\"MistressMary,\"andher\"prettymaidsallinarow,\"passedbytotheirplacesinthebackground;\"KingCole\"andhis\"fiddlersthree\"madeagoodlyshow;sodidtheroyalcouple,whofollowedthegreatpiebornebeforethem,withthe\"four—and—twentyblackbirds\"poppingtheirheadsoutinthemostdelightfulway。
Little\"Bo—Peep\"ledawooiiylambandweptoveritslosttail,fornotasignofoneappearedonthepoorthing。\"SimpleSimon\"
followedthepie—man,gloatingoverhiswareswiththedrollestantics。Thelittlewifecametrundlingbyinawheelbarrowandwasnotupset;neitherwastheladywith\"ringsonherfingersandbellsonhertoes,\"asshecanteredalongonarocking—horse。\"BobbyShafto\'s\"yellowhairshonefinelyasheledinthemaidwhomhecamebackfromseatomarry。\"MissMuffet,\"bowlinhand,ranawayfromanimmenseblackspider,whichwaggleditslonglegsinawaysolife—likethatsomeofthechildrenshookintheirlittleshoes。Thebeggarswhocametotownwereoutinfullforce,\"rags,tags,andvelvetgowns,\"quitetruetolife。\"BoyBlue\"rubbedhiseyes,withhaystickinginhishair,andtootedonatinhornasifboundtogetthecowsoutofthecorn。Molly,withalong—handledfrying—pan,madeacapital\"Queen,\"inatucked—upgown,checkedapron,andhighcrown,togood\"KingArthur,\"who,veryproperly,didnotappearafterstealingthebarley—meal,whichmightbeseeninthepantiedupinapudding,likeacannon—ball,readytofry。
ButTobias,Molly\'sblackcat,coveredhimselfwithglorybythespiritwithwhichheactedhispartin,\"Sing,sing,whatshallIsing？
Thecat\'srunawaywiththepudding—bagstring。\"
Firsthewasledacrossthestageonhishindlegs,lookingveryfierceandindignant,withalongtapetrailingbehindhim;and,beingsetfreeatthepropermoment,hegaveoneboundoverthefour—and—twentyblackbirdswhohappenedtobeintheway,anddashedoffasifanenragedcookhadactuallybeenafterhim,straightdownstairstothecoal—bin,wherehesatglaringinthedark,tillthefunwasover。
Whenallthecharactershadfiledinandstoodintwolongrows,musicstruckupandthey\'danced,\"AllthewaytoBoston,\"asimplebutlivelyaffair,whichgaveeachachancetoshowhisorhercostumeastheypranceddownthemiddleandupoutside。
Suchafunnymedleyasitwas,fortherewentfat\"KingCole\"withthemostraggedofthebeggar—maids。\"MistressMary,\"inherprettybluedress,trippedalongwith\"SimpleSimon\"staringabouthimlikeablockhead。Thefineladyleftherhorsetodancewith\"BobbyShafto\"tilleverybellonherslipperstinkleditstongueout。\"Bo—Peep\"andajollyfiddlerskippedgaylyupanddown。
\"MissMuffet\"tookthebigspiderforherpartner,andmadehismanylegsflyaboutinthewildestway。Thelittlewifegotoutofthewheelbarrowtohelp\"BoyBlue\"along,andMolly,withthefrying—panoverhershoulder,ledoffsplendidlywhenitwas\"Grandrightandleft。\"
Buttheoldladyandhergoosewerethebestofall,forthedame\'sshoes—bucklescutthemostastonishingpigeon—wings,andtoseethatmammothbirdwaddledownthemiddlewithitswingshalfopen,itslongneckbridling,anditsyellowlegsinthefirstpositionasitcurtsiedtoitspartner,wasasighttoremember,itwassointenselyfunny。
Themerryoldgentlemanlaughedtillhecried;Mr。Burtonsplithisgloves,heapplaudedsoenthusiastically;whilethechildrenbeatthedustoutofthecarpethoppingupanddown,astheycried:\"Doitagain！\"\"Wewantitallover！\"whenthecurtainwentdownatlastontheflushedandpantingparty,MotherG————bowing,withherhatallawry,andthegoosedoingadoubleshuffleasifitdidnotknowhowtoleaveoff。
Buttheycouldnot\"doitalloveragain,\"foritwasgrowinglate,andthepeoplefeltthattheycertainlyhadreceivedtheirmoney\'sworththatevening。
Soitallendedmerrily,andwhentheguestsdepartedtheboysclearedtheroomlikemagic,andthepromisedsuppertotheactorswasservedinhandsomestyle。JackandJillwereatoneend,Mrs。
Gooseandherbirdattheother,andallbetweenwasacomicalcollectionofmilitaryheroes,fairycharacters,andnurserycelebrities。Allfelttheneedofrefreshmentaftertheirlabors,andsweptoverthetablelikeaflightoflocusts,leavingdevastationbehind。Buttheyhadearnedtheirfun:andmuchinnocentjollityprevailed,whileafewlingeringpapasandmammaswatchedtherevelfromafar,andhadnotthehearttoorderthesenoblebeingshometilleventheFatherofhisCountrydeclared\"thathe\'dhadaperfectlysplendidtime,butcouldn\'tkeephiseyesopenanotherminute,\"andverywiselyretiredtoreplacetheimmortalcockedhatwithanight—cap。
Chapter13JackHasaMystery\"Whatisthematter？Doesyourheadache？\"askedJill,oneeveninginMarch,observingthatJacksatwithhisheadinhishands,anattitudewhich,withhim,meanteitherpainorperplexity。
\"No;butI\'mbothered。Iwantsomemoney,andIdon\'tseehowI
canearnit,\"heanswered,tumblinghishairabout,andfrowningdarklyatthefire。
\"Howmuch？\"andJill\'sreadyhandwenttothepocketwhereherlittlepurselay,forshefeltrichwithseveralpresentslatelymadeher。
\"Twoseventy—five。No,thankyou,Iwon\'tborrow。\"
\"Whatisitfor？\"
\"Can\'ttell。\"
\"Why,Ithoughtyoutoldmeeverything。\"
\"Sorry,butIcan\'tthistime。Don\'tyouworry;Ishallthinkofsomething。\"
\"Couldn\'tyourmotherhelp？\"
\"Don\'twishtoaskher。\"
\"Why！can\'tsheknow？\"
\"Nobodycan。\"
\"Howqueer！Isitascrape,Jack？\"askedJill,lookingascuriousasamagpie。
\"Itislikelytobe,ifIcan\'tgetoutofitthisweek,somehow。\"
\"Well,Idon\'tseehowIcanhelpifI\'mnottoknowanything\";andJillseemedratherhurt。
\"Youcanjuststopaskingquestions,andtellmehowafellowcanearnsomemoney。Thatwouldhelp。I\'vegotonedollar,butImusthavesomemore\";andJacklookedworriedashefingeredthelittlegolddollaronhiswatch—guard。
\"Oh,doyoumeantousethat？\"
\"Yes,Ido;amanmustpayhisdebtsifhesellsallhehastodoit,\"
saidJacksternly。
\"Dearme;itmustbesomethingveryserious。\"AndJilllayquitestillforfiveminutes,thinkingoverallthewaysinwhichJackeverdidearnmoney,forMrs。Minotlikedtohaveherboyswork,andpaidtheminsomewayforalltheydid。
\"Isthereanywoodtosaw？\"sheaskedpresently,beingveryanxioustohelp。
\"Alldone。\"\"Pathstoshovel？\"
\"NOsnow。\"Lawntorake,then？\"
\"Nottimeforthatyet。\"
\"Catalogueofbooks？\"
\"Frankgotthatjob。\"
\"Copythoselettersforyourmother？\"
\"Takemetoolong。MusthavemymoneyFriday,ifpossible。\"
\"Idon\'tseewhatwecando,then。Itistooearlyortoolateforeverything,andyouwon\'tborrow。\"
\"Notofyou。No,norofanyoneelse,ifIcanpossiblyhelpit。I\'vepromisedtodothismyself,andIwill\";andJackwaggedhisheadresolutely。
\"Couldn\'tyoudosomethingwiththeprinting—press？Domesomecards,andthen,perhaps,theothergirlswillwantsome,\"saidJill,asaforlornhope。
\"Justthething！WhatagooseIwasnottothinkofit。I\'llrigtheoldmachineupatonce。\"And,startingfromhisseat,Jackdivedintothebigcloset,draggedoutthelittlepress,andfelltooiling,dusting,andputtingitinorder,likeonerelievedofagreatanxiety。
\"Givemethetypes;I\'llsortthemandsetupmyname,soyoucanbeginassoonasyouareready。YouknowwhatahelpIwaswhenwedidtheprogrammes。I\'malmostsurethegirlswillwantcards,andIknowyourmotherwouldlikesomemoretags,\"saidJill,brisklyrattlingthelettersintothedifferentcompartments,whileJackinkedtherollersandhunteduphisbigapron,whistlingthewhilewithrecoveredspirits。
Adozenneatcardsweresoonprinted,andJillinsistedonpayingsixcentsforthem,asearningwasnotborrowing。AfewoddtagswerefoundanddoneforMamma,whoimmediatelyorderedfourdozenatsixcentsadozen,thoughshewasnottoldwhytherewassuchapressingcallformoney。
Jack\'smonthlyhalf—dollarhadbeenspentthefirstweektwenty—fivecentsforaconcert,tenpaidafineforkeepingabooktoolongfromthelibrary,tenmoretohavehisknifeground,andfiveincandy,forhedearlylovedsweeties,andwasunderbondstoMammanottospendmorethanfivecentsamonthontheseunwholesometemptations。Sheneveraskedtheboyswhattheydidwiththeirmoney,butexpectedthemtokeepaccountinthelittlebooksshegavethem;and,nowandthen,theyshowedtheneatpageswithpardonablepride,thoughsheoftenlaughedatthequeeritems。
AllthateveningJack&Co。workedbusily,forwhenFrankcameinhegood—naturedlyorderedsomepale—pinkcardsforAnnette,andrantothestoretochoosetherightshade,andbuysomepackagesfortheyoungprinteralso。
\"Whatdoyousupposeheisinsuchapuckerfor？\"whisperedJill,asshesetupthenewname,toFrank,whosatcloseby,withoneeyeonhisbookandoneonher。
\"Oh,somenotion。He\'saqueerchap;butIguessitisn\'tmuchofascrape,orIshouldknowit。He\'ssogood—naturedhe\'salwayspromisingtodothingsforpeople,andhastoomuchplucktogiveupwhenhefindshecan\'t。Lethimalone,anditwillallcomeoutsoonenough,\"answeredFrank,wholaughedathisbrother,butlovedhimnonethelessforthetenderheartthatoftengotthebetterofhisyounghead。
ButforonceFrankwasmistaken;themysterydidnotcomeout,andJackworkedlikeabeaverallthatweek,asorderspouredinwhenJillandAnnetteshowedtheirelegantcards;for,aseverybodyknows,ifonegirlhasanewthingalltherestmust,whetheritisabowonthetopofherhead,apeculiarsortofpencil,orthelatestkindofchewing—gum。Littleplaydidthepoorfellowget,foreveryspareminutewasspentatthepress,andnoinvitationcouldtempthimaway,somuchinearnestwasourhonestlittleFranklinaboutpayinghisdebt。Jillhelpedallshecould,andcheeredhislaborswithherencouragement,rememberinghowhestayedathomeforher。
\"Itisrealgoodofyoutolendahand,andI\'meversomuchobliged,\"saidJack,asthelastorderwasstruckoff,andthedrawerofthetype—boxheldapileofshiningfiveandtencentpieces,withtwoorthreequarters。
\"Iloveto;onlyitwouldbenicerifIknewwhatwewereworkingfor,\"shesaiddemurely,asshescatteredtypeforthelasttime;andseeingthatJackwasbothtiredandgrateful,hopedtogetahintofthesecret。
\"Iwanttotellyou,dreadfully;butIcan\'t,becauseI\'vepromised。\"
\"What,never？\"
\"Never！\"andJacklookedasfirmasarock。
\"ThenIshallfindout,forIhaven\'tpromised。\"
\"Youcan\'t。\"
\"SeeifIdon\'t！\"
\"Youaresharp,butyouwon\'tguessthis。It\'satremendoussecret,andnobodywilltellit。\"
\"You\'lltellityourself。Youalwaysdo。\"
\"Iwon\'ttellthis。Itwouldbemean。\"
\"Waitandsee;IcangetanythingoutofyouifItry\";andJilllaughed,knowingherpowerwell,forJackfounditveryhardtokeepasecretfromher。
\"Don\'ttry;pleasedon\'t！Itwouldn\'tberight,andyoudon\'twanttomakemedoadishonorablethingforyoursake,Iknow。\"
JacklookedsodistressedthatJillpromisednottomakehimtell,thoughsheheldherselffreetofindoutinotherways,ifshecould。
Thusrelieved,JacktrudgedofftoschoolonFridaywiththetwodollarsandseventy—fivecentsjinglinginhispocket,thoughthedeargoldcoinhadtobesacrificedtomakeupthesum。Hedidhislessonsbadlythatday,waslateatrecessintheafternoon,and,assoonasschoolwasover,departedinhisrubberboots\"totakeawalk,\"hesaid,thoughtheroadswereinabadstatewithaspringthaw。Nothingwasseenofhimtillaftertea—time,whenhecamelimpingin,verydirtyandtired,butwithareposefulexpression,whichbetrayedthataloadwasoffhismind。Frankwasbusyabouthisownaffairsandpaidlittleattentiontohim,butJillwasontenter—hookstoknowwherehehadbeen,yetdarednotaskthequestion。
\"Merry\'sbrotherwantssomecards。Helikedherssomuchhewishestomakehislady—loveapresent。Here\'sthename\";andJillhelduptheorderfromHarryGrant,whowastobemarriedintheautumn。
\"Mustwaittillnextweek。I\'mtootiredtodoathingto—night,andI
hatethesightofthatoldpress,\"answeredJack,layinghimselfdownupontherugasifeveryjointached。
\"Whatmadeyoutakesuchalongwalk？Youlookastiredasifyou\'dbeentenmiles,\"saidJill,hopingtodiscoverthelengthofthetrip。
\"Hadto。Fourorfivemilesisn\'tmuch,onlymylegbotheredme\";
andJackgavetheailingmemberaslap,asifhehadfounditmuchinhiswaythatday;for,thoughhehadgivenupthecrutcheslongago,herathermissedtheirsupportsometimes。Then,withagreatyawn,hestretchedhimselfouttobaskintheblaze,pillowinghisheadonhisarms。
\"Dearoldthing,helooksallusedup;Iwon\'tplaguehimwithtalking\";andJillbegantosing,assheoftendidinthetwilight。
Bythetimethefirstsongendedagentlesnorewasheard,andJacklayfastasleep,wornoutwiththebusyweekandthewalk,whichhadbeenlongerandharderthananyoneguessed。Jilltookupherknittingandworkedquietlybyfirelight,stillwonderingandguessingwhatthesecretcouldbe;forshehadnotmuchtoamuseher,andlittlethingswereveryinterestingifconnectedwithherfriends。PresentlyJackrolledoverandbegantomutterinhissleep,asheoftendidwhentoowearyforsoundslumber。Jillpaidnoattentiontillheutteredanamewhichmadeherprickupherearsandlistentothehrokensentenceswhichfollowed。Onlyafewwords,butshedroppedherwork,sayingtoherself,\"Idobelieveheistalkingaboutthesecret。NowIshallfindout,andhewilltellmehimself,asIsaidhewould。\"
Muchpleased,sheleanedandlistened,butcouldmakenosenseoftheconfusedbabbleabout\"heavyboots\";\"Allright,oldfellow\";
\"Jerry\'soff\";and\"Theinkistoothick。\"
TheslamofthefrontdoorwokeJack,andhepulledhimselfup,declaringthathebelievedhehadbeenhavinganap。
\"Iwishyou\'dhaveanother,\"saidJill,greatlydisappointedatthelossoftheintelligencesheseemedtobesoneargetting。
\"Flooristoohardfortiredbones。GuessI\'llgotobedandgetrestedupforMonday。I\'veworkedlikefurythisweek,sonextI\'mgoinginforfun\";and,littledreamingwhathardtimeswereinstoreforhim,Jackwentofftoenjoyhiswarmbathandwelcomebed,wherehewassoonsleepingwiththeserenelookofonewhosedreamswerehappy,whoseconsciencewasatrest。
\"Ihaveafewwordstosaytoyoubeforeyougo,\"saidMr。Acton,pausingwithhishandonthebell,Mondayafternoon,whenthehourcamefordismissingschool。
Thebustleofputtingawaybooksandpreparingforasrapidadepartureasproprietyallowed,subsidedsuddenly,andtheboysandgirlssatasstillasmice,whiletheheartsofsuchashadbeenguiltyofanysmallsinsbegantobeatfast。
\"Yourememberthatwehadsometroublelastwinteraboutkeepingtheboysawayfromthesaloon,andthatarulewasmadeforbiddinganypupiltogototownduringrecess？\"beganMr。
Acton,who,beingaconscientiousmanaswellasanexcellentteacher,feltthathewasresponsibleforthechildreninschoolhours,anddidhisbesttoaidparentsinguardingthemfromthefewtemptationswhichbesettheminacountrytown。Acertainattractivelittleshop,whereconfectionery,baseballs,stationery,andpicturepapersweresold,wasafavoriteloafingplaceforsomeoftheboystilltheruleforbiddingitwasmade,becauseintherearoftheshopwasabeerandbilliardsaloon。Awiserule,forthepicturepaperswerenotalwaysofthebestsort;cigarsweretobehad;idlefellowshungaboutthere,andsomeofthelads,whowantedtobethoughtmanly,venturedtopassthegreenbaizedoor\"justtolookon。\"
Amurmuransweredtheteacher\'squestion,andhecontinued,\"Youallknowthattherulewasbrokenseveraltimes,andItoldyouthenextoffenderwouldbepubliclyreprimanded,asprivatepunishmentshadnoeffect。Iamsorrytosaythatthetimehascome,andtheoffenderisaboywhomItrustedentirely。Itgrievesmetodothis,butImustkeepmypromise,andhopetheexamplewillhaveagoodeffect。\"
Mr。Actonpaused,asifhefoundithardtogoon,andtheboyslookedatoneanotherwithinquiringeyes,fortheirteacherseldompunished,andwhenhedid,itwasaverysolemnthing。SeveraloftheseanxiousglancesfelluponJoe,whowasveryredandsatwhittlingapencilasifhedarednotlifthiseyes。
\"He\'sthechap。Won\'thecatchit？\"whisperedGustoFrank,forbothowedhimagrudge。
\"TheboywhobroketherulelastFriday,atafternoonrecess,willcometothedesk,\"saidMr。Actoninhismostimpressivemanner。
IfathunderbolthadfallenthroughtheroofitwouldhardlyhavecausedagreatersurprisethanthesightofJackMinotwalkingslowlydowntheaisle,withawrathfulflashintheeyesheturnedonJoeashepassedhim。
\"Now,Minot,letushavethisoverassoonaspossible,forIdonotlikeitanybetterthanyoudo,andIamsurethereissomemistake。
I\'mtoldyouwenttotheshoponFriday。Isittrue？\"askedMr。
Actonverygently,forhelikedJackandseldomhadtocorrecthiminanyway。
\"Yes,sir\";andJacklookedupasifproudtoshowthathewasnotafraidtotellthetruthasfarashecould。
\"Tobuysomethin？\"
\"No,sir。\"
\"Tomeetsomeone？\"
\"Yes,sir。\"
\"WasitJerryShannon？\"
Noanswer,butJack\'sfistsdoubledupofthemselvesasheshotanotherfieryglanceatJoe,whosefaceburnedasifitscorchedhim。
\"Iamtolditwas;alsothatyouwereseentogointothesaloonwithhim。Didyou？\"andMr。ActonlookedsosurethatitwasamistakethatitcostJackagreatefforttosay,slowly,\"Yes,sir。\"
Quiteathrillpervadedtheschoolatthisconfession,forJerrywasoneofthewildfellowstheboysallshunned,andtohaveanydealingswithhimwasconsideredaverydisgracefulthing。
\"Didyouplay？\"
\"No,sir。Ican\'t。\"
\"Drinkbeer？\"
\"IbelongtotheLodge\";andJackstoodaserectasanylittlesoldierwhoevermarchedunderatemperancebanner,andfoughtforthecausenonearetooyoungnortoooldtohelpalong。
\"Iwassureofthat。Thenwhattookyouthere,myboy？\"
ThequestionwassokindlyputthatJackforgothimselfaninstant,andblurtedout,\"Ionlywenttopayhimsomemoney,sir。\"
\"Ah,howmuch？\"
\"Twoseventy—five,\"mutteredJack,asredasacherryatnotbeingabletokeepasecretbetter。
\"ToomuchforaladlikeyoutoowesuchafellowasJerry。Howcameit？\"AndMr。Actonlookeddisturbed。
Jackopenedhislipstospeak,butshutthemagain,andstoodlookingdownwithalittlequiveraboutthemouththatshowedhowmuchitcosthimtobesilent。
\"DoesanyonebesideJerryknowofthis？\"
\"Oneotherfellow,\"afterapause。
\"Yes,Iunderstand\";andMr。Acton\'seyeglancedatJoewithalookthatseemedtosay,\"Iwishhe\'dheldhistongue。\"
AqueersmileflittedoverJack\'sface,forJoewasnotthe\"otherfellow,\"andknewverylittleaboutit,exceptingwhathehadseenwhenhewassentonanerrandbyMr。ActononFriday。
\"Iwishyouwouldexplainthematter,John,forIamsureitisbetterthanitseems,anditwouldbeveryhardtopunishyouwhenyoudon\'tdeserveit。\"
\"ButIdodeserveit;I\'vebrokentherule,andIoughttobepunished,\"saidJack,asifagoodwhippingwouldbeeasiertobearthanthispubliccross—examination。
\"Andyoucan\'texplain,orevensayyouaresorryorashamed？\"
askedMr。Acton,hopingtosurpriseanotherfactoutoftheboy。
\"No,sir;Ican\'t;I\'mnotashamed;I\'mnotsorry,andI\'ddoitagainto—morrowifIhadto,\"criedJack,losingpatience,andlookingasifhewouldnotbearmuchmore。
Agroanfromtheboysgreetedthisbare—faceddeclaration,andSusyquiteshiveredattheideaofhavingtakentwobitesoutoftheappleofsuchahardeneddesperado。
\"Thinkitovertillto—morrow,andperhapsyouwillchangeyourmind。Rememberthatthisisthelastweekofthemonth,andreportsaregivenoutnextFriday,\"saidMr。Acton,knowinghowmuchtheboypridedhimselfonalwayshavinggoodonestoshowhismother。
PoorJackturnedscarletandbithislipstokeepthemstill,forhehadforgottenthiswhenheplungedintotheaffairwhichwaslikelytocosthimdear。Thenthecolorfadedaway,theboyishfacegrewsteady,andthehonesteyeslookedupathisteacherashesaidveryiow,butallheardhim,theroomwassostill,\"Itisn\'tasbadasitlooks,sir,butIcan\'tsayanymore。Nooneistoblamebutme;andIcouldn\'thelpbreakingtherule,forJerrywasgoingaway,Ihadonlythattime,andI\'dpromisedtopayup,soI
did。\"
Mr。Actonbelievedeverywordhesaid,andregrettedthattheyhadnotbeenabletohaveitoutprivately,buthe,too,mustkeephispromiseandpunishtheoffender,whoeverhewas。
\"Verywell,youwillloseyourrecessforaweek,andthismonth\'sreportwillbethefirstoneinwhichbehaviordoesnotgetthehighestmark。Youmaygo;andIwishitunderstoodthatMasterMinotisnottobetroubledwithquestionstillhechoosestosetthismatterright。\"
Thenthebellrang,thechildrentroopedout,Mr。Actonwentoffwithoutanotherword,andJackwasleftalonetoputuphisbooksandhideafewtearsthatwouldcomebecauseFrankturnedhiseyesawayfromtheimploringlookcastuponhimastheculpritcamedownfromtheplatform,adisgracedboy。
Elderbrothersareapttobealittlehardonyoungerones,soitisnotsurprisingthatFrank,whowasaneminentlyproperboy,wasmuchcutupwhenJackpubliclyconfessedtodealingswithJerry,leavingittobesupposedthattheworsthalfofthestoryremaineduntold。Hefeltithisduty,therefore,tocollarpoorJackwhenhecameout,andtalktohimallthewayhome,likeajudgebentongettingatthetruthbymainforce。Akindwordwouldhavebeenverycomforting,butthescoldingwastoomuchforJack\'stemper,soheturneddoggedandwouldnotsayaword,thoughFrankthreatenednottospeaktohimforaweek。
Attea—timebothboyswereverysilent,onelookinggrim,theotherexcited。Frankstaredsternlyathisbrotheracrossthetable,andnoamountofmarmaladesweetenedorsoftenedthatreproachfullook。
Jackdefiantlycrunchedhistoast,withoccasionalslashesatthebutter,asifhemustventthepent—upemotionswhichhalfdistractedhim。Ofcourse,theirmothersawthatsomethingwasamiss,butdidnotalludetoit,hopingthatthecloudwouldblowoverassomanydidifleftalone。Butthisonedidnot,andwhenbothrefusedcake,thissuresignofunusualperturbationmadeheranxioustoknowthecause。Assoonasteawasover,Jackretiredwithgloomydignitytohisownroom,andFrank,castingawaythepaperhehadbeenpretendingtoread,burstoutwiththewholestory。Mrs。Minotwasasmuchsurprisedashe,butnotangry,because,likemostmothers,shewassurethathersonscouldnotdoanythingverybad。
\"Iwillspeaktohim;myboywon\'trefusetogivemesomeexplanation,\"shesaid,whenFrankhadfreedhismindwithasmuchwarmthasifJackhadbrokenallthetencommandments。
\"Hewill。Youoftencallmeobstinate,butheisaspig—headedasamule;Joeonlyknowswhathesaw,oldtell—tale！andJerryhaslefttown,orI\'dhaveitoutofhim。MakeJackownup,whetherhecanornot。Littledonkey！\"stormedFrank,whohatedrowdiesandcouldnotforgivehisbrotherforbeingseenwithone。
\"Mydear,allboysdofoolishthingssometimes,eventheWisestandbestbehaved,sodon\'tbehardonthepoorchild。Hehasgotintotrouble,I\'venodoubt,butitcannotbeverybad,andheearnedthemoneytopayforhisprank,whateveritwas。\"
Mrs。Minotlefttheroomasshespoke,andFrankcooleddownasifherwordshadbeenashower—bath,forherememberedhisowncostlyescapade,andhowkindlybothhismotherandJackhadstoodbyhimonthattryingoccasion。So,feelingratherremorseful,hewentofftotalkitoverwithGus,leavingJillinafeverofcuriosity,forMerryandMollyhaddroppedinontheirwayhometobreaktheblowtoher,andFrankdeclinedtodiscussitwithher,aftermildlystatingthatJackwas\"aninny,\"inhisopinion。
\"Well,Iknowonething,\"saidJillconfidentiallytoSnow—ball,whentheywereleftalonetogether,\"ifeveryoneelseisscoldinghimIwon\'tsayaword。It\'ssomeantocrowoverpeoplewhentheyaredown,andI\'msurehehasn\'tdoneanythingtobeashamedof,thoughhewon\'ttell。\"
Snow—ballseemedtoagreetothis,forhewentandsatdownbyJack\'sslipperswaitingforhimonthehearth,andJillthoughtthataverytouchingproofofaffectionatefidelitytothelittlemasterwhoruledthemboth。
Whenhecame,itwasevidentthathehadfoundithardertorefusehismotherthanalltherest。Butshetrustedhiminspiteofappearances,andthatwassuchacomfort！ForpoorJack\'sheartwasveryfull,andhelongedtotellthewholestory,buthewouldnotbreakhispromise,andsokeptsilencebravely。Jillaskednoquestions,affectingtobeanxiousforthegamestheyalwaysplayedtogetherintheevening,butwhiletheyplayed,thoughthelipsweresealed,thebrighteyessaidasplainlyaswords,\"Itrustyou,\"andJackwasverygrateful。
Itwaswellhehadsomethingtocheerhimupathome,forhegotlittlepeaceatschool。HeborethegravelooksofMr。Actonmeekly,tooktheboys\'jokesgood—naturedly,andwithstoodtheartfulteasingofthegirlswithpatientsilence。Butitwasveryhardforthesocial,affectionatefellowtobearthegeneraldistrust,forhehadbeensuchafavoritehefeltthechangekeenly。