10 "yes, funny! a regular caricature," answered elnora. "no one else wore calico, not even one other. no one else wore high heavy shoes, not even one. no one else had such a funny little old hat; my hair was not right, my ribbon invisible compared with the others, i did not know where to go, or what to do, and i had no books. what a spectacle i made for them! " elnora laughed nervously at her own picture. "but there are always two sides! the professor said in the algebra class that he never had a better solution and explanation than mine of the proposition he gave me, which scored one for me in spite of my clothes." 11 "well, i wouldn't brag on myself! " 12 "that was poor taste," admitted elnora. "but, you see, it is a case of whistling to keep up my courage. i honestly could see that i would have looked just as well as the rest of them if i had been dressed as they were. we can't afford that, so i have to find something else to brace me. it was rather bad, mother! " 13 "well, i'm glad you got enough of it! " 14 "oh, but i haven't" hurried in elnora. "i just got a start. the hardest is over. to-morrow they won't be surprised. they will know what to expect. i am sorry to hear about the dredge. is it really going through? " 15 "yes. i got my notification today. the tax will be something enormous. i don't know as i can spare you, even if you are willing to be a laughing-stock for the town." 16 with every bite elnora's courage returned, for she was a healthy young thing. when elnora replies to her mother, ‘that was poor taste,’ she is a) being cynical and sarcastic. b) honestly acknowledging her fault. c) trying to ease the tension that has come between them. d) verbally attacking her mother who has lashed out at her.