nd and then she said to herself grimly, "Yes, I'll pay for that,
too," and recklessly added, "With love, Mother." Then she sat waiting
for the answer. It came in less than an hour. "Will teach this winter.
With dearest love, Elnora."

Mrs. Comstock held the message a long time. When she arose she was
ravenously hungry, but the pain in her heart was a little easier. She
went to a restaurant and ate some food, then to a dressmaker where she
ordered four dresses: two very plain every-day ones, a serviceable dark
gray cloth suit, and a soft light gray silk with touches of lavender
and lace. She made a heavy list of purchases at Brownlee's, and the
remainder of the day she did business in her direct and spirited way.
At night she was so tired she scarcely could walk home, but she built a
fire and cooked and ate a hearty meal.

Later she went out beside the west fence and gathered an armful of tansy
which she boiled to a thick green tea. Then she stirred in oatmeal until
it was a stiff paste. She spread a sheet over her bed and began tearing
strips of old muslin. She bandaged each hand and arm with the mixture
and plastered the soggy, evil-smelling stuff in a thick poultice over
her face and neck. She was so tired she went to sleep, and when she
awoke she was half skinned. She bathed her face and hands, did the
work and went back to town, coming home at night to go through the same
process.

By the third morning she was a raw even red, the fourth she had faded
to a brilliant pink under the soothing influence of a cream recommended.
That day came a letter from Elnora saying that she would remain where
she was until Saturday morning, and then come to Ellen Brownlee's at
Onabasha and stay for the Saturday's session of teachers to arrange
their year's work. Sunday was Ellen's last day at home, and she wanted
Elnora very much. She had to call together the orchestra and practise
them Sunday; and could not come home until after school Monday night.
Mrs. Comstock at once answered the letter saying those arrangements
suited her.

The following day she was a pale pink, later a delicate porcelain white.
Then she went to a hairdresser and had the rope of snowy hair which
covered her scalp washed, dressed, and fastened with such pins and combs
as were decided to be most becoming. She took samples of her dresses,
went to a milliner, and bought a street hat to match her suit, and a
gray satin with lavender orchids to wear with the silk