisisgoingtobepoetry，"saidElnora。"Moveyourpenoverhereandbeginwithaquoteandacap。"

Philip\'sfacehadbeenaninterestingstudywhilehewrotehersentences。Nowhegravelysetthepenwheresheindicated，andElnoradictated——

"Buyanicelittlehomeinthecountry，Andsettledownthereforlife。"

"That\'sthetruth!"criedPhilip。"It\'sasbigatemptationasIeverhad。Goon!"

"That\'sall，"saidElnora。"Youcanfinish。Themothsaredone。IamgoinghuntingforwhateverIcanfindforthegrades。"

"Waitaminute，"beggedPhilip。"Iamgoing，too。"

"No。Youstaywithmotherandfinishyourletter。"

"Itisdone。Icouldn\'taddanythingtothat。"

"Verywell!Signyournameandcomeon。ButI

forgottotellyouallthebargain。Maybeyouwon\'tsendtheletterwhenyouhearthat。Theremainderisthatyoushowmethereplytomypartofit。"

"Oh，that\'seasy!Iwouldn\'thavetheslightestobjectiontoshowingyouthewholeletter。"

Hesignedhisname，foldedthesheetsandslippedthemintohispocket。

"Wherearewegoingandwhatdowetake?"

"Willyougo，mother?"askedElnora。

"Ihavealittleworkthatshouldbedone，"saidMrs。Comstock。"Couldyouspareme?Wheredoyouwanttogo?"

"WewillgodowntoAuntMargaret\'sandseeherafewminutesandgetBilly。Wewillbebackintimeforsupper。"

Mrs。Comstocksmiledasshewatchedthemdowntheroad。

Whatasplendid-lookingpairofyoungcreaturestheywere!

Howfinelyproportioned，howfullofvitality!Thenherfacegrewtroubledasshesawtheminearnestconversation。

Justasshewaswishingshehadnottrustedherpreciousgirlwithsomuchofastranger，shesawElnorastooptoliftabranchandpeerunder。Themothergrewcontent。

Elnorawasthinkingonlyofherwork。Shewastobetrustedutterly。

CHAPTERXVI

WHEREINTHELIMBERLOSTSINGSFORPHILIP，ANDTHETALKINGTREESTELLGREATSECRETS

AfewdayslaterPhiliphandedElnoraasheetofpaperandsheread:"InyourconditionI

shouldthinkthemothhuntingandlifeatthatcabinwouldbeverygoodforyou，butforanysakekeepawayfromthatGrosbeakperson，anddon\'tcomehomewithyourheadfullofgrangerideas。Nodoubthehasaremarkablevoice，butIcan\'tbearuntrainedsingers，anddon\'tyougettheideathataJunesongisperennial。

Youarenothearingthemusichewillmakewhenthefourbabieshavethescarletfeverandthemeasles，andthegaddingwifeleaveshimathometocareforthemthen。

Poorsoul，Ipityher!Howsheexistswhererampantcowsbellowatyou，frogscroak，mosquitoesconsumeyou，thebuttergoestooilinsummerandbricksinwinter，whilethepumpfreezeseveryday，andthereisnoearthlyamusement，andnosociety!Poorthings!

Can\'tyouinfluencehimtomove?Nowondershegadswhenshehasachance!Ishoulddie。Ifyouarethinkingofsettlinginthecountry，thinkalsoofawomanwhoissatisfiedwithwhiteandbrowntoaccompanyyou!

Brown!Ofalldeadlycolours!Ishouldgomadinbrown。"

Elnoralaughedwhilesheread。Herfacewasdimpling，asshereturnedthesheet。"Who\'sahead?"sheasked。

"Whodoyouthink?"heparried。

"Sheis，"saidElnora。"AreyougoingtotellherinyournextthatR。B。Grosbeakisabird，andthatheprobablywillspendthewinterinawildplumthicketinTennessee?"

"No，"saidPhilip。"IshalltellherthatIunderstandherideasoflifeperfectly，and，ofcourse，Inevershallaskhertodealwithoilybutterandfrozenpumps——"

"——andmeasleybabies，"interpolatedElnora。

"Exactly!"saidPhilip。"AtthesametimeIfindsomuchtocounterbalancethosethings，thatIshouldnotobjecttobearingthemmyself，inviewoftherecompense。

Wheredowegoandwhatdowedoto-day?"

"WewillhavetohuntbesidetheroadsandaroundtheedgeoftheLimberlostto-day，"saidElnora。"Motherismakingstrawberrypreserves，andshecan\'tcomeuntilshefinishes。SupposewegodowntotheswampandI\'llshowyouwhatisleftoftheflower-roomthatTerenceO\'More，thebiglumbermanofGreatRapids，madewhenhewasahomelessboyhere。Ofcourse，youhaveheardthestory?"

"Yes，andI\'vemettheO\'MoreswhoarefrequentlyinChicagosociety。Theyhavefriendsthere。Ithinkthemoneidealcouple。"

"Thatsoundsasiftheymightbetheonlyone，"saidElnora，"and，indeed，theyarenot。Iknowdozens。

AuntMargaretandUncleWesleyareanother，theBrownleesanother，andmymathematicsprofessorandhiswife。

Theworldisfullofhappypeople，butnooneeverhearsofthem。Youmustfightandmakeascandaltogetintothepapers。Nooneknowsaboutallthehappypeople。

Iamhappymyself，andlookhowperfectlyinconspicuousIam。"

"Youonlyneedgowhereyouwillbeseen，"beganPhilip，whenherememberedandfinished。"Whatdowetaketo-day?"

"Ourselves，"saidElnora。"Ihaveavagabondstreakinmybloodandit\'sinevidence。Iamgoingtoshowyouwhererealflowersgrow，realbirdssing，andifIfeelquiterightaboutit，perhapsIshallraiseanoteortwomyself。"

"Oh，doyousing?"askedPhilippolitely。

"Attimes，"answeredElnora。"`Asdothebirds；

becauseImust，\'butdon\'tbescared。Themooddoesnotpossessmeoften。PerhapsIshan\'traiseanote。"

Theywentdowntheroadtotheswamp，climbedthesnakefence，followedthepathtotheoldtrailandthenturnedsouthuponit。ElnoraindicatedtoPhilipthetrailwithremnantsofsaggingbarbedwire。

"Itwastenyearsago，"shesaid。"Iwasalittleschoolgirl，butIwanderedwidelyeventhen，andnoonecared。

Isawhimoften。Hehadbeeninacityinstitutionallhislife，whenhetookthejobofkeepingtimberthievesoutofthisswamp，beforemanytreeshadbeencut。Itwasastrongman\'swork，andhewasafrailboy，buthegrewhardierashelivedoutofdoors。Thistrailweareonisthepathhisfeetfirstwore，inthosedayswhenhewasinsanewithfearandeatenupwithloneliness，buthestucktohisworkandwonout。IusedtocomedowntotheroadandcreepamongthebushesasfarasIdared，towatchhimpass。Hewalkedmostly，attimesherodeawheel。

"Somedayshisfacewasdreadfullysad，othersitwassodeterminedalittlechildcouldseetheforceinit，andoncehewasradiant。ThatdaytheSwampAngelwaswithhim。Ican\'ttellyouwhatshewaslike。Ineversawanyonewhoresembledher。Hestoppedcloseheretoshowherabird\'snest。Thentheywentontoasortofflower-roomhehadmade，andhesangforher。Bythetimeheleft，Ihadgottenboldenoughtocomeoutonthetrail，andImetthebigScotchmanFreckleslivedwith。

Hesawmecatchingmothsandbutterflies，sohetookmetotheflower-roomandgavemeeverythingthere。

Idon\'tdarecomealoneoften，soIcan\'tkeepitupashedid，butyoucanseesomethingofhowitwas。"

ElnoraledthewayandPhilipfollowed。Theoutlinesoftheroomwerenotdistinct，becausemanyofthetreesweregone，butElnorashowedhowithadbeenasnearlyasshecould。

"Theswampisalmostruinednow，"shesaid。"Themaples，walnuts，andcherriesareallgone。Thetalkingtreesaretheonlythingsleftworthwhile。"

"The`talkingtrees!\'Idon\'tunderstand，"commentedPhilip。

"Nowonder!"laughedElnora。"Theyaremydiscovery。

Youknowalltreeswhisperandtalkduringthesummer，buttherearetwothathavesomuchtosaytheykeeponthewholewinter，whentheothersaresilent。Thebeechesandoakssolovetotalk，theyclingtotheirdead，dryleaves。Inthewinterthewindsarestiffestandblowmost，sothesetreeswhisper，chatter，sob，laugh，andattimesroaruntilthesoundisdeafening。

Theyneverceaseuntilnewleavescomeoutinthespringtopushofftheoldones。Ilovetostandbeneaththemwithmyeartothetrunks，interpretingwhattheysaytofitmymoods。Thebeechesbranchlow，andtheirleavesaresmallsotheyonlyknowcommonearthlythings；

buttheoaksrunstraightabovealmostallothertreesbeforetheybranch，theirarmsaremighty，theirleaveslarge。

Theymeetthewindsthattravelaroundtheglobe，andfromthemlearnthebigthings。"

Philipstudiedthegirlsface。"Whatdothebeechestellyou，Elnora?"heaskedgently。

"Tobepatient，tobeunselfish，todountoothersasIwouldhavethemdotome。"

"Andtheoaks?"

"Theysay`betrue，\'`liveacleanlife，\'`sendyoursouluphereandthewindsoftheworldwillteachitwhathonourachieves。\'"

"Wonderfulsecrets，those!"marvelledPhilip。"Aretheytellingthemnow?CouldIhear?"

"No。Theyareonlygossipingnow。Thisisplay-time。

Theytellthebigsecretstoawhiteworld，whenthemusicinspiresthem。"

"Themusic?"

"Allothertreesareharpsinthewinter。Theirtrunksaretheframes，theirbranchesthestrings，thewindsthemusicians。

Whentheairiscoldandclear，theworldverywhite，andtheharpmusicswelling，thenthetalkingtreestellthestrengthening，upliftingthings。"

"Youwonderfulgirl!"criedPhilip。"Whatawomanyouwillbe!"

"IfIamawomanatallworthwhile，itwillbebecauseIhavehadsuchwonderfulopportunities，"saidElnora。

"NoteverygirlisdriventotheforesttolearnwhatGodhastosaythere。HerearetheremainsofFreckles\'sroom。

ThetimetheAngelcameherehesangtoher，andIlistened。