She bathed her face and hands,did the work and went back to town,coming home at night to go through the same process.
By the third morning she was a raw even red,the fourth she had faded to a brilliant pink under the soothing influence of a cream recommended.That day came a letter from Elnora saying that she would remain where she was until Saturday morning,and then come to Ellen Brownlee's at Onabasha and stay for the Saturday's session of teachers to arrange their year's work.
Sunday was Ellen's last day at home,and she wanted Elnora very much.She had to call together the orchestra and practise them Sunday;and could not come home until after school Monday night.Mrs.Comstock at once answered the letter saying those arrangements suited her.
The following day she was a pale pink,later a delicate porcelain white.Then she went to a hairdresser and had the rope of snowy hair which covered her scalp washed,dressed,and fastened with such pins and combs as were decided to be most becoming.She took samples of her dresses,went to a milliner,and bought a street hat to match her suit,and a gray satin with lavender orchids to wear with the silk dress.Her last investment was a loose coat of soft gray broadcloth with white lining,and touches of lavender on the embroidered collar,and gray gloves to match.
Then she went home,rested and worked by turns until Monday.When school closed on that evening,Elnora,so tired she almost trembled,came down the long walk after a late session of teachers'meeting,to be stopped by a messenger boy.
"There's a lady wants to see you most important.
I am to take you to the place,"he said.
Elnora groaned.She could not imagine who wanted her,but there was nothing to do but find out;tired and anxious to see her mother as she was.
"This is the place,"said the boy,and went his way whistling.
Elnora was three blocks from the high school building on the same street.She was before a quaint old house,fresh with paint and covered with vines.There was a long wide lot,grass-covered,closely set with trees,and a barn and chicken park at the back that seemed to be occupied.Elnora stepped on the veranda which was furnished with straw rugs,bent-hickory chairs,hanging baskets,and a table with a work-box and magazines,and knocked at the screen door.
Inside she could see polished floors,walls freshly papered in low-toned harmonious colours,straw rugs and madras curtains.
It seemed to be a restful,homelike place to which she had come.
A second later down an open stairway came a tall,dark-eyed woman with cheeks faintly pink and a crown of fluffy snow-white hair.She wore a lavender gingham dress with white collar and cuffs,and she called as she advanced:"That screen isn't latched!Open it and come see your brand-new mother,my girl."Elnora stepped inside the door."Mother!"she cried.
"You my mother!I don't believe it!"
"Well,you better!"said Mrs.Comstock,"because it's true!You said you wished I were like the other girls'mothers,and I've shot as close the mark as I could without any practice.I thought that walk would be too much for you this winter,so I just rented this house and moved in,to be near you,and help more in case I'm needed.
I've only lived here a day,but I like it so well I've a mortal big notion to buy the place.""But mother!"protested Elnora,clinging to her wonderingly.
"You are perfectly beautiful,and this house is a little paradise,but how will we ever pay for it?We can't afford it!""Humph!Have you forgotten I telegraphed you I'd found some money I didn't know about?All I've done is paid for,and plenty more to settle for all Ipropose to do."
Mrs.Comstock glanced around with satisfaction.
"I may get homesick as a pup before spring,"she said,"but if I do I can go back.If I don't,I'll sell some timber and put a few oil wells where they don't show much.
I can have land enough cleared for a few fields and put a tenant on our farm,and we will buy this and settle here.
It's for sale."
"You don't look it,but you've surely gone mad!""Just the reverse,my girl,"said Mrs.Comstock,"I've gone sane.If you are going to undertake this work,you must be convenient to it.And your mother should be where she can see that you are properly dressed,fed,and cared for.This is our--let me think--reception-room.
How do you like it?This door leads to your workroom and study.
I didn't do much there because I wasn't sure of my way.
But I knew you would want a rug,curtains,table,shelves for books,and a case for your specimens,so I had a carpenter shelve and enclose that end of it.Looks pretty neat to me.The dining-room and kitchen are back,one of the cows in the barn,and some chickens in the coop.
I understand that none of the other girls'mothers milk a cow,so a neighbour boy will tend to ours for a third of the milk.There are three bedrooms,and a bath upstairs.
Go take one,put on some fresh clothes,and come to supper.
You can find your room because your things are in it."Elnora kissed her mother over and over,and hurried upstairs.
She identified her room by the dressing-case.There were a pretty rug,and curtains,white iron bed,plain and rocking chairs to match her case,a shirtwaist chest,and the big closet was filled with her old clothing and several new dresses.She found the bathroom,bathed,dressed in fresh linen and went down to a supper that was an evidence of Mrs.Comstock's highest art in cooking.
Elnora was so hungry she ate her first real meal in two weeks.
But the bites went down slowly because she forgot about them in watching her mother.
"How on earth did you do it?"she asked at last."I always thought you were naturally brown as a nut.""Oh,that was tan and sunburn!"explained Mrs.Comstock.
