happened；　the　chances　were　that　Mrs。　Comstock　again
  would　have　taken　possession　of　the　Limberlost；　hunting
  there　until　she　replaced　all　the　moths　that　had　been　destroyed。
  But　Elnora　knew　from　experience　what　it　meant　to　collect
  such　a　list　in　pairs。　　It　would　require　steady　work　for　at
  least　two　summers　to　replace　the　lost　moths。　　When　she　left
  the　Bird　Woman　she　went　to　the　president　of　the　Onabasha
  schools　and　asked　him　to　do　all　in　his　power　to　secure　her
  a　room　in　one　of　the　ward　buildings。
  The　next　morning　the　last　moth　was　mounted；　and　the
  housework　finished。　　Elnora　said　to　her　mother；　〃If　you
  don't　mind；　I　believe　I　will　go　into　the　woods　pasture
  beside　Sleepy　Snake　Creek　and　see　if　I　can　catch　some
  dragonflies　or　moths。〃
  〃Wait　until　I　get　a　knife　and　a　pail　and　I　will　go　along；〃
  answered　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃The　dandelions　are　plenty
  tender　for　greens　among　the　deep　grasses；　and　I　might　just
  happen　to　see　something　myself。　　My　eyes　are　pretty　sharp。〃
  〃I　wish　you　could　realize　how　young　you　are；〃　said　Elnora。
  〃I　know　women　in　Onabasha　who　are　ten　years　older　than　you；
  yet　they　look　twenty　years　younger。　　So　could　you；　if　you
  would　dress　your　hair　becomingly；　and　wear　appropriate　clothes。〃
  〃I　think　my　hair　puts　me　in　the　old　woman　class　permanently；〃
  said　Mrs。　Comstock。
  〃Well；　it　doesn't！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃There　is　a　woman
  of　twenty…eight　who　has　hair　as　white　as　yours　from　sick
  headaches；　but　her　face　is　young　and　beautiful。　　If　your
  face　would　grow　a　little　fuller　and　those　lines　would　go
  away；　you'd　be　lovely！〃
  〃You　little　pig！〃　laughed　Mrs。　Comstock。　　〃Any　one
  would　think　you　would　be　satisfied　with　having　a　splinter
  new　mother；　without　setting　up　a　kick　on　her　looks；
  first　thing。　　Greedy！〃
  〃That　is　a　good　word；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃I　admit　the　charge。
  I　am　greedy　over　every　wasted　year。　　I　want　you　young；
  lovely；　suitably　dressed　and　enjoying　life　like　the
  other　girls'　mothers。〃
  Mrs。　Comstock　laughed　softly　as　she　pushed　back　her
  sunbonnet　so　that　shrubs　and　bushes　beside　the　way　could
  be　scanned　closely。　　Elnora　walked　ahead　with　a　case　over
  her　shoulder；　a　net　in　her　hand。　　Her　head　was　bare；　the
  rolling　collar　of　her　lavender　gingham　dress　was　cut　in　a　V
  at　the　throat；　the　sleeves　only　reached　the　elbows。　　Every　few
  steps　she　paused　and　examined　the　shrubbery　carefully；
  while　Mrs。　Comstock　was　watching　until　her　eyes　ached；
  but　there　were　no　dandelions　in　the　pail　she　carried。
  Early　June　was　rioting　in　fresh　grasses；　bright　flowers；
  bird　songs；　and　gay…winged　creatures　of　air。　　Down　the
  footpath　the　two　went　through　the　perfect　morning；　the
  love　of　God　and　all　nature　in　their　hearts。　　At　last　they
  reached　the　creek；　following　it　toward　the　bridge。　　Here　Mrs。
  Comstock　found　a　large　bed　of　tender　dandelions　and　stopped
  to　fill　her　pail。　　Then　she　sat　on　the　bank；　picking　over　the
  greens；　while　she　listened　to　the　creek　softly　singing　its　June　song。
  Elnora　remained　within　calling　distance；　and　was　having
  good　success。　　At　last　she　crossed　the　creek；　following
  it　up　to　a　bridge。　　There　she　began　a　careful　examination
  of　the　under　sides　of　the　sleepers　and　flooring　for　cocoons。
  Mrs。　Comstock　could　see　her　and　the　creek　for　several
  rods　above。　　The　mother　sat　beating　the　long　green　leaves
  across　her　hand；　carefully　picking　out　the　white　buds；
  because　Elnora　liked　them；　when　a　splash　up　the　creek
  attracted　her　attention。
  Around　the　bend　came　a　man。　　He　was　bareheaded；
  dressed　in　a　white　sweater；　and　waders　which　reached
  his　waist。　　He　walked　on　the　bank；　only　entering　the
  water　when　forced。　　He　had　a　queer　basket　strapped　on
  his　hip；　and　with　a　small　rod　he　sent　a　long　line　spinning
  before　him　down　the　creek；　deftly　manipulating　with
  it　a　little　floating　object。　　He　was　closer　Elnora　than
  her　mother；　but　Mrs。　Comstock　thought　possibly　by
  hurrying　she　could　remain　unseen　and　yet　warn　the　girl
  that　a　stranger　was　coming。　　As　she　approached　the
  bridge；　she　caught　a　sapling　and　leaned　over　the　water　to
  call　Elnora。　　With　her　lips　parted　to　speak　she　hesitated
  a　second　to　watch　a　sort　of　insect　that　flashed　past　on　the
  water；　when　a　splash　from　the　man　attracted　the　girl。
  She　was　under　the　bridge；　one　knee　planted　in　the
  embankment　and　a　foot　braced　to　support　her。　　Her　hair
  was　tousled　by　wind　and　bushes；　her　face　flushed；
  and　she　lifted　her　arms　above　her　head；　working　to　loosen
  a　cocoon　she　had　found。　　The　call　Mrs。　Comstock　had
  intended　to　utter　never　found　voice；　for　as　Elnora　looked
  down　at　the　sound；　〃Possibly　I　could　get　that　for　you；〃
  suggested　the　man。
  Mrs。　Comstock　drew　back。　　He　was　a　young　man　with　a
  wonderfully　attractive　face；　although　it　was　too
  white　for　robust　health；　broad　shoulders；　and　slender；
  upright　frame。
  〃Oh；　I　do　hope　you　can！〃　answered　Elnora。　　〃It's　quite
  a　find！　　It's　one　of　those　lovely　pale　red　cocoons
  described　in　the　books。　　I　suspect　it　comes　from　having
  been　in　a　dark　place　and　screened　from　the　weather。〃
  〃Is　that　so？〃　cried　the　man。　　〃Wait　a　minute。　　I've　never
  seen　one。　　I　suppose　it's　a　Cecropia；　from　the　location。〃
  〃Of　course；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃It's　so　cool　here　the　moth
  hasn't　emerged。　　The　cocoon　is　a　big；　baggy　one；　and　it
  is　as　red　as　fox　tail。〃
  〃What　luck！〃　he　cried。　　〃Are　you　making　a　collection？〃
  He　reeled　in　his　line；　laid　his　rod　across　a　bush　and
  climbed　the　embankment　to　Elnora's　side；　produced　a
  knife　and　began　the　work　of　whittling　a　deep　groove
  around　the　cocoon。
  〃Yes。　　I　paid　my　way　through　the　high　school　in
  Onabasha　with　them。　　Now　I　am　starting　a　collection
  which　means　college。〃
  〃Onabasha！〃　said　the　man。　　〃That　is　where　I　am　visiting。
  Possibly　you　know　my　peopleDr。　Ammon's？　　The　doctor　is
  my　uncle。　　My　home　is　in　Chicago。　　I've　been　having　typhoid
  fever；　something　fierce。　　In　the　hospital　six　weeks。
  Didn't　gain　strength　right；　so　Uncle　Doc　sent　for　me。
  I　am　to　live　out　of　doors　all　summer；　and　exercise　until
  I　get　in　condition　again。　　Do　you　know　my　uncle？〃
  〃Yes。　　He　is　Aunt　Margaret's　doctor；　and　he　would
  be　ours；　only　we　are　never　ill。〃
  〃Well；　you　look　it！〃　said　the　man；　appraising　Elnora
  at　a　glance。
  〃Strangers　always　mention　it；〃　sighed　Elnora。　　〃I　wonder
  how　it　would　seem　to　be　a　pale；　languid　lady　and　ride
  in　a　carriage。〃
  〃Ask　me！〃　laughed　the　man。　　〃It　feels　like　thedickens！
  I'm　so　proud　of　my　feet。　　It's　quite　a　trick　to　stand
  on　them　now。　　I　have　to　keep　out　of　the　water　all　I　can
  and　stop　to　baby　every　half…mile。　　But　with　interesting
  outdoor　work　I'll　be　myself　in　a　week。〃
  〃Do　you　call　that　work？〃　　Elnora　indicated　the　creek。
  〃I　do；　indeed！　　Nearly　three　miles；　banks　too　soft　to　brag
  on　and　never　a　strike。　　Wouldn't　you　call　that　hard　labour？〃
  〃Yes；〃　laughed　Elnora。　　〃Work　at　which　you　might
  kill　yourself　and　never　get　a　fish。　　Did　any　one　tell　you
  there　were　trout　in　Sleepy　Snake　Creek？〃
  〃Uncle　said　I　could　try。〃
  〃Oh；　you　can；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃You　can　try　no　end；
  but　you'll　never　get　a　trout。　　This　is　too　far　south　and
  too　warm　for　them。　　If　you　sit　on　the　bank　and　use
  worms　you　might　catch　some　perch　or　catfish。〃
  〃But　that　isn't　exercise。〃
  〃Well；　if　you　only　want　exercise；　go　right　on　fishing。
  You　will　have　a　creel　full　of　invisible　results　every　night。〃
  〃I　object；〃　said　the　man　emphatically。　　He　stopped
  work　again　and　studied　Elnora。　　Even　the　watching
  mother　could　not　blame　him。　　In　the　shade　of　the　bridge
  Elnora's　bright　head　and　her　lavender　dress　made　a
  picture　worthy　of　much　contemplation。
  〃I　object！〃　repeated　the　man。　　〃When　I　work　I　want
  to　see　results。　　I'd　rather　exercise　sawing　wood；　making
  one　pile　grow　little　and　the　other　big　than　to　cast　all　day
  and　catch　nothing　because　there　is　not　a　fish　to　take。
  Work　for　work's　sake　doesn't　appeal　to　me。〃
  He　digged　the　groove　around　the　cocoon　with　skilled　hand。
  〃Now　there　is　some　fun　in　this！〃　he　said。　　It's　going　to
  be　a　fair　job　to　cut　it　out；　but　when　it　comes；　it　is
  not　only　beautiful；　but　worth　a　price；　it　will　help　you　on
  your　way。　　I　think　I'll　put　up　my　rod　and　hunt　moths。
  That　would　be　something　like！　　Don't　you　want　help？〃
  Elnora　parried　the　question。　　〃Have　you　ever　hunted
  moths；　Mr。　Ammon？
  〃Enough　to　know　the　ropes　in　taking　them　and　to
  distinguish　the　commonest　ones。　　I　go　wild　on　Catocalae。
  There's　too　many　of　them；　all　too　much　alike　for　Philip；
  but　I　know　all　these　fellows。　　One　flew　into　my　room　when
  I　was　about　ten　years　old；　and　we　thought　it　a　miracle。
  None　of　us　ever　had　seen　one　so　we　took　it　over　to　the
  museum　to　Dr。　Dorsey。　　He　said　they　were　common　enough；
  but　we　didn't　see　them　because　they　flew　at　night。
  He　showed　me　the　museum　collection；　and　I　was　so
  interested　I　took　mine　back　home　and　started　to　hunt　them。
  Every　year　after　that　we　went　to　our　cot