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a girl of the limberlost-第39部分
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bushes; when there were no bushes。 Dragonflies would
not hover over dry places; and butterflies became scarce
in proportion to the flowers; while no land yields over three
crops of Indian relics。
All the time the expense of books; clothing and
incidentals had continued。 Elnora added to her bank
account whenever she could; and drew out when she was
compelled; but she omitted the important feature of calling
for a balance。 So; one early spring morning in the last
quarter of the fourth year; she almost fainted when she
learned that her funds were gone。 Commencement with its
extra expense was coming; she had no money; and very few
cocoons to open in June; which would be too late。 She had
one collection for the Bird Woman complete to a pair of
Imperialis moths; and that was her only asset。 On the
day she added these big Yellow Emperors she had been
promised a check for three hundred dollars; but she would
not get it until these specimens were secured。
She remembered that she never had found an Emperor
before June。
Moreover; that sum was for her first year in college。
Then she would be of age; and she meant to sell enough of
her share of her father's land to finish。 She knew her
mother would oppose her bitterly in that; for Mrs。
Comstock had clung to every acre and tree that belonged to
her husband。 Her land was almost complete forest where her
neighbours owned cleared farms; dotted with wells that
every hour sucked oil from beneath her holdings; but she
was too absorbed in the grief she nursed to know or care。
The Brushwood road and the redredging of the big Limberlost
ditch had been more than she could pay from her income;
and she had trembled before the wicket as she asked
the banker if she had funds to pay it; and wondered why he
laughed when he assured her she had。 For Mrs。 Comstock
had spent no time on compounding interest; and
never added the sums she had been depositing through
nearly twenty years。 Now she thought her funds were
almost gone; and every day she worried over expenses。
She could see no reason in going through the forms of
graduation when pupils had all in their heads that was
required to graduate。 Elnora knew she had to have her
diploma in order to enter the college she wanted to attend;
but she did not dare utter the word; until high school
was finished; for; instead of softening as she hoped her
mother had begun to do; she seemed to remain very
much the same。
When the girl reached the swamp she sat on a log and
thought over the expense she was compelled to meet。
Every member of her particular set was having a large
photograph taken to exchange with the others。 Elnora loved
these girls and boys; and to say she could not have
their pictures to keep was more than she could endure。
Each one would give to all the others a handsome
graduation present。 She knew they would prepare gifts for
her whether she could make a present in return or not。
Then it was the custom for each graduating class to give a
great entertainment and use the funds to present the school
with a statue for the entrance hall。 Elnora had been cast
for and was practising a part in that performance。 She was
expected to furnish her dress and personal necessities。
She had been told that she must have a green gauze dress;
and where was it to come from?
Every girl of the class would have three beautiful new
frocks for Commencement: one for the baccalaureate
sermon; another; which could be plain; for graduation
exercises; and a handsome one for the banquet and ball。
Elnora faced the past three years and wondered how she
could have spent so much money and not kept account of it。
She did not realize where it had gone。 She did not
know what she could do now。 She thought over the
photographs; and at last settled that question to
her satisfaction。 She studied longer over the gifts;
ten handsome ones there must be; and at last decided she
could arrange for them。 The green dress came first。
The lights would be dim in the scene; and the setting
deep woods。 She could manage that。 She simply could not
have three dresses。 She would have to get a very simple one
for the sermon and do the best she could for graduation。
Whatever she got for that must be made with a guimpe that
could be taken out to make it a little more festive for
the ball。 But where could she get even two pretty dresses?
The only hope she could see was to break into the collection
of the man from India; sell some moths; and try to replace
them in June。 But in her soul she knew that never
would do。 No June ever brought just the things she
hoped it would。 If she spent the college money she knew
she could not replace it。 If she did not; the only way was
to secure a room in the grades and teach a year。 Her work
there had been so appreciated that Elnora felt with
the recommendation she knew she could get from the
superintendent and teachers she could secure a position。
She was sure she could pass the examinations easily。
She had once gone on Saturday; taken them and secured a
license for a year before she left the Brushwood school。
She wanted to start to college when the other girls were going。
If she could make the first year alone; she could manage
the remainder。 But make that first year herself; she must。
Instead of selling any of her collection; she must hunt
as she never before had hunted and find a Yellow Emperor。
She had to have it; that was all。 Also; she had to have
those dresses。 She thought of Wesley and dismissed it。
She thought of the Bird Woman; and knew she could not
tell her。 She thought of every way in which she ever had
hoped to earn money and realized that with the play;
committee meetings; practising; and final examinations
she scarcely had time to live; much less to do more than
the work required for her pictures and gifts。 Again Elnora
was in trouble; and this time it seemed the worst of all。
It was dark when she arose and went home。
〃Mother;〃 she said; 〃I have a piece of news that is
decidedly not cheerful。〃
〃Then keep it to yourself!〃 said Mrs。 Comstock。 〃I think
I have enough to bear without a great girl like you
piling trouble on me。〃
〃My money is all gone!〃 said Elnora。
〃Well; did you think it would last forever? It's been
a marvel to me that it's held out as well as it has; the way
you've dressed and gone。〃
〃I don't think I've spent any that I was not compelled
to;〃 said Elnora。 〃I've dressed on just as little as I
possibly could to keep going。 I am heartsick。 I thought
I had over fifty dollars to put me through Commencement;
but they tell me it is all gone。〃
〃Fifty dollars! To put you through Commencement!
What on earth are you proposing to do?〃
〃The same as the rest of them; in the very cheapest
way possible。〃
〃And what might that be?〃
Elnora omitted the photographs; the gifts and
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