Mrs. Comstock invited Elnora's friends to visit her, and proved herself
a bright and interesting hostess. She digested a subject before she
spoke; and when she advanced a view, her point was sure to be original
and tersely expressed. Before three months people waited to hear what
she had to say. She kept her appearance so in mind that she made a
handsome and a distinguished figure.
Elnora never mentioned Philip Ammon, neither did Mrs. Comstock. Early in
December came a note and a big box from him. It contained several books
on nature subjects which would be of much help in school work, a number
of conveniences Elnora could not afford, and a pair of glass-covered
plaster casts, for each large moth she had. In these the upper and
underwings of male and female showed. He explained that she would break
her specimens easily, carrying them around in boxes. He had seen these
and thought they would be of use. Elnora was delighted with them, and
at once began the tedious process of softening the mounted moths and
fitting them to the casts moulded to receive them. Her time was so taken
in school, she progressed slowly, so her mother undertook this work.
After trying one or two very common ones she learned to handle the most
delicate with ease. She took keen pride in relaxing the tense moths,
fitting them to the cases, polishing the glass covers to the last degree
and sealing them. The results were beautiful to behold.
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