to　Elnora。　　Polly　looked　for　the　ring　and　saw　it。　　That　settled
  matters　with　her。
  〃You　lovely；　lovely；　darling　girl！〃　she　cried；　throwing
  her　arms　around　Elnora　and　kissing　her。　　With　her　lips　close
  Elnora's　ear；　Polly　whispered；　〃Sister！　　Dear；　dear　sister！〃
  Elnora　drew　back；　staring　at　Polly　in　confused　amazement。
  She　was　a　beautiful　girl；　her　eyes　were　sparkling　and
  dancing；　and　as　she　turned　to　make　way　for　the　others；
  she　kept　one　of　Elnora's　hands　in　hers。　　Polly　would　have
  dropped　dead　in　that　instant　if　Edith　Carr　could　have
  killed　with　a　look；　for　not　until　then　did　she　realize　that
  Polly　would　even　many　a　slight；　and　that　it　had　been　a
  great　mistake　to　bring　her。
  Edith　bowed　low；　muttered　something　and　touched
  Elnora's　fingers。　　Tom　took　his　cue　from　Polly。
  〃I　always　follow　a　good　example；〃　he　said；　and　before
  any　one　could　divine　his　intention　he　kissed　Elnora　as　he
  gripped　her　hand　and　cried：　　〃Mighty　glad　to　meet　you！
  Like　to　meet　you　a　dozen　times　a　day；　you　know！〃
  Elnora　laughed　and　her　heart　pumped　smoothly。　　They　had
  accomplished　their　purpose。　　They　had　let　her　know　they
  were　there　through　compulsion；　but　on　her　side。　　In　that
  instant　only　pity　was　in　Elnora's　breast　for　the　flashing
  dark　beauty；　standing　with　smiling　face　while　her　heart
  must　have　been　filled　with　exceeding　bitterness。
  Elnora　stepped　back　from　the　entrance。
  〃Come　into　the　shade；〃　she　urged。　　〃You　must　have
  found　it　warm　on　these　country　roads。　　Won't　you　lay
  aside　your　dust…coats　and　have　a　cool　drink？　　Philip；　would
  you　ask　mother　to　come；　and　bring　that　pitcher　from　the
  spring　house？〃
  They　entered　the　arbour　exclaiming　at　the　dim；　green　coolness。
  There　was　plenty　of　room　and　wide　seats　around　the　sides；
  a　table　in　the　centre；　on　which　lay　a　piece　of　embroidery；
  magazines；　books；　the　moth　apparatus；　and　the　cyanide　jar
  containing　several　specimens。　　Polly　rejoiced　in　the
  cooling　shade；　slipped　off　her　duster；　removed　her　hat；
  rumpled　her　pretty　hair　and　seated　herself　to　indulge　in
  the　delightful　occupation　of　paying　off　old　scores。
  Tom　Levering　followed　her　example。　　Edith　took　a　seat
  but　refused　to　remove　her　hat　and　coat；　while　Henderson
  stood　in　the　entrance。
  〃There　goes　something　with　wings！　　Should　you　have
  that？〃　cried　Levering。
  He　seized　a　net　from　the　table　and　raced　across　the　garden
  after　a　butterfly。　　He　caught　it　and　came　back　mightily
  pleased　with　himself。　　As　the　creature　struggled　in　the　net；
  Elnora　noted　a　repulsed　look　on　Edith　Carr's　face。
  Levering　helped　the　situation　beautifully。
  〃Now　what　have　I　got？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Is　it　just　a
  common　one　that　every　one　knows　and　you　don't　keep；　or
  is　it　the　rarest　bird　off　the　perch？〃
  〃You　must　have　had　practice；　you　took　that　so　perfectly；〃
  said　Elnora。　　〃I　am　sorry；　but　it　is　quite　common　and　not
  of　a　kind　I　keep。　　Suppose　all　of　you　see　how　beautiful
  it　is　and　then　it　may　go　nectar　hunting　again。〃
  She　held　the　butterfly　where　all　of　them　could　see；
  showed　its　upper　and　under　wing　colours；　answered　Polly's
  questions　as　to　what　it　ate；　how　long　it　lived；　and　how
  it　died。　　Then　she　put　it　into　Polly's　hand　saying：　　〃Stand
  there　in　the　light　and　loosen　your　hold　slowly　and　easily。〃
  Elnora　caught　a　brush　from　the　table　and　began　softly
  stroking　the　creature's　sides　and　wings。　　Delighted　with
  the　sensation　the　butterfly　opened　and　closed　its　wings；
  clinging　to　Polly's　soft　little　fingers；　while　every　one　cried
  out　in　surprise。　　Elnora　laid　aside　the　brush；　and　the
  butterfly　sailed　away。
  〃Why；　you　are　a　wizard！　　You　charm　them！〃　marvelled　Levering。
  〃I　learned　that　from　the　Bird　Woman；〃　said　Elnora。
  〃She　takes　soft　brushes　and　coaxes　butterflies　and　moths
  into　the　positions　she　wants　for　the　illustrations　of　a　book
  she　is　writing。　　I　have　helped　her　often。　　Most　of　the　rare
  ones　I　find　go　to　her。〃
  〃Then　you　don't　keep　all　you　take？〃　questioned　Levering。
  〃Oh；　dear；　no！〃　cried　Elnora。　　〃Not　a　tenth！　　For　myself；
  a　pair　of　each　kind　to　use　in　illustrating　the　lectures　I
  give　in　the　city　schools　in　the　winter；　and　one　pair　for　each
  collection　I　make。　　One　might　as　well　keep　the　big　night
  moths　of　June；　for　they　only　live　four　or　five　days　anyway。
  For　the　Bird　Woman；　I　only　save　rare　ones　she　has　not　yet　secured。
  Sometimes　I　think　it　is　cruel　to　take　such　creatures　from
  freedom；　even　for　an　hour；　but　it　is　the　only　way　to　teach
  the　masses　of　people　how　to　distinguish　the　pests　they
  should　destroy；　from　the　harmless　ones　of　great　beauty。
  Here　comes　mother　with　something　cool　to　drink。〃
  Mrs。　Comstock　came　deliberately；　talking　to　Philip　as
  she　approached。　　Elnora　gave　her　one　searching　look；　but
  could　discover　only　an　extreme　brightness　of　eye　to　denote
  any　unusual　feeling。　　She　wore　one　of　her　lavender　dresses；
  while　her　snowy　hair　was　high　piled。　　She　had　taken　care
  of　her　complexion；　and　her　face　had　grown　fuller　during
  the　winter。　　She　might　have　been　any　one's　mother　with
  pride；　and　she　was　perfectly　at　ease。
  Polly　instantly　went　to　her　and　held　up　her　face　to　be　kissed。
  Mrs。　Comstock's　eyes　twinkled　and　she　made　the　greeting　hearty。
  The　drink　was　compounded　of　the　juices　of　oranges　and
  berries　from　the　garden。　　It　was　cool　enough　to　frost
  glasses　and　pitcher　and　delicious　to　dusty　tired　travellers。
  Soon　the　pitcher　was　empty；　and　Elnora　picked　it　up　and
  went　to　refill　it。　　While　she　was　gone　Henderson　asked
  Philip　about　some　trouble　he　was　having　with　his　car。
  They　went　to　the　woods　and　began　a　minute　examination
  to　find　a　defect　which　did　not　exist。　　Polly　and　Levering
  were　having　an　animated　conversation　with　Mrs。　Comstock。
  Henderson　saw　Edith　arise；　follow　the　garden　path
  next　the　woods　and　stand　waiting　under　the　willow　which
  Elnora　would　pass　on　her　return。　　It　was　for　that　meeting
  he　had　made　the　trip。　　He　got　down　on　the　ground；　tore
  up　the　car；　worked；　asked　for　help；　and　kept　Philip　busy
  screwing　bolts　and　applying　the　oil　can。　　All　the　time
  Henderson　kept　an　eye　on　Edith　and　Elnora　under　the　willow。
  But　he　took　pains　to　lay　the　work　he　asked　Philip　to　do
  where　that　scene　would　be　out　of　his　sight。　　When　Elnora
  came　around　the　corner　with　the　pitcher；　she　found　herself
  facing　Edith　Carr。
  〃I　want　a　minute　with　you；〃　said　Miss　Carr。
  〃Very　well；〃　replied　Elnora；　walking　on。
  〃Set　the　pitcher　on　the　bench　there；〃　commanded　Edith
  Carr；　as　if　speaking　to　a　servant。
  〃I　prefer　not　to　offer　my　visitors　a　warm　drink；〃　said　Elnora。
  〃I'll　come　back　if　you　really　wish　to　speak　with　me。〃
  〃I　came　solely　for　that；〃　said　Edith　Carr。
  〃It　would　be　a　pity　to　travel　so　far　in　this　dust　and　heat
  for　nothing。　　I'll　only　be　gone　a　second。〃
  Elnora　placed　the　pitcher　before　her　mother。　　〃Please　serve
  this；〃　she　said。　　〃Miss　Carr　wishes　to　speak　with　me。〃
  〃Don't　you　pay　the　least　attention　to　anything　she
  says；〃　cried　Polly。　　〃Tom　and　I　didn't　come　here　because
  we　wanted　to。　　We　only　came　to　checkmate　her。　　I　hoped
  I'd　get　the　opportunity　to　say　a　word　to　you；　and　now　she
  has　given　it　to　me。　　I　just　want　to　tell　you　that　she　threw
  Phil　over　in　perfectly　horrid　way。　　She　hasn't　any　right
  to　lay　the　ghost　of　a　claim　to　him；　has　she；　Tom？〃
  〃Nary　a　claim；〃　said　Tom　Levering　earnestly。　　〃Why；　even
  you；　Polly；　couldn't　serve　me　as　she　did　Phil；　and
  ever　get　me　back　again。　　If　I　were　you；　Miss　Comstock；
  I'd　send　my　mother　to　talk　with　her　and　I'd　stay　here。〃
  Tom　had　gauged　Mrs。　Comstock　rightly。　　Polly　put　her
  arms　around　Elnora。　　〃Let　me　go　with　you；　dear；〃　she　begged。
  〃I　promised　I　would　speak　with　her　alone；〃　said　Elnora；
  〃and　she　must　be　considered。　　But　thank　you；　very　much。〃
  〃How　I　shall　love　you！〃　exulted　Polly；　giving　Elnora
  a　parting　hug。
  The　girl　slowly　and　gravely　walked　back　to　the　willow。
  She　could　not　imagine　what　was　coming；　but　she　was　promising
  herself　that　she　would　be　very　patient　and　control　her　temper。
  〃Will　you　be　seated？〃　she　asked　politely。
  Edith　Carr　glanced　at　the　bench；　while　a　shudder　shook　her。
  〃No。　　I　prefer　to　stand；〃　she　said。　　〃Did　Mr。　Ammon
  give　you　the　ring　you　are　wearing；　and　do　you　consider
  yourself　engaged　to　him？〃
  〃By　what　right　do　you　ask　such　personal　questions　as
  those？〃　inquired　Elnora。
  〃By　the　right　of　a　betrothed　wife。　　I　have　been　promised
  to　Philip　Ammon　ever　since　I　wore　short　skirts。　　All　our
  lives　we　have　expected　to　marry。　　An　agreement　of　years
  cannot　be　broken　in　one　insane　moment。　　Always　he　has
  loved　me　devotedly。　　Give　me　ten　minutes　with　him　and　he
  will　be　mine　for　all　time。〃
  〃I　seriously　doubt　that；〃　said　Elnora。　　〃But　I　am
  willing　that　you　should　make　the　test。　　I　will　call　him。〃
  〃Stop！〃　commanded　Edith　Carr。　　〃I　told　you　that　it　was
  you　I　came　to　see。〃
  〃I　remember；〃　said　Elnora。
  〃Mr。　Ammon　is　my　b