第1章

类别:其他 作者:Gene Stratton-Porter字数:9827更新时间:18/12/13 16:09:15
ElnoraComstock,haveyoulostyoursenses?\" demandedtheangryvoiceofKatharineComstockwhilesheglaredatherdaughter。 \"Whymother!\"falteredthegirl。 \"Don\'tyou`whymother\'me!\"criedMrs。Comstock。 \"YouknowverywellwhatImean。You\'vegivenmenopeaceuntilyou\'vehadyourwayaboutthisgoingtoschoolbusiness;I\'vefixedyougoodenough,andyou\'rereadytostart。ButnochildofminewalksthestreetsofOnabashalookinglikeaplay-actresswoman。Youwetyourhairandcombitdownmodestanddecentandthenbeoff,oryou\'llhavenotimetofindwhereyoubelong。\" Elnoragaveonedespairingglanceatthewhiteface,framedinamostbecomingriotofreddish-brownhair,whichshesawinthelittlekitchenmirror。Thensheuntiedthenarrowblackribbon,wetthecombandplasteredthewavingcurlsclosetoherhead,boundthemfast,pinnedontheskimpyblackhatandopenedthebackdoor。 \"You\'vegonesoplumbdaffyyouareforgettingyourdinner,\"jeeredhermother。 \"Idon\'twantanythingtoeat,\"repliedElnora。 \"You\'lltakeyourdinneroryou\'llnotgoonestep。 Areyoucrazy?Walkalmostthreemilesandnofoodfromsixinthemorninguntilsixatnight。Aprettyfigureyou\'dcutifyouhadyourway!AndafterI\'vegoneandboughtyouthisnicenewpailandfilleditespecialtostarton!\" Elnoracamebackwithafacestillwhiterandpickedupthelunch。\"Thankyou,mother!Good-bye!\"shesaid。Mrs。Comstockdidnotreply。Shewatchedthegirlfollowthelongwalktothegateandgofromsightontheroad,inthebrightsunshineofthefirstMondayofSeptember。 \"Ibetadollarshegetsenoughofitbynight!\" commentedMrs。Comstock。 Elnorawalkedbyinstinct,forhereyeswereblindedwithtears。Shelefttheroadwhereitturnedsouth,atthecorneroftheLimberlost,climbedasnakefenceandenteredapathwornbyherownfeet。Dodgingunderwillowandscruboakbranchesshecameatlasttothefaintoutlineofanoldtrailmadeinthedayswhentheprecioustimberoftheswampwasguardedbyarmedmen。Thispathshefolloweduntilshereachedathickclumpofbushes。Fromthedebrisintheendofahollowlogshetookakeythatunlockedthepadlockofalargeweatherbeatenoldbox,insideofwhichlayseveralbooks,abutterflyapparatus,andasmallcrackedmirror。Thewallswerelinedthicklywithgaudybutterflies,dragonflies,andmoths。Shesetupthemirrorandoncemorepullingtheribbonfromherhair,sheshookthebrightmassoverhershoulders,tossingitdryinthesunshine。 Thenshestraightenedit,bounditloosely,andreplacedherhat。Shetuggedvainlyatthelowbrowncalicocollarandgazeddespairinglyatthegenerouslengthofthenarrowskirt。Shelifteditasshewouldhavecutitifpossible。Thatdisclosedtheheavyhighleathershoes,atsightofwhichsheseemedpositivelyill,andhastilydroppedtheskirt。Sheopenedthepail,removedthelunch,wrappeditinthenapkin,andplaceditinasmallpasteboardbox。Lockingthecaseagainshehidthekeyandhurrieddownthetrail。 Shefolloweditaroundthenorthendoftheswampandthenenteredafootpathcrossingafarmleadinginthedirectionofthespiresofthecitytothenortheast。 Againsheclimbedafenceandwasontheopenroad。Foraninstantsheleanedagainstthefencestaringbeforeher,thenturnedandlookedback。Behindherlaythelandonwhichshehadbeenborntodrudgeryandamotherwhomadenopretenceoflovingher;beforeherlaythecitythroughwhoseschoolsshehopedtofindmeansofescapeandthewaytoreachthethingsforwhichshecared。Whenshethoughtofhowsheappearedsheleanedmoreheavilyagainstthefenceandgroaned; whenshethoughtofturningbackandwearingsuchclothinginignoranceallthedaysofherlifeshesetherteethfirmlyandwenthastilytowardOnabasha。 Onthebridgecrossingadeepculvertatthesuburbssheglancedaround,andthenkneelingshethrustthelunchboxbetweenthefoundationandtheflooring。 Thisleftherempty-handedassheapproachedthebigstonehighschoolbuilding。Sheenteredbravelyandinquiredherwaytotheofficeofthesuperintendent。Thereshelearnedthatsheshouldhavecomethepreviousweekandarrangedaboutherclasses。Thereweremanythingsincidenttotheopeningofschool,andonemanunabletocopewithallofthem。 \"Wherehaveyoubeenattendingschool?\"heasked,whileheadvisedtheteacherofDomesticSciencenottotelephoneforgroceriesuntilsheknewhowmanyshewouldhaveinherclasses;wroteanorderforchemicalsforthestudentsofscience;andadvisedtheleaderoftheorchestratohireaprofessionaltotaketheplaceofthebassviolist,reportedsuddenlyill。 \"IfinishedlastspringatBrushwoodschool,districtnumbernine,\"saidElnora。\"Ihavebeenstudyingallsummer。 IamquitesureIcandothefirstyearwork,ifIhaveafewdaystogetstarted。\" \"Ofcourse,ofcourse,\"assentedthesuperintendent。 \"Almostinvariablycountrypupilsdogoodwork。Youmayenterfirstyear,andifitistoodifficult,wewillfinditoutspeedily。Yourteacherswilltellyouthelistofbooksyoumusthave,andifyouwillcomewithmeIwillshowyouthewaytotheauditorium。Itisnowtimeforopeningexercises。Takeanyseatyoufindvacant。\" Elnorastoodbeforetheentranceandstaredintothelargestroomsheeverhadseen。Thefloorslopedtoayawningstageonwhichabandofmusicians,groupedaroundagrandpiano,weretuningtheirinstruments。 Shehadtwofleetingimpressions。Thatitwasallamistake;thiswasnoschool,butagranddisplayofenormousribbonbows;andthesecond,thatshewassinking,andhadforgottenhowtowalk。Thenaburstfromtheorchestranervedherwhileabevyofdaintilyclad,sweet- smellingthingsthatmighthavebeenbirds,orflowers,orpossiblygailydressed,happyyounggirls,pushedherforward。Shefoundherselfploddingacrossthebackoftheauditorium,prayingforguidance,toanemptyseat。 Asthegirlspassedher,vacanciesseemedtoopentomeetthem。Theirfriendsweremovingover,beckoningandwhisperinginvitations。Everyoneelsewasseated,butnoonepaidanyattentiontothewhite-facedgirlstumblinghalf-blindlydowntheaislenextthefarthestwall。 Soshewentontotheveryendfacingthestage。 Noonemoved,andshecouldnotsummoncouragetocrowdpastotherstoseveralemptyseatsshesaw。 Attheendoftheaisleshepausedindesperation,whileshestaredbackatthewholeforestoffacesmostofwhichwerenowturneduponher。 Inaflashcamethefullrealizationofherscantydress,herpitifullittlehatandribbon,herbig,heavyshoes,herignoranceofwheretogoorwhattodo;andfromasickeningwavewhichcreptoverher,shefeltshewasgoingtobecomeveryill。Thenoutofthemassshesawapairofbig,brownboyeyes,threeseatsfromher,andtherewasamessageinthem。Withoutmovinghisbodyhereachedforwardandwithapenciltouchedthebackoftheseatbeforehim。InstantlyElnoratookanotherstepwhichbroughthertoarowofvacantfrontseats。 Sheheardlaughterbehindher;theknowledgethatsheworetheonlyhatintheroomburnedher;everymatterofmoment,andsomeofnoneatall,cutandstung。 Shehadnobooks。Whereshouldshegowhenthiswasover?Whatwouldshegivetobeonthetrailgoinghome!Shewasshakingwithanervouschillwhenthemusicceased,andthesuperintendentarose,andcomingdowntothefrontoftheflower-deckedplatform,openedaBibleandbegantoread。Elnoradidnotknowwhathewasreading,andshefeltthatshedidnotcare。 Wildlyshewasrackingherbraintodecidewhethersheshouldsitstillwhentheotherslefttheroomorfollow,andasksomeonewheretheFreshmenwentfirst。 Inthemidstofthestruggleonesentencefellonherear。 \"HidemeundertheshadowofThywings。\" Elnorabegantoprayfrantically。\"Hideme,OGod,hideme,undertheshadowofThywings。\" Againandagainsheimploredthatprayer,andbeforesherealizedwhatwascoming,everyonehadarisenandtheroomwasemptyingrapidly。Elnorahurriedafterthenearestgirlandinthepressatthedoortouchedhersleevetimidly。 \"WillyoupleasetellmewheretheFreshmengo?\"sheaskedhuskily。 Thegirlgaveheronesurprisedglance,anddrewaway。 \"Sameplaceasthefreshwomen,\"sheanswered,andthosenearestherlaughed。 Elnorastoppedprayingsuddenlyandthecolourcreptintoherface。\"I\'llwageryouarethefirstpersonImeetwhenIfindit,\"shesaidandstoppedshort。\"Notthat! Oh,Imustnotdothat!\"shethoughtindismay。\"MakeanenemythefirstthingIdo。Oh,notthat!\" Shefollowedwithhereyesastheyoungpeopleseparatedinthehall,someclimbingstairs,somedisappearingdownsidehalls,someenteringadjoiningdoors。Shesawthegirlovertakethebrown-eyedboyandspeaktohim。 HeglancedbackatElnorawithascowlonhisface。 Thenshestoodaloneinthehall。 Presentlyadooropenedandayoungwomancameoutandenteredanotherroom。Elnorawaiteduntilshereturned,andhurriedtoher。\"WouldyoutellmewheretheFreshmenare?\"shepanted。 \"Straightdownthehall,threedoorstoyourleft,\" wastheanswer,asthegirlpassed。 \"Oneminuteplease,ohplease,\"beggedElnora: \"ShouldIknockorjustopenthedoor?\" \"Goinandtakeaseat,\"repliedtheteacher。 \"Whatiftherearen\'tanyseats?\"gaspedElnora。 \"Classroomsareneverhalf-filled,therewillbeplenty,\" wastheanswer。 Elnoraremovedherhat。Therewasnoplacetoputit,soshecarrieditinherhand。Shelookedinfinitelybetterwithoutit。Afterseveraleffortssheatlastopenedthedoorandsteppinginsidefacedasmallerandmoreconcentratedbatteryofeyes。 \"Thesuperintendentsentme。HethinksIbelonghere,\"shesaidtotheprofessorinchargeoftheclass,butsheneverbeforeheardthevoicewithwhichshespoke。 Asshestoodwaiting,thegirlofthehallpassedonherwaytotheblackboard,andsuppressedlaughtertoldElnorathatherthrusthadbeenrepeated。 \"Beseated,\"saidtheprofessor,andthenbecausehesawElnorawasdesperatelyembarrassedheproceededtolendherabookandtoaskherifshehadstudiedalgebra。 Shesaidshehadalittle,butnotthesamebooktheywereusing。 Heaskedherifshefeltthatshecoulddotheworktheywerebeginning,andshesaidshedid。 Thatwashowithappened,thatthreeminutesafterenteringtheroomshewastoldtotakeherplacebesidethegirlwhohadgonelasttotheboard,andwhoseflushedfaceandangryeyesavoidedmeetingElnora\'s。Beingcompelledtoconcentrateonherpropositionsheforgotherself。 Whentheprofessoraskedthatallpupilssigntheirworkshefirmlywrote\"ElnoraComstock\"underherdemonstration。 Thenshetookherseatandwaitedwithwhitelipsandtremblinglimbs,asoneafteranotherprofessorcalledthenamesontheboard,whiletheirownersaroseandexplainedtheirpropositions,or\"flunked\"iftheyhadnotfoundacorrectsolution。Shewassoeagertocatchtheirformsofexpressionandprepareherselfforherrecitation,thatsheneverlookedfromtheworkontheboard,untilclearlyanddistinctly,\"ElnoraComstock,\" calledtheprofessor。 Thedazedgirlstaredattheboard。Onetinycurladdedtothetopofthefirstcurveoftheminhername,hadtransformeditfromagoodoldEnglishpatronymicthatanygirlmightbearproudly,toCornstock。 Elnorasatspeechless。Whenandhowdidithappen? Shecouldfeelthewaveofsmotheredlaughterintheairaroundher。Arushofangerturnedherfacescarletandhersoulsick。Thevoiceoftheprofessoraddressedherdirectly。 \"Thispropositionseemstobebeautifullydemonstrated,MissCornstalk,\"hesaid。\"Surely,youcantellushowyoudidit。\" Thatwordofpraisesavedher。Shecoulddogoodwork。 Theymightweartheirprettyclothes,havetheirfriendsandmakelifeagreatermiserythaniteverbeforehadbeenforher,butnotoneofthemshoulddobetterworkorbemorewomanly。Thatlaywithher。Shewastall,straight,andhandsomeasshearose。 \"OfcourseIcanexplainmywork,\"shesaidinnaturaltones。 \"WhatIcan\'texplainishowIhappenedtobesostupidastomakeamistakeinwritingmyownname。Imusthavebeenalittlenervous。Pleaseexcuseme。\" Shewenttotheboard,sweptoffthesignaturewithonestroke,thenrewroteitplainly。\"MynameisComstock,\" shesaiddistinctly。Shereturnedtoherseatandfollowingtheformulausedbytheothersmadeherfirsthighschoolrecitation。 AsElnoraresumedherseatProfessorHenleylookedathersteadily。\"Itpuzzlesme,\"hesaiddeliberately,howyoucanwriteasbeautifulademonstration,andexplainitasclearlyaseverhasbeendoneinanyofmyclassesandstillbesodisturbedastomakeamistakeinyourownname。 Areyouverysureyoudidthatyourself,MissComstock?\" \"Itisimpossiblethatanyoneelseshouldhavedoneit,\" answeredElnora。 \"Iamverygladyouthinkso,\"saidtheprofessor。 \"BeingFreshmen,allofyouarestrangerstome。 Ishoulddisliketobegintheyearwithyoufeelingtherewasoneamongyousmallenoughtodoatricklikethat。 Thenextproposition,please。\" WhenthehourhadgonetheclassfiledbacktothestudyroomandElnorafollowedindesperation,becauseshedidnotknowwhereelsetogo。Shecouldnotstudyasshehadnobooks,andwhentheclassagainlefttheroomtogotoanotherprofessorforthenextrecitation,shewentalso。 Atleasttheycouldputheroutifshedidnotbelongthere。 Nooncameatlast,andshekeptwiththeothersuntiltheydispersedonthesidewalk。Shewassoabnormallyself- consciousshefanciedallthehundredsofthatlaughing,throngsawandjestedather。Whenshepassedthebrown-eyedboywalkingwiththegirlofherencounter,sheknew,forsheheardhimsay:\"Didyoureallyletthatgawkypieceofcalicogetaheadofyou?\"Theanswerwasindistinct。 Elnorahurriedfromthecity。Sheintendedtogetherlunch,eatitintheshadeofthefirsttree,andthendecidewhethershewouldgobackorgohome。Shekneltonthebridgeandreachedforherbox,butitwassoverylightthatshewaspreparedforthefactthatitwasempty,beforeopeningit。Therewasonethingforwhichtobethankful。 Theboyortrampwhohadseenherhideit,hadleftthenapkin。 Shewouldnothavetofacehermotherandaccountforitsloss。Sheputitinherpocket,andthrewtheboxintotheditch。Thenshesatonthebridgeandtriedtothink,butherbrainwasconfused。 \"Perhapstheworstisover,\"shesaidatlast。\"Iwillgoback。WhatwouldmothersaytomeifIcamehomenow?\" Soshereturnedtothehighschool,followedsomeotherpupilstothecoatroom,hungherhat,andfoundherwaytothestudywhereshehadbeeninthemorning。Twicethatafternoon,withachingheadandemptystomach,shefacedstrangeprofessors,indifferentbranches。Oncesheescapednotice;thesecondtimetheworsthappened。Shewasaskedaquestionshecouldnotanswer。 \"Haveyounotdecidedonyourcourse,andsecuredyourbooks?\" inquiredtheprofessor。 \"Ihavedecidedonmycourse,\"repliedElnora,\"I donotknowwheretoaskformybooks。\" \"Ask?\"theprofessorwasbewildered。 \"Iunderstoodthebookswerefurnished,\"falteredElnora。 \"Onlytothosebringinganorderfromthetownshiptrustee,\"repliedtheProfessor。 \"No!Ohno!\"criedElnora。\"Iwillhavethemto- morrow,\"andgrippedherdeskforsupportforsheknewthatwasnottrue。Fourbooks,rangingperhapsatadollarandahalfapiece;wouldhermotherbuythem? Ofcourseshewouldnot——couldnot。 DidnotElnoraknowthestoryofold。Therewasenoughland,butnoonetodoclearingandfarm。Taxonallthoseacres,recentlythenewgravelroadtaxadded,theexpenseoflivingandonlytheworkoftwowomentomeetallofit。Shewasinsanetothinkshecouldcometothecitytoschool。Hermotherhadbeenright。Thegirldecidedthatifonlyshelivedtoreachhome,shewouldstaythereandleadanysortoflifetoavoidmoreofthistorture。Badaswhatshewishedtoescapehadbeen,itwasnothinglikethis。Shenevercouldlivedownthemovementthatwentthroughtheclasswhensheinadvertentlyrevealedthefactthatshehadexpectedbookstobefurnished。Hermotherwouldnotsecurethem;thatsettledthequestion。 Buttheendofmiseryisneverinahurrytocome;beforethedaywasoverthesuperintendententeredtheroomandexplainedthatpupilsfromthecountrywerechargedatuitionoftwentydollarsayear。Thatreallywastheend。 PreviouslyElnorahadcanvassedadozenmethodsforsecuringthemoneyforbooks,rangingallthewayfromofferingtowashthesuperintendent\'sdishestobreakingintothebank。Thisadditionalexpensemadeherplanssowildlyimpossible,therewasnothingtodobutholdupherheaduntilshewasfromsight。 Downthelongcorridoraloneamonghundreds,downthelongstreetaloneamongthousands,outintothecountryshecameatlast。Acrossthefenceandfield,alongtheoldtrailoncetroddenbyaboy\'sbitteragony,nowstumbledawhite-facedgirl,sickatheart。Shesatonalogandbegantosobinspiteofhereffortsatself-control。Atfirstitwasphysicalbreakdown,later,thoughtcamecrowding。 Ohtheshame,themortification!Whyhadshenotknownofthetuition?Howdidshehappentothinkthatinthecitybookswerefurnished?Perhapsitwasbecauseshehadreadtheywereinseveralstates。Butwhydidshenotknow?Whydidnothermothergowithher?Othermothers—— butwhenhadhermothereverbeenordoneanythingatalllikeothermothers?Becausesheneverhadbeenitwasuselesstoblamehernow。Elnorarealizedsheshouldhavegonetotowntheweekbefore,calledonsomeoneandlearnedallthesethingsherself。Sheshouldhaverememberedhowherclothingwouldlook,beforesheworeitinpublicplaces。Nowsheknew,andherdreamswereover。 Shemustgohometofeedchickens,calves,andpigs,wearcalicoandcoarseshoes,andwithavertedhead,passalibraryallherlife。Shesobbedagain。 \"Forpity\'ssake,honey,what\'sthematter?\"askedthevoiceofthenearestneighbour,WesleySinton,asheseatedhimselfbesideElnora。\"There,there,\"hecontinued,smearingtearsalloverherfaceinanefforttodrythem。 \"Wasitasbadasthat,now?Maggiehasbeenjustwildoveryouallday。She\'sgotnervousereveryminute。 Shesaidwewerefoolishtoletyougo。Shesaidyourclotheswerenotright,yououghtnottocarrythattinpail,andthattheywouldlaughatyou。Bygum,Iseetheydid!\" \"Oh,UncleWesley,\"sobbedthegirl,\"whydidn\'tshetellme?\" \"Well,yousee,Elnora,shedidn\'tliketo。Yougotsuchawayofholdingupyourhead,andgoingthroughwiththings。Shethoughtsomewaythatyou\'dmakeit,tillyougotstarted,andthenshebeguntoseeahundredthingsweshouldhavedone。Ireckonyouhadn\'treachedthatbuildingbeforesherememberedthatyourskirtshouldhavebeenpleatedinsteadofgathered,yourshoesbeenlow,andlighterforhotSeptemberweather,andanewhat。Wereyourclothesright,Elnora?\" Thegirlbrokeintohystericallaughter。\"Right!\"shecried。 \"Right!UncleWesley,youshouldhaveseenmeamongthem! Iwasapicture!They\'llneverforgetme。No,theywon\'tgetthechance,forthey\'llseemeagainto-morrow! \"NowthatiswhatIcallspunk,Elnora!Downrightgrit,\" saidWesleySinton。\"Don\'tyouletthemlaughyouout。 You\'vehelpedMargaretandmeforyearsatharvestandbusytimes,whatyou\'veearnedmustamounttoquiteasum。 Youcangetyourselfagoodmanyclotheswithit。\" \"Don\'tmentionclothes,UncleWesley,\"sobbedElnora,\"Idon\'tcarenowhowIlook。IfIdon\'tgobackallofthemwillknowit\'sbecauseIamsopoorIcan\'tbuymybooks。\" \"Oh,Idon\'tknowasyouaresodrattedpoor,\"saidSintonmeditatively。\"Therearethreehundredacresofgoodland,withfinetimberasevergrewonit。\" \"Ittakesallwecanearntopaythetax,andmotherwouldn\'tcutatreeforherlife。\" \"Wellthen,maybe,I\'llbecompelledtocutoneforher,\" suggestedSinton。\"Anyway,stoptearingyourselftopiecesandtellme。Ifitisn\'tclothes,whatisit?\" \"It\'sbooksandtuition。Overtwentydollarsinall。\" \"Humph!FirsttimeIeverknewyoutobestumpedbytwentydollars,Elnora,\"saidSinton,pattingherhand。 \"It\'sthefirsttimeyoueverknewmetowantmoney,\" answeredElnora。\"Thisisdifferentfromanythingthateverhappenedtome。Oh,howcanIgetit,UncleWesley?\" \"DrivetotownwithmeinthemorningandI\'lldrawitfromthebankforyou。Ioweyoueverycentofit。\" \"Youknowyoudon\'towemeapenny,andIwouldn\'ttouchonefromyou,unlessIreallycouldearnit。 Foranythingthat\'spastIoweyouandAuntMargaretforallthehomelifeandloveI\'veeverknown。Iknowhowyouwork,andI\'llnottakeyourmoney。\" \"Justaloan,Elnora,justaloanforalittlewhileuntilyoucanearnit。Youcanbeproudwithalltherestoftheworld,buttherearenosecretsbetweenus,arethere,Elnora?\" \"No,\"saidElnora,\"therearenone。YouandAuntMargarethavegivenmeallthelovetherehasbeeninmylife。Thatistheonereasonaboveallotherswhyyoushallnotgivemecharity。Handmemoneybecauseyoufindmecryingforit!Thisisn\'tthefirsttimethisoldtrailhasknowntearsandheartache。Allofusknowthatstory。Frecklesstucktowhatheundertookandwonout。Istick,too。WhenDuncanmovedawayhegavemeallFrecklesleftintheswamp,andasIhaveinheritedhispropertymaybehisluckwillcomewithit。 Iwon\'ttouchyourmoney,butI\'llwinsomeway。First,I\'mgoinghomeandtrymother。It\'sjustpossibleIcouldfindsecond-handbooks,andperhapsallthetuitionneednotbepaidatonce。Maybetheywouldacceptitquarterly。 Butoh,UncleWesley,youandAuntMargaretkeeponlovingme! I\'msolonely,andnooneelsecares!\" WesleySinton\'sjawsmetwithaclick。Heswallowedhardonbitterwordsandchangedwhathewouldhavelikedtosaythreetimesbeforeitbecamearticulate。 \"Elnora,\"hesaidatlast,\"ifithadn\'tbeenforonethingI\'dhavetriedtotakelegalstepstomakeyouourswhenyouwerethreeyearsold。Maggiesaidthenitwasn\'tanyuse,butI\'vealwaysheldon。Yousee,Iwasthefirstmanthere,honey,andtherearethingsyousee,thatyoucan\'tevermakeanybodyelseunderstand。 ShelovedhimElnora,shejustmadeanidolofhim。 Therewasthatoozygreenhole,withthethickscumbroke,andtwoorthreebigbubblesslowlyrisingthatwerethebreathofhisbody。Thereshewasinspasmsofagony,andbesideherthegreatheavylogshe\'dtriedtothrowhim。Ican\'teverforgiveherforturningagainstyou,andspoilingyourchildhoodasshehas,butIcouldn\'tforgiveanybodyelseforabusingher。 Maggiehasgotnomercyonher,butMaggiedidn\'tseewhatIdid,andI\'venevertriedtomakeitverycleartoher。 It\'sbeenalittletooplainformeeversince。WheneverI lookatyourmother\'sface,Iseewhatshesaw,soIholdmytongueandsay,inmyheart,`Giveheramitemoretime。\'Somedayitwillcome。Shedoesloveyou,Elnora。Everybodydoes,honey。It\'sjustthatshe\'sfeelingsomuch,shecan\'texpressherself。Youbeapatientgirlandwaitalittlelonger。Afterall,she\'syourmother,andyou\'reallshe\'sgot,butamemory,anditmightdohergoodtoletherknowthatshewasfooledinthat。\" \"Itwouldkillher!\"criedthegirlswiftly。\"UncleWesley,itwouldkillher!Whatdoyoumean?\"