"That first chair in the very front row is Elnora's," exulted Billy,
"cos she's got the highest grades, and so she gets to lead the
procession to the platform."
"The first chair!" "Lead the procession!" Mrs. Comstock was dumbfounded.
The notes of the pipe organ began to fill the building in a slow rolling
march. Would Elnora lead the procession in a gingham dress? Or would
she be absent and her chair vacant on this great occasion? For now,
Mrs. Comstock could see that it was a great occasion. Every one would
remember how Elnora had played a few nights before, and they would miss
her and pity her. Pity? Because she had no one to care for her. Because
she was worse off than if she had no mother. For the first time in
her life, Mrs. Comstock began to study herself as she would appear to
others. Every time a junior girl came fluttering down the aisle, leading
some one to a seat, and Mrs. Comstock saw a beautiful white dress pass,
a wave of positive illness swept over her. What had she done? What would
become of Elnora?
As Elnora rode to the city, she answered Wesley's questions in
monosyllables so that he thought she was nervous or rehearsing her
speech and did not care to talk. Several times the girl tried to
tell him and realized that if she said the first word it would bring
uncontrollable tears. The Bird Woman opened the screen and stared
unbelievingly.
"Why, I thought you would be ready; you are so late!" she said.
Pages:
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202