she stood on the path holding a pair of moths. Her eyes were wide with excitement, her cheeks pink, her red lips parted, and on the hand she held out to them clung a pair of delicate blue-green moths, with white bodies, and touches of lavender and straw colour. All about her lay flower-brocaded grasses, behind the deep green background of the forest, while the sun slowly sifted gold from heaven to burnish her hair. Mrs. Comstock heard a sharp breath behind her.
"Oh, what a picture!" exulted Ammon at her shoulder. "She is absolutely and altogether lovely! I'd give a small fortune for that faithfully set on canvas!"
He picked the box from Mrs. Comstock's fingers and slowly advanced with it. Elnora held down her hand and transferred the moths. Ammon closed the box carefully, but the watching mother saw that his eyes were following the girl's face. He was not making the slightest attempt to conceal what he felt.
"I wonder if a woman ever did anything lovelier than to find a pair of Luna moths on a forest path, early on a perfect June morning?" he said to Mrs. Comstock, as he returned the box.
She glanced at Elnora. The girl had gone back to work, and was intently searching the bushes.
"Look here, young man," said Mrs. Comstock. "You seem to find that girl of mine about right."
"I could suggest no improvement," said Ammon. "I never saw a more attractive girl anywhere. She seems absolutely perfect to me."
