Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/273

Rh Mrs. Comstock entered dragging her heavy feet. Her dress skirt was gone, her petticoat wet and d, and the waist of her dress was almost torn from her body. Her hair hung in damp strings; her eyes were red with crying. In one hand she held the lantern, and in the other stiffly extended before her, on a wad of calico reposed a magnificent pair of Yellow Emperors. Elnora stared, her lips parted. "Shall I put these others In the kitchen?" inquired a man's voice. The girl shrank back to the shadows. "Yes, anywhere inside the door," replied Mrs. Comstock as she moved a few steps to make way for him. Pete's head appeared. He set down the moths and was gone. "Thank you, Pete, more than ever woman thanked you before!" said Mrs. Comstock. She placed the lantern on the table and barred the door. As she turned Elnora came into view. Mrs. Comstock leaned toward her, and held out the moths. In a voice vibrant with tones never before heard she said, "Elnora, my girl, mother's found you another moth!"