n and take them! The moths don't care.
They're glad to have you. They like it!"

"Billy, I see your future," said Elnora. "We will educate you and send
you up to Mr. Ammon to make a great lawyer. You'd beat the world as a
special pleader. You actually make me feel that I am doing the moths a
kindness to take them."

"And so you are!" cried Billy. "Why, just from what you have taught
them Uncle Wesley and Aunt Margaret never think of killing a caterpillar
until they look whether it's the beautiful June moth kind, or the horrid
tent ones. That's what you can do. You go straight ahead!"

"Billy, you are a jewel!" cried Elnora, throwing her arm across his
shoulders as they came down the path.

"My, I was scared!" said Billy with a deep breath.

"Scared?" questioned Elnora.

"Yes sir-ee! Aunt Margaret scared me. May I ask you a question?"

"Of course, you may!"

"Is that man going to be your beau?"

"Billy! No! What made you think such a thing?"

"Aunt Margaret said likely he would fall in love with you, and you
wouldn't want me around any more. Oh, but I was scared! It isn't so, is
it?"

"Indeed, no!"

"I am your beau, ain't I?"

"Surely you are!" said Elnora, tightening her arm.

"I do hope Aunt Kate has ginger cookies," said Billy with a little skip
of delight.

CHAPTER XV

WHEREIN MRS. COMSTOCK FACES THE ALMIGHTY, AND PHILIP AMMON WRITES A
LETTER

Mrs. Comstock and Elnora were finishing breakfast the following morning
when they heard a cheery whistle down the road. Elnora with surprised
eyes looked at her mother.

"Could that be Mr. Ammon?" she questioned.

"I did not expect him so soon," commented Mrs. Comstock.

It was sunrise, but the musician was Philip Ammon. He appeared stronger
than on yesterday.

"I hope I am not too early," he said. "I am consumed with anxiety to
learn if we have made a catch. If we have, we should beat the birds to
it. I promised Uncle Doc to put on my waders and keep dry for a few days
yet, when I go to the woods. Let's hurry! I am afraid of crows. There
might be a rare moth."

The sun was topping the Limberlost when they started. As they neared the
place Philip stopped.

"Now we must use great caution," he said. "The lights and the odours
always attract numbers that don't settle on the baited trees. Every
bush, shrub, and limb may hide a specimen we want."

So they approached with much care.

"There is something, anyway!" cried Philip.

"There ar