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She could see that Elnora was on a strain, though she hoped Philip would not. The girl grew restless as the week drew to a close. Once when the gate clicked she suddenly lost colour and moved nervously. Billy came down the walk. Philip leaned toward Mrs. Comstock and said: "I am expressly forbidden to speak to Elnora as I would like.
The next morning Philip came early, dressed in the outing clothing he had worn the previous summer, and aside from a slight paleness seemed very much the same as when he left. Elnora met him on the old footing, and for a week life went on exactly as it had the previous summer. Mrs. Comstock made mental notes and watched in silence.
"Nothing in the world to be afraid of. What happened?" "Uncle Wesley," said Elnora, "I had more money than I brought home last night, and I put it in my case. Some one has been there. The ground is all trampled, and they left this note." "And took your money, I'll wager," said Sinton angrily. "No," answered Elnora. "Read the note, and oh Uncle Wesley, tell me what it means!"
Four o'clock the following morning Elnora was shelling beans. At six she fed the chickens and pigs, swept two of the rooms of the cabin, built a fire, and put on the kettle for breakfast.
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.
There's no reason on earth why you shouldn't wear it." "Except that I will not," said Elnora. "Didn't you provide any dress for Commencement, either?" "If you soil that to-night, I've plenty of time to wash it again." Wesley's voice called from the gate. "In a minute," answered Elnora. She ran upstairs and in an incredibly short time came down wearing one of her gingham school dresses.
At last Philip was free. Elnora looked up with a radiant face. "I like him 'heaps' myself!" she cried. "Come on children, we will go tell him so." Terry and Alice ran, but Elnora had to suit her steps to Little Brother, who was her loyal esquire, and would have been heartbroken over desertion and insulted at being carried.
There it stood in a bank window in big black letters staring straight at her: WANTED: CATERPILLARS, COCOONS, CHRYSALIDES, PUPAE CASES, BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, INDIAN RELICS OF ALL KINDS. HIGHEST SCALE OF PRICES PAID IN CASH Elnora caught the wicket at the cashier's desk with both hands to brace herself against disappointment. "Who is it wants to buy cocoons, butterflies, and moths?" she panted.
Hang your coat there on your nail, Phil, and come split some kindling. Elnora, clean away that stuff, and set the table. Can't you see the boy is starved and tired? He's come home to rest and eat a decent meal. Come on, Phil!" Mrs. Comstock marched away, and Philip hung his coat in its old place and followed. Out of sight and hearing she turned on him.
"That sounds as if they might be the only one," said Elnora, "and, indeed, they are not. I know dozens. Aunt Margaret and Uncle Wesley are another, the Brownlees another, and my mathematics professor and his wife. The world is full of happy people, but no one ever hears of them. You must fight and make a scandal to get into the papers. No one knows about all the happy people.
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