andFrankwentpacingonagainwiththebrightlookhiseyesalwaysworewhenhelistenedtomusicorreadofsomenobleaction。
\"That\'swhatMerrysaidwhensheandMollycameinontheirwayhome。ButMollyfeltdreadfully,andsodidMabel。Shebroughtmetheseflowerstopress,forweareallgoingtokeepsometorememberdearEdby,\"saidJill,carefullysmoothingoutthelittlebellsasshelaidtheliliesinherhymn—book,forshetoohadhadathoughtfulhourwhileshelayalone,imaginingallthatwentoninthechurch,andsheddingafewtendertearsoverthefriendwhowasalwayssokindtoher。
\"Idon\'twantanythingtorememberhimby。Iwassofondofhim,I
couldn\'tforgetifItried。IknowIoughtnottosayit,butIdon\'tseewhyGodlethimdie,\"saidJack,withaquiverinhisvoice,forhislovingheartcouldnothelpachingstill。
\"No,dear,wecannotseeorknowmanythingsthatgrieveusverymuch,butwecantrustthatitisright,andtrytobelievethatallismeantforourgood。Thatiswhatfaithmeans,andwithoutitwearemiserable。Whenyouwerelittle,youwereafraidofthedark,butifIspokeortouchedyou,thenyouweresureallwaswell,andfellasleepholdingmyhand。Godiswiserandstrongerthananyfatherormother,soholdfasttoHim,andyouwillhavenodoubtorfear,howeverdarkitseems。\"
\"Asyoudo,\"saidJack,goingtositonthearmofMamma\'schair,withhischeektohers,willingtotrustasshebadehim,hutgladtoholdfastthelivinghandthathadledandcomfortedhimallhislife。
\"EdusedtosaytomewhenIfrettedaboutgettingwell,andthoughtnobodycaredforme,whichwasverynaughty,\'Don\'tbetroubled,Godwon\'tforgetyou;andifyoumustbelame,Hewillmakeyouabletobearit,\"saidJill,softly,herquicklittlemindallalivewithnewthoughtsandfeelings。
\"Hebelievedit,andthat\'swhyhelikedthathymnsomuch。I\'mgladtheysungitto—day,\"saidFrank,bringinghisheavydictionarytolayonthebookwheretheflowerswerepressing。
\"Oh,thankyou！Couldyouplaythattuneforme？I\'didn\'thearit,andI\'dloveto,ifyouarewilling,\"askedJill。
\"I\'didn\'tthinkIevershouldwanttoplayagain,butI\'do。Willyousingitforher,mother？I\'mafraidIshallbreakdownifItryalone。
\"Wewillallsing,musicisgoodforusnow,\"saidMamma;andinratherbrokenvoicestheydidsingEd\'sfavoritewords:
\"NotasparrowfallethbutitsGodclothknow,Justaswhenhismandatelaysamonarchlow;
Notaleafletmoveth,butitsGodclothsee,Thinknot,then,Omortal,Godforgetteththee。
FarmoreprecioussurelythanthebirdsthatflyIsaFather\'simagetoaFather\'seye。
E\'enthyhairsarenumbered;trustHimfullandfree,CastthycaresbeforeHim,Hewillcomfortthee;
FortheGodthatplantedinthybreastasoul,Onhissacredtablesdcththynameenroll。
Cheerthineheart,then,niortal,neverfaithlessbe,Hethatmarksthesparrowswillrememberthee。\"
Chapter21PebblyBeach\"Now,Mr。Jack,itisamoralimpossibilitytogetallthosethingsintoonetrunk,andyoumustn\'taskitofme,\"saidMrs。Pecq,inatoneofdespair,asshesurveyedtheheapoftreasuresshewasexpectedtopackfortheboys。
\"Nevermindtheclothes,weonlywantaboating—suitapiece。
Mammacanputafewcollarsinhertrunkforus;butthesenecessarythingsmustgo,\"answeredJack,addinghistargetandair—pistoltothepileofbats,fishing—tackle,games,andachoicecollectionofshabbyballs。
\"Thosearethenecessariesandclothestheluxuries,arethey？Whydon\'tyouaddavelocipede,wheelbarrow,andprinting—press,mydear？\"askedMrs。Pecq,whileJillturneduphernoseat\"boys\'
rubbish。\"
\"WishIcould。Daresayweshallwantthem。Womendon\'tknowwhatfellowsneed,andalwaysmustputinalotofstiffshirtsandcleanhandkerchiefsandclothes—brushesandpotsofcoldcream。
Wearegoingtoroughit,anddon\'twantanyfussandfeathers,\"
saidJack,beginningtopackthepreciousballsinhisrubberboots,andstrapthemupwiththeumbrellas,rods,andbats,seeingthattherewasnohopeofaplaceinthetrunk。
HereFrankcameinwithtwobigbooks,sayingcalmly,\"Justsliptheseinsomewhere,weshallneedthem。\"
\"Butyouarenottostudyatall,soyouwon\'twantthosegreatdictionaries,\"criedJill,busilypackinghernewtravelling—basketwithallsortsoflittlerolls,bags,andboxes。
\"Theyarenotdics,butmyEncyclopedia。Weshallwanttoknowheapsofthings,andthistellsabouteverything。Withthosebooks,andamicroscopeandatelescope,youcouldtravelroundtheworld,andlearnallyouwantedto。Can\'tpossiblygetonwithoutthem,\"saidFrank,fondlypattinghisfavoritework。
\"Mypatience！Whatqueercattleboysare！\"exclaimedMrs。Pecq,whiletheyalllaughed。\"Itcan\'tbedone,Mr。Frank;alltheboxesarebrimfull,andyou\'llhavetoleavethosefatbooksbehind,forthere\'snoplaceanywhere。\"
\"ThenI\'llcarrythemmyself\";andFranktuckedoneundereacharm,withadeterminedair,whichsettledthematter。
\"Isupposeyou\'llstudycockleologyinsteadofboating,andreaduponpolywogswhileweplaytennis,orgopokingroundwithyouroldspy—glassinsteadofhavingajollygoodtime,\"saidJack,haulingawayonthestraptillallwastautandship—shapewiththebundle。
\"Tadpolesdon\'tliveinsaltwater,myson,andifyoumeanconchology,you\'dbettersayso。IshallplayasmuchasIwish,andwhenIwanttoknowaboutanyneworcuriousthing,IshallconsultmyCyclo,insteadofbotheringotherpeoplewithquestions,orgivingituplikeadunce\";withwhichcrushingreplyFrankdeparted,leavingJilltopackandunpackhertreasuresadozentimes,andJacktodancejigsonthelidsofthetrunkstilltheywouldshut。
Averyhappypartysetoffthenextday,leavingMrs。Pecqwavingheraprononthesteps。Mrs。Minotcarriedthelunch,Jackhispreciousbundlewithtriflesdroppingoutbytheway,andJillfeltveryelegantbearinghernewbasketwithredworstedcherriesbobbingontheoutside。FrankactuallydidtaketheEncyclopedia,doneupintherollofshawls,andwhenevertheotherswonderedaboutanything——tides,lighthouses,towns,ornaturalproductions——
hebroughtforthoneofthebooksandtriumphantlyreadtherefrom,tothegreatmerriment,ifnotedification,ofhisparty。
Averyshorttripbyrailandtherestofthejourneybyboat,toJill\'sgreatcontentment,forshehatedtobeshutup;andwhiletheladsrovedhereandthereshesatundertheawning,toohappytotalk。
ButMrs。Minotwatchedwithrealsatisfactionhowthefreshwindblewthecolorbackintothepalecheeks,howtheeyesshoneandtheheartfilledwithdelightatseeingthelovelyworldagain,andbeingabletotakeashareinitsactivepleasures。
TheWillowswasalong,lowhouseclosetothebeach,andasfullasabeehiveofpleasantpeople,allintentonhavingagoodtime。A
greatmanychildrenwereswarmingabout,andJillfounditimpossibletosleepafterherjourney,therewassuchalivelyclatteroftonguesonthepiazzas,andsomanyfeetgoingtoandfrointhehalls,ShelaydownobedientlywhileMrs。Minotsettledmattersinthetwoairyroomsandgavehersomedinner,butshekeptpoppingupherheadtolookoutofthewindowtoseewhatshecouldsee。Justoppositestoodanartist\'scottageandstudio,withallmannerofcharminggalleries,towers,steps,andevenasortofdrawbridgetopullupwhenthepainterwishedtobeleftinpeace。Hewasabsentnow,andthevisitorstookpossessionofthisfineplay—place。Childrenwereracingupanddownthegalleries,ladiessittinginthetower,boysdisportingthemselvesontheroof,andyounggentlemenpreparingfortheatricalsinthelargestudio。
\"WhatfunI\'llhaveoverthere,\"thoughtJill,watchingthemerryscenewithintenseinterest,andwonderingifthelittlegirlsshesawwereasniceasMollyandMerry。
Thentherewereglimpsesoftheseabeyondthegreenbankwhereapathwoundalongtothebeach,whencecamethecooldashofwaves,andnowandthentheglimmerofapassingsail。
\"Oh,whencanIgoout？Itlookssolovely,Ican\'twaitlong,\"shesaid,lookingaseagerasalittlegullshutupinacageandpiningforitshomeonthewideocean。
\"Assoonasitisalittlecooler,dear,I\'mgettingreadyforourtrip,butwemustbecarefulandnotdotoomuchatonce。\'Slowandsure\'isourmotto,\"answeredMrs。Minot,busilycollectingthecamp—stools,theshawls,theair—cushions,andthebigparasols。
\"I\'llbegood,onlydoletmehavemysailor—hattowear,andmynewsuit。I\'mnotabittired,andIdowanttobelikeotherfolksrightoff,\"saidJill,whohadbeenimprovingrapidlyoflate,andfeltmuchelatedatbeingabletodriveoutnearlyeveryday,towalkalittle,andsitupsomehourswithoutanypainorfatigue。
Togratifyher,theblueflannelsuitwithitswhitetrimmingwasputon,andMammawasjustbuttoningthestoutbootswhenJackthunderedatthedoor,andburstinwithallsortsofgloriousnews。
\"Docomeout,mother,it\'sperfectlysplendidonthebeach！I\'vefoundaniceplaceforJilltosit,andit\'sonlyastep。Lotsofcapitalfellowshere;onehasabicycle,andisgoingtoteachustoride。Noendoffunupatthehotel,andeveryoneseemsgladtoseeus。TwoladiesaskedaboutJill,andoneofthegirlshasgotsomeshellsallreadyforher,GertySomebody,andhermotherissoprettyandjolly,Ilikehereversomuch。Theysitatourtable,andWallyistheboy,youngerthanIam,butverypleasant。Baconisthefellowinknickerbockers;justwishyoucouldseewhatstoutlegshe\'sgot！
Coxisthechapforme,though:wearegoingfishingto—morrow。
He\'sgotasweet—lookingmother,andasisterforyou,Jill。Now,then,docomeon,I\'lltakethetraps。\"
Offtheywent,andJillthoughtthatveryshortwalktotheshorethemostdelightfulsheevertook;forpeoplesmiledatthelittleinvalidasshewentslowlybyleaningonMrs。Minot\'sarm,whileJackprancedinfront,doingthehonors,asifheownedthewholeAtlantic。Anewworldopenedtohereyesastheycameoutuponthepebblybeachfullofpeopleenjoyingtheirafternoonpromenade。JillsaveonerapturousOh。andthensatonherstool,forgettingeverythingbutthebeautifulblueoceanrollingawaytomeetthesky,withnothingtobreakthewideexpansebutasailhereandthere,apointofrocksononehand,thelittlepierontheother,andwhitegullsskimmingbyontheirwidewings。
Whileshesatenjoyingherself,Jackshowedhismothertheplacehehadfound,andaveryniceoneitwas。Justunderthegreenbanklayanoldboatproppedupwithsomebigstones。Awillowdroopedoverit,thetiderippledupwithinafewyardsofit,andafineviewofthewavescouldbeseenasthey\'dashedovertherocksatthepoint。
\"Isn\'titagoodcubby—house？BenCoxandIfixeditforJill,andshecanhaveitforhers。Puthercushionsandthingsthereonthesandthechildrenhavethrownin——thatwillmakeitsoft;thentheseseatswilldofortables;andupinthebowI\'mgoingtohavethatoldrustytinboilerfullofsalt—water,soshecanputseaweedandcrabsandallsorts0cchapsinhforanaquatium,youknow,\"
explainedJack,greatlyinterestedinestablishinghisfamilycomfortablybeforeheleftthem。
\"Therecouldn\'tbeanicerplace,anditisverykindofyoutogetitready。SpreadtheshawlsandsettleJill,thenyouneedn\'tthinkofusanymore,butgoandscramblewithFrank。Iseehimovertherewithhisspy—glassandsomepleasant—lookingboys,\"saidMamma,bustlingaboutingreatspirits。
Sotheredcushionswereplaced,theplaidslaid,andthelittlework—basketsetupontheseat,allreadyforJill,whowascharmedwithhernest,andcuddleddownunderthebigparasol,declaringshewouldkeephousethereeveryday。
Eventheoldboilerpleasedher,andJackracedoverthebeachtobeginhissearchforinhabitantsforthenewaquarium,leavingJilltomakefriendswithsomeprettybabiesdigginginthesand,whileMammasatonthecamp—stoolandtalkedwithafriendfromHarmonyVillage。
Itseemedasiftherecouldnotbeanythingmoredelightfulthantolietherelulledbythesoundofthesea,watchingthesunsetandlisteningtothepleasantbabbleoflittlevoicescloseby。Butwhenthcywenttoteainthegreathall,withsixtablesfullofmerrypeople,andhalfadozenmaidsflyingabout,Jillthoughtthatwasevenbetter,becauseitwassonewtoher。GertyandWallynoddedtoher,andtheirprettymammawassokindandsogay,rhatJillcouldnotfeelbashfulafterthefirstfewminutes,andsoonlookedabouther,sureofseeingfriendlyfaceseverywhere。FrankandJackateasifthesaltairbadalreadyimprovedtheirappetites,aridtalkedaboutBaconandCoxasiftheyhadbeenbosomfriendsforyears。Mammawasashappyastheyforherfriend,Mrs。
Hammond,satcloseby;andthisrosylady,whohadbeenaphysician,cheeredherupbypredictingthatJillwouldsoonberunningaboutaswellasever。
Butthebestofallwasintheevening,whentheelderpeoplegatheredintheparlorsandplayedTwentyQuestions,whilethechildrenlookedonforanhourbeforegoingtobed,muchamusedatthesightofgrownpeoplelaughing,squabbling,dodging,andjokingasiftheyhadallbecomeyoungagain;for,aseveryoneknows,itisimpossibletohelplivelyskirmisheswhenthatgameisplayed。Jilllayinthesofacornerenjoyingitallimmensely;forsheneversawanythingsodroll,andfounditcapitalfuntohelpguessthething,ortrytopuzzletheoppositeside。Herquickwitsandbrightfaceattractedpeople,andinthepausesofthesportsheheldquitealevee,foreverybodywasinterestedinthelittleinvalid。Thegirlsshylymadefriendsintheirownway,themammastoldthrillingtalesoftheaccidentstheirdarlingshadsurvived,severalgentlemenkindlyofferedtheirboats,andtheboys,withthebestintentionsinlife,suggestedstrollsoftwoorthreemilestoRafe\'sChasmandNorman\'sWoe,orinvitedhertotennisandarchery,asifviolentexercisewasthecureforallhumanills。Shewasverygrateful,andreluctantlywentawaytobed,declaring,whenshegotupstairs,thatthesenewfriendswerethedearestpeoplesheevermet,andtheWillowsthemostdelightfulplaceinthewholeworld。
Nextdayanewlifebeganfortheyoungfolks——averyhealthy,happylife;andallthrewthemselvesintoitsoheartily,thatitwasimpossibletohelpgettinggreatgoodfromit,forthesesummerweeks,ifwellspent,workmiraclesintiredbodiesandsouls。
Franktookafancytothebicycleboy,and,beingabletohireoneofthebreakneckarticles,soonlearnedtorideit;andthetwomightbeseenwildlyworkingtheirlonglegsoncertainsmoothstretchesofroad,orgettinguptheirmusclerowingaboutthebaytilltheywerealmostasbrownandnauticalinappearanceandlanguageasthefishermenwholivedinnooksandcornersalongtheshore。
JackstruckupagreatfriendshipwiththesturdyBaconandtheagreeableCox:thelatter,beingabouthisownage,washisespecialfavorite;andtheysoonwerecalledBoxandCoxbytheotherfellows,whichdidnotannoythemabit,asbothhadplayedpartsinthatimmortalfarce。Theyhadcapitaltimesfishing,scramblingovertherocks,playingballandtennis,andrainydaystheytookpossessionofthestudioopposite,drewuptheportcullis,andgallantlydefendedthecastle,whichsomeoftheothersbesiegedwitholdumbrellasforshields,batsforbattering—rams,andbunchesofburrsforcannon—balls。Greatlarkswentonoverthere,whilethegirlsapplaudedfromthepiazzaorchamber—windows,andmadeagayflagforthevictorstodisplayfromthetowerwhenthefightwasover。
ButJillhadthebesttimeofall,foreachdaybroughtincreasingstrengthandspirits,andsheimprovedsofastitwashardtobelievethatshewasthesamegirlwholaysolongalmosthelplessintheBirdRoomathome。SuchlivelylettersasshesentherW1o~he~,allaboulhernewfriends,herfinesails,drives,andlittlewalks;
thegoodtimesshehadintheevening,thelovelythingspeoplegaveher,andshewaslearningtomakewithshellsandsea—weed,andwhatsplendidfunitwastokeephouseinaboat。
Thislastamusementsoongrewquiteabsorbing,andher\"cubby,\"
asshecalledit,rapidlybecameaprettygrotto,whereshelivedlikealittlemermaid,dailylovingmoreandmorethebeautyofthewonderfulsea,Findingtheboattoosunnyattimes,theboyscutlongwillowboughsandarchedthemovertheseats,layinghemlockbranchesacrosstillagreenroofmadeitcoolandshadyinside。ThereJillsatorlayamonghercushionsreading,tryingtosketch,sortingshells,dryinggaysea—weeds,orwatchinghercrabs,jelly—fish,andanemonesintheoldboiler,nowburiedinsandandedgedaboutwithmossfromthewoods。
Nobodydisturbedhertreasures,butkindlyaddedtothem,andoftenwhenshewenttohernestshefoundfruitorflowers,booksorbon—bons,laidreadyforher。Everyonepitiedandlikedthebrightlittlegirlwhocouldnotrunandfriskwiththerest,whowassopatientandcheerfulafterherlongconfinement,readytohelpothers,andsogratefulforanysmallfavor。Shefoundnowthatthewearymonthshadnotbeenwasted,andwasveryhappytodiscoverinherselfanewsortofstrengthandsweetnessthatwasnotonlyacomforttoher,butmadethoseaboutherloveandtrusther。Thesongsshehadlearnedattractedthebabies,whowouldleavetheirplaytopeepatherandlistenwhenshesungoverherwork。Passers—bypausedtoheartheblithevoiceofthebirdinthegreencage,andotherinvalids,strollingonthebeach,wouldtakeheartwhentheysawthechildsohappyinspiteofhergreattrial。
Theboyskeptalltheirmarinecuriositiesforher,andwerealwaysreadytotakeheraroworasail,asthebaywassafeandthatsortoftravellingsuitedherbetterthandriving。Butthegirlshadcapitaltimestogether,anditdidJillgoodtoseeanothersortfromthosesheknewathome。Shehadbeensomuchpettedoflate,thatshewasgettingrathervainofhersmallaccomplishments,andbeingwithstrangersricher,betterbredandeducatedthanherself,madehermorehumbleinsomethings,whileitshowedhertheworthofsuchvirtuesasshecouldhonestlyclaim。MamieCoxtookhertodriveinthefinecarriageofhermamma,andJillwasmuchimpressedbythefactthatMamiewasnotabitproudaboutit,anddidnotputonanyairs,thoughshehadamaidtotakecareofher。
Gertyworeprettycostumes,andcamedownwithpinkandblueribbonsinherhairthatJillenviedverymuch;yetGertylikedhercurls,andlongedtohavesome,whilehermother,\"theladyfromPhiladelphia,\"astheycalledher,wassokindandgaythatJillquiteadoredher,andalwaysfeltasifsunshinehadcomeintotheroomwhensheentered。Twolittlesisterswereveryinterestingtoher,andmadeherlongforoneofherownwhenshesawthemgoingabouttogetherandheardthemtalkoftheirpleasanthome,wherethegreatsilkfactorieswere。Buttheyinvitedhertocomeandseethewonderfulcocoons,andtaughthertoknotprettygrayfringeonacushion,whichdelightedher,beingsonewandeasy。
Therewereseveralothernicelittlelasses,andtheyallgatheredaboutJillwiththesweetsympathychildrenaresoquicktoshowtowardthoseinpainormisfortune。Shethoughttheywouldnotcareforapoorlittlegirllikeherself,yethereshewasthequeenofthetroupe,andthisdiscoverytouchedandpleasedherverymuch。
Inthemorningtheycampedroundtheboatonthestoneswithbooks,gaywork,andmerrychatter,tillbathing—time。Thenthebeachwasfulloflifeandfun,foreveryonelookedsodrollintheflannelsuits,itwashardtobelievethattheneatladiesandrespectablegentlemenwhowentintothelittlehousescouldbethesamepersonsasthequeer,short—skirtedwomenwitholdhatstieddown,andbareheaded,barefootedmeninoldsuits,whocameskippingoverthesandtodisportthemselvesintheseainthemostundignifiedways。Theboysracedabout,lookinglikecircus—
tumblers,andthebabieswereregularlittlecupids,runningawayfromthewavesthattriedtokisstheirflyingfeet。
Someoftheyoungladiesandgirlswerefamousswimmers,andlookedveryprettyintheirbrightredandbluecostumes,withloosehairandgaystockings,asthey\'dancedintothewaterandfloatedawayasfearlesslyasrealmermaidens。Jillhadherquietdipandgoodrubbingeachfineday,andthenlayuponthewarmsandwatchingthepranksoftheothers,andlongingtorunanddiveandshoutandtumblewiththerest。Nowthatshewasamongthewellandactive,itseemedhardertobepatientthanwhenshutupandunabletostir。Shefeltsomuchbetter,andhadsolittlepaintoremindherofpasttroubles,itwasalmostimpossibletohelpforgettingthepoorbackandlettingherrecoveredspiritsrunawaywithher。IfMrs。Minothadnotkeptgoodwatch,shewouldhavebeenoffmorethanonce,soeagerwasshetobe\"likeothergirls\"
again,sodifficultwasittokeeptherestlessfeetquietlyfoldedamongtheredcushions。
Onedayshedidyieldtotemptation,andtookalittlevoyagewhichmighthavebeenherlast,owingtothecarelessnessofthosewhomshetrusted。Itwasagoodlesson,andmadeherasmeekasalambduringtherestofherstay。Mrs。MinotdrovetoGloucesteroneafternoon,leavingJillsafelyestablishedafterhernapintheboat,withGertyandMamiemakinglacebesideher。
\"Don\'ttrytowalkorrunabout,mydear。Sitonthepiazzaifyougettiredofthis,andamuseyourselfquietlytillIcomeback。I\'llnotforgettheworstedandthecanvas,\"saidMamma,peepingoverthebankforalastwordasshewaitedfortheomnibustocomealong。
\"Oh,don\'tforgettheGibraltars！\"criedJill,poppingherheadoutofthegreenroof。
\"Northebananas,please！\"addedGerty,lookingroundoneend。
\"Northepinkandblueribbontotieourshell—baskets,\"calledMamie,nearlytumblingintotheaquariumattheotherend。
Mrs。Minotlaughed,andpromised,andrumbledaway,leavingJilltoanexperiencewhichsheneverforgot。
Forhalfanhourthelittlegirlsworkedbusily,thentheboyscameforGertyandMamietogototheChasmwithapartyoffriendswhoweretoleavenextday。Offtheywent,andJillfeltverylonelyasthegayvoicesdiedaway。Everyonehadgonesomewhere,andonlylittleHarryHammondandhismaidwereonthebeach。Twoorthreesand—pipersranaboutamongthepebbles,andJillenviedthemtheirnimblelegssomuch,thatshecouldnotresistgettinguptotakeafewsteps。Shelongedtorunstraightawayoverthefirm,smoothsand,andfeelagainthedelightofswiftmotion;butshedarednottryit,andstoodleaningonhertallparasolwithherbookinherhand,whenFrank,Jack,andthebicycleboycamerowinglazilyalongandhailedher。
\"Comeforasail,Jill？Takeyouanywhereyoulike,\"calledJack,touchedbythelonelyfigureonthebeach。
\"I\'dlovetogo,ifyouwillrow。Mammamademepromisenottogosailingwithoutamantotakecareofme。Woulditspoilyourfuntohaveme？\"answeredJill,eagerly。
\"Notabit;comeoutonthebigstonesandwe\'lltakeyouaboard,\"
saidFrank,astheysteeredtotheplacewhereshecouldembarktheeasiest。
\"AlltherestaregonetotheChasm。Iwantedtogo,becauseI\'veneverseenit;but,ofcourse,Ihadtogiveitup,asIdomostofthefun\";andJillsatdownwithanimpatientsigh。
\"We\'llrowyouroundthere。Can\'tland,butyoucanseetheplaceandshouttotheothers,ifthatwillbeanycomforttoyou,\"
proposedFrank,astheypulledawayroundthepier。
\"Oh,yes,thatwouldbelovely！\"andJillsmiledatJack,whowassteering,forshefounditimpossibletobedismalnowwiththefreshwindblowinginherface,thebluewavesslappingagainsttheboat,andthreegood—naturedladsreadytogratifyherwishes。
Awaytheywent,laughingandtalkinggaylytilltheycametoGoodwin\'sRocks,whereanunusualnumberofpeopleweretobeseenthoughthetidewasgoingout,andnowhitespraywasdashinghighintotheairtomakeasightworthseeing。
\'Whatdoyousupposetheyareabout？Neversawsuchalotoffolksatthistime。Shouldn\'twonderifsomethinghadhappened。I
say,putmeashore,andI\'llcutupandsee,\"saidthebicycleboy,whowasofaninquiringturn。
\"I\'llgowithyou,\"saidFrank;\"itwon\'ttakebutaminute,andI\'dliketodiscoverwhatitis。Maybesomethingweoughttoknowabout。\"
Sotheboyspulledroundintoaquietnook,andthetwoelderonesscrambleduptherocks,todisappearinthecrowd。Five,ten,fifteenminutespassed,andtheydidnotreturn。Jackgrewimpatient,sodidJill,andbadehimrunupandbringthemback。
Gladtoknowwhatkeptthem,Jackdeparted,tobeswallowedupinhisturn,fornotasignofaboydidsheseeafterthat;and,havingvainlystrainedhereyestodiscovertheattractionwhichheldthem,shegaveitup,laydownontheirjackets,andbegantoread。
Thenthetreacheroustide,asitebbedlowerandlowerdownthebeach,begantoluretheboataway;foritwasnotfastened,andwhenlightenedofitsloadwasaneasyprizetothehungrysea,alwaysreadytostealallitcan。Jillknewnothingofthis,forherstorywasdull,thegentlemotionprovedsoothing,andbeforesheknewitshewasasleep。Littlebylittletherunawayboatslidfartherfromtheshore,andpresentlywasfloatingouttoseawithitsdrowsyfreight,whilethecarelessboys,unconsciousofthetimetheywerewasting,lingeredtoseegroupaftergroupphotographedbytheenterprisingmanwhohadtrundledhiscameratotherocks。
Inthemidstofadreamabouthome,Jillwasrousedbyaloudshout,and,startingupsosuddenlythatthesun—umbrellawentoverboard,shefoundherselfsailingoffalone,whilethedistractedladsroaredandbeckonedvainlyfromthecove。Theoarslayattheirfeet,wheretheyleftthem;andthepoorchildwasquitehelpless,forshecouldnotmanagethesail,andeventheparasol,withwhichshemighthavepaddledalittle,hadgonedownwithallsailset。Foraminute,Jillwassofrightenedthatshecouldonlylookaboutherwithascaredface,andwonderifdrowningwasaverydisagreeablething。ThenthesightofthebicycleboystrugglingwithJack,whoseemedinclinedtoswimafterher,andFrankshoutingwildly,\"Holdon！Comeback！\"madeherlaughinspiteofherfear,itwassocomical,andtheirdistresssomuchgreaterthanhers,sinceitwastheirowncarelessnesswhichcausedthetrouble。
\"Ican\'tcomeback！There\'snothingtoholdonto！Youdidn\'tfastenme,andnowIdon\'tknowwhereI\'mgoing！\"criedJill,lookingfromtheshoretothetreacherousseathatwasgentlycarryingheraway。
\"Keepcool！We\'llgetaboatandcomeafteryou,~roaredFrank,beforehefollowedJack,whohadcollectedhiswitsandwastearinguptherockslikeachamoishunter。
Thebicycleboycalmlysatdowntokeephiseyeontherunaway,callingoutfromtimetotimesuchcheeringremarksas\"AllaboardforLiverpool！GivemylovetoVictoria！LuffandbearawaywhenyoucometoHalifax！Ifyouarehardupforprovisions,you\'llfindanappleandsomebaitinmycoat—pocket,\"andotherdirectionsforacomfortablevoyage,tillhisvoicewaslostinthedistanceasastrongercurrentboreherswiftlyawayandthebigwavesbegantotumbleandsplash。
AtfirstJillhadlaughedathiseffortstokeepupherspirits,butwhentheboatfloatedroundapointofrockthatshutinthecove,shefeltallalone,andsatquitestill,wonderingwhatwouldbecomeofher。Sheturnedherbacktotheseaandlookedatthedear,safeland,whichneverhadseemedsogreenandbeautifulbefore。UponthehillrustledthewoodthroughwhichthehappypartywerewanderingtotheChasm。Ontherocksshestillsawthecrowdallbusywiththeirownaffairs,unconsciousofherdanger。
Hereandthereartistsweresketchinginpicturesquespots,andinoneplaceanoldgentlemansatfishingpeacefully。Jillcalledandwavedherhandkerchief,butheneverlookedup,andanuglylittledogbarkedatherinwhatseemedtoheramostcruelway。
\"Nobodyseesorhearsorcares,andthosehorridboyswillnevercatchup！\"shecriedindespair,astheboatbegantorockmoreandmore,andtheloudswashofwaterdashinginandoutoftheChasmdrewnearerandnearer。Holdingonnowwithbothhandssheturnedandlookedstraightbeforeher,paleandshivering,whilehereyestriedtoseesomesignofhopeamongthesteepcliffsthatroseupontheleft。Noonewasthere,thoughusuallyatthishourtheywerefullofvisitors,anditwastimeforthewalkerstohavearrived。
\"IwonderifGertyandMamiewillbesorryifI\'mdrowned,\"
thoughtJill,rememberingthepoorgirlwhohadbeenlostintheChasmnotlongago。Herlivelyfancypicturedthegriefofherfriendsatherloss;butthatdidnothelporcomforthernow,andasheranxiousgazewanderedalongtheshore,shesaidaloud,inapensivetone,\"PerhapsIshallbewreckedonNorman\'sWoe,andsomebodywillmakepoetryaboutme。Itwouldbeprettytoread,butIdon\'twanttodiethatway。Oh,whydidIcome！Whydidn\'tIstaysafeandcomfortableinmyownboat？\"
Atthethoughtasobrose,andpoorJilllaidherheaddownonherlaptocrywithallherheart,feelingveryhelpless,small,andforsakenalonethereonthegreatsea。Inthemidstofhertearscamethethought,\"Whenpeopleareindanger,theyaskGodtosavethem\";and,slippingdownuponherknees,shesaidherprayerasshehadneversaiditbefore,forwhenhumanhelpseemsgoneweturntoHimasnaturallyaslostchildrencrytotheirfather,andfeelsurethathewillhearandanswerthem。
Afterthatshefeltbetter,andwipedawaythedropsthatblindedher,tolookoutagainlikeashipwreckedmarinerwatchingforasail。Andthereitwas！Closeby,comingswiftlyonwithamanbehindit,asturdybrownfisher,busywithhislobster—pots,andquiteunconscioushowlikeanangelhelookedtothehelplesslittlegirlintherudderlessboat。