Both of them were glad when the last of May came and
the schools closed. They packed the books and
clothing they wished to take into a wagon and walked
across the fields to the old cabin. As they approached
it, Mrs. Comstock said to Elnora: “You
are sure you won’t be lonely here?”
Elnora knew what she really meant.
“Quite sure,” she said. “For
a time last fall I was glad to be away, but that all
wore out with the winter. Spring made me homesick
as I could be. I can scarcely wait until we get
back again.”
So they began that summer as they had begun all others—with
work. But both of them took a new joy in everything,
and the violin sang by the hour in the twilight.
WHEREIN PHILIP AMMON GIVES A BALL IN HONOUR OF EDITH CARR, AND HART
HENDERSON APPEARS ON THE SCENE
Edith Carr stood in a vine-enclosed side veranda of
the Lake Shore Club House waiting while Philip Ammon
gave some important orders. In a few days she
would sail for Paris to select a wonderful trousseau
she had planned for her marriage in October.
To-night Philip was giving a club dance in her honour.
He had spent days in devising new and exquisite effects
in decorations, entertainment, and supper. Weeks
before the favoured guests had been notified.
Days before they had received the invitations asking
them to participate in this entertainment by Philip
Ammon in honour of Miss Carr. They spoke of it
as “Phil’s dance for Edith!”
She could hear the rumble of carriages and the panting
of automobiles as in a steady stream they rolled to
the front entrance. She could catch glimpses
of floating draperies of gauze and lace, the flash
of jewels, and the passing of exquisite colour.
Every one was newly arrayed in her honour in the loveliest
clothing, and the most expensive jewels they could
command. As she thought of it she lifted her head
a trifle higher and her eyes flashed proudly.
She was robed in a French creation suggested and designed
by Philip. He had said to her: “I
know a competent judge who says the distinctive feature
of June is her exquisite big night moths. I want
you to be the very essence of June that night, as
you will be the embodiment of love. Be a moth.
The most beautiful of them is either the pale-green
Luna or the Yellow Imperialis. Be my moon lady,
or my gold Empress.”
He took her to the museum and showed her the moths.
She instantly decided on the yellow. Because
she knew the shades would make her more startlingly
beautiful than any other colour. To him she said:
“A moon lady seems so far away and cold.
I would be of earth and very near on that night.
I choose the Empress.”
So she matched the colours exactly, wrote out the
idea and forwarded the order to Paquin. To-night
when Philip Ammon came for her, he stood speechless
a minute and then silently kissed her hands.
