Then she untied the narrow black ribbon, wet the comb and plastered the waving curls close to her head, bound them fast, pinned on the skimpy black hat and opened the back door.
"You've gone so plumb daffy you are forgetting your dinner," jeered her mother.
"I don't want anything to eat," replied Elnora.
"You'll take your dinner or you'll not go one step.

Are you crazy?
Walk almost three miles and no food from six in the morning until six at night.

A pretty figure you'd cut if you had your way! And after I've gone and bought you this nice new pail and filled it especial to start on!" Elnora came back with a face still whiter and picked up the lunch.
"Thank you, mother! Good-bye!" she said.

Mrs.Comstock did not reply.
She watched the girl follow the long walk to the gate and go from sight on the road, in the bright sunshine of the first Monday of September.
"I bet a dollar she gets enough of it by night!" commented Mrs.
Comstock.
Elnora walked by instinct, for her eyes were blinded with tears.

She left the road where it turned south, at the corner of the Limberlost, climbed a snake fence and entered a path worn by her own feet.