“Indeed, I do!” laughed Elnora, “and several other things beside.  When Freckles bequeathed me the swamp, he gave me a bigger inheritance than he knew.  While you have thought I was wandering aimlessly, I have been following a definite plan, studying hard, and storing up the stuff that will earn these seven hundred and fifty dollars.  Mother dear, I am going to accept this, of course.  The work will be a delight.  I’d love it most of anything in teaching.  You must help me.  We must find nests, eggs, leaves, queer formations in plants and rare flowers.  I must have flower boxes made for each of the rooms and filled with wild things.  I should begin to gather specimens this very day.”

Elnora’s face was flushed and her eyes bright.

“Oh, what great work that will be!” she cried.  “You must go with me so you can see the little faces when I tell them how the goldfinch builds its nest, and how the bees make honey.”

So Elnora and her mother went into the woods behind the cabin to study nature.

“I think,” said Elnora, “the idea is to begin with fall things in the fall, keeping to the seasons throughout the year.”

“What are fall things?” inquired Mrs. Comstock.

“Oh, fringed gentians, asters, ironwort, every fall flower, leaves from every tree and vine, what makes them change colour, abandoned bird nests, winter quarters of caterpillars and insects, what becomes of the butterflies and grasshoppers—­myriads of stuff.  I shall have to be very wise to select the things it will be most beneficial for the children to learn.”

“Can I really help you?” Mrs. Comstock’s strong face was pathetic.

“Indeed, yes!” cried Elnora.  “I never can get through it alone.  There will be an immense amount of work connected with securing and preparing specimens.”

Mrs. Comstock lifted her head proudly and began doing business at once.  Her sharp eyes ranged from earth to heaven.  She investigated everything, asking innumerable questions.  At noon Mrs. Comstock took the specimens they had collected, and went to prepare dinner, while Elnora followed the woods down to the Sintons’ to show her letter.

She had to explain what became of her moths, and why college would have to be abandoned for that year, but Margaret and Wesley vowed not to tell.  Wesley waved the letter excitedly, explaining it to Margaret as if it were a personal possession.  Margaret was deeply impressed, while Billy volunteered first aid in gathering material.

“Now anything you want in the ground, Snap can dig it out,” he said.  “Uncle Wesley and I found a hole three times as big as Snap, that he dug at the roots of a tree.”

“We will train him to hunt pupae cases,” said Elnora.

“Are you going to the woods this afternoon?” asked Billy.

“Yes,” answered Elnora.  “Dr. Ammon’s nephew from Chicago is visiting in Onabasha.  He is going to show me how men put some sort of compound on a tree, hang a light beside it, and take moths that way.  It will be interesting to watch and learn.”