So Mrs. Comstock would prepare breakfast and lunch and then slip away to
the farm to make up beds in her ploughed garden, plant seeds, trim and
tend her flowers, and prepare the cabin for occupancy. Then she would go
home and make the evening as cheerful as possible for Elnora; in these
days she lived only for the girl.

Both of them were glad when the last of May came and the schools closed.
They packed the books and clothing they wished to take into a wagon and
walked across the fields to the old cabin. As they approached it, Mrs.
Comstock said to Elnora: "You are sure you won't be lonely here?"

Elnora knew what she really meant.

"Quite sure," she said. "For a time last fall I was glad to be away, but
that all wore out with the winter. Spring made me homesick as I could
be. I can scarcely wait until we get back again."

So they began that summer as they had begun all others--with work. But
both of them took a new joy in everything, and the violin sang by the
hour in the twilight.

CHAPTER XIX

WHEREIN PHILIP AMMON GIVES A BALL IN HONOUR OF EDITH CARR, AND HART
HENDERSON APPEARS ON THE SCENE

Edith Carr stood in a vine-enclosed side veranda of the Lake Shore Club
House waiting while Philip Ammon gave some important orders. In a few
days she would sail for Paris to select a wonderful trousseau she had
planned for her marriage in October. To-night Philip was giving a club
dance in her honour. He had spent days in devising new and exquisite
effects in decorations, entertainment, and supper. Weeks before the
favoured guests had been notified. Days before they had received the
invitations asking them to participate in this entertainment by Philip
Ammon in honour of Miss Carr. They spoke of it as "Phil's dance for
Edith!"

She could hear the rumble of carriages and the panting of automobiles
as in a steady stream they rolled to the front entrance. She could catch
glimpses of floating draperies of gauze and lace, the flash of jewels,
and the passing of exquisite colour. Every one was newly arrayed in her
honour in the loveliest clothing, and the most expensive jewels they
could command. As she thought of it she lifted her head a trifle higher
and her eyes flashed proudly.

She was robed in a French creation suggested and designed by Philip.
He had said to her: "I know a competent judge who says the distinctive
feature of June is her exquisite big night moths. I want you to be the
very essence of June