登陆注册
15688300000012

第12章 CHAPTER III(2)

"One thing more,"said the professor."You may pay your tuition quarterly.You need not bother about the first instalment this month.Any time in October will do."It seemed as if Elnora's gasp of relief must have reached the soles of her brogans.

"Did any one ever tell you how beautiful you are!"she cried.

As the professor was lank,tow-haired and so near-sighted,that he peered at his pupils through spectacles,no one ever had.

"No,"said Professor Henley,"I've waited some time for that;for which reason I shall appreciate it all the more.

Come now,or we shall be late for opening exercises."So Elnora entered the auditorium a second time.Her face was like the brightest dawn that ever broke over the Limberlost.

No matter about the lumbering shoes and skimpy dress.

No matter about anything,she had the books.She could take them home.In her garret she could commit them to memory,if need be.She could prove that clothes were not all.If the Bird Woman did not want any of the many different kinds of specimens she had collected,she was quite sure now she could sell ferns,nuts,and a great many things.Then,too,a girl made a place for her that morning,and several smiled and bowed.Elnora forgot everything save her books,and that she was where she could use them intelligently--everything except one little thing away back in her head.Her mother had known about the books and the tuition,and had not told her when she agreed to her coming.

At noon Elnora took her little parcel of lunch and started to the home of the Bird Woman.She must know about the specimens first and then she would walk to the suburbs somewhere and eat a few bites.She dropped the heavy iron knocker on the door of a big red log cabin,and her heart thumped at the resounding stroke.

"Is the Bird Woman at home?"she asked of the maid.

"She is at lunch,"was the answer.

"Please ask her if she will see a girl from the Limberlost about some moths?"inquired Elnora.

"I never need ask,if it's moths,"laughed the girl.

"Orders are to bring any one with specimens right in.

Come this way."

Elnora followed down the hall and entered a long room with high panelled wainscoting,old English fireplace with an overmantel and closets of peculiar china filling the corners.

At a bare table of oak,yellow as gold,sat a woman Elnora often had watched and followed covertly around the Limberlost.

The Bird Woman was holding out a hand of welcome.

I heard!"she laughed."A little pasteboard box,or just the mere word `specimen,'passes you at my door.

If it is moths I hope you have hundreds.I've been very busy all summer and unable to collect,and I need so many.

Sit down and lunch with me,while we talk it over.

From the Limberlost,did you say?"

"I live near the swamp,"replied Elnora."Since it's so cleared I dare go around the edge in daytime,though we are all afraid at night.""What have you collected?"asked the Bird Woman,as she helped Elnora to sandwiches unlike any she ever before had tasted,salad that seemed to be made of many familiar things,and a cup of hot chocolate that would have delighted any hungry schoolgirl.

"I am afraid I am bothering you for nothing,and imposing on you,"she said."That 'collected'frightens me.

I've only gathered.I always loved everything outdoors,so I made friends and playmates of them.When I learned that the moths die so soon,I saved them especially,because there seemed no wickedness in it.""I have thought the same thing,"said the Bird Woman encouragingly.Then because the girl could not eat until she learned about the moths,the Bird Woman asked Elnora if she knew what kinds she had.

"Not all of them,"answered Elnora."Before Mr.

Duncan moved away he often saw me near the edge of the swamp and he showed me the box he had fixed for Freckles,and gave me the key.There were some books and things,so from that time on I studied and tried to take moths right,but I am afraid they are not what you want.""Are they the big ones that fly mostly in June nights?"asked the Bird Woman.

"Yes,"said Elnora."Big gray ones with reddish markings,pale blue-green,yellow with lavender,and red and yellow.""What do you mean by `red and yellow?'"asked the Bird Woman so quickly that the girl almost jumped "Not exactly red,"explained Elnora,with tremulous voice.

"A reddish,yellowish brown,with canary-coloured spots and gray lines on their wings.""How many of them?"It was the same quick question.

"I had over two hundred eggs,"said Elnora,"but some of them didn't hatch,and some of the caterpillars died,but there must be at least a hundred perfect ones.""Perfect!How perfect?"cried the Bird Woman.

"I mean whole wings,no down gone,and all their legs and antennae,"faltered Elnora.

"Young woman,that's the rarest moth in America,"said the Bird Woman solemnly."If you have a hundred of them,they are worth a hundred dollars according to my list.I can use all that are not damaged.""What if they are not pinned right,"quavered Elnora.

"If they are perfect,that does not make the slightest difference.I know how to soften them so that I can put them into any shape I choose.

Where are they?When may I see them?"

"They are in Freckles's old case in the Limberlost,"said Elnora."I couldn't carry many for fear of breaking them,but I could bring a few after school.""You come here at four,"said the Bird Woman,"and we will drive out with some specimen boxes,and a price list,and see what you have to sell.Are they your very own?

Are you free to part with them?"

"They are mine,"said Elnora."No one but God knows I have them.Mr.Duncan gave me the books and the box.He told Freckles about me,and Freckles told him to give me all he left.He said for me to stick to the swamp and be brave,and my hour would come,and it has!I know most of them are all right,and oh,Ido need the money!"

"Could you tell me?"asked the Bird Woman softly.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 王俊凯:为什么

    王俊凯:为什么

    霸道校草遇上呆萌女孩,会擦出什么的火花呢?拭目以待吧!
  • 英灵系统

    英灵系统

    瓦洛兰大陆遭受毁灭,一百一十九个英雄壮烈牺牲,但英雄虽死,英灵不灭。瓦洛兰大陆的神秘之宝,瓦洛兰之心携带一百一十九个英雄的英灵进入了时空之中,化为了英雄英灵系统。······二十一世纪标准宅男,在排位十连跪之时,意外的被瓦洛兰之心吸收,穿越到了一个术师的世界。而觉醒了英灵系统的宅男,发现自己居然能够使用一百一十九个英雄的技能。(新人新书,求收藏和推荐票~~)
  • tfboys之两个十年之约

    tfboys之两个十年之约

    那一年,我们约定十年相伴,有一个人,她住在王俊凯的心里,这也是属于他们的十年之约。
  • 冰之轩

    冰之轩

    我已经吃下绝情丸,本已心无杂念专心修炼,而你误打误撞进入了我的人生
  • 宇宙九转之通天之路

    宇宙九转之通天之路

    十万年前的大战,阻断了天界与人间界的通道,而后,无数的旷世奇才为了打开通往天界的道路,开始了孜孜不倦跋涉。在这样的大背景下,一个被命运捉弄却又被眷顾的少年,背负着家仇、师恨,恋美人,得神器,闯绝地,踏着鲜血和尸骨,一步步成就自己的强者之路。
  • 一颗真心换一辈子

    一颗真心换一辈子

    6年前,她不辞而别的走了。6年后,她又不声不响的回来了。
  • 读名人传记悟平凡人生

    读名人传记悟平凡人生

    本书选定的名人,每一个人物,均有充分的历史依据,具体说有五条标准:其一,贡献大小;其二,口碑影响;其三,浩然正气;其四,创始影响;其五,警世取喻。在入选的这些名人中,严格按前述五条标准,再加一个分类遴选对世界历史进程产生重大影响的人物,分为若干类,每类按时间顺序排列,用以勾勒人类文明进程的历史轨迹,比单纯的排序具有历史内涵与启发意义。他们或是引领社会潮流的思想巨擘,或是运筹帷幄的政治领袖,或是评点世间万象的文坛泰斗,或是影响后世的科学巨人,或是撩亮人心的艺术巨匠,或是富甲天下的工商巨头,或是影响世人的传奇英雄,林林总总,横贯全世界、全人类。
  • 圣艾泽利亚

    圣艾泽利亚

    茫茫欲望之海古井无波,偶尔翻起的一两朵浪花,隐隐传出了无尽迷离之音.远处幽蓝色的烛光像一朵嘘嘘绽放的昙花一般,深邃而迷人。大地上一片狼藉,战火的喧嚣充斥在每一处角落,干涸的血迹混杂着点点白色的尸骨,充满了寂静。神魔悲戚,古仙叹息,人皇喋血,天地其泣。悠悠万古,岁月而逝,天地间是否还有真仙?古佛的踪迹又何去何从,流逝在时空长河里的魔法王座已渐渐消失匿迹,强大的科技文明为何会消失无踪?艾泽大陆,九州,华夏古国,一切的起始都要从这儿开始。
  • 申培诗说

    申培诗说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 海贼天下

    海贼天下

    大航海时代,群雄纷争。海军坚持正义,坚决消灭海贼。海贼为了宝藏,不顾一切向前冲锋。评议院鸡贼,每次坐等渔翁之利。三方势力,究竟谁能称王?世界航路,不再安宁。谁能找到,死去的海贼王留下的宝藏。是大将?是评议院?是四皇?是海贼新星?是王下七武海?还是五帝?一切,都是未知.................