f he had truly been; indeed, nowadays she
seldom realized that the relationship was not real. But to accept
money from him--from that she shrank instinctively. And that proved
the difference. For though not in the least drawn toward Cousin Julia,
for all the other Elsie's enthusiasm, she could have accepted a larger
sum from her without a qualm.

"Oh, Uncle John, I really don't need a thing!" she cried beseechingly,
and he had to smile.

"Nonsense, my dear, I have the word of your aunt that you will need
everything. Kate has told her that during the summer all the fashions
have flopped completely over, so that last year's clothes wouldn't even
keep one warm. Biases and bulges that formerly came at the top of the
gown now come at the bottom; sleeves are big where they were little,
and vice versa, and collars the same. As for hats--there the
transformation is so great that I pause before it."

Elsie laughed. "Well, if it's so bad as that, I'll spend my five
hundred dollars--blow it in, as--as my friend in New York would say."

"Ah, Elsie, I see through you now!" he exclaimed. "You think I can't
afford it, because of those big bills. As a matter of fact, I could do
it easily even if you weren't managing things so economically. And,
besides, Aunt Milly has set her heart on it. And oh, Elsie, I'm so
thankful to keep her with us that I should like to do something
extraordinary, something really rash and extravagant. Please head me
off by letting me do this simple, natural thing which is less than
just, and which will please Aunt Milly more than anything I could do
for her. Why, my dear Elsie, pray why shouldn't I do it? Wasn't your
mother my only sister and dearest friend?"

On a sudden Elsie buried her face and wept--the only tears she had shed
since her coming to Enderby.

CHAPTER XXII

Touched and perplexed, Mr. Middleton gave over for the moment; but
presently he had his opportunity to be extravagant. As soon as his
wife was able to leave her room, the doctor ordered her to pass a
portion of every day out-of-doors. This was partly to strengthen her
lungs and partly for the moral effect. Doctor Fenwick feared that if
she should revert to the long days upon her couch or bed with the
novels and chocolates, the headache-powders or a substitute would
follow, soon or late, with more perilous results. She submitted to his
dictum with resignation, being, indeed, rather captivated by the idea.

He