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?\"