scarcely could walk. Four years' plans going in one day! For she felt
that if she did not start to college that fall she never would. Instead
of feeling relieved at her mother's offer, she was almost too ill to go
on. For the thousandth time she groaned: "Oh, why didn't I keep account
of my money?"

After that the days passed so swiftly she scarcely had time to think,
but several trips her mother made to town, and the assurance that
everything was all right, satisfied Elnora. She worked very hard to pass
good final examinations and perfect herself for the play. For two days
she had remained in town with the Bird Woman in order to spend more time
practising and at her work.

Often Margaret had asked about her dresses for graduation, and Elnora
had replied that they were with a woman in the city who had made her a
white dress for last year's Commencement when she was a junior usher,
and they would be all right. So Margaret, Wesley, and Billy concerned
themselves over what they would give her for a present. Margaret
suggested a beautiful dress. Wesley said that would look to every one as
if she needed dresses. The thing was to get a handsome gift like all the
others would have. Billy wanted to present her a five-dollar gold piece
to buy music for her violin. He was positive Elnora would like that best
of anything.

It was toward the close of the term when they drove to town one evening
to try to settle this important question. They knew Mrs. Comstock had
been alone several days, so they asked her to accompany them. She
had been more lonely than she would admit, filled with unusual unrest
besides, and so she was glad to go. But before they had driven a mile
Billy had told that they were going to buy Elnora a graduation present,
and Mrs. Comstock devoutly wished that she had remained at home. She was
prepared when Billy asked: "Aunt Kate, what are you going to give Elnora
when she graduates?"

"Plenty to eat, a good bed to sleep in, and do all the work while she
trollops," answered Mrs. Comstock dryly.

Billy reflected. "I guess all of them have that," he said. "I mean a
present you buy at the store, like Christmas?"

"It is only rich folks who buy presents at stores," replied
Mrs. Comstock. "I can't afford it."

"Well, we ain't rich," he said, "but we are going to buy Elnora
something as fine as the rest of them have if we sell a corner of the
farm. Uncle Wesley said so."

"A fool and his land are soon parted,"