\"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。
