第20章

"Idonot!Ihaven\'tanidea!Ineverdreamedshewouldgoawaywhenshehadhiminherhand!Ishouldnothavedoneit!"

"Hesaiditwassomethingyousaidtoherthatmadehergo。"

"Thatmaybe，butitdoesn\'tprovethatIknowwhereshewent。"

Hendersonlookedacrossthewaterandsufferedkeenly。AtlastheturnedtoEdithandlaidafirm，stronghandoverhers。

"Edith，"hesaid，"doyourealizehowseriousthisis?"

"IsupposeIdo。"

"DoyouwantasfineafellowasPhilipdrivenanyfurther?

Ifheleavesthathospitalnow，andgoesouttotheexposureandanxietyofasearchforher，therewillbeatragedythatnoafterregretscanavert。Edith，whatdidyousaytoMissComstockthatmadeherrunawayfromPhil?"

Thegirlturnedherfacefromhimandsatstill，butthemangrippingherhandsandwaitinginagonycouldseethatshewasshakenbythejoltingoftheheartinherbreast。

"Edith，whatdidyousay?"

"Whatdifferencecanitmake?"

"Itmightfurnishsomecluetoheraction。"

"Itcouldnotpossibly。"

"Philthinksso。Hehasthoughtsountilhisbrainiswornenoughtogiveway。Tellme，Edith!"

"ItoldherPhilwasmine!Thatifhewereawayfromheranhourandbackinmypresence，hewouldbetomeashealwayshasbeen。"

"Edith，didyoubelievethat?"

"Iwouldhavestakedmylife，mysoulonit!"

"Doyoubelieveitnow?"

Therewasnoanswer。Hendersontookherotherhandandholdingbothofthemfirmlyhesaidsoftly:"Don\'tmindme，dear。Idon\'tcount!I\'mjustoldHart!Youcantellmeanything。Doyoustillbelievethat?"

Thebeautifulheadbarelymovedinnegation。

Hendersongatheredbothherhandsinoneofhisandstretchedanarmacrosshershoulderstotheposttosupporther。

Shedraggedherhandsfromhimandtwistedthemtogether。

"Oh，Hart!"shecried。"Itisn\'tfair!Thereisalimit!Ihavesufferedmyshare。Can\'tyousee?

Can\'tyouunderstand?"

"Yes，"hepanted。"Yes，mygirl!Tellmejustthisonethingyet，andI\'llcheerfullykillanyonewhoannoysyoufurther。Tellme，Edith!"

Thensheliftedherbig，dull，pain-filledeyestohisandcried:"No!Idonotbelieveitnow!Iknowitisnottrue!

Ikilledhisloveforme。Itisdeadandgoneforever。

Nothingwillreviveit!Nothinginallthisworld。

Andthatisnotall。Ididnotknowhowtotouchthedepthsofhisnature。Ineverdevelopedinhimthosethingshewasmadetoenjoy。Headmiredme。Hewasproudtobewithme。Hethought，andIthought，thatheworshippedme；butIknownowthatheneverdidcareformeashecaresforher。Never!Icanseeit!Iplannedtoleadsociety，tomakehishomeaplacesoughtformybeautyandpopularity。Sheplanstoadvancehispoliticalambitions，tomakehimcomfortablephysically，tostimulatehisintellect，tobearhimabroodofred-facedchildren。

Helikesherandherplansasheneverdidmeandmine。

Oh，mysoul!Now，areyousatisfied?"

Shedroppedbackagainsthisarmexhausted。

Hendersonheldherandlearnedwhatsufferingtrulymeans。Hefannedherwithhishat，rubbedhercoldhandsandmurmuredbroken，incoherentthings。

Byandbyslowtearsslippedfromunderherclosedlids，butwhensheopenedthemhereyesweredullandhard。

"Whataragoneiswhenthelastsecretofthesoulistornoutandlaidbare!"shecried。

Hendersonthrusthishandkerchiefintoherfingersandwhispered，"Edith，theboathasbeencreepingup。

It\'sveryclose。Maybesomeofourcrowdareonit。

Hadn\'twebetterslipawayfromherebeforeitlands?"

"IfIcanwalk，"shesaid。"Oh，Iamsodeadtired，Hart!

"Yes，dear，"saidHendersonsoothingly。"Justtrytopassthelandingbeforetheboatanchors。IfIonlydaredcarryyou!"

Theystruggledthroughthewaitingmasses，butdirectlyoppositethelandingtherewasabackwardmovementinthehappy，laughingcrowd，thegang-plankcamedownwithaslam，andpeoplebeganhurryingfromtheboat。

Crowdedagainstthefishhouseonthedock，Hendersoncouldonlyadvanceafewstepsatatime。HewasstrainingeverynervetoprotectandassistEdith。Hesawnooneherecognizednearthem，soheslippedhisarmacrossherbacktohelpsupporther。Hefeltherstiffenagainsthimandcatchherbreath。Atthesameinstant，theclearest，sweetestmalevoiceheeverhadheardcalled:

"Becarefulthere，littlemen!"

Hendersonsentaswiftglancetowardtheboat。TerenceO\'Morehadsteppedfromthegang-plank，leadingalittledaughter，solikehim，itwascomical。Therefollowedapicturenoteasytodescribe。TheAngelinthefullflowerofherbeauty，richlydressed，alaughonhercameoface，thesettingsunglintingonhergoldhair，escortedbyhereldestson，whoheldherhandtightlyandcarefullywatchedhersteps。NextcameElnora，dressedwithequalrichness，atrifletallerandslenderer，almostthesametypeofcolouring，butwithdifferenteyesandhair，faciallinesandexpression。ShewasledbythesecondO\'Moreboywhoconvulsedthecrowdbysaying:"Tareful，Elnora!

Don\'t\'oobe\'teppin\'indewater!"

Peoplesurgedaroundthem，purposelyclosingthemin。

"Whatlovelywomen!Whoarethey?It\'stheO\'Mores。

Thelightestoneishiswife。Isthathersister?

No，itishis!TheysayhehasatitleinEngland。"

Whispersranfastandaudible。Asthecrowdpressedaroundthepartyanopeningwasleftbesidethefishsheds。

Edithrandownthedock。Hendersonsprangafterher，catchingherarmandassistinghertothestreet。

"Uptheshore!Thisway!"shepanted。"Everyonewillgotodinnerthefirstthingtheydo。"

Theyleftthestreetandstartedaroundthebeach，butEdithwasbreathlessfromrunning，whiletheyieldingsandmadedifficultwalking。

"Helpme!"shecried，clingingtoHenderson。Heputhisarmaroundher，almostcarryingherfromsightintoalittlecovewalledbyhighrocksattheback，whiletherewasacleanfloorofwhitesand，andlogswashedfromthelakeforseats。Hefoundoneofthesewithabackrest，andhurryingdowntothewaterhesoakedhishandkerchiefandcarriedittoher。Shepasseditacrossherlips，overhereyes，andthenpressedthepalmsofherhandsuponit。Hendersonremovedtheheavyhat，fannedherwithhis，andwetthehandkerchiefagain。

"Hart，whatmakesyou?"shesaidwearily。"Mymotherdoesn\'tcare。Shesaysthisisgoodforme。Doyouthinkthisisgoodforme，Hart?"

"Edith，youknowIwouldgivemylifeifIcouldsaveyouthis，"hesaid，andcouldnotspeakfurther。

Sheleanedagainsthim，closedhereyesandlaysilentsolongthemanfellintopanic。

"Edith，youarenotunconscious?"hewhispered，touchingher。

"No。justresting。Pleasedon\'tleaveme。"

Heheldhercarefully，gentlyfanningher。Shewassufferingalmostmorethaneitherofthemcouldendure。

"Iwishyouhadyourboat，"shesaidatlast。"Iwanttosailwiththewindinmyface。"

"Thereisnowind。Icanbringmymotoraroundinafewminutes。"

"Thengetit。"

"Lieonthesand。Ican\'phonefromthefirstbooth。

Itwon\'ttakebutalittlewhile。"

Edithlayonthewhitesand，andHendersoncoveredherfacewithherhat。Thenherantothenearestboothandtalkedimperatively。Presentlyhewasbackbringingahotdrinkthatwasstimulating。Shortlythemotorranclosetothebeachandstopped。Henderson\'sservantbroughtarow-boatashoreandtookthemtothelaunch。

Itwasfilledwithcushionsandwraps。Hendersonmadeacouchandsoon，warmlycovered，Edithspedoutoverthewaterinsearchofpeace。

Hourafterhourtheboatranupanddowntheshore。

Themoonaroseandthenightairgrewverychilly。

HendersonputonanovercoatandpiledmorecoversonEdith。

"Youmusttakemehome，"shesaidatlast。"Thefolkswillbeuneasy。"

Hewascompelledtotakehertothecottagewiththebattlestillraging。Hewentbackearlythenextmorning，butalreadyshehadwanderedoutovertheisland。

InstinctivelyHendersonfeltthattheshorewouldattracther。

TherewassomethinginthetumultofroughlittleHuron\'swavesthatcalledtohim。Itwastherehefoundher，crouchingsoclosethewaterthefoamwasdampeningherskirts。

"MayIstay?"heasked。

"Ihavebeenhopingyouwouldcome，"sheanswered。

"It\'sbadenoughwhenyouarehere，butitisalittleeasierthanbearingitalone。"

"ThankGodforthat!"saidHendersonsittingbesideher。"ShallItalktoyou?"

Sheshookherhead。Sotheysatbythehour。Atlastshespoke:"Ofcourse，youknowthereissomethingI

havegottodo，Hart!"

"Youhavenot!"criedHenderson，violently。

"That\'sallnonsense!Givemejustonewordofpermission。Thatisallthatisrequiredofyou。"

"`Required?\'Yougrant，then，thatthereissomething`required?\'"

"Oneword。Nothingmore。"

"Didyoueverknowonewordcouldbesobig，soblack，sodesperatelybitter?Oh，Hart!"

"No。"

"Butyouknowitnow，Hart!"

"Yes。"

"Andstillyousaythatitis`required?\'"

Hendersonsufferedunspeakably。Atlasthesaid:"Ifyouhadseenandheardhim，Edith，you，too，wouldfeelthatitis`required。\'Remember——"

"No!No!No!"shecried。"Don\'taskmetoremembereventheleastofmyprideandfolly。Letmeforget!"

Shesatsilentforalongtime。

"Willyougowithme?"shewhispered。

"Ofcourse。"

Atlastshearose。

"Imightaswellgiveupandhaveitover，"shefaltered。

ThatwasthefirsttimeinherlifethatEdithCarreverhadproposedtogiveupanythingshewanted。

"Helpme，Hart!"

Hendersonstartedaroundthebeachassistingherallhecould。

Finallyhestopped。

"Edith，thereisnosenseinthis!Youaretootiredtogo。

Youknowyoucantrustme。Youwaitinanyoftheselovelyplacesandsendme。Youwillbesafe，andI\'llrun。

Onewordisallthatisnecessary。"

"ButI\'vegottosaythatwordmyself，Hart!"

"Thenwriteit，andletmecarryit。Themessageisnotgoingtoprovewhowenttotheofficeandsentit。"

"Thatisquitetrue，"shesaid，droppingwearily，butshemadenomovementtotakethepenandpaperheoffered。

"Hart，youwriteit，"shesaidatlast。

Hendersonturnedawayhisface。Hegrippedthepen，whilehisbreathsuckedbetweenhisdryteeth。

"Certainly!"hesaidwhenhecouldspeak。"Mackinac，August27，1908。PhilipAmmon，LakeShoreHospital，Chicago。"

HepausedwithsuspendedpenandglancedatEdith。Herwhitelipswereworking，butnosoundcame。"MissComstockiswiththeTerenceO\'Mores，onMackinacIsland，"promptedHenderson。

Edithnodded。

"Signed，Henderson，"continuedthebigman。

Edithshookherhead。

"Say，`Sheiswellandhappy，\'andsign，EdithCarr!"

shepanted。

"Notonyourlife!"flashedHenderson。

"Fortheloveofmercy，Hart，don\'tmakethisanyharder!

ItistheleastIcando，andittakeseveryounceofstrengthinmetodoit。"

"Willyouwaitformehere?"heasked。

Shenodded，and，pullinghishatloweroverhiseyes，Hendersonranaroundtheshore。Inlessthananhourhewasback。HehelpedheralittlefarthertowheretheDevil\'sKitchenlaycutintotherocks；itfurnishedplacestorest，andcoolwater。Beforelonghismancamewiththeboat。Fromittheyspreadblanketsonthesandforher，andmadechafing-dishtea。Shetriedtorefuseit，butthefragranceovercameherforshedrankravenously。

ThenHendersoncookedseveraldishesandspreadanappetizinglunch。Shewasyoung，strong，andalmostfamishedforfood。Shewasforcedtoeat。Thatmadeherfeelmuchbetter。ThenHendersonhelpedherintotheboatandranitthroughshadycovesoftheshore，wheretherewererefreshingbreezes。Whenshefellasleepthegirldidnotknow，butthemandid。Sadlyinneedofresthimself，heranthatboatforfivehoursthroughquietbays，awayfromnoisyparties，andwheretheshadewascoolanddeep。Whensheawokehetookherhome，andastheywentsheknewthatshehadbeenmistaken。Shewouldnotdie。Herheartwasnotevenbroken。Shehadsufferedhorribly；shewouldsuffermore；buteventuallythepainmustwearout。Intoherheadcreptafewlinesofanoldopera:

"Heartsdonotbreak，theystingandache，Foroldlove\'ssake，butdonotdie，AswitnesseththelivingI。"

ThateveningtheyweresailingdowntheStraitsbeforeastiffbreezeandHendersonwasbusywiththetillerwhenshesaidtohim:"Hart，Iwantyoutodosomethingmoreforme。"

"Youhaveonlytotellme，"hesaid。

"HaveIonlytotellyou，Hart?"sheaskedsoftly。

"Haven\'tyoulearnedthatyet，Edith?"

"Iwantyoutogoaway。"

"Verywell，"hesaidquietly，buthisfacewhitenedvisibly。

"Yousaythatasifyouhadbeenexpectingit。"

"Ihave。Iknewfromthebeginningthatwhenthiswasoveryouwoulddislikemeforhavingseenyousuffer。

IhavegrownmyGethsemaneinafullrealizationofwhatwascoming，butIcouldnotleaveyou，Edith，solongasitseemedtomethatIwasservingyou。DoesitmakeanydifferencetoyouwhereIgo?"

"Iwantyouwhereyouwillbeloved，andgoodcaretakenofyou。"

"Thankyou!"saidHenderson，smilinggrimly。"Haveyouanyideawheresuchaspotmightbefound?"

"ItshouldbewithyoursisteratLosAngeles。Shealwayshasseemedveryfondofyou。"

"Thatisquitetrue，"saidHenderson，hiseyesbrighteningalittle。"Iwillgotoher。WhenshallIstart?"

"Atonce。"

Hendersonbegantotackforthelanding，buthishandsshookuntilhescarcelycouldmanagetheboat。EdithCarrsatwatchinghimindifferently，butherheartwasthrobbingpainfully。"Whyistheresomuchsufferingintheworld?"shekeptwhisperingtoherself。InsideherdoorHendersontookherbytheshouldersalmostroughly。

"Forhowlongisthis，Edith，andhowareyougoingtosaygood-byetome?"

Sheraisedtired，pain-filledeyestohis。

"Idon\'tknowforhowlongitis，"shesaid。"Itseemsnowasifithadbeenasloweternity。IwishtomysoulthatGodwouldbemercifultomeandmakesomething`snap\'inmyheart，astheredidinPhil\'s，thatwouldgivemerest。Idon\'tknowforhowlong，butI\'mperfectlyshamelesswithyou，Hart。IfpeaceevercomesandIwantyou，Iwon\'twaitforyoutofinditoutyourself，I\'llcable，Marconigraph，anything。AsforhowIsaygood-bye；anywayyouplease，Idon\'tcareintheleastwhathappenstome。"

Hendersonstudiedherintently。

"Inthatcase，wewillshakehands，"hesaid。"Good-bye，Edith。

Don\'tforgetthateveryhourIamthinkingofyouandhopingallgoodthingswillcometoyousoon。"

CHAPTERXXV

WHEREINPHILIPFINDSELNORA，ANDEDITHCARROFFERSAYELLOWEMPEROR

Oh，Ineedmyownviolin，"criedElnora。"Thisonemaybeathousandtimesmoreexpensive，andmucholderthanmine；butitwasn\'tinspiredandtaughttosingbyamanwhoknewhow。Itdoesn\'tknow`beans，\'asmotherwouldsay，abouttheLimberlost。"

TheguestsintheO\'Moremusic-roomlaughedappreciatively。

"Whydon\'tyouwriteyourmothertocomeforavisitandbringyours?"suggestedFreckles。

"Ididthatthreedaysago，"acknowledgedElnora。

"Iamhalfexpectingheronthenoonboat。Thatisonereasonwhythisviolingrowsworseeveryminute。

Thereisnothingatallthematterwithme。"

"Splendid!"criedtheAngel。"I\'vebeggedandbeggedhertodoit。Iknowhowanxiousthesemothersbecome。

Whendidyousend?Whatmadeyou?Whydidn\'tyoutellme?"

"`When?\'Threedaysago。`Whatmademe?\'You。`Whydidn\'tItellyou?\'BecauseIcan\'tbesureintheleastthatshewillcome。Motheristhemostindividualperson。Sheneverdoeswhateveryoneexpectsshewill。

Shemaynotcome，andIdidn\'twantyoutobedisappointed。"

"HowdidImakeyou?"askedtheAngel。

"LovingAlice。Itmademerealizethatifyoucaredforyourgirllikethat，withMr。O\'Moreandthreeotherchildren，possiblymymother，withnoone，mightliketoseeme。IknowIwanttoseeher，andyouhadtoldmetosooften，Ijustsentforher。Oh，Idohopeshecomes!

Iwanthertoseethislovelyplace。"

"IhavebeenwonderingwhatyouthoughtofMackinac，"

saidFreckles。

"Oh，itisaperfectpicture，allofit!Ishouldliketohangitonthewall，soIcouldseeitwheneverIwantedto；

butitisn\'treal，ofcourse；it\'snothingbutapicture。"

"Thesepeoplewon\'tagreewithyou，"smiledFreckles。

"Thatisn\'tnecessary，"retortedElnora。"Theyknowthis，andtheyloveit；butyouandIareacquaintedwithsomethingdifferent。TheLimberlostislife。Hereitisacarefullykeptpark。Youmotor，sail，andgolf，allsosecureandfine。ButwhatIlikeistheexcitementofchoosingapathcarefully，inthefearthatthequagmiremayreachoutandsuckmedown；togointotheswampnaked-handedandwrestfromittreasuresthatbringmebooksandclothing，andIlikeenoughofafightforthingsthatIalwaysrememberhowIgotthem。Ievenenjoyseeingacannyoldvultureeyeingmeasifitweresaying:

`Warethestingoftherattler，lestIpickyourbonesasI

didoldLimber\'s。\'Ilikesufficientdangertoputanedgeonlife。Thisissotame。Ishouldhaveloveditwhenallthehomeswerecabins，andwatchersforthestealthyIndiancanoespatrolledtheshores。Youwaituntilmothercomes，andifmyviolinisn\'tangrywithmeforleavingit，to-nightweshallsingyoutheSongoftheLimberlost。Youshallhearthebiggoldbeesoverthered，yellow，andpurpleflowers，birdsong，windtalk，andthewhispersofSleepySnakeCreek，asitgoespastyou。

Youwillknow!"ElnoraturnedtoFreckles。

Henodded。"Whobetter?"heasked。"Thisissecurewhilethechildrenaresosmall，butwhentheygrowlarger，wearegoingfarthernorth，intorealforest，wheretheycanlearnself-relianceanddevelopbackbone。"

Elnoralaidawaytheviolin。"Comealong，children，"

shesaid。"Wemustgetatthatbackbonebusinessatonce。

Let\'sracetotheplayhouse。"

WiththebroodatherheelsElnoraran，andforanhourlivelysoundsstolefromtheremainingspotofforestontheIsland，whichlaybesidetheO\'Morecottage。ThenTerrywenttotheplayroomtobringAliceherdoll。Hecameracingback，draggingitbyoneleg，andcrying:

"There\'scompany!Someonehascomethatmammaandpapaarejusttearingdownthehouseover。Isawthroughthewindow。"

"Itcouldnotbemymother，yet，"musedElnora。"Herboatisnotdueuntiltwelve。Terry，giveAlicethatdoll——"

"It\'saman-person，andIdon\'tknowhim，butmyfatherisshakinghishandrightstraightalong，andmymotherisrunningforahotdrinkandacushion。It\'sakindofasickperson，buttheyaregoingtomakehimwellrightaway，anyonecanseethat。Thisisthebestplace。

I\'llgotellhimtocomelieonthepineneedlesinthesunandwatchthesailsgoby。Thatwillfixhim!"

"Watchsailsgoby，"chantedLittleBrother。"\'Afixhim!

Elnorafixhim，won\'tyou?"

"Idon\'tknowaboutthat，"answeredElnora。"Whatsortofpersonishe，Terry?"

"Abeautifulwhiteperson；butmyfatherisgoingto`colourhimup，\'Iheardhimsayso。He\'sjustoutofthehospital，andheisabadperson，\'causeheranawayfromthedoctorsandmadethemawfulangry。Butfatherandmotheraregoingtodoctorhimbetter。Ididn\'tknowtheycouldmakesickpeoplewell。"

"\'Eydoanyfing!"boastedLittleBrother。

BeforeElnoramissedher，Alice，whohadgonetoinvestigate，cameflyingacrosstheshadowsandthroughthesunshinewavingapaper。ShethurstitintoElnora\'shand。

"Thereisaman-person——astranger-person!"sheshouted。

"Butheknowsyou!Hesentyouthat!Youaretobethedoctor!Hesaidso!Oh，dohurry!Ilikehimheaps!"

ElnorareadEdithCarr\'stelegramtoPhilipAmmonandunderstoodthathehadbeenill，thatshehadbeenlocatedbyEdithwhohadnotifiedhim。Insodoingshehadacknowledgeddefeat。AtlastPhilipwasfree。

Elnoralookedupwitharadiantface。

"Ilikehim`heaps\'myself!"shecried。"Comeonchildren，wewillgotellhimso。"

TerryandAliceran，butElnorahadtosuitherstepstoLittleBrother，whowasherloyalesquire，andwouldhavebeenheartbrokenoverdesertionandinsultedatbeingcarried。Hewasratherdragged，buthewasarriving，andtheemergencywasgreat，hecouldseethat。

"She\'scoming!"shoutedAlice。

"She\'sgoingtobethedoctor!"criedTerry。

"Shelookedjustlikeshe\'dseenangelswhenshereadtheletter，"explainedAlice。

"Shelikesyou`heaps!\'Shesaidso!"dancedTerry。

"Bewaiting!Heresheis!"

ElnorahelpedLittleBrotherupthesteps，thendesertedhimandcameatarush。Thestranger-personstoodholdingouttremblingarms。

"Areyousure，atlast，runaway?"askedPhilipAmmon。

"Perfectlysure!"criedElnora。

"Willyoumarrymenow?"

"Thisinstant!Thatis，anytimeafterthenoonboatcomesin。"

"Whysuchunnecessarydelay?"demandedAmmon。

"ItisalmostSeptember，"explainedElnora。"Isentformotherthreedaysago。Wemustwaituntilshecomes，andweeitherhavetosendforUncleWesleyandAuntMargaret，orgotothem。Icouldn\'tpossiblybemarriedproperlywithoutthosedearpeople。"

"Wewillsend，"decidedAmmon。"Thetripwillbeatreatforthem。O\'More，wouldyougetoffamessageatonce?"

Everyonemetthenoonboat。TheywentinthemotorbecausePhilipwastooweaktowalksofar。AssoonaspeoplecouldbedistinguishedatallElnoraandPhilipsightedanerectfigure，withaheadlikeasnowdrift。

Whenthegang-plankfellthefirstpersonacrossitwasalean，red-hairedboyofeleven，carryingaviolininonehandandanenormousbouquetofyellowmarigoldsandpurpleastersintheother。HewasbeamingwithbroadsmilesuntilhesawPhilip。Thenhisexpressionchanged。

"Aw，say!"heexclaimedreproachfully。"IbetyouAuntMargaretisright。Heisgoingtobeyourbeau!"

ElnorastoopedtokissBillyasshecaughthermother。

"There，there!"criedMrs。Comstock。"Don\'tknockmyheadgearintomyeye。I\'mnotsureI\'vegoteitherhatorhair。Thewindblewlikebizzemcominguptheriver。"

Sheshookoutherskirts，straightenedherhat，andcameforwardtomeetPhilip，whotookherintohisarmsandkissedherrepeatedly。ThenhepassedheralongtoFrecklesandtheAngeltowhomhergreetingsweremingledwithscoldingandlaughteroverherwind-blownhair。

"NodoubtI\'mapreciousspectacle!"shesaidtotheAngel。

"IsawyourpaalittlebeforeIstarted，andhesentyouanote。It\'sinmysatchel。Hesaidhewascomingupnextweek。Whatalotofpeoplethereareinthisworld!

Andwhatonearthareallofthemlaughingabout?

Didnoneofthemeverhearofsickness，orsorrow，ordeath?Billy，don\'tyougotoplayingIndianorchasingwoodchucksuntilyougetoutofthoseclothes。

IpromisedMargaretI\'dbringbackthatsuitgoodasnew。"

ThentheO\'MorechildrencamecrowdingtomeetElnora\'smother。

"MerryChristmas!"criedMrs。Comstock，gatheringthemin。"Goteverythingrightherebutthetree，andthereseemstobeplentyofthemalittlehigherup。

Ifthiswindwouldstiffenjustenoughmoretoblowawaythepeople，soonecouldseethisplace，Ibelieveitwouldberightdecentlooking。"

"Seehere，"whisperedElnoratoPhilip。"YoumustfixthiswithBilly。Ican\'thavehistripspoiled。"

"Now，hereiswhereIdusttherestof\'em!"complacentlyremarkedMrs。Comstock，assheclimbedintothemotorcarforherfirstride，incompanywithPhilipandLittleBrother。

"Ihavebeentheonetotrudgetheroadsandhopoutofthewayofthesethingsforquiteaspell。"

Shesatveryerectasthecarrolledintothebroadmainavenue，whereonlystraycoupleswerewalking。Hereyesbegantotwinkleandgleam。Suddenlysheleanedforwardandtouchedthedriverontheshoulder。

"Youngman，"shesaid，"justyoutootthathornsuddenlyandshavecloseenoughafewofthosepeople，sothatI

canseehowIlookwhenIleapforragweedandsnakefences。"

TheamazedchauffeurglancedquestioninglyatPhilipwhoslightlynodded。Asecondlatertherewasaquick"honk!"andaswerveatacorner。Amanengrossedinconversationgrabbedthewomantowhomhewastalkinganddashedforthesafetyofalawn。Thewomantrippedinherskirts，andasshefellthemancaughtanddraggedher。Bothofthemturnedredfacestothecarandberatedthedriver。Mrs。Comstocklaughedinunrestrainedenjoyment。Thenshetouchedthechauffeuragain。

"That\'senough，"shesaid。"Itseemsamiterisky。"

AminutelatersheaddedtoPhilip，"Ifonlytheyhadbeencarryingsixpoundsofbutterandtendozeneggsapiece，wouldn\'tthathavebeenjustperfect?"

BillyhadwaveredbetweenElnoraandthemotor，buthisloyallittlesoulhadbeentruetoher，sothewalktothecottagebeganwithhimatherside。LongbeforetheyarrivedthelittleO\'MoreshadcrowdedaroundandcapturedBilly，andhewasgivingthemanexpurgatedversionofMrs。Comstock\'stalesofBigFootandAdamPoe，boastingthatUncleWesleyhadbeeninthecampsofMe-shin-go-me-siaandknewWa-ca-co-nahbeforehegotreligionanddressedlikewhitemen；whilethemightyprowessofSnapasawoodchuckhunterwasdonefulljustice。WhentheyreachedthecottagePhiliptookBillyaside，showedhimtheemeraldringandgravelyaskedhispermissiontomarryElnora。Billystruggledtobejust，butitwasgoinghardwithhim，whenAlice，whokeptcloseenoughtohear，intervened。

"Whydon\'tyouletthemgetmarried?"sheasked。

"Youaremuchtoosmallforher。Youwaitforme!"

Billystudiedherintently。AtlastheturnedtoAmmon。

"Aw，well!Goon，then!"hesaidgruffly。"I\'llmarryAlice!"

Alicereachedherhand。"Ifyougotthatsettledlet\'sputonourIndianclothes，calltheboys，andgototheplayhouse。"

"Ihaven\'tgotanyIndianclothes，"saidBillyruefully。

"Yes，youhave，"explainedAlice。"Fatherboughtyousomecomingfromthedock。Youcanputthemonintheplayhouse。Theboysdo。"

Billyexaminedtheplayhousewithgleamingeyes。

Neverhadheencounteredsuchpossibilities。Hecouldseeahundredamusingthingstotry，andhecouldnotdecidewhichtodofirst。Themostimmediateattractionseemedtobeadeadpine，heldperpendicularlybyitsfellows，whileitsbarkhaddecayedandfallen，leavingabare，smoothtrunk。

"IfwejusthadsomegreasethatwouldmakethedandiestpoletoplayFourthofJulywith!"heshouted。

ThechildrenrememberedtheFourth。Ithadbeengreatfun。

"Butterisgrease。Thereisplentyinthe\'frigerator，"

suggestedAlice，speedingaway。