The organ began rolling out the march as they came in sight.  Elnora took her place at the head of the procession, while every one wondered.  Secretly they had hoped that she would be dressed well enough, that she would not appear poor and neglected.  What this radiant young creature, gowned in the most recent style, her smooth skin flushed with excitement, and a rose-set coronet of red gold on her head, had to do with the girl they knew was difficult to decide.  The signal was given and Elnora began the slow march across the vestry and down the aisle.  The music welled softly, and Margaret began to sob without knowing why.

Mrs. Comstock gripped her hands together and shut her eyes.  It seemed an eternity to the suffering woman before Margaret caught her arm and whispered, “Oh, Kate!  For any sake look at her!  Here!  The aisle across!”

Mrs. Comstock opened her eyes and directing them where she was told, gazed intently, and slid down in her seat close to collapse.  She was saved by Margaret’s tense clasp and her command:  “Here!  Idiot!  Stop that!”

In the blaze of light Elnora climbed the steps to the palm-embowered platform, crossed it and took her place.  Sixty young men and women, each of them dressed the best possible, followed her.  There were manly, fine-looking men in that class which Elnora led.  There were girls of beauty and grace, but not one of them was handsomer or clothed in better taste than she.

Billy thought the time never would come when Elnora would see him, but at last she met his eye, then Margaret and Wesley had faint signs of recognition in turn, but there was no softening of the girl’s face and no hint of a smile when she saw her mother.

Heartsick, Katharine Comstock tried to prove to herself that she was justified in what she had done, but she could not.  She tried to blame Elnora for not saying that she was to lead a procession and sit on a platform in the sight of hundreds of people; but that was impossible, for she realized that she would have scoffed and not understood if she had been told.  Her heart pained until she suffered with every breath.

When at last the exercises were over she climbed into the carriage and rode home without a word.  She did not hear what Margaret and Billy were saying.  She scarcely heard Wesley, who drove behind, when he told her that Elnora would not be home until Wednesday.  Early the next morning Mrs. Comstock was on her way to Onabasha.  She was waiting when the Brownlee store opened.  She examined ready-made white dresses, but they had only one of the right size, and it was marked forty dollars.  Mrs. Comstock did not hesitate over the price, but whether the dress would be suitable.  She would have to ask Elnora.  She inquired her way to the home of the Bird Woman and knocked.

“Is Elnora Comstock here?” she asked the maid.

“Yes, but she is still in bed.  I was told to let her sleep as long as she would.”