Jackobedientlyclosedhiseyesandlistenedwhiletheboyssang\"TheSweetByandBy,\"softeningtheirroughyoungvoicesforhissaketillthemusicwasassoftasalullaby。Helaysostillhismotherthoughthewasoff,butpresentlyatearslippedoutandrolleddowntheredcheek,wettingherhandasitpassed。
\"Myblessedboy,whatisit？\"shewhispered,withatouchandatonethatonlymothershave。
Theblueeyesopenedwide,andJack\'sownsunshinysmilebrokethroughthetearsthatfilledthemashesaidwithasniff,\"EverybodyissogoodtomeIcan\'thelpmakinganoodleofmyself。
\"Youarenotanoodle！\"criedMamma,resentingtheepithet。\"Oneofthesweetthingsaboutpainandsorrowisthattheyshowushowwellweareloved,howmuchkindnessthereisintheworld,andhoweasilywecanmakeothershappyinthesamewaywhentheyneedhelpandsympathy。Don\'tforgetthat,littleson,\"
\"Don\'tseehowIcan,withyoutoshowmehowniceitis。Kissmegood—night,andthen\'I\'llbegood,asJillsays。\"
Nestlinghisheaduponhismother\'sarm,Jacklayquiettill,lulledbythemusicofhismates,hedrowsedawayintothedreamlesssleepwhichisNurseNature\'shealthiestsoothingsirupforwearysoulsandbodies。
Chapter3WardNo。I
Forsomedays,nothingwasseenandlittlewasheardofthe\"dearsufferers,\"astheoldladiescalledthem。Buttheywerenotforgotten;thefirstwordsutteredwhenanyoftheyoungpeoplemetwere:\"HowisJack？\"\"SeenJillyet？\"andallwaitedwithimpatienceforthemomentwhentheycouldbeadmittedtotheirfavoritemates,morethaneverobjectsofinterestnow。
Meantime,thecaptivesspentthefirstfewdaysinsleep,pain,andtryingtoacceptthehardfactthatschoolandplayweredonewithformonthsperhaps。Butyoungspiritsarewonderfullyelasticandsooncheerup,andhealthyyoungbodieshealfast,oreasilyadaptthemselvestonewconditions。Soourinvalidsbegantomendonthefourthday,andtodrivetheirnursesdistractedwitheffortstoamusethem,beforethefirstweekwasover。
ThemostsuccessfulattemptoriginatedinWardNo。I,asMrs。
MinotcalledJack\'sapartment,andwewillgiveoursympathizingreaderssomeideaofthisplace,whichbecamethestagewhereonwereenactedmanyvariedandremarkablescenes。
EachoftheMinotboyshadhisownroom,andtherecollectedhisowntreasuresandtrophies,arrangedtosuithisconvenienceandtaste。Frank\'swasfullofbooks,maps,machinery,chemicalmesses,andgeometricaldrawings,whichadornedthewallslikeintricatecobwebs。Abigchair,wherehereadandstudiedwithhisheelshigherthanhishead,abasketofapplesforrefreshmentatallhoursofthedayornight,andanimmenseinkstand,inwhichseveralpenswerealwaysapparentlybathingtheirfeet,weretheprincipalornamentsofhisscholasticretreat。
Jack\'shobbywasathleticsports,forhewasbentonhavingastrongandactivebodyforhishappylittlesoultoliveandenjoyitselfin。Soaseveresimplicityreignedinhisapartment;insummer,especially,forthenhisfloorwasbare,hiswindowswereuncurtained,andthechairsuncushioned,thebedbeingasnarrowandhardasNapoleon\'s。Theonlyornamentsweredumbbells,whips,bats,rods,skates,boxing—gloves,abigbath—panandasmalllibrary,consistingchieflyofbooksongames,horses,health,hunting,andtravels。Inwinterhismothermadethingsmorecomfortablebyintroducingrugs,curtains,andafire。Jack,also,relentedslightlyintheseverityofhistraining,occasionallyindulginginthenationalbuckwheatcake,insteadoftheprescribedoatmealporridge,forbreakfast,omittinghiscoldbathwhenthethermometerwasbelowzero,anddancingatnight,insteadofrunningagivendistancebyday。
Now,however,hewasahelplesscaptive,givenovertoallsortsofcoddling,laziness,andluxury,andtherewasadrollmixtureofmirthandmelancholyinhisface,ashelaytrussedupinbed,watchingthecomfortswhichhadsuddenlyrobbedhisroomofitsSpartansimplicity。Adeliciouscouchwasthere,withFrankreposinginitsdepths,halfhiddenunderseveralfolioswhichhewasconsultingforahistoryofthesteam—engine,thesubjectofhisnextcomposition。
Awhite—coveredtablestoodnear,withallmannerofdaintiessetforthinawaytotemptthesternestprinciples。Vasesofflowersbloomedonthechimney—piecegiftsfromanxiousyoungladies,leftwiththeirlove。Frivolousstory—booksandpicture—papersstrewedthebed,nowshroudedineffeminatechintzcurtains,beneathwhichJacklaylikeawoundedwarriorinhistent。Butthesaddestsightforourcrippledathletewasaglimpse,throughahalf—openeddoor,atthebeloveddumb—bells,bats,balls,boxing—gloves,andsnow—shoes,allpiledignominiouslyawayinthebath—pan,mournfullyrecallingthefactthattheirdaywasover,now,atleastforsometime。
Hewasabouttogroandismally,whenhiseyefellonasightwhichmadehimswallowthegroan,andcoughinstead,asifitchokedhimalittle。Thesightwashismother\'sface,asshesatinalowchairrollingbandages,withabasketbesideherinwhichwerepilesofoldlinen,lint,plaster,andothermatters,neededforthedressingofwounds。Ashelooked,Jackrememberedhowsteadilyandtenderlyshehadstoodbyhimallthroughthehar4timesjustpast,andhowcarefullyshehadbathedanddressedhiswoundeachdayinspiteoftheeffortitcosthertogivehimpainorevenseehimsuffer。
\"That\'sabettersortofstrengththanswingingtwenty—pounddumb—bellsorrunningraces;IguessI\'lltryforthatkind,too,andnothowlorletherseemesquirmwhenthedoctorhurts,\"thoughttheboy,ashesawthatgentlefacesopaleandtiredwithmuchwatchingandanxiety,yetsopatient,serene,andcheerful,thatitwaslikesunshine。
\"Liedownandtakeagoodnap,motherdear,Ifeelfirst—rate,andFrankcanseetomeifIwantanything。Do,now,\"headded,withapersuasivenodtowardthecouch,andaboyishrelishinstirringuphislazybrother。
Aftersomeurging,Mammaconsentedtogotoherroomforfortywinks,leavingJackinthecareofFrank,begginghimtobeasquietaspossibleifthedearboywishedtosleep,andtoamusehimifhedidnot。
Beingwornout,Mrs。Minotlengthenedherfortywinksintoathreehoursnap,andasthe\"dearboy\"scornedrepose,Mr。Frankhadhishandsfullwhileonguard。
\"I\'llreadtoyou。Here\'sWatt,Arkwright,Fulton,andalotofcapitalfellows,withpicturesthatwilldoyourheartgood。Haveabit,willyou？\"askedthenewnurse,flappingtheleavesinvitinglyforFrankbadapassionforsuchthings,anddrewsteam—enginesalloverhisslate,asTommyTraddlesdrewhostsofskeletonswhenlowinhisspirits。
\"Idon\'twantanyofyouroldboilersandstokersandwhirligigs。I
mtiredofreading,andwantsomethingregularlyjolly,\"answeredJack,whohadbeenchasingwhitebuffaloeswith\"TheHuntersoftheWest,\"tillhewasatrifletiredandfractious。
\"Playcribbage,euchre,anythingyoulike\";andFrankobliginglydisinterredhimselffromunderthefolios,feelingthatitwashardforafellowtolieflatawholeweek。
\"Nofun;justtwoofus。Wishschoolwasover,sotheboyswouldcomein;doctorsaidImightseethemnow。\"
\"They\'llbealongbyandby,andI\'llhailthem。Tillthen,whatshallwedo？I\'myourmanforanything,onlyputanametoit。
\"JustwishIhadatelegraphoratelephone,soIcouldtalktoJill。
Wouldn\'titbefuntopipeacrossandgetananswer！\"
\"I\'llmakeeitheryousay\";andFranklookedasiftriflesofthatsortweretobehadfortheasking。
\"Couldyou,really？\"
\"We\'llstartthetelegraphfirst,thenyoucansendthingsoverifyoulike,\"saidFrank,prudentlyproposingthesurestexperiment。
\"Goahead,then。I\'dlikethat,andsowouldJill,forIknowshewantstohearfromme。\"
\"There\'sonetrouble,though;IshallhavetoleaveyoualoneforafewminuteswhileIriguptheropes\";andFranklookedsober,forhewasafaithfulboy,anddidnotwanttodeserthispost。
\"Oh,nevermind;Iwon\'twantanything。IfI\'do,IcanpoundforAnn。\"
\"Andwakemother。I\'llfixyouabetterwaythanthat\";and,fullofinventivegenius,ouryoungEdisonsplicedthepokertopartofafishing—rodinajiffy,makingalong—handledhookwhichreachedacrosstheroom。
\"There\'sanarmforyou;nowhookaway,andlet\'sseehowitworks,\"hesaid,handingovertheinstrumenttoJack,whoproceededtoshowitsunexpectedcapabilitiesbyhookingtheclothoffthetableinattemptingtogethishandkerchief,catchingFrankbythehairwhenfishingforabook,andbreakingapaneofglassintryingtodrawdownthecurtain。—
\"It\'ssoeverlastinglong,Ican\'tmanageit,\"laughedJack,asitfinallycaughtinhisbed—hangings,andnearlypulledthem,ringandall,downuponhishead。
\"Letitalone,unlessyouneedsomethingverymuch,anddon\'tbotherabouttheglass。It\'sjustwhatwewantforthetelegraphwireorropetogothrough。Keepstill,andI\'llhavethethingrunningintenminutes\";and,delightedwiththejob,Frankhurriedaway,leavingJacktocomposeamessagetosendassoonasitwaspossible。
\"WhatintheworldisthatflyingacrosstheMinots\'yardabrownhenoraboy\'skite？\"exclaimedoldMissHopkins,peeringoutofherwindowatthesingularperformancesgoingoninheroppositeneighbor\'sgarden。
First,Frankappearedwithahatchetandchoppedaclearspaceinthehedgebetweenhisownhouseandthecottage;next,aclotheslinewaspassedthroughthisapertureandfastenedsomewhereontheotherside;lastly,asmallcoveredbasket,slungonthisrope,wasseenhitchingalong,drawneitherwaybyasetofstrings;then,asifsatisfiedwithhisjob,Frankretired,whistling\"HailColumbia。\"
\"It\'sthosechildrenattheirpranksagain。Ithoughtbrokenboneswouldn\'tkeepthemoutofmischieflong,\"saidtheoldlady,watchingwithgreatinterestthemysteriousbaskettravellingupanddowntheropefromthebighousetothecottage。
Ifshehadseenwhatcameandwentoverthewiresofthe\"GreatInternationalTelegraph,\"shewouldhavelaughedtillherspectaclesflewoffherRomannose。AletterfromJack,withalargeorange,wentfirst,explainingthenewenterprise:
\"DearJill—It\'stoobadyoucan\'tcomeovertoseeme。Iamprettywell,butawfultiredofkeepingstill。Iwanttoseeyoueversomuch。Frankhasfixedusatelegraph,sowecanwriteandsendthings。Won\'titbejolly！Ican\'tlookouttoseehimdoit;but,whenyoupullyourstring,mylittlebellrings,andIknowamessageiscoming。Isendyouanorange。Doyoulikegorverjelly？Peoplesendinlotsofgoodies,andwewillgohalves。Good—by。
Jack\"
Awaywentthebasket,andinfifteenminutesitcamebackfromthecottagewithnothinginitbuttheorange。
\"Hullo！Isshemad？\"askedJack,asFrankbroughtthedespatchforhimtoexamine。
But,atthefirsttouch,thehollowpeelopened,andoutfellaletter,twogum—drops,andanowlmadeofapeanut,withroundeyesdrawnattheendwherethestemformedafunnybeak。Twobitsofstrawwerethelegs,andthefacelookedsolikeDr。Whitingthatbothboyslaughedatthesight。
\"That\'ssolikeJill;she\'dmakefunifshewashalfdead。Let\'sseewhatshesays\";andJackreadthelittlenote,whichshowedasadneglectofthespelling—book:
\"DearJacky—Ican\'tstirandit\'shorrid。Thetellygrafisveryniceandwewillhavefunwithit。Ineverateanygorverjelly。Theorangewasfirstrate。Sendmeabooktoread。Allaboutbearsandshipsandcrockydiles。Thedoctorwascomingtoseeyou,soIsenthimthequickestway。MollyLoosaysitisdreadfullonesomeatschoolwithoutus。Yourstruly,Jill\"
Jackimmediatelydespatchedthebookandasampleofguavajelly,whichunfortunatelyupsetontheway,tothegreatdetrimentof\"TheWildBeastsofAsiaandAfrica。\"Jillpromptlyrespondedwiththeloanofatinyblackkitten,whoemergedspittingandscratching,toJack\'sgreatdelight;andhewascudgellinghisbrainsastohowafatwhiterabbitcouldbetransported,whenashrillwhistlefromwithoutsavedJillfromthatinconvenientoffering。
\"It\'sthefellows;doyouwanttoseethem？\"askedFrank,gazingdownwithcalmsuperiorityuponthethreeeagerfaceswhichlookedupathim。
\"GuessI\'do！\"andJackpromptlythrewthekittenoverboard,scorningtobeseenbyanymanlyeyeamusinghimselfwithsuchgirlishtoys。
Bang！wentthefrontdoor;tramp,tramp,tramp,camesixbootedfeetupthestairs;and,asFrankthrewwidethedoor,threelargebeingspausedonthethresholdtodeliverthecourteous\"Hullo！\"
whichistheestablishedgreetingamongboysonallsocialoccasions。
\"Comealong,oldfellows;I\'meversogladtoseeyou！\"criedtheinvalid,withsuchenergeticdemonstrationsofthearmsthathelookedasifabouttoflyorcrow,likeanexcitedyoungcockerel。
\"Howareyou,Major？\"
\"Doesthelegachemuch,Jack？\"
\"Mr。Phippssaysyou\'llhavetopayforthenewrails。\"
Withthesecharacteristicgreetings,thegentlemencastawaytheirhatsandsatdown,allgrinningcheerfully,andallwitheyesirresistiblyfixeduponthedainties,whichprovedtoomuchforthepolitenessofever—hungryboys。
\"Helpyourselves,\"saidJack,withahospitablewave。\"Allthedearoldladiesintownhavebeensendinginnicethings,andIcan\'tbegintoeatthemup。Lendahandandclearawaythislot,orweshallhavetothrowthemoutofthewindow。Bringonthedoughnutsandthetartsandtheshakystuffintheentrycloset,Frank,andlet\'shavealark。\"
Nosoonersaidthandone。Gustookthetarts,Joethedoughnuts,Edthejelly,andFranksuggested\"spoonsallround\"fortheItaliancream。Afewtriflesinthewayofcustard,fruit,andwaferbiscuitswerenotworthmentioning;buteverydishwassoonemptied,andJacksaid,ashesurveyedthesceneofdevastationwithgreatsatisfaction,\"Callagainto—morrow,gentlemen,andwewillhaveanotherbout。
Freelunchesat~P。M。tillfurthernotice。Nowtellmeallthenews。\"
Forhalfanhour,fivetongueswentlikemillclappers,andthereisnoknowingwhentheywouldhavestoppedifthelittlebellhadnotsuddenlyrungwithaviolencethatmadethemjump。
\"That\'sJill;seewhatshewants,Frank\";andwhilehisbrothersentoffthebasket,Jacktoldaboutthenewinvention,andinvitedhismatestoexamineandadmire。
Theydidso,andshoutedwithmerrimentwhenthenextdespatchfromJillarrived。Apasteboardjumping—jack,withonelegdoneupincotton—wooltopreservethelikeness,andagreatlumpofmolassescandyinabrownpaper,withaccompanyingnote:
\"DearSir—Isawtheboysgoin,andknowyouarehavinganicetime,soIsendoverthecandyMollyLooandMerrybroughtme。
MammysaysIcan\'teatit,anditwillallmeltawayifIkeepit。
AlsoapictureofJackMinot,whowilldanceononelegandwaggletheother,andmakeyoulaugh。IwishIcouldcome,too。
Don\'tyouhategrewel？I\'do。Inhaste,J。P。\"
\"Let\'sallsendheraletter,\"proposedJack,andoutcamepens,ink,paper,andthelamp,andeveryonefelltoscribbling。Adrollcollectionwastheresult,forFrankdrewapictureofthefatalfallwithbrokenrailsflyingineverydirection,Jackwithhisheadswollentothesizeofaballoon,andJillintwopieces,whilethevariousboysandgirlswerehitoffwithaslyskillthatgaveGuslegslikeastork,MollyLoohairseveralyardslong,andBooaseriesofvisiblehowlscomingoutofanimmensemouthintheshapeofos。Theoxenwereparticularlygood,fortheirhornsbranchedlikethoseofthemoose,andMr。Granthadapatriarchalbeardwhichwavedinthebreezeasheborethewoundedgirltoasledverylikeafuneralpyre,thestakesbeingcrownedwithbigmittensliketorches。
\"Yououghttobeanartist。Ineversawsuchadabsterasyouare。
That\'stheverymoralofJoe,allinabunchonthefence,withablottoshowhowpurplehisnosewas,\"saidGus,holdingupthesketchforgeneralcriticismandadmiration。
\"I\'dratherhavearednosethanlegslikeagrasshopper;soyouneedn\'ttwit,Daddy,\"growledJoe,quiteunconsciousthatablotactuallydidadornhisnose,ashelaboredoverabriefdespatch。
Theboysenjoyedthejoke,andoneaftertheotherreadouthismessagetothecaptivelady:
\"DearJill—Sorryyouain\'there。Greatfun。Jackprettylively。LauraandLotwouldsendloveiftheyknewofthechance。Flyroundandgetwell。
Gus\"
\"DearGilliflower—Hopeyouareprettycomfortableinyour\'dungeoncell。Wouldyoulikeaserenadewhenthemooncomes？
Hopeyouwillsoonbeupagain,forwemissyouverymuch。ShallbeveryhappytohelpinanywayIcan。Lovetoyourmother。Yourtruefriend,E。D。\"
\"MissPecq。
\"DearMadam—Iamhappytotellyouthatweareallwell,andhopeyouarethesame。IgaveJemCoxalickingbecausehewenttoyourdesk。Youhadbettersendforyourbooks。Youwon\'thavetopayforthesledorthefence。Jacksayshewillseetoit。Wehavebeenhavingaspreadoverhere。First—ratethings。Iwouldn\'tmindbreakingaleg,ifIhadsuchgoodgrubandnochorestodo。Nomorenow,fromyours,withesteem,JosephP。Flint\"
Joethoughtthatanelegantepistle,havingcopiedportionsofitfromthe\"LetterWriter,\"andproudlyreaditofftotheboys,whoassuredhimthatJillwouldbemuchimpressed。
\"Now,Jack,hurryupandletussendthelotoff,forwemustgo,\"
saidGus,asFrankputthelettersinthebasket,andtheclatteroftea—thingswasheardbelow。
\"I\'mnotgoingtoshowmine。It\'sprivateandyoumustn\'tlook,\"
answeredJack,pattingdownanenvelopewithsuchcarethatnoonehadachancetopeep。
ButJoehadseenthelittlenotecopied,andwhiletheotherswereatthewindowworkingthetelegraphhecaughtuptheoriginal,carelesslythrustbyJackunderthepillow,andreaditaloudbeforeanyoneknewwhathewasabout。
\"MyDear—IwishIcouldsendyousomeofmygoodtimes。AsI
can\'t,Isendyoumuchlove,andIhopeyouwilltryandbepatientasIamgoingto,foritwasourfault,andwemustnotmakeafussnow。Ain\'tmotherssweet？Mineiscomingoverto—morrowtoseeyouandtellmehowyouare。Thisroundthingisakissforgood—night。
YourJack\"
\"Isn\'tthatspoony？Youdbetterhideyourface,Ithink。He\'sgettingtobearegularmollycoddle,isn\'the？\"jeeredJoe,astheboyslaughed,andthengrewsober,seeingJack\'sheadburiedinthebedclothes,aftersendingapillowathistormentor。
ItnearlyhitMrs。Minot,cominginwithherpatient\'steaonatray,andatsightofhertheguestshurriedlytookleave,JoenearlytumblingdownstairstoescapefromFrank,whowouldhavefollowed,ifhismotherhadnotsaidquickly,\"Stay,andtellmewhatisthematter。\"
\"OnlyteasingJackabit。Don\'tbemad,oldboy,Joedidn\'tmeananyharm,anditwasrathersoft,nowwasn\'tit？\"askedFrank,tryingtoappeasethewoundedfeelingsofhisbrother。
\"Ichargedyounottoworryhim。Thoseboysweretoomuchforthepoordear,andIoughtnottohavelefthim,\"saidMamma,asshevainlyendeavoredtofindandcaresstheyellowheadburrowedsofaroutofsightthatnothingbutoneredearwasvisible。
\"Helikedit,andwegotoncapitallytillJoeroughedhimaboutJill。Ah,Joe\'sgettingitnow！IthoughtGusandEdwoulddothatlittlejobforme,\"addedFrank,runningtothewindowasthesoundofstifledcriesandlaughterreachedhim。
Theredearheardalso,andJackpoppeduphisheadtoask,withinterest,\'Whataretheydoingtohim？\"
\"Rollinghiminthesnow,andhe\'showlinglikefun。\"
\"Serveshimright,\"mutteredJack,withafrown。Then,asawailarosesuggestiveofanunpleasantmixtureofsnowinthemouthandthumpsontheback,heburstoutlaughing,andsaid,good—naturedly,\"Goandstopthem,Frank;Iwon\'tmind,onlytellhimitwasameantrick。Hurry！Gusissostronghedoesn\'tknowhowhispoundinghurts。\"
OffranFrank,andJacktoldhiswrongstohismother。Shesympathizedheartily,andsawnoharmintheaffectionatelittlenote,whichwouldpleaseJill,andhelphertobearhertrialspatiently。
\"Itisn\'tsillytobefondofher,isit？Sheissoniceandfunny,andtriestobegood,andlikesme,andIwon\'tbeashamedofmyfriends,iffolksdolaugh,\"protestedJack,witharapofhisteaspoon。
\"No,dear,itisquitekindandproper,andI\'dratherhaveyouplaywithamerrylittlegirlthanwithroughboystillyouarebigenoughtoholdyourown,\"answeredMamma,puttingthecuptohislipsthattherecliningladmighttakehisbromawithoutspilling。
\"Pooh！Idon\'tmeanthat;I\'mstrongenoughnowtotakecareofmyself,\"criedJack,stoutly。\"IcanthrashJoeanyday,ifIlike。Justlookatmyarm;there\'smuscleforyou！\"andupwentasleeve,tothegreatdangerofoverturningthetray,astheboyproudlydisplayedhisbicepsandexpandedhischest,bothofwhichwereveryfineforaladofhisyears。\"IfI\'dbeenonmylegs,hewouldn\'thavedaredtoinsultme,anditwascowardlytohitafellowwhenhewasdown。
Mrs。MinotwantedtolaughatJack\'sindignation,butthebellrang,andshehadtogoandpullinthebasket,muchamusedatthenewgame。
Burningtodistinguishherselfintheeyesofthebigboys,Jillhadsentoveratall,redflannelnight—cap,whichshehadbeenmakingforsomeproposedChristmasplays,andaddedthefollowingverse,forshewasconsideredagiftedrhymesteratthegameparties:
\"Whenitcomesnight,Weputoutthelight。
Someblowwithapuff,Someturndownandsnuff;
ButneatfolkspreferAniceextinguisher。
SohereIsendyoubackOnetoputonMr。Jack。\"
\"Now,Icallthatregularlysmart;notoneofuscoulddoit,andI
justwishJoewasheretoseeit。Iwanttosendoncemore,somethinggoodfortea;shehatesgruelso\";andthelastdespatchwhichtheGreatInternationalTelegraphcarriedthatdaywasabakedappleandawarmmuffin,with\"J。M。\'sbestregards。\"
Chapter4WARDNO。2。
\"Idobelievethechildwillfretherselfintoafever,mem,andImcleandistraughttoknowwhattodoforher。Sheneverusedtomindtrifles,butnowshefretsabouttheoddestthings,andIcan\'tchangethem。Thiswall—paperiswellenough,butshehastakenafancythatthespotsonitlooklikespiders,anditmakeshernervous。I\'venootherwarmplacetoputher,andnomoneyforanewpaper。Poorlass！Therearehardtimesbeforeher,I\'mfearing。
Mrs。PecqsaidthisinalowvoicetoMrs。Minot,whocameinasoftenasshecould,toseewhatherneighborneeded;forbothmotherswereanxious,andsympathydrewthemtooneanother。
Whileonewomantalked,theotherlookedaboutthelittleroom,notwonderingintheleastthatJillfoundithardtobecontentedthere。Itwasveryneat,butsoplainthattherewasnotevenapictureonthewalls,noranornamentuponthemantel,exceptthenecessaryclock,lamp,andmatch—box。Thepaperwasugly,beingadeepbuffwithabrownfigurethatdidlookverylikespiderssprawlingoverit,andmightwellmakeonenervoustolookatdayafterday。
JillwasasleepinthefoldingchairDr。Whitinghadsent,withamattresstomakeitsoft。Thebackcouldberaisedorloweredatwill;butonlyafewincheshadbeengainedasyet,andthethinhairpillowwasallshecouldbear。Shelookedveryprettyasshelay,withdarklashesagainstthefeverishcheeks,lipsapart,andacloudofcurlyblacklocksallaboutthefacepillowedononearm。
SheseemedlikeabrilliantlittleflowerinthatdullplacefortheFrenchbloodinherveinsgaveheracolor,warmth,andgracewhichwereverycharming。Hernaturalloveofbeautyshoweditselfinmanyways:aredribbonhadtiedupherhair,agaybutfadedshawlwasthrownoverthebed,andthegiftssentherwerearrangedwithcareuponthetablebyhersideamongherownfewtoysandtreasures。Therewassomethingpatheticinthischildishattempttobeautifythepoorplace,andMrs。Minot\'seyeswerefullasshelookedatthetiredwoman,whoseonejoyandcomfortlaythereinsuchsadplight。
\"Mydearsoul,cheerup,andwewillhelponeanotherthroughthehardtimes,\"shesaid,withasofthandontheroughone,andalookthatpromisedmuch。
\"PleaseGod,wewill,mem！Withsuchgoodfriends,Inevershouldcomplain。Itrynottodoit,butitbreaksmyhearttoseemylittlelassspoiledforlife,mostlike\";andMrs。Pecqpressedthekindhandwithadespondentsigh。
\"Wewon\'tsay,oreventhink,that,yet。EverythingispossibletoyouthandhealthlikeJaneys。Wemustkeepherhappy,andtimewilldotherest,I\'msure。Letusbeginatonce,andhaveasurpriseforherwhenshewakes。\"
Asshespoke,Mrs。Minotmovedquietlyabouttheroom,pinningthepagesofseveralillustratedpapersagainstthewallatthefootofthebed,andplacingtothebestadvantagetheothercomfortsshehadbrought。
\"Keepupyourheart,neighbor。IhaveanideainmyheadwhichI
thinkwillhelpusall,ifIcancarryitout,\"shesaid,cheerily,asshewent,leavingMrs。PecqtosewonJack\'snewnight—gowns,withswiftfingers,andthegratefulwishthatshemightworkforthesegoodfriendsforever。
Asifthewhisperingandrustlinghaddisturbedher,Jillsoonbegantostir,andslowlyopenedtheeyeswhichhadclosedsowearilyonthedullDecemberafternoon。Thebarewallwithitsbrownspidersnolongerconfrontedher,butthecoloredprintofalittlegirldancingtothetuneherfatherwasplayingonaguitar,whileastatelylady,withsatindress,ruff,andpowder,stoodlookingon,wellpleased。Thequaintfigure,initsbelacedfrock,quiltedpetticoat,andred—heeledshoes,seemedtocometrippingtowardherinsuchalife—likeway,thatshealmostsawthecurlsblowback,heardtherustleoftherichbrocade,andcaughtthesparkleofthelittlemaid\'sbrighteyes。
\"Oh,howpretty！Whosentthem？\"askedJill,eagerly,ashereyeglancedalongthewall,seeingothernewandinterestingthingsbeyond:anelephant—hunt,ashipinfullsail,ahorse—race,andaball—room。
\"Thegoodfairywhonevercomesempty—handed。Lookroundabitandyouwillseemoreprettiesallforyou,mydearie\";andhermotherpointedtoabunchofpurplegrapesinagreenleafplate,aknotofbrightflowerspinnedonthewhitecurtain,andagaylittledoublegownacrossthefootofthebed。
Jillclappedherhands,andwasenjoyinghernewpleasures,whenincameMerryandMollyLoo,withBoo,ofcourse,trottingafterherlikeafatandamiablepuppy。Thenthegoodtimesbegan;thegownwasputon,thefruittasted,andthepictureswerestudiedlikefamousworksofart。
\"It\'sasplendidplantocoverupthathatefulwall。I\'dstickpicturesallroundandhaveagallery。Thatremindsme！Upinthegarretatourhouseisaboxfullofoldfashion—booksmyauntleft。Ioftenlookatthemonrainydays,andtheyareveryfunny。I\'llgothisminuteandgeteveryone。Wecanpinthemup,ormakepaperdolls\";andawayrushedMollyLoo,withthesmallbrotherwaddlingbehind,for,whenhelostsightofher,hewasdesolateindeed。