Merrygaveadisdainfullittlesniffatthesavoryperfumeofhamwhichsalutedthem,andpausedwithherhandonthegate,asifshefounditpleasanterouttherethaninthehouse。Ralphseemedtoagreewithher,for,leaningonthegate,helingeredtosay,withrealsympathyinhistoneandsomethingelseinhisface,\"Yes,I
should;soyouwriteandtellmeallaboutit。Ididn\'tknowyouhadanyworries,foryoualwaysseemedlikeoneofthehappiestpeopleintheworld,withsomanytopetandcareforyou,andplentyofmoney,andnothingveryhardorhatefultodo。You\'dthinkyouwerewelloffifyouknewasmuchaboutpovertyandworkandnevergettingwhatyouwant,asIdo。\"
\"Youbearyourworriessowellthatnobodyknowsyouhavethem。
Ioughtnottocomplain,andIwon\'t,forIdohaveallIneed。I\'msogladyouaregoingtogetwhatyouwantatlast\";andMerryheldoutherhandtosaygood—night,withsomuchpleasureinherfacethatRalphcouldnotmakeuphismindtogojustyet。
\"IshallhavetoscratchroundinalivelywaybeforeIdogetit,forDavidsaysafellowcan\'tliveonlessthanfourorfivehundredayear,evenlivingaspoorartistshaveto,ingarretsandonCrusts。I
don\'tmindaslongasGrandmaisallright。Sheisawayto—night,orIshouldnotbehere,\"headded,asifsomeexcusewasnecessary。
Merryneedednohint,forhertenderheartwastouchedbythevisionofherfriendinagarret,andshesuddenlyrejoicedthattherewashamandeggsforsupper,sothathemightbewellfedonce,atleast,beforehewentawaytofeedonartisticcrusts。
\"Beinghere,comeinandspendtheevening。Theboyswillliketohearthenews,andsowillfather。Do,now。\"
Itwasimpossibletorefusetheinvitationhehadbeenlongingfor,andintheywenttothegreatdelightofRoxy,whoinstantlyretiredtothepantry,smilingsignificantly,andbroughtoutthemostelaboratepieinhonoroftheoccasion。Merrytouchedupthetable,andputalittlevaseofflowersinthemiddletoredeemthevulgarityofdoughnuts。Ofcoursetheboysupsetit,butastherewascompanynothingwassaid,andRalphdevouredhissupperwiththeappetiteofahungryboy,whilewatchingMerryeatbreadandcreamoutofanold—fashionedsilverporringer,andthinkingitthesweetestsightheeverbeheld。
Thentheyoungpeoplegatheredaboutthetable,fullofthenewplans,andtheelderslistenedastheyrestedaftertheweek\'swork。
Apleasantevening,fortheyalllikedRalph,butastheparentswatchedMerrysittingamongthegreatladslikealittlequeenamonghersubjects,halfunconsciousasyetofthepowerinherhands,theynoddedtooneanother,andthenshooktheirheadsasiftheysaid,\"I\'mafraidthetimeiscoming,mother。\"
\"Nodangeraslongasshedon\'tknowit,father。\"
Atninetheboyswentofftothebarn,thefarmertowinduptheeight—dayclock,andthehousewifetoseehowthebakedbeansandIndianpuddingforto—morrowweregettingonintheoven。Ralphtookuphishattogo,sayingashelookedattheshadeonthetallstudentlamp,\"Whatagoodlightthatgives！IcanseeitasIgohomeeverynight,anditburnsupherelikeabeacon。Ialwayslookforit,andithardlyeverfailstobeburning。Sortofcheersuptheway,youknow,whenI\'mtiredorlowinmymind。\"
\"ThenI\'mverygladIgotit。Ilikedtheshape,buttheboyslaughedatitastheydidatmybuirushesinaginger—jaroverthere。I\'dbeenreadingabout\'householdart,\'andIthoughtI\'dtryalittle,\"
answeredMerry,laughingatherownwhims。
\"You\'vegotabettersortofhouseholdart,Ithink,foryoumakepeoplehappyandplacespretty,withoutfussingoverit。ThisroomiseversomuchimprovedeverytimeIcome,thoughIhardlyseewhatitisexcepttheflowers,\"saidRalph,lookingfromthegirltothetallcallathatbentitswhitecupaboveherasiftopouritsdewuponherhead。
\"Isn\'tthatlovely？Itriedtodrawit——theshapewassogracefulI
wantedtokeepit。ButIcouldn\'t。Isn\'titapitysuchbeautifulthingswon\'tlastforever？\"andMerrylookedregretfullyatthehalf—fadedonethatgrewbesidethefreshblossom。
\"Icankeepitforyou。Itwouldlookwellinplaster。MayI？\"askedRalph。
\"Thankyou,Ishouldlikethatverymuch。Taketherealoneasamodel——pleasedo;therearemorecoming,andthiswillbrightenupyourroomforadayortwo。\"
Asshespoke,Merrycutthestem,and,addingtwoorthreeofthegreatgreenleaves,putthehandsomeflowerinhishandwithsomuchgood—willthathefeltasifhehadreceivedaverypreciousgift。Thenhesaidgood—nightsogratefullythatMerry\'shandquitetingledwiththegraspofhis,andwentaway,oftenlookingbackwardthroughthedarknesstowherethelightburnedbrightlyonthehill—top——thebeaconkindledbyanunconsciousHeroforayoungLeanderswimminggallantlyagainstwindandtidetowardthegoalofhisambition。
Chapter17DownatMolly\'s\"Now,mydears,I\'vesomethingverycurioustotellyou,solistenquietlyandthenI\'llgiveyouyourdinners,\"saidMolly,addressingtheninecatswhocametroopingafterherasshewentintotheshed—chamberwithabowlofmilkandaplateofscrapsinherhands。Shehadtaughtthemtobehavewellatmeals,so,thoughtheireyesglaredandtheirtailsquiveredwithimpatience,theyobeyed;andwhensheputthefoodonahighshelfandretiredtothebigbasket,thefouroldcatssatdemurelydownbeforeher,whilethefivekitsscrambledafterherandtumbledintoherlap,asifhopingtohastenthedesiredfeastbytheirinnocentgambols。
Granny,Tobias,Mortification,andMolassesweretheelders。
Granny,agrayoldpuss,wasthemotherandgrandmotherofalltherest。Tobiaswashereldestson,andMortificationhisbrother,sonamedbecausehehadlosthistail,whichafflictiondepressedhisspiritsandcastablightoverhisyounglife。Molasseswasayellowcat,themammaoffourofthekits,thefifthbeingGranny\'slatestdarling。Toddlekins,thelittleaunt,wastheimageofhermother,andverysedateevenatthatearlyage;MissMuffet,socalledfromherdreadofspiders,wasatimidblackandwhitekit;Beauty,aprettyMaltese,withaserenelittlefaceandpinknose;Ragbag,afunnything,everycolorthatacatcouldbe;andScamp,whowelldeservedhisname,forhewastheplagueofMissBat\'slife,andMolly\'sespecialpet。
Hewasnowperchedonhershoulder,and,asshetalked,keptpeepingintoherfaceorbitingherearinthemostimpertinentway,whiletheotherssprawledinherlaporpromenadedroundthebasketrim。
\"Myfriends,somethingveryremarkablehashappened:MissBatiscleaninghouse！\"and,havingmadethisannouncement,Mollyleanedbacktoseehowthecatsreceivedit,forsheinsistedthattheyunderstoodallshesaidtothem。
Tobiasstared,Mortificationlaydownasifitwastoomuchforhim,Molassesbeathertailonthefloorasifwhippingadustycarpet,andGrannybegantopurrapprovingly。Thegiddykitspaidnoattention,astheydidnotknowwhathouse—cleaningmeant,happylittledears！
\"Ithoughtyou\'dlikeit,Granny,foryouareadecentcat,andknowwhatisproper,\"continuedMolly,leaningdowntostroketheoldpuss,whoblinkedaffectionatelyather。\"Ican\'timaginewhatputitintoMissBat\'shead。Ineversaidaword,andgaveupgroaningovertheclutter,asIcouldn\'tmendit。IjusttookcareofBooandmyself,andlefthertobeasuntidyasshepleased,andsheisaregularold————\"
HereScampputhispawonherlipsbecausehesawthemmoving,butitseemedasifitwastocheckthedisrespectfulwordjustcomingout。
\"Well,Iwon\'tcallnames;butwhatshallIdowhenIseeeverythinginconfusion,andshewon\'tletmeclearup？\"askedMolly,lookingroundatScamp,whopromptlyputthelittlepawonhereyelid,asiftherolloftheblueballunderneathamusedhim。
\"Shutmyeyestoit,youmean？IdoallIcan,butitishard,whenI
wishtobenice,anddotry;don\'tI？\"askedMolly。ButScampwasreadyforher,andbegantocombherhairwithbothpawsashestoodonhishindlegstoworksobusilythatMollylaughedandpulledhimdown,saying,asshecuddledtheslykit。
\"Yousharplittlething！Iknowmyhairisnotneatnow,forI\'vebeenchasingBooroundthegardentowashhimforschool。ThenMissBatthrewtheparlorcarpetoutofthewindow,andIwassosurprisedIhadtorunandtellyou。Now,whathadwebetterdoaboutit？\"
Thecatsallwinkedather,butnoonehadanyadvicetooffer,exceptTobias,whowalkedtotheshelf,and,lookingup,utteredadeep,suggestiveyowl,whichsaidasplainlyaswords,\"Dinnerfirstanddiscussionafterward。\"
\"Verywell,don\'tscramble,\"saidMolly,gettinguptofeedherpets。Firstthekits,whorushedatthebowlandthrusttheirheadsin,lappingasifforawager;thenthecats,whoeachwenttooneofthefourpilesofscrapslaidroundatintervalsandplacidlyatetheirmeat;whileMollyretiredtothebasket,toponderoverthephenomenatakingplaceinthehouse。
Shecouldnotimaginewhathadstartedtheoldlady。Itwasnottheexampleofherneighbors,whohadbeatencarpetsandscrubbedpainteveryspringforyearswithoutexcitinghertoanygreaterexertionthancleaningafewwindowsandhavingamantoclearawaytherubbishdisplayedwhenthesnowmelted。Mollyneverguessedthatherowneffortswereatthebottomofthechange,orknewthatafewwordsnotmeantforherearhadshamedMissBatintoaction。Cominghomefromprayer—meetingonedarknight,shetrottedalongbehindtwooldladieswhoweregossipinginloudvoices,asonewasratherdeaf,andMissBatwasbothpleasedandtroubledtohearherselfundulypraised。
\"IalwayssaidSisterDawesmeantwell;butshe\'sgettingintoyears,andthecareoftwochildrenisagooddealforher,withhercookingandherrheumatiz。Idon\'tdenyshedidneglect\'emforaspell,butshedoeswellby\'emnow,andIwouldn\'twishtoseebetter—appearingchildren。\"
\"You\'venoideehowimprovedMollyis。Shecameintoseemygirls,andbroughthersewing—work,shirtsfortheboy,anddoneitasneatandcapableasyou\'dwishtosee。Shealwayswasasmartchild,butdreadfulcareless,\"saidtheotheroldlady,evidentlymuchimpressedbythechangeinharum—scarumMollyLoo。
\"BeingovertoMisMinot\'ssomuchhasbeengoodforher,anduptoMisGrant\'s。Girlscatchneatwaysasquickasthey\'dountidyones,andthemwildlittletykesoftenturnoutsmartwomen。\"
\"SisterDaweshasdonewellbythemchildren,andIhopeMr。
Bemisseesit。Heoughttogivehersomethingcomfortabletoliveonwhenshecan\'tdoforhimanylonger。Hecanwellaffordit。\"
\"Ihaven\'tadoubthewill。He\'salavishmanwhenhestartstodoathing,butdreadfulunobserving,elsehe\'dhaveseentomatterslongago。Themchildrenwastown—talklastfall,andIusedtofeelasifitwasmyboundendutytospeaktoMissDawes。ButIneverdid,fearingImightspeaktooplain,andhurtherfeelings。\"
\"You\'vespokenplainenoughnow,andI\'mbeholdentoyou,thoughyou\'llneverknowit,\"saidMissBattoherself,assheslippedintoherowngate,whilethegossipstrudgedonquiteunconsciousofthelistenerbehindthem。
MissBatwasaworthyoldsoulinthemain,only,likesomanyofus,sheneededrousinguptoherduty。Shehadgottherousingnow,anditdidhergood,forshecouldnotbeartobepraisedwhenshehadnotdeservedit。ShehadwatchedMolly\'seffortswithlazyinterest,andwhenthegirlgaveupmeddlingwithheraffairs,asshecalledthehousekeeping,MissBatceasedtoopposeher,andletherscrubBoo,mendclothes,andbrushherhairasmuchassheliked。SoMollyhadworkedalongwithoutanyhelpfromher,runningintoMrs。Pecqforadvice,toMerryforcomfort,orMrs。
Minotforthehigherkindofhelponeoftenneedssomuch。NowMissBatfoundthatshewasgettingthecreditandthepraisebelongingtootherpeople,anditstirredheruptotryanddeserveapartatleast。
\"Mollydon\'twantanyhelpaboutherworkortheboy:it\'stoolateforthat;butifthishousedon\'tgetaspringcleaningthatwillmakeitshine,mynameain\'tBathshebaDawes,\"saidtheoldlady,assheputawayherbonnetthatnight,andlaidenergeticplansforagrandrevolution,inspiredtheretonotonlybyshame,butbythehintthat\"Mr。Bemiswasalavishman,\"asnooneknewbetterthanshe。
Molly\'samazementnextdayatseeingcarpetsflyoutofwindow,ancientcobwebscomedown,andlong—undisturbedclosetsroutedouttothegreatdismayofmothsandmice,hasbeenalreadyconfidedtothecats,andasshesattherewatchingthemlapandgnaw,shesaidtoherself,\"Idon\'tunderstandit,butassheneversaysmuchtomeaboutmyaffairs,Iwon\'ttakeanynoticetillshegetsthrough,thenI\'lladmireeverythingallIcan。Itissopleasanttobepraisedafteryou\'vebeentryinghard。\"
Shemightwellsaythat,forshegotverylittleherself,andhertrialshadbeenmany,hereffortsnotalwayssuccessful,andherrewardseemedalongwayoff。PoorBoocouldhavesympathizedwithher,forhehadsufferedmuchpersecutionfromhissmallschoolmateswhenheappearedwithlargegraypatchesonthelittlebrowntrousers,wherehehadwornthemoutcoastingdownthosetoofascinatingsteps。Ashecouldnotseethepatcheshimself,hefanciedtheminvisible,andcamehomemuchafflictedbythejeersofhisfriends。ThenMollytriedtomakehimanewpairoutofasackofherown;butshecutbothsidesforthesameleg,soonewaswrongsideout。Fondlyhopingnoonewouldobserveit,shesewedbrightbuttonswherevertheycouldbeput,andsentconfidingBooawayinapairofbluetrousers,whichwereabsurdlyhunchybehindandbuttonybefore。Hecamehomeheart—brokenandmuddy,havingbeenaccidentallytippedintoamud—puddlebytwobadboyswhofeltthatsuchtailoringwasaninsulttomankind。
ThatrousedMolly\'sspirit,andshebeggedherfathertotaketheboyandhavehimproperlyfittedout,ashewasoldenoughnowtobewell—dressed,andshewouldn\'thavehimtormented。Hisattentionbeingcalledtothetrousers,Mr。Bemishadagoodlaughoverthem,andthengotBooasuitwhichcausedhimtobetheadmiredofallobservers,andtofeelasproudasalittlepeacock。
Cheeredbythissuccess,Mollyundertookasetofsmallshirts,andstitchedawaybravely,thoughherownsummerclotheswereinasadstate,andforthefirsttimeinherlifeshecaredaboutwhatsheshouldwear。
\"ImustaskMerry,andmaybefatherwillletmegowithherandhermotherwhentheydotheirshopping,insteadofleavingittoMissBat,whodressesmelikeanoldwoman。Merryknowswhatisprettyandbecoming:Idon\'t,\"thoughtMolly,meditatinginthebushelbasket,withhereyesonhersnuff—coloredgownandthedarkpurplebowattheendofthelongbraidMuffethadbeenplayingwith。
Mollywasbeginningtoseethatevensosmallamatterasthechoiceofcolorsmadeadifferenceinone\'sappearance,andtowonderwhyMerryalwaystooksuchpainstohaveabluetieforthegraydress,arosyoneforthebrown,andglovesthatmatchedherbonnetribbons。Merryneverworealocketoutsidehersack,agaybowinherhairandsoiledcuffs,asmarthatandthebraidwornoffherskirts。Shewasexquisitelyneatandsimple,yetalwayslookedwell—dressedandpretty;forherloveofbeautytaughtherwhatallgirlsshouldlearnassoonastheybegintocareforappearances——thatneatnessandsimplicityaretheirbestornaments,thatgoodhabitsarebetterthanfineclothes,andthemostelegantmannersarethekindest。
AllthesethoughtsweredancingthroughMolly\'shead,andwhenshelefthercats,afterageneralrompinwhichevendecorousGrannyallowedherfamilytoplayleap—frogoverherrespectableback,shehadmadeuphermindnottohaveyellowribbonsonhersummerhatifshegotapinkmuslinasshehadplanned,buttofinishoffBoo\'slastshirtbeforeshewentshoppingwithMerry。
Itrainedthatevening,andMr。Bemishadaheadache,sohethrewhimselfdownupontheloungeafterteaforanap,withhissilkhandkerchiefspreadoverhisface。Hedidgetanap,andwhenhewakedhelayforatimedrowsilylisteningtothepatteroftherain,andanothersoundwhichwasevenmoresoothing。Puttingbackacornerofthehandkerchieftolearnwhatitwas,hesawMollysittingbythefirewithBooinherlap,rockingandhummingasshewarmedhislittlebarefeet,havinglearnedtoguardagainstcroupbyattendingtothedampshoesandsocksbeforegoingtobed。Boolaywithhisroundfaceturneduptohers,strokinghercheekwhilethesleepyblueeyesblinkedlovinglyatherasshesangherlullabywithamotherlypatiencesweettosee。Theymadeaprettylittlepicture,andMr。Bemislookedatitwithpleasure,havingaleisuremomentinwhichtodiscover,asallparentsdosoonerorlater,thathischildrenweregrowingup。
\"Mollyisgettingtobequiteawoman,andverylikehermother,\"
thoughtpapa,wipingtheeyethatpeeped,forhehadbeenfondoftheprettywifewhodiedwhenBoowasborn。\"Sadlosstothem,poorthings！ButMissBatseemstohavedonewellbythem。Mollyismuchimproved,andtheboylooksfinely。She\'sagoodsoul,afterall\";andMr。Bemisbegantothinkhehadbeenhastywhenhehalfmadeuphismindtogetanewhousekeeper,feelingthatburntsteak,weakcoffee,andraggedwristbandsweresuresignsthatMissBat\'sdaysofusefulnesswereover。
Mollywassingingthelullabyhermotherusedtosingtoher,andherfatherlistenedtoitsilentlytillBoowascarriedawaytoosleepyforanythingbutbed。Whenshecamebackshesatdowntoherwork,fancyingherfatherstillasleep。Shehadacrimsonbowatherthroatandoneonthenewlybraidedhair,hercuffswereclean,andawhiteapronhidtheshabbinessoftheolddress。Shelookedlikeathriftylittlehousewifeasshesatwithherbasketbesideherfullofneatwhiterolls,herspoolssetforth,andanewpairofscissorsshiningonthetable。Therewasasortofcharminwatchingthebusyneedleflashtoandfro,theanxiouspuckeroftheforeheadasshelookedtoseeifthestitcheswereeven,andtheexpressionofintensereliefuponherfaceasshesurveyedthefinishedbutton—holewithgirlishsatisfaction。Herfatherwaswideawakeandlookingather,thinking,ashedidso,\"Reallytheoldladyhasworkedwelltochangemytomboyintothatnicelittlegirl:Iwonderhowshedidit。\"Thenhegaveayawn,pulledoffthehandkerchief,andsaidaloud,\'Whatareyoumaking,Molly？\"foritstruckhimthatsewingwasanewamusement。
\"ShirtsforBoo,sir。Four,andthisisthelast,\"sheanswered,withpardonablepride,asshehelditupandnoddedtowardthepileinherbasket。
\"Isn\'tthatanewnotion？IthoughtMissBatdidthesewing,\"saidMr。Bemis,ashesmiledatthefunnylittlegarment,itlookedsolikeBoohimself。
\"No,sir;onlyyours。IdomineandBoo\'s。Atleast,I\'mlearninghow,andMrs。PecqsaysIgetonnicely,\"answeredMolly,threadingherneedleandmakingaknotinhermostcapableway。
\"Isupposeitistimeyoudidlearn,foryouaregettingtobeagreatgirl,andallwomenshouldknowhowtomakeandmend。Youmusttakeastitchformenowandthen:MissBat\'seyesarenotwhattheywere,Ifind\";andMr。Bemislookedathisfrayedwristband,asifheparticularlyfelttheneedofastitchjustthen。
\"I\'dloveto,andIguessIcould。Icanmendgloves;Merrytaughtme,soI\'dbetterbeginonthem,ifyouhaveany,\"saidMolly,muchpleasedatbeingabletodoanythingforherfather,andstillmoresoatbeingasked。
\"There\'ssomethingtostartwith\";andhethrewherapair,withnearlyeveryfingerripped。
Mollyshookherheadoverthem,butgotouthergraysilkandfelltowork,gladtoshowhowwellshecouldsew。
\"Whatareyousmilingabout？\"askedherfather,afteralittlepause,forhisheadfeltbetter,anditamusedhimtoquestionMolly。
\"Iwasthinkingaboutmysummerclothes。Imustgetthembeforelong,andI\'dliketogowithMrs。Grantandlearnhowtoshop,ifyouarewilling。\"
IthoughtMissBatdidthatforyou。
\"Shealwayshas,butshegetsugly,cheapthingsthatIdon\'tlike。I
thinkIamoldenoughtochoosemyself,ifthereissomeonetotellmeaboutpricesandthegoodnessofthestuff。Merrydoes;andsheisonlyafewmonthsolderthanIam。\"
\"Howoldareyou,child？\"askedherfather,feelingasifhehadlosthisreckoning。
\"FifteeninAugust\";andMollylookedveryproudofthefact。
\"Soyouare！Blessmyheart,howthetimegoes！Well,getwhatyouplease;ifI\'mtohaveayoungladyhere,I\'dliketohaveherprettilydressed。Itwon\'toffendMissBat,willit？\"
Molly\'seyessparkled,butshegavealittleshrugassheanswered,\"Shewon\'tcare。ShenevertroublesherselfaboutmeifIietncralone。
\"Hey？what？Nottroubleherself？Ifshedoesn\'t,whodoes？\"andMr。Bemissatupasifthisdiscoverywasmoresurprisingthantheother。
\"ItakecareofmyselfandBoo,andshelooksafteryou。Thehousegoesanyway。\"
\"Ishouldthinkso！Inearlybrokemyneckovertheparlorsofainthehallto—night。Whatisittherefor？\"
Mollylaughed。\"That\'sthejoke,sir,MissBatiscleaninghouse,andI\'msureitneedscleaning,foritisyearssinceitwasproperlydone。Ithoughtyoumighthavetoldherto。\"
\"I\'vesaidnothing。Don\'tlikehouse—cleaningwellenoughtosuggestit。IdidthinkthehallwasratherdirtywhenIdroppedmycoatandtookitupcoveredwithlint。Isshegoingtoupsetthewholeplace？\"askedMr。Bemis,lookingalarmedattheprospect。
\"Ihopeso,forIreallyamashamedwhenpeoplecome,tohavethemseethedustandcobwebs,andoldcarpetsanddirtywindows,\"saidMolly,withasigh,thoughsheneverhadcaredabittilllately。
\"Whydon\'tyoudustroundalittle,then？Notimetosparefromthebooksandplay？\"
\"Itried,father,butMissBatdidn\'tlikeit,anditwastoohardformealone。Ifthingswereonceinniceorder,IthinkIcouldkeepthemso;forIdowanttobeneat,andI\'mlearningasfastasIcan。\"
\"Itishightimesomeonetookhold,ifmattersareleftasyousay。
I\'vejustbeenthinkingwhatacleverwomanMissBatwas,tomakesuchatidylittlegirloutofwhatIusedtohearcalledthegreatesttomboyintown,andwonderingwhatIcouldgivetheoldlady。
NowIfindyouaretheonetobethanked,anditisaverypleasantsurprisetome。\"
\"Giveherthepresent,please;I\'msatisfied,ifyoulikewhatI\'vedone。Itisn\'tmuch,andI\'didn\'tknowasyouwouldeverobserveanydifference。ButI\'didtry,andnowIguessI\'mreallygettingon,\"saidMolly,sewingawaywithabrightcolorinhercheeks,forshe,too,founditapleasantsurprisetobepraisedaftermanyfailuresandfewsuccesses。
\"Youcertainlyare,mydear。I\'llwaittillthehouse—cleaningisover,andthen,ifweareallalive,I\'llseeaboutMissBat\'sreward。
Meantime,yougowithMrs。Grantandgetwhateveryouandtheboyneed,andsendthebillstome\";andMr。Bemislightedacigar,asifthatmatterwassettled。
\"Oh,thankyou,sir！Thatwillbesplendid。Merryalwayshasprettythings,andIknowyouwilllikemewhenIgetfixed,\"saidMolly,smoothingdownherapron,withalittleair。
\"Seemstomeyoulookverywellasyouare。Isn\'tthataprettyenoughfrock？\"askedMr。Bemis,quiteunconsciousthathisownunusualinterestinhisdaughter\'saffairsmadeherlooksobrightandwinsome。
\"This？Why,father,I\'vewornitallwinter,andit\'sfrightfullyugly,andalmostinrags。Iaskedyouforanewoneamonthago,andyousaidyou\'d\'seeaboutit\';butyoudidn\'t,soIpatchedthisupaswellasIcould\";andMollyshowedherelbows,feelingthatsuchmasculineblindnessasthisdeservedamildreproof。
\"Toobad！Well,goandgethalfadozenprettymuslinandginghamthings,andbeasgayasabutterfly,tomakeupforit,\"
laughedherfather,reallytouchedbythepatchesandMolly\'sresignationtotheunreliable\"I\'llseeaboutit,\"whichherecognizedasahouseholdword。
Mollyclappedherhands,oldglovesandall,exclaiming,withgirlishdelight,\"Howniceitwillseemtohaveaplentyofnew,neatdressesallatonce,andbelikeothergirls！MissBatalwaystalksabouteconomy,andhasnomoretastethana——caterpillar。\"
Mollymeanttosay\"cat,\"butrememberingherpets,sparedthemtheinsult。
\"IthinkIcanaffordtodressmygirlaswellasGrantdoeshis。Getanewhatandcoat,child,andanylittlenotionsyoufancy。MissBat\'seconomyisn\'tthesortIlike\";andMr。Bemislookedathiswristbandsagain,asifhecouldsympathizewithMolly\'selbows。
\"Atthisrate,IshallhavemoreclothesthanIknowwhattodowith,afterbeingarag—bag,\"thoughtthegirl,ingreatglee,asshebravelystitchedawayattheworstglove,whileherfathersmokedsilentlyforawhile,feelingthatseverallittlemattershadescapedhiseyewhichhereallyoughtto\"seeabout。\"
Presentlyhewenttohisdesk,butnottoburyhimselfinbusinesspapers,asusual,for,afterrummaginginseveraldrawers,hetookoutasmallbunchofkeys,andsatlookingatthemwithanexpressiononlyseenonhisfacewhenhelookedupattheportraitofadark—eyedwomanhanginginhisroom。Hewasaverybusyman,buthehadatenderplaceinhisheartforhischildren;andwhenalook,afewwords,amoment\'sreflection,calledhisattentiontothefactthathislittlegirlwasgrowingup,hefoundbothprideandpleasureinthethoughtthatthisyoungdaughterwastryingtofillhermother\'splace,andbeacomforttohim,ifhewouldlether。
\"Molly,mydear,hereissomethingforyou,\"hesaid;andwhenshestoodbesidehim,added,asheputthekeysintoherhand,keepingbothinhisownforaminute,\"Thosearethekeystoyourmother\'sthings。Ialwaysmeantyoutohavethem,whenyouwereoldenoughtouseorcareforthem。I
thinkyou\'iifancythisbetterthananyotherpresent,foryouareagoodchild,andverylikeher。\"
Somethingseemedtogetintohisthroatthere,andMollyputherarmroundhisneck,saying,withalittlechokeinherownvoice,\"Thankyou,father,I\'dratherhavethisthananythingelseintheworld,andI\'lltrytobemorelikehereveryday,foryoursake。
Hekissedher,thensaid,ashebegantostirhispapersabout,\"I
mustwritesomeletters。Runofftobed,child。Good—night,mydear,good—night。\"
Seeingthathewantedtobealone,Mollyslippedaway,feelingthatshehadreceivedaverypreciousgift;forsherememberedthedear,deadmother,andhadoftenlongedtopossesstherelicslaidawayintheoneroomwhereorderreignedandMissBathadnopowertomeddle。Asshesiowlyundressed,shewasnotthinkingoftheprettynewgownsinwhichshewastobe\"asgayasabutterfly,\"
butofthehalf—worngarmentswaitingforherhandstounfoldwithatendertouch;andwhenshefellasleep,withthekeysunderherpillowandherarmsroundBoo,afewhappytearsonhercheeksseemedtoshowthat,intryingtodothedutywhichlaynearesther,shehadearnedaverysweetreward。
Sothelittlemissionariessucceededbetterintheirsecondattemptthanintheirfirst;for,thoughstillveryfarfrombeingperfectgirls,eachwasslowlylearning,inherownway,oneofthethreelessonsallarethebetterforknowing——thatcheerfulnesscanchangemisfortuneintoloveandfriends;thatinorderingone\'sselfarightonehelpsotherstodothesame;andthatthepoweroffindingbeautyinthehumblestthingsmakeshomehappyandlifelovely。
Chapter18MayBasketsSpringwaslatethatyear,buttoJillitseemedtheloveliestshehadeverknown,forhopewasgrowinggreenandstronginherownlittleheart,andalltheworldlookedbeautiful。Withthehelpofthebraceshecouldsitupforashorttimeeveryday,andwhentheairwasmildenoughshewaswarmlywrappedandallowedtolookoutattheopenwindowintothegarden,wherethegoldandpurplecrocuseswerecomingbravelyup,andthesnowdropsnoddedtheirdelicateheadsasifcallingtoher,\"Goodday,littlesister,comeoutandplaywithus,forwinterisoverandspringishere。\"
\"IwishIcould！\"thoughtJill,asthesoftwindkissedatingeofcolorintoherpalecheeks。\"Nevermind,theyhavebeenshutupinadarkerplacethanIformonths,andhadnofunatall;Iwon\'tfret,butthinkaboutJulyandtheseashorewhileIwork。\"
ThejobnowinhandwasMaybaskets,foritwasthecustomofthechildrentohangthemonthedoorsoftheirfriendsthenightbeforeMay—day;andthegirlshadagreedtosupplybasketsiftheboyswouldhuntforflowers,muchthehardertaskofthetwo。Jillhadmoreleisureaswellastasteandskillthantheothergirls,sosheamusedherselfwithmakingagoodlystoreofprettybasketsofallshapes,sizes,andcolors,quiteconfidentthattheywouldbefilled,thoughnotaflowerhadshownitsheadexceptafewhardydandelions,andhereandthereasmallclusterofsaxifrage。