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 the play.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187