[16] , , properlyproclaimingitsvaluebysubstancealoneandnotbymeretriciousornamentation — ’ — -onedollarstheytookfromherforit, , hesometimeslookedatitontheslyonaccountoftheoldleatherstrapthatheusedinplaceofachain.
[17] , whichisalwaysatremendoustask, dearfriends — amammothtask.
[18] Withinfortyminutesherheadwascoveredwithtiny, , carefully, andcritically.
[19] “IfJimdoesn’tkillme,” shesaidtoherself, “beforehetakesasecondlookatme, he’ — oh! whatcouldIdowithadollarandeighty-sevencents?”
[20] At7o’clockthecoffeewasmadeandthefrying-panwasonthebackofthestovehotandreadytocookthechops.
[21] , , andnowshewhispered: “PleaseGod, makehimthinkIamstillpretty.”
[22] , hewasonlytwenty-two — andtobeburdenedwithafamily! Heneededanewovercoatandhewaswithoutgloves.
[23] Jimstoppedinsidethedoor, , andtherewasanexpressioninthemthatshecouldnotread, , norsurprise, nordisapproval, norhorror, .
[24] Dellawriggledoffthetableandwentforhim.
[25] “Jim, darling,” shecried, “don’’’llgrowoutagain — youwon’tmind, willyou? ‘MerryChristmas!’ Jim, andlet’’tknowwhatanice — whatabeautiful, nicegiftI’vegotforyou.”
[26] “You’vecutoffyourhair?” askedJim, laboriously, asifhehadnotarrivedatthatpatentfactyetevenafterthehardestmentallabor.
[27] “Cutitoffandsoldit,” saidDella.“Don’tyoulikemejustaswell, anyhow? I’mmewithoutmyhair, ain’tI?”
[28] Jimlookedabouttheroomcuriously.
[29] “Yousayyourhairisgone?” hesaid, withanairalmostofidiocy.
