a girl of the limberlost-第9章

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noise　on　the　floor。　　There　isn't　another　calico　dress　in

the　whole　building；　not　among　hundreds　of　us。　　Why；　what

is　that？　　Aunt　Margaret；　what　are　you　hiding　in　your　lap？〃



She　snatched　the　waist　and　shook　it　out；　and　her　face

was　beaming。　　〃Have　you　taken　to　waists　all　fancy　and

buttoned　in　the　back？　　I　bet　you　this　is　mine！〃



〃I　bet　you　so　too；〃　said　Margaret　Sinton。　　〃You　undress

right　away　and　try　it　on；　and　if　it　fits；　it　will　be

done　for　morning。　　There　are　some　low　shoes；　too！〃



Elnora　began　to　dance。　　〃Oh；　you　dear　people！〃

she　cried。　　〃I　can　pay　for　them　to…morrow　night！　

Isn't　it　too　splendid！　　I　was　just　thinking　on　the

way　home　that　I　certainly　would　be　compelled　to

have　cooler　shoes　until　later；　and　I　was　wondering

what　I'd　do　when　the　fall　rains　begin。〃



〃I　meant　to　get　you　some　heavy　dress　skirts　and　a

coat　then；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。



〃I　know　you　said　so！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃But　you　needn't；　now！　

I　can　buy　every　single　stitch　I　need　myself。　　Next　summer

I　can　gather　up　a　lot　more　stuff；　and　all　winter　on　the

way　to　school。　　I　am　sure　I　can　sell　ferns；　I　know

I　can　nuts；　and　the　Bird　Woman　says　the　grade　rooms

want　leaves；　grasses；　birds'　nests；　and　cocoons。　　Oh；　isn't

this　world　lovely！　　I'll　be　helping　with　the　tax；　next；　mother！〃



Elnora　waved　the　waist　and　started　for　the　bedroom。　

When　she　opened　the　door　she　gave　a　little　cry。



〃What　have　you　people　been　doing？〃　she　demanded。　

〃I　never　saw　so　many　interesting　bundles　in　all　my　life。　

I'm　‘skeered'　to　death　for　fear　I　can't　pay　for　them；　and

will　have　to　give　up　something。〃



〃Wouldn't　you　take　them；　if　you　could　not　pay　for

them；　Elnora？〃　asked　her　mother　instantly。



〃Why；　not　unless　you　did；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃People　have

no　right　to　wear　things　they　can't　afford；　have　they？〃



〃But　from　such　old　friends　as　Maggie　and　Wesley！〃　

Mrs。　Comstock's　voice　was　oily　with　triumph。



〃From　them　least　of　all；〃　cried　Elnora　stoutly。　　〃From　a

stranger　sooner　than　from　them；　to　whom　I　owe　so　much　more

than　I　ever　can　pay　now。〃



〃Well；　you　don't　have　to；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃Maggie　just　selected　these　things；　because　she　is　more

in　touch　with　the　world；　and　has　got　such　good　taste。　

You　can　pay　as　long　as　your　money　holds　out；　and　if

there's　more　necessary；　maybe　I　can　sell　the　butcher　a

calf；　or　if　things　are　too　costly　for　us；　of　course；

they　can　take　them　back。　　Put　on　the　waist　now；　and　then

you　can　look　over　the　rest　and　see　if　they　are　suitable；

and　what　you　want。〃



Elnora　stepped　into　the　adjoining　room　and　closed　the　door。　

Mrs。　Comstock　picked　up　the　bucket　and　started　for　the　well

with　it。　　At　the　bedroom　she　paused。



〃Elnora；　were　you　going　to　wash　these　arrow　points？〃



〃Yes。　　The　Bird　Woman　says　they　sell　better　if　they　are　clean；

so　it　can　be　seen　that　there　are　no　defects　in　them。〃



〃Of　course；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃Some　of　them

seem　quite　baked。　　Shall　I　put　them　to　soak？　　Do　you

want　to　take　them　in　the　morning？〃



〃Yes；　I　do；〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃If　you　would　just

fill　the　pail　with　water。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　left　the　room。　　Wesley　Sinton　sat

with　his　back　to　the　window　in　the　west　end　of　the　cabin

which　overlooked　the　well。　　A　suppressed　sound　behind

him　caused　him　to　turn　quickly。　　Then　he　arose　and

leaned　over　Margaret。



〃She's　out　there　laughing　like　a　blamed　monkey！〃

he　whispered　indignantly。



〃Well；　she　can't　help　it！〃　exclaimed　Margaret。



〃I'm　going　home！〃　said　Wesley。



〃Oh　no；　you　are　not！〃　retorted　Margaret。　　〃You　are

missing　the　point。　　The　point　is　not　how　you　look；

or　feel。　　It　is　to　get　these　things　in　Elnora's　possession

past　dispute。　　You　go　now；　and　to…morrow　Elnora　will

wear　calico；　and　Kate　Comstock　will　return　these　goods。　

Right　here　I　stay　until　everything　we　bought　is　Elnora's。〃



〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　asked　Wesley。



〃I　don't　know　yet；　myself；〃　said　Margaret。



Then　she　arose　and　peered　from　the　window。　　At　the

well　curb　stood　Katharine　Comstock。　　The　strain

of　the　day　was　finding　reaction。　　Her　chin　was　in　the

air；　she　was　heaving；　shaking　and　strangling　to　suppress

any　sound。　　The　word　that　slipped　between　Margaret

Sinton's　lips　shocked　Wesley　until　he　dropped　on　his

chair；　and　recalled　her　to　her　senses。　　She　was　fairly

composed　as　she　turned　to　Elnora；　and　began　the　fitting。　

When　she　had　pinched；　pulled；　and　patted　she　called；

〃Come　see　if　you　think　this　fits；　Kate。〃



Mrs。　Comstock　had　gone　around　to　the　back　door　and

answered　from　the　kitchen。　　〃You　know　more　about

it　than　I　do。　　Go　ahead！　　I'm　getting　supper。　

Don't　forget　to　allow　for　what　it　will　shrink　in　washing！〃



〃I　set　the　colours　and　washed　the　goods　last　night；

it　can　be　made　to　fit　right　now；〃　answered　Margaret。



When　she　could　find　nothing　more　to　alter　she　told

Elnora　to　heat　some　water。　　After　she　had　done　that　the

girl　began　opening　packages。



The　hat　came　first。



〃Mother！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃Mother；　of　course；　you

have　seen　this；　but　you　haven't　seen　it　on　me。　　I　must

try　it　on。〃



〃Don't　you　dare　put　that　on　your　head　until　your　hair

is　washed　and　properly　combed；〃　said　Margaret。



〃Oh！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃Is　that　water　to　wash　my　hair？　

I　thought　it　was　to　set　the　colour　in　another　dress。〃



〃Well；　you　thought　wrong；〃　said　Margaret　simply。　

〃Your　hair　is　going　to　be　washed　and　brushed　until

it　shines　like　copper。　　While　it　dries　you　can　eat　your

supper；　and　this　dress　will　be　finished。　　Then　you　can

put　on　your　new　ribbon；　and　your　hat。　　You　can　try

your　shoes　now；　and　if　they　don't　fit；　you　and　Wesley

can　drive　to　town　and　change　them。　　That　little　round

bundle　on　the　top　of　the　basket　is　your　stockings。〃



Margaret　sat　down　and　began　sewing　swiftly；　and　a　little

later　opened　the　machine；　and　ran　several　long　seams。



Elnora　returned　in　a　few　minutes　holding　up　her　skirts

and　stepping　daintily　in　the　new　shoes。



〃Don't　soil　them；　honey；　else　you're　sure　they　fit；〃

cautioned　Wesley。



〃They　seem　just　a　trifle　large；　maybe；〃　said　Elnora

dubiously；　and　Wesley　knelt　to　feel。　　He　and　Margaret

thought　them　a　fit；　and　then　Elnora　appealed　to

her　mother。　　Mrs。　Comstock　appeared　wiping　her　hands

on　her　apron。　　She　examined　the　shoes　critically。



〃They　seem　to　fit；〃　she　said；　〃but　they　are　away　too

fine　to　walk　country　roads。〃



〃I　think　so；　too；〃　said　Elnora　instantly。　　〃We　had

better　take　these　back　and　get　a　cheaper　pair。〃



〃Oh；　let　them　go　for　this　time；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃They　are　so　pretty；　I　hate　to　part　with　them。　　You　can

get　cheaper　ones　after　this。〃



Wesley　and　Margaret　scarcely　breathed　for　a　long　time。



When　Wesley　went　to　do　the　feeding。　　Elnora　set

the　table。　　When　the　water　was　hot；　Margaret　pinned　a

big　towel　around　Elnora's　shoulders　and　washed　and

dried　the　lovely　hair　according　to　the　instructions　she

had　been　given　the　previous　night。　　As　the　hair　began

to　dry　it　billowed　out　in　a　sparkling　sheen　that　caught　the

light　and　gleamed　and　flashed。



〃Now；　the　idea　is　to　let　it　stand　naturally；　just　as　the

curl　will　make　it。　　Don't　you　do　any　of　that　nasty；　untidy

snarling；　Elnora；〃　cautioned　Margaret。　　〃Wash　it　this

way　every　two　weeks　while　you　are　in　school；　shake　it

out；　and　dry　it。　　Then　part　it　in　the　middle　and　turn　a

front　quarter　on　each　side　from　your　face。　　You　tie　the

back　at　your　neck　with　a　stringso；　and　the　ribbon　goes

in　a　big；　loose　bow。　　I'll　show　you。〃　　One　after　another

Margaret　Sinton　tied　the　ribbons；　creasing　each　of　them

so　they　could　not　be　returned；　as　she　explained　that　she

was　trying　to　find　the　colour　most　becoming。　　Then　she

produced　the　raincoat　which　carried　Elnora　into　transports。



Mrs。　Comstock　objected。　　〃That　won't　be　warm　enough　for

cold　weather；　and　you　can't　afford　it　and　a　coat；　too。〃



〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　thought；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃I　was

planning　on　the　way　home。　　These　coats　are　fine　because

they　keep　you　dry。　　I　thought　I　would　get　one；　and　a

warm　sweater　to　wear　under　it　cold　days。　　Then　I　always

would　be　dry；　and　warm。　　The　sweater　only　costs　three

dollars；　so　I　could　get　it　and　the　raincoat　both　for　half

the　price　of　a　heavy　cloth　coat。〃



〃You　are　right　about　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃You　can　change　more　with　the　weather；　too。　　Keep　the

raincoat；　Elnora。〃



〃Wear　it　until　you　try　the　hat；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃It　will

have　to　do　until　the　dress　is　finished。〃



Elnora　picked　up　the　hat　dubiously。　　〃Mother；　may

I　wear　my　hair　as　it　is　now？〃　she　asked。



〃Let　me　take　a　good　look；〃　said　Katharine　Comstock。



Heaven　only　knows　what　she　saw。　　To　Wesley　and

to　Margaret　the　bright　young　face　of　Elnora；　with　its

pink　tints；　its　heavy　dark　brows；　its　bright　blue…gray

eyes；　and　its　frame　of　curling　reddish…brown　hair　was

the　sweetest　sight　on　earth；　and　at　that　instant　Elnora

was　radiant。



〃So　long　as　it's　your　own　hair；　and　combed　back　as　plain

as　it　will　go；　I　don't　suppose　it　cuts　much　ice　whether

it's　tied　a　little　tighter　or　looser；〃　conceded　Mrs。　Comstock。　

〃If　you　stop　right　there；　you　may　let　it　go　at　that。〃



Elnora　set　the　hat　on　her　head。　　It　was　only　a　wide

tan　straw　with　three　exquisite　peacock　quills　at　one　side。　

Margaret　Sinton　cried　out；　Wesley　slapped　his　knee　and

sighed　deeply　while　Mrs。　Comstock　stood　speechless

for　a　second。



〃I　wish　you　had　asked　the　price　before　you　put　that

on；〃　she　said　impatiently。　　〃We　never　can　afford　it。〃



〃It's　not　so　much　as　you　think；〃　said　Margaret。　

〃Don't　you　see　what　I　did？　　I　had　them　take　off　the

quills；　and　put　on　some　of　those　Phoebe　Simms　gave　me

from　her　peacocks。　　The　hat　will　only　cost　you　a　dollar

and　a　half。〃



She　avoided　Wesley's　eyes；　and　looked　straight　at

Mrs。　Comstock。　　Elnora　removed　the　hat　to　examine　it。



〃Why；　they　are　those　reddish…tan　quills　of　yours！〃

she　cried。　　〃Mother；　look　how　beautifully　they　are

set　on！　　I'd　much　rather　have　them　than　those　from

the　store。〃



〃So　would　I；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃If　Margaret

wants　to　spare　them；　that　will　make　you　a　beautiful

hat；　dirt　cheap；　too！　　You　must　go　past　Mrs。　Simms

and　show　her。　　She　would　be　pleased　to　see　them。〃



Elnora　sank　into　a　chair　and　contemplated　her　toe。

〃Landy；　ain't　I　a　queen？〃　she　murmured。　　〃What　else

have　I　got？〃



〃Just　a　belt；　some　handkerchiefs；　and　a　pair　of　top

shoes　for　rainy　days　and　colder　weather；〃　said　Margaret。



〃About　those　high　shoes；　that　was　my　idea；〃　said　Wesley。　

〃Soon　as　it　rains；　low　shoes　won't　do；　and　by　taking

two　pairs　at　once　I　could　get　them　some　cheaper。　　The　low

ones　are　two　and　the　high　ones　two　fifty；　together　three

seventy…five。　　Ain't　that　cheap？〃



〃That's　a　real　bargain；〃　said　Mrs。　Comstock；　〃if　they

are　good　shoes；　and　they　look　it。〃



〃This〃　said　Wesley；　producing　the　last　package；　〃is