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.

CHAPTER XIX

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.