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
  your　Christmas　present　fr