bewildered.

"For me?" she questioned.

"Yes," said Professor Henley. "Step inside."

Elnora followed him into the room and closed the door behind them.

"At teachers' meeting last evening, one of the professors mentioned
that a pupil had betrayed in class that she had expected her books to be
furnished by the city. I thought possibly it was you. Was it?"

"Yes," breathed Elnora.

"That being the case," said Professor Henley, "it just occurred to me as
you had expected that, you might require a little time to secure
them, and you are too fine a mathematician to fall behind for want of
supplies. So I telephoned one of our Sophomores to bring her last year's
books this morning. I am sorry to say they are somewhat abused, but the
text is all here. You can have them for two dollars, and pay when you
are ready. Would you care to take them?"

Elnora sat suddenly, because she could not stand another instant. She
reached both hands for the books, and said never a word. The professor
was silent also. At last Eleanor arose, hugging those books to her heart
as a mother clasps a baby.

"One thing more," said the professor. "You may pay your tuition
quarterly. You need not bother about the first instalment this month.
Any time in October will do."

It seemed as if Elnora's gasp of relief must have reached the soles of
her brogans.

"Did any one ever tell you how beautiful you are!" she cried.

As the professor was lank, tow-haired and so near-sighted, that he
peered at his pupils through spectacles, no one ever had.

"No," said Professor Henley, "I've waited some time for that; for which
reason I shall appreciate it all the more. Come now, or we shall be late
for opening exercises."

So Elnora entered the auditorium a second time. Her face was like the
brightest dawn that ever broke over the Limberlost. No matter about the
lumbering shoes and skimpy dress. No matter about anything, she had the
books. She could take them home. In her garret she could commit them to
memory, if need be. She could prove that clothes were not all. If the
Bird Woman did not want any of the many different kinds of specimens she
had collected, she was quite sure now she could sell ferns, nuts, and a
great many things. Then, too, a girl made a place for her that morning,
and several smiled and bowed. Elnora forgot everything save her books,
and that she was where she could use them intelligently--everything
except one little thing away back