Butthethingthattriedhimmostwastheknowledgethathisreportwouldnotbewhatitusuallywas。Itwasalwaysahappymomentwhenheshowedittohismother,andsawhereyebrightenasitfellonthe99ormoo,forshecaredmoreforgoodbehaviorthanforperfectlessons。Mr。ActononcesaidthatFrankMinot\'smoralinfluenceintheschoolwasunusual,andJackneverforgotherprideanddelightasshetoldthemwhatFrankhimselfhadnotknowntillthen。ItwasJack\'sambitiontohavethesamesaidofhim,forhewasnotmuchofascholar,andhehadtriedhardsincehewentbacktoschooltogetgoodrecordsinthatrespectatleast。
Nowherewasadreadfuldownfall,tardymarks,badcompany,brokenrules,andsomethingtoowrongtotell,apparently。
\'Well,Ideserveagoodreport,andthat\'sacomfort,thoughnobodybelievesit,\"hesaidtohimself,tryingtokeepuphisspirits,astheslowweekwentby,andnowordfromhimhadclearedupthemystery。
Chapter14AndJillFindsItOutJillworriedaboutitmorethanhedid,forshewasafaithfullittlefriend,anditwasagreattrialtohaveJackevensuspectedofdoinganythingwrong。Schoolisachild\'sworldwhileheisthere,anditssmallaffairsareveryimportanttohim,soJillfeltthattheonethingtobedonewastoclearawaythecloudaboutherdearboy,andrestorehimtopublicfavor。
\"EdwillbehereSaturdaynightandmaybehewillfindout,forJacktellshimeverything。Idohatetohavehimhectoredso,forI
knowheis,thoughhe\'stooproudtocomplain,\"shesaid,onThursdayevening,whenFranktoldhersomejokeplayeduponhisbrotherthatday。
\"Ilethimalone,butIseethatheisn\'tbadgeredtoomuch。That\'sallIcando。IfEdhadonlycomehomelastSaturdayitmighthavedonesomegood,butnowitwillbetoolate;forthereportsaregivenoutto—morrow,youknow,\"answeredFrank,feelingalittlejealousofEd\'sinfluenceoverJack,thoughhisownwouldhavebeenasgreatifhehadbeenasgentle。
\"HasJerrycomeback？\"askedJill,whokeptallherquestionsforFrank,becausesheseldomalludedtothetendersubjectwhenwithJack。
\"No,he\'soffforthesummer。Gotaplacesomewhere。Hopehe\'llstaythereandletBobalone。\"
\"WhereisBobnow？Idon\'thearmuchabouthimlately,\"saidJill,whowasconstantlyonthelookoutfor\"theotherfellow,\"sinceitwasnotJoe。
\"Oh,hewenttoCaptainSkinner\'sthefirstofMarch,choresround,andgoestoschoolupthere。Captainisstrict,andwon\'tletBobcometotown,exceptSundays;buthedon\'tminditmuch,forhelikeshorses,hasnicegrub,andtheHillfellowsaregoodchapsforhimtobewith。Sohe\'sallright,ifheonlybehaves。\"
\"HowfarisittoCaptainSkinner\'s？\"askedJillsuddenly,havinglistened,withhersharpeyesonFrank,ashetinkeredawayathismodel,sincehewasforbiddenallotherindulgenceinhisbelovedpastime。
\"It\'sfourmilestoHillDistrict,buttheCaptainlivesthissideoftheschool—house。Aboutthreefromhere,Ishouldsay。\"
\"Howlongwouldittakeaboytowalkupthere？\"wentonthequestioner,withanewideainherhead。
\"Dependsonhowmuchofawalkistheis。\"
\"Supposehewaslameanditwassloshy,andhemadeacallandcameback。Howlongwouldthattake？\"askedJillimpatiently。
\"Well,inthatcase,Ishouldsaytwoorthreehours。Butit\'simpossibletotellexactly,unlessyouknowhowlamethefellowwas,andhowlongacallhemade,\"saidFrank,wholikedtobeaccurate。
\"Jackcouldn\'tdoitinless,couldhe？\"
\"Heusedtorunupthathillyroadforabreather,andthinknothingofit。Itwouldbealongjobforhimnow,poorlittlechap,forhislegoftentroubleshim,thoughhehatestoownit。\"
Jilllaybackandlaughed,ahappylittlelaugh,asifshewaspleasedaboutsomething,andFranklookedoverhisshouldertoaskquestionsinhisturn。
\"Whatareyoulaughingat？\"
\"Can\'ttell。\"
\"WhydoyouwanttoknowaboutHillDistrict？Areyougoingthere？\"
\"WishIcould！I\'dsoonhaveitoutofhim。\"
\"Who？\"
\"Nevermind。Pleasepushupmytable。Imustwritealetter,andI
wantyoutopostitformeto—night,andneversayawordtillIgiveyouleave。
\"Oh,nowyouaregoingtohavesecretsandbemysterious,andgetintoamess,areyou？\"andFranklookeddownatherwithasuspiciousair,thoughhewasintenselycurioustoknowwhatshewasabout。
\"GoawaytillI\'mdone。Youwillhavetoseetheoutside,butyoucan\'tknowtheinsidetilltheanswercomes\";andproppingherselfup,Jillwrotethefollowingnote,withsomehesitationatthebeginningandend,forshedidnotknowthegentlemanshewasaddressing,exceptbysight,anditwasratherawkward:
\"RobertWalker\"DearSir,IwanttoaskifJackMinotcametoseeyoulastFridayafternoon。HegotintotroublebeingseenwithJerryShannon。Hepaidhimsomemoney。Jackwon\'ttell,andMr。Actontalkedtohimaboutitbeforealltheschool。Wefeelbad,becausewethinkJackdidnotdowrong。Idon\'tknowasyouhaveanythingtodowithit,butIthoughtI\'dask。Pleaseanswerquick。Respectfullyyours,JanePecq\"
Tomakesurethatherdespatchwasnottamperedwith,Jillputagreatsplashofredsealing—waxonit,whichgaveitaveryofficiallook,andmuchimpressedBobwhenhereceivedit。
\"There！Goandpostit,anddon\'tletanyoneseeorknowaboutit,\"
shesaid,handingitovertoFrank,wholefthisworkwithunusualalacritytodohererrand。Whenhiseyefellontheaddress,helaughed,andsaidinateasingway,\"AreyouandBobsuchgoodfriendsthatyoucorrespond？WhatwillJacksay？\"
\"Don\'tknow,anddon\'tcare！Begood,now,andlet\'shavealittlesecretaswellasotherfolks。I\'lltellyouallaboutitwhenheanswers,\"saidJillinhermostcoaxingtone。
\"Supposehedoesn\'t？\"
\"ThenIshallsendyouuptoseehim。Imustknowsomething,andIwanttodoitmyself,ifIcan。\"
\"Lookhere;whatareyouafter？Idobelieveyouthink————\"Frankgotnofarther,forJillgavealittlescream,andstoppedhimbycryingeagerly,\"Don\'tsayitoutloud！Ireallydobelieveitmaybe,andI\'mgoingtofindout。\"
\"Whatmadeyouthinkofhim？\"andFranklookedthoughtfullyattheletter,asifturningcarefullyoverinhismindtheideathatJill\'squickwitshadjumpedat。
\"ComehereandI\'lltellyou。\"
Holdinghimbyonebutton,shewhisperedsomethinginhisearthatmadehimexclaim,withalookattherug,\"No！didhe？IdeclareIshouldn\'twonder！Itwouldbejustlikethedearoldblunder—head。\"
\"IneverthoughtofittillyoutoldmewhereBobwas,andthenitallsortofburstuponmeinoneminute！\"criedJill,wavingherarmsabouttoexpresstheintellectualexplosionwhichhadthrownlightuponthemystery,likesky—rocketsinadarknight。
\"Youareasbrightasabutton。Notimetolose;I\'moff\";andoffhewas,splashingthroughthemudtoposttheletter,onthebackofwhichheadded,tomakethethingsure,\"Hurryup。
F。M。\"
Bothfeltratherguiltynextday,butenjoyedthemselvesverymuchnevertheless,andkeptchucklingovertheminetheyweremakingunderJack\'sunconsciousfeet。Theyhardlyexpectedanansweratnoon,astheHillpeoplewerenotveryeagerfortheirmail,butatnightJillwassureofaletter,andtohergreatdelightitcame。Jackbroughtithimself,whichaddedtothefun,andwhilesheeagerlyreadithesatcalmlyporingoverthelatestnumberofhisownprivateandparticular\"Youth\'sCompanion。\"
Bobwasnota\"completeletter—writer\"byanymeans,andwithgreatlaborandmuchinkhadproducedthefollowingbriefbuthighlysatisfactoryepistle。Notknowinghowtoaddresshisfaircorrespondentheletitalone,andwentatoncetothepointinthefrankestpossibleway:
\"JackdidcomeupFriday。Sorryhegotintoamess。Itwasrealkindofhim,andIshallpayhimbacksoon。JackpaidJerryformeandImadehimpromisenottotell。Jerrysaidhe\'dcomehereandmakearowifIdidn\'tcashup。IwasafraidI\'dlosetheplaceifhedid,fortheCapt。isawfulstrict。IfJackdon\'ttellnow,Iwill。Iain\'tmean。Gladyouwrote。
R。O。W。\"
\"Hurrah！\"criedJill,wavingtheletteroverherheadingreattriumph。\"Calleverybodyandreaditout,\"sheadded,asFranksnatchedit,andranforhismother,seeingataglancethatthenewswasgood。Jillwassoafraidsheshouldtellbeforetheotherscamethatsheburstoutsinging\"PrettyBobbyShafto\"atthetopofhervoice,toJack\'sgreatdisgust,forheconsideredthesongverypersonal,ashewa。sratherfondof\"combingdownhisyellowhair,\"andJilloftenplaguedhimbysingingitwhenhecameinwiththegoldenquirisverysmoothandnicetohidethescaronhisforehead。
InaboutfiveminutesthedoorflewopenandincameMamma,makingstraightforbewilderedJack,whothoughtthefamilyhadgonecrazywhenhisparentcaughthiminherarms,sayingtenderly,\"Mygood,generousboy！Iknewhewasrightallthetime！\"whileFrankworkedhishandupanddownlikeapump—handle,exclaimingheartily,\"You\'reatrump,sir,andI\'mproudofyou！\"Jillmeantimecallingout,inwilddelight,\"Itoldyouso！Itoldyouso！Ididfindout;ha,ha,Idid！\"
\"Come,Isay！What\'sthematter？I\'mallright。Don\'tsqueezethebreathoutofme,please,\"expostulatedJack,lookingsostartledandinnocent,ashestruggledfeebly,thattheyalllaughed,andthisplaintiveprotestcausedhimtobereleased。Butthenextproceedingdidnotenlightenhimmuch,forFrankkeptwavingaveryinkypaperbeforehimandorderinghimtoreadit,whileMammamadeachargeatJill,asifitwasabsolutelynecessarytohugsomebody。
\"Hullo！\"saidJack,whenhegottheletterintohisownhandandreadit。\"NowwhoputBobuptothis？Nobodyhadanybusinesstointerfere——butit\'smightygoodofhim,anyway,\"headded,astheanxiouslinesinhisroundfacesmoothedthemselvesaway,whileasmileofrelieftoldhowhardithadbeenforhimtokeephisword。
\"Idid！\"criedJill,clappingherhands,andlookingsohappythathecouldnothavescoldedherifhehadwantedto。
\"Whotoldyouhewasinthescrape？\"demandedJack,inahurrytoknowallaboutitnowthesealwastakenoffhisownlips。
\"Youdid\";andJill\'sfacetwinkledwithnaughtysatisfaction,forthiswasthebestfunofall。
\"Ididn\'t！When？Where？It\'sajoke！\"
\"Youdid,\"criedJill,pointingtotherug。\"Youwenttosleepthereafterthelongwalk,andtalkedinyoursleepabout\'Bob\'and\'Allright,oldboy,\'andeversomuchgibberish。Ididn\'tthinkaboutitthen,butwhenIheardthatBobwasupthereIthoughtmaybeheknewsomethingaboutit,andlastnightIwroteandaskedhim,andthat\'stheanswer,andnowitisallright,andyouarethebestboythateverwas,andI\'msoglad！\"
HereJillpaused,alloutofbreath,andFranksaid,withanapprovingpatonthehead,\"Itwon\'tdotohavesuchasharpyoungpersonroundifwearegoingtohavesecrets。You\'dmakeagooddetective,miss。\"
\"Catchmetakingnapsbeforepeopleagain\";andJacklookedrathercrestfallenthathisownwordshadset\"FineEar\"onthetrack。\"Nevermind,Ididn\'tmeantotell,thoughIjustachedtodoitallthetime,soIhaven\'tbrokenmyword。I\'mgladyouallknow,butyouneedn\'tletitgetout,forBobisagoodfellow,anditmightmaketroubleforhim,\"addedJack,anxiouslesthisgainshouldbetheother\'sloss。
\"IshalltellMr。Actonmyself,andtheCaptain,also,forI\'mnotgoingtohavemysonsuspectedofwrong—doingwhenhehasonlytriedtohelpafriend,andborneenoughforhissake,\"saidMamma,muchexcitedbythisdiscoveryofgenerousfidelityinherboy;thoughwhenonecametolookatitcalmly,onesawthatitmighthavebeendoneinawiserway。
\"Now,please,don\'tmakeafussaboutit;thatwouldbemostasbadashavingeveryonedownonme。Icanstandyourpraisingme,butIwon\'tbepattedontheheadbyanybodyelse\";andJackassumedamanlyair,thoughhisfacewasfullofgenuineboyishpleasureatbeingsetrightintheeyesofthoseheloved。
\"I\'llbediscreet,dear,butyouoweittoyourself,aswellasBob,tohavethetruthknown。Bothhavebehavedwell,andnoharmwillcometohim,Iamsure。I\'llseetothatmyself,\"saidMrs。Minot,inatonethatsetJack\'smindatrestonthatpoint。
\"Nowdotellallaboutit,\"criedJill,whowaspiningtoknowthewholestory,andfeltasifshehadearnedtherighttohearit。
\"Oh,itwasn\'tmuch。WepromisedEdtostandbyBob,soIdidaswellasIknewhow\";andJackseemedtothinkthatwasaboutalltherewastosay。
\"Ineversawsuchafellowforkeepingapromise！Yousticktoitthroughthickandthin,nomatterhowsillyorharditis。Youremember,mother,lastsummer,howyoutoldhimnottogoinaboatandhepromised,thedaywewentonthepicnic。Werodeup,butthehorseranoffhome,sowehadtocomebackbywayoftheriver,allbutJack,andhewalkedeverystepoffivemilesbecausehewouldn\'tgonearaboat,thoughMr。Burtonwastheretotakecareofhim。Icallthatratheroverdoingthematter\";andFranklookedasifhethoughtmoderationeveninvirtueagoodthing。
\"AndIcallitafinesampleofentireobedience。Heobeyedorders,andthatiswhatweallmustdo,withoutalwaysseeingwhy,ordaringtouseourownjudgment。ItisagreatsafeguardtoJack,andaverygreatcomforttome;forIknowthatifhepromiseshewillkeephisword,nomatterwhatitcostshim,\"saidMammawarmly,asshetumbledupthequirlswithanirrepressiblecaress,rememberinghowtheboycamewearilyinafteralltheothers,withoutseemingforamomenttothinkthathecouldhavedoneanythingelse。
\"LikeCasabianca！\"criedJill,muchimpressed,forobediencewasherhardesttrial。
\"Ithinkhewasafooltoburnup,\"saidFrank,boundnottogivein。
\"Idon\'t。It\'sasplendidpiece,andeveryonelikestospeakit,anditwastrue,anditwouldn\'tbeinallthebooksifhewasafool。
Grownpeopleknowwhatisgood,\"declaredJill,wholikedheroicactions,andwasalwayshopingforachancetodistinguishherselfinthatway。
\"Youadmire\'TheChargeoftheLightBrigade,\'andglowalloverasyouthunderitout。Yettheywentgallantlytotheirdeathratherthandisobeyorders。Amistake,perhaps,butitmakesusthrilltohearofit;andthesamespiritkeepsmyJacktrueassteelwhenoncehiswordispassed,orhethinksitishisduty。Don\'tbelaughedoutofit,myson,forfaithfulnessinlittlethingsfitsoneforheroismwhenthegreattrialscome。One\'sconsciencecanhardlybetootenderwhenhonorandhonestyareconcerned。\"
\"Youareright,mother,andIamwrong。Ibegyourpardon,Jack,andyousha\'n\'tgetaheadofmenexttime。\"
Frankmadehismotheralittlebow,gavehisbrotherashakeofthehand,andnoddedtoJill,asifanxioustoshowthathewasnottooproudtoownupwhenhemadeamistake。
\"Pleasetellon,Jack。Thisisverynice,butIdowanttoknowallabouttheother,\"saidJill,afterashortpause。
\"Letmesee。Oh,IsawBobatchurch,andhelookedratherblue;
so,afterSundaySchool,Iaskedwhatthematterwas。HesaidJerrybotheredhimforsomemoneyhelenthimatdifferenttimeswhentheywereloafingroundtogether,beforewetookhimup。Hewouldn\'tgetanywagesforsometime。TheCaptainkeepshimshortonpurpose,Iguess,andwon\'tlethimcomedowntownexceptonSundays。Hedidn\'twantanyonetoknowaboutit,forfearhe\'dlosehisplace。SoIpromisedIwouldn\'ttell。ThenIwasafraidJerrywouldgoandmakeafuss,andBobwouldrunoff,ordosomethingdesperate,beingworried,andIsaidI\'dpayitforhim,ifIcould。Sohewenthomeprettyjolly,andIscratched\'roundforthemoney。Gotit,too,andwasn\'tIglad？\"
Jackpausedtorubhishands,andFranksaid,withmorethanusualrespect,\"Couldn\'tyougetholdofJerryinanyotherplace,andoutofschooltime？Thatdidthemischief,thankstoJoe。Ithrashedhim,Jill——didImentionit？\"
\"Icouldn\'tgetallmymoneytillFridaymorning,andIknewJerrywasoffatnight。Ilookedforhimbeforeschool,andatnoon,butcouldn\'tfindhim,soafternoonrecesswasmylastchance。IwasboundtodoitandIdidn\'tmeantobreaktherule,butJerrywasjustgoingintotheshop,soIpeltedafterhim,andasitwasprivatebusinesswewenttothebilliard—room。IdeclareIneverwassorelievedaswhenIhandedoverthatmoney,andmadehimsayitwasallright,andhewouldn\'tgonearBob。He\'soff,somymindiseasy,andBobwillbesogratefulIcankeephimsteady,perhaps。
Thatwillbeworthtwoseventy—five,Ithink,\"saidJackheartily。
\"Youshouldhavecometome,\"beganFrank。
\"Andgotlaughedat——no,thankyou,\"interruptedJack,recollectingseveralphilanthropiclittleenterpriseswhichwerenippedinthebudforwantofco—operation。
\"Tome,then,\"saidhismother。\"Itwouldhavesavedsomuchtrouble。\"
\"Ithoughtofit,butBobdidn\'twantthebigfellowstoknowforfearthey\'dbedownonhim,soIthoughthemightnotlikemetotellgrownpeople。Idon\'tmindthefussnow,andBobisaskindashecanbe。Wantedtogivemehisbigknife,butIwouldn\'ttakeit。
I\'dratherhavethis,\"andJackputtheletterinhispocketwithaslapoutside,asifitwarmedthecocklesofhishearttohaveitthere。
\"Well,itseemsratherlikeatempestinateapot,nowitisallover,butIdoadmireyourpluck,littleboy,inholdingoutsowellwheneveryonewasscoldingatyou,andyouintherightallthetime,\"
saidFrank,gladtopraise,nowthathehonestlycould,afterhiswholesalecondemnation。
\"Thatiswhatpulledmethrough,Isuppose。IusedtothinkifIhaddoneanythingwrong,thatIcouldn\'tstandthesnubbingaday。I
shouldhavetoldrightoff,andhaditover。Now,IguessI\'llhaveagoodreportifyoudotellMr。Acton,\"saidJack,lookingathismothersowistfully,thatsheresolvedtoslipawaythatveryevening,andmakesurethatthethingwasdone。
\"Thatwillmakeyouhappierthananythingelse,won\'tit？\"askedJill,eagertohavehimrewardedafterhistrials。
\"There\'sonethingIlikebetter,thoughI\'dbeverysorrytolosemyreport。It\'sthefunoftellingEdItriedtodoashewantedusto,andseeinghowpleasedhe\'llbe,\"addedJack,ratherbashfully,fortheboyslaughedathimsometimesforhisloveofthisfriend。
\"Iknowhewon\'tbeanyhappieraboutitthansomeoneelse,whostoodbyyouallthrough,andsetherbrightwitstoworktillthetroublewasallclearedaway,\"saidMrs。Minot,lookingatJill\'scontentedface,asshelaysmilingonthemall。
Jackunderstood,and,hoppingacrosstheroom,gaveboththethinhandsaheartyshake;then,notfindinganywordsquitecordialenoughinwhichtothankthisfaithfullittlesister,hestoopeddownandkissedhergratefully。
Chapter15SaintLucySaturdaywasabusyandahappytimetoJack,forinthemorningMr。Actoncametoseehim,havingheardthestoryovernight,andpromisedtokeepBob\'ssecretwhilegivingJackanacquittalaspublicasthereprimandhadbeen。ThenheaskedforthereportwhichJackhadbravelyreceivedthedaybeforeandputawaywithoutshowingtoanybody。
\"Thereisonemistakeherewhichwemustrectify,\"saidMr。
Acton,ashecrossedoutthelowfiguresundertheword\"Behavior,\"andputthemuch—desired100there。
\"ButIdidbreaktherule,sir,\"saidJack,thoughhisfaceglowedwithpleasure,forMammawaslookingon。
\"IoverlookthatasIshouldyourbreakingintomyhouseifyousawitwasonfire。Yourantosaveafriend,andIwishIcouldtellthosefellowswhyyouwerethere。Itwoulddothemgood。Iamnotgoingtopraiseyou,John,butIdidbelieveyouinspiteofappearances,andIamgladtohaveforapupilaboywholoveshisneighborbetterthanhimself。\"
Then,havingshakenhandsheartily,Mr。Actonwentaway,andJackflewofftohaverejoicingswithJill,whosatuponhersofa,withoutknowingit,soeagerwasshetohearallaboutthecall。
IntheafternoonJackdrovehismothertotheCaptain\'s,confidingtoheronthewaywhatahardtimehehadwhenhewentbefore,andhownothingbutthethoughtofcheeringBobkepthimupwhenheslippedandhurthisknee,andhisbootsprungaleak,andthewindcameupverycold,andthehillseemedanendlessmountainofmudandsnow。
Mrs。MinothadsuchagentlewayofputtingthingsthatshewouldhavewonoveramuchhardermanthanthestrictoldCaptain,whoheardthestorywithinterest,andwasmuchpleasedwiththeboys\'
effortstokeepBobstraight。ThatyoungpersondodgedawayintothebarnwithJack,andonlyappearedatthelastminutetoshoveabagofchestnutsintothechaise。Buthegotafewkindwordsthatdidhimgood,fromMrs。MinotandtheCaptain,andfromthatdayfelthimselfunderbondstobehavewellifhewouldkeeptheirconfidence。
\"IshallgiveJillthenuts;andIwishIhadsomethingshewantedvery,verymuch,forIdothinksheoughttoberewardedforgettingmeoutofthemess,\"saidJack,asthey\'drovehappilyhomeagain。
\"Ihopetohavesomethinginadayortwothatwilldelightherverymuch。Iwillsaynomorenow,butkeepmylittlesecretandletitbeasurprisetoallbyandby,\"answeredhismother,lookingasifshehadnotmuchdoubtaboutthematter。
\"Thatwillbejolly。Youarewelcometoyoursecret,Mamma。I\'vehadenoughofthemforonewhile\";andJackshruggedhisbroadshouldersasifaburdenhadbeentakenoff。
IntheeveningEdcame,andJackwasquitesatisfiedwhenhesawhowpleasedhisfriendwasatwhathehaddone。
\"Inevermeantyoushouldtakesomuchtrouble,onlybekindtoBob,\"saidEd,whodidnotknowhowstronghisinfluencewas,norwhatasweetexampleofquietwell—doinghisownlifewastoallhismates。
\"Iwishedtobereallyuseful;notjusttotalkaboutitanddonothing。Thatisn\'tyourway,andIwanttobelikeyou,\"answeredJack,withsuchaffectionatesinceritythatEdcouldnothelpbelievinghim,thoughhemodestlydeclinedthecomplimentbysaying,ashebegantoplaysoftly,\"BetterthanIam,Ihope。Idon\'tamounttomuch。\"
\"Yes,youdo！andifanyonesaysyoudon\'tI\'llshakehim。Ican\'ttellwhatitis,onlyyoualwayslooksohappyandcontented——sortofsweetandshiny,\"saidJack,ashestrokedthesmoothbrownhead,ratheratalosstodescribetheunusuallyfreshandsunnyexpressionofEd\'sface,whichwasalwayscheerful,yethadacertainthoughtfulnessthatmadeitveryattractivetobothyoungandold。
\"Soapmakeshimshiny;Ineversawsuchafellowtowashandbrush,\"putinFrank,ashecameupwithoneofthepiecesofmusicheandEdwerefondofpractisingtogether。
\"Idon\'tmeanthat！\"saidJackindignantly。\"Iwashandbrushtillyoucallmeadandy,butIdon\'thavethesamelook——itseemstocomefromtheinside,somehow,asifhewasalwaysjollyandcleanandgoodinhismind,youknow。\"
\"Bornso,\"saidFrank,rumblingawayinthebasswithapairofhandsthatwouldhavebeenthebetterforsomeoftheabove—
mentionedsoap,forhedidnotlovetodomuchinthewashingandbrushingline。
\"Isupposethat\'sit。Well,Ilikeit,andIshallkeepontrying,forbeinglovedbyeveryoneisaboutthenicestthingintheworld。Isn\'tit,Ed？\"askedJack,withagentletweakoftheearasheputaquestionwhichheknewwouldgetnoanswer,forEdwassomodesthecouldnotseewhereinhedifferedfromotherboys,norbelievethatthesunshinehesawinotherfaceswasonlythereflectionfromhisown。
SundayeveningMrs。Minotsatbythefire,planninghowsheshouldtellsomegoodnewsshehadbeensavingupallday。Mrs。
Pecqknewit,andseemedsodelightedthatshewentaboutsmilingasifshedidnotknowwhattroublemeant,andcouldnotdoenoughforthefamily。Shewasdownstairsnow,seeingthattheclotheswereproperlypreparedforthewash,sotherewasnooneintheBirdRoombutMammaandthechildren。FrankwasreadingupallhecouldfindaboutsomeBiblicalheromentionedintheday\'ssermon;Jilllaywhereshehadlainfornearlyfourlongmonths,andthoughherfacewaspaleandthinwiththeconfinement,therewasanexpressiononitnowsweetereventhanhealth。Jacksatontherugbesideher,lookingatawhitecarnationthroughthemagnifyingglass,whileshewasenjoyingtheperfumeofaredoneasshetalkedtohim。
\"Ifyoulookatthewhitepetalsyou\'llseethattheysparklelikemarble,andgowindingalongwaydowntothemiddleoftheflowerwhereitgrowssortofrosy;andinamongthesmall,curlyleaves,likefringedcurtains,youcanseethelittlegreenfairysittingallalone。Yourmothershowedmethat,andIthinkitisverypretty。Icallita\'fairy,\'butitisreallywheretheseedsarehiddenandthesweetsmellcomesfrom。\"
Jillspokesoftlylestsheshoulddisturbtheothers,and,assheturnedtopushupherpillow,shesawMrs。Minotlookingatherwithasmileshedidnotunderstand。
\"Didyouspeak,\'m？\"sheasked,smilingbackagain,withoutintheleastknowingwhy。
\"No,dear。Iwaslisteningandthinkingwhataprettylittlestoryonecouldmakeoutofyourfairylivingalonedownthere,andonlyknownbyherperfume。\"
\"Tellit,Mamma。Itistimeforourstory,andthatwouldbeaniceone,Iguess,\"saidJack,whowasasfondofstoriesaswhenhesatinhismother\'slapandchuckledovertheheroofthebeanstalk。
\'Wedon\'thavefairytalesonSunday,youknow,\"beganJillregretfully。
\"Callitaparable,andhaveamoraltoit,thenitwillbeallright,\"
putinFrank,asheshuthisbigbook,havingfoundwhathewanted。
\"Ilikestoriesaboutsaints,andthegoodandwonderfulthingstheydid,\"saidJill,whoenjoyedthewiseandinterestingbitsMrs。
Minotoftenfoundforheringrown—upbooks,forJillhadthoughtfultimes,andaskedquestionswhichshowedthatshewasgrowingfastinmindifnotinbody。
\"Thisisatruestory;butIwilldisguiseitalittle,andcallit\'TheMiracleofSaintLucy,\"beganMrs。Minot,seeingawaytotellhergoodnewsandamusethechildrenlikewise。
Frankretiredtotheeasy—chair,thathemightsleepifthetaleshouldprovetoochildishforhim。Jillsettledherselfamonghercushions,andJacklayflatupontherug,withhisfeetup,sothathecouldadmirehisredslippersandresthisknee,whichached。
\"Onceuponatimetherewasaqueenwhohadtwoprinces。\"
\"Wasn\'tthereaprincess？\"askedJack,interestedatonce。
\"No;anditwasagreatsorrowtothequeenthatshehadnolittledaughter,forthesonsweregrowingup,andshewasoftenverylonely。
\"LikeSnowdrop\'smother,\"whisperedJill。
\"Now,don\'tkeepinterrupting,children,orwenevershallgeton,\"
saidFrank,moreanxioustohearabouttheboysthatwerethanthegirlthatwasnot。
\"Oneday,whentheprinceswereout——ahem！we\'llsayhunting——theyfoundalittledamsellyingonthesnow,halfdeadwithcold,theythought。Shewasthechildofapoorwomanwholivedintheforest——awildlittlething,alwaysdancingandsingingabout;ashardtocatchasasquirrel,andsofearlessshewouldclimbthehighesttrees,leapbroadbrooks,orjumpoffthesteeprockstoshowhercourage。Theboyscarriedherhometothepalace,andthequeenwasgladtohaveher。Shehadfallenandhurtherself,soshelayinbedweekafterweek,withhermothertotakecareofher——\"