Mrs. Comstock held the message a long time.  When she arose she was ravenously hungry, but the pain in her heart was a little easier.  She went to a restaurant and ate some food, then to a dressmaker where she ordered four dresses:  two very plain every-day ones, a serviceable dark gray cloth suit, and a soft light gray silk with touches of lavender and lace.  She made a heavy list of purchases at Brownlee’s, and the remainder of the day she did business in her direct and spirited way.  At night she was so tired she scarcely could walk home, but she built a fire and cooked and ate a hearty meal.

Later she went out beside the west fence and gathered an armful of tansy which she boiled to a thick green tea.  Then she stirred in oatmeal until it was a stiff paste.  She spread a sheet over her bed and began tearing strips of old muslin.  She bandaged each hand and arm with the mixture and plastered the soggy, evil-smelling stuff in a thick poultice over her face and neck.  She was so tired she went to sleep, and when she awoke she was half skinned.  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.