\"Hi！hi！Oh,pleasedostopandgetme！I\'mlost,nooars,nobodytofixthesail！Oh,oh！pleasecome！\"screamedJill,wavingherhatfranticallyastheotherboatskimmedbyandthemanstaredatherasifshereallywasamermaidwithafishytail。
\"Keepstill！I\'llcomeaboutandfetchyou！\"hecalledout;andJillobeyed,sittinglikealittleimageoffaith,tillwithagooddealofshiftingandflappingofthesail,theotherboatcamealongsideandtookherintow,Afewwordstoldthestory,andinfiveminutesshewassittingsnuglytuckedupwatchingartunpleasantmassoflobstersflapaboutdangerouslynearhertoes,whiletheboatboundedoverthewaveswithadelightfulmotion,andeveryinstantbroughthernearerborne。Shedidnotsaymuch,butfeltagooddeal;andwhentheymettwoboatscomingtomeether,mannedbyveryanxiouscrewsofmenandboys,shewassopaleandquietthatJackwasquiteboweddownwithremorse,andFranknearlypitchedthebicycleboyoverboardbecausehegaylyaskedJillhowsheleftherfriendsinEngland。Therewasgreatrejoicingoverher,forthepeopleontherockshadheardofherloss,andranaboutlikeantswhentheirhillisdisturbed。OfcoursehalfadozenamiablesoulspostedofftotheWillowstotellthefamilythatthelittlegirlwasdrowned,sothatwhentherescuersappearedquiteacrowdwasassembledonthebeachtowelcomeher。ButJillfeltsousedupwithherownshareoftheexcitementthatshewasgladtobecarriedtothehousebyFrankandJack,andlaiduponherbed,whereMrs。Hammondsoonrestoredherwithsugar—coatedpills,andwordsevensweeterandmoresoothing。
Otherpeople,busiedwiththeirownpleasures,forgotallaboutitbythenextday;butJillrememberedthathourlongafterward,bothawakeandasleep,forherdreamsweretroubled,andsheoftenstartedupimploringsomeonetosaveher。Thenshewouldrecallthemomentwhen,feelingmosthelpless,shehadaskedforhelp,andithadcomeasquicklyasifthattearfullittlecryhadbeenheardandanswered,thoughhervoicehadbeendrownedbythedashofthewavesthatseemedreadytodevourher。Thismadeadeepimpressiononher,andasenseofchildlikefaithintheFatherofallbegantogrowupwithinher;forinthatlonelyvoyage,shortasitwas,shehadfoundaveryprecioustreasuretokeepforever,toleanon,andtoloveduringthelongervoyagewhichallmusttakebeforewereachourhome。
Chapter22AHappyDay\"Ohdear！Onlyaweekmore,andthenwemustgoback。Don\'tyouhatethethoughtsofit？\"saidJack,ashewasgivingJillherearlywalkonthebeachoneAugustmorning。
\"Yes,itwillbedreadfultoleaveGertyandMamieandallthenicepeople。ButI\'msomuchbetterIwon\'thavetobeshutupagain,evenifIdon\'tgotoschool。HowIlongtoseeMerryandMolly。
Dearthings,ifitwasn\'tforthemIshouldhategoinghomemorethanyoudo,\"answeredJill,steppingalongquitebriskly,andfindingitveryhardtoresistbreakingintoaskiporarun,shefeltsowellandgay。
\"Wishtheycouldbehereto—daytoseethefun,\"saidJack,foritwastheanniversaryofthefoundingoftheplace,andthepeoplecelebrateditbyallsortsoffestivity。
\"I\'didwanttoaskMolly,butyourmotherissogoodtomeI
couldn\'tfindcouragetodoit。Mammytoldmenottoaskforathing,andI\'msureIdon\'tgetachance。IfeeljustasifIwasyourtrulybornsister,Jack。\"
\"That\'sallright,I\'mgladyoudo,\"answeredJack,comfortably,thoughhismindseemedalittleabsentandhiseyestwinkledwhenshespokeofMolly。\"Now,yousitinthecubby—house,andkeepquiettilltheboatcomesin。Thenthefunwillbegin,andyoumustbefreshandreadytoenjoyit。Don\'trunoff,now,Ishallwanttoknowwheretofindyoubyandby。\"
\"Nomorerunningoff,thankyou。I\'llstayheretillyoucome,andfinishthisboxforMolly;shehasabirthdaythisweek,andI\'vewrittentoaskwhatday,soIcansenditrightupandsurpriseher。
Jack\'seyestwinkledmorethaneverashehelpedJillsettleherselfintheboat,andthenwithawhoophetoreoverthebeach,asifpractisingfortheracewhichwastocomeoffintheafternoon。
Jillwassobusywithherworkthattimewentquickly,andth~
earlyboatcameinjustasthelastpinkshellwasstuckinitsplace。
Puttingtheboxinthesuntodry,sheleanedoutofhernooktowatchthegaypartiesland,andgostreamingupthepieralongtheroadthatwentbehindthebankthatshelteredher。Flocksofchildrenwererunningaboutonthesand,andpresentlystrangersappeared,eagertoseeandenjoyallthedelightsofthisgala—day。
\"There\'safatlittleboywholookseversomuchlikeBoo,\"saidJilltoherself,watchingthepeopleandhopingtheywouldnotcomeandfindher,sinceshehadpromisedtostaytillJackreturned。
Thefatlittleboywasstaringabouthiminablissfulsortofmaze,holdingawoodenshovelinonehandandtheskirtsofayounggirlwiththeother。HerbackwasturnedtoJill,butsomethinginthelongbrownbraidwithafly—awaybluebowhangingdownherbacklookedveryfamiliartoJill。SodidthegraysuitandtheJapaneseumbrella;butthehatwasstrange,andwhileshewasthinkinghownaturalthebootslooked,thegirlturnedround。
\"Why,howmuchshelookslikeMolly！Itcan\'tbe——yes,itmight,I
dobelieveitis！\"criedJill,startingupandhardlydaringtotrustherowneyes。
Asshecameoutofhernestandshowedherself,therecouldbenodoubtabouttheothergirl,forshegaveoneshoutandcameracingoverthebeachwithbotharmsout,whileherhatblewoffunheeded,andthegayumbrellaflewaway,tothegreatdelightofallthelittlepeopleexceptBoo,whowasupsetbyhissister\'simpetuousrush,andlayuponhisbackhowling。Mollydidnotdoalltherunning,though,andJillgotherwish,for,neverstoppingtothinkofherself,shewasoffatonce,andmetherfriendhalf—waywithanansweringcry。Jrwasaprettysighttoseethemrunintooneanother\'sarmsandhugandkissandtalkandskipinsuchastateofgirlishjoytheynevercaredwhosaworlaughedattheirinnocentraptures。
\"Youdarlingdear！wheredidyoucomefrom？\"criedJill,holdingMollybybothshoulders,andshakingheralittletobesureshewasreal。
\"Mrs。Minotsentforustospendaweek。Youlooksowell,Ican\'tbelievemyeyes！\"answeredMolly,pattingJill\'scheeksandkissingthemoverandover,asiftomakesurethebrightcolorwouldnotcomeoff。
\"Aweek？Howsplendid！Oh,I\'vesuchheapstotellandshowyou;
comerightovertomycubbyandseehowlovelyitis,\"saidJill,forgettingeverybodyelseinherdelightatgettingMolly。
\"ImustgetpoorBoo,andmyhatandumbrella,IleftthemallbehindmewhenIsawyou,\"laughedMolly,lookingback。
ButMrs。MinotandJackhadconsoledBooandcollectedthescatteredproperty,sothegirlswentonarminarm,andhadafinetimebeforeanyonehadthehearttodisturbthem。Mollywascharmedwiththeboat,andJillverygladtheboxwasdoneinseason。Bothhadsomuchtotellandhearandplan,thattheywouldhavesatthereforeverifbathing—timehadnotcome,andthebeachsuddenlylookedlikeabedofredandyellowtulips,foreveryonetookadip,andthestrangersaddedmuchtothefun。
Mollycouldswimlikeaduck,andquitecoveredherselfwithglorybydivingoffthepier。JackundertooktoteachBoo,whowasapromisingpupil,beingsoplumpthathecouldnotsinkifhetried。
Jillwassoonthrough,andlayonthesandenjoyingtheanticsofthebatherstillshewassofaintwithlaughtershewasgladtohearthedinner—hornanddothehonorsoftheWillowstoMolly,whoseroomwasnexthers。
Boat—racescamefirstintheafternoon,andthegirlswatchedthem,sittingluxuriouslyinthenest,withtheladiesandchildrencloseby。Thesailing—matcheswereveryprettytosee;butMollyandJillweremoreinterestedintherowing,forFrankandthebicycleboypulledoneboat,andthefriendsfeltthatthisonemustwin。Itdid,thoughtheracewasnotveryexcitingnortheprizeofgreatworth;
buttheboysandgirlsweresatisfied,andJackwasmuchexalted,forhealwaystoldFrankhecoulddogreatthingsifhewouldonlydropbooksand\"goinonhismuscle。\"
Foot—racesfollowed,and,burningtodistinguishhimselfalso,Jackinsistedontrying,thoughhismotherwarnedhimthattheweaklegmightbeharmed,andhehadhisowndoubtsaboutit,ashewasalloutofpractice。However,hetookhisplacewithahandkerchieftiedroundhishead,redshirtandstockings,andhissleevesrolledupasifhemeantbusiness。JillandMollycouldnotsitstillduringthisrace,andstoodonthebankquitetremblingwithexcitementasthehalf—dozenrunnersstoodinalineatthestarting—postwaitingfortheword\"Go！\"
Offtheywentatlastoverthesmoothbeachtothepolewiththeflagatthefurtherend,andcveryonewatchedthemwithmingledinterestandmerriment,fortheywereadrollset,andtherunningnotatallscientificwithmostofthem。Oneyoungfishermanwithbigbootsoverhistrousersstartedoffatagreatpace,poundingalonginthemostdoggedway,whilealittlechapinatightbathing—suitwithverythinlegsskimmedbyhim,lookingsolikeasand—piperitwasimpossibletohelplaughingatboth。Jack\'sformertrainingstoodhimingoodsteadnow;forhewenttoworkinprofessionalstyle,andkeptasteadytrottilltheflagpolehadbeenpassed,thenheputonhisspeedandshotaheadofalltherest,severalofwhombrokedownandgaveup。ButCoxandBaconheldongallantly;andsoonitwasevidentthatthesturdylegsintheknickerbockersweregainingfast,forJackgavehisankleanuglywrenchonaroundpebble,andtheweakkneebegantofail。Hedidhisbest,however,andquiteabreezeofenthusiasmstirredthespectatorsasthethreeboyscamedownthecourselikemettlesomehorses,panting,pale,orpurple,buteachboundtowinatanycost。
Now,Bacon！\"Goit,Minot！Hithimup,Cox！Jack\'sahead！\"\"No,heisn\'t！\"\"Heretheycome！\"\"Bacon\'sdoneit！\"shoutedtheotherboys,andtheywereright;Baconhadwon,forthegraylegscameinjusthalfayardaheadoftheredones,andMinottumbledintohisbrother\'sarmswithhardlybreathenoughlefttogaspout,good—humoredly,\"Allright,I\'mgladhebeat！\"
Thenthevictorwascongratulatedandborneoffbyhisfriendstorefreshhimself,whilethelookers—onscatteredtoseeagameoftennisandtheshootingoftheArcheryClubupatthehotel。Jackwassoonrested,and,makinglightofhisdefeat,insistedontakingthegirlstoseethefun。Sothey\'droveupintheoldomnibus,andenjoyedtheprettysightverymuch;fortheyoungladieswereinuniform,andthebroadgreenribbonsoverthewhitedresses,thegayquivers,longbows,andbigtargets,madealivelyscene。Theshootingwasgood;ahandsomedamselgottheprizeofadozenarrows,andeveryoneclappedinthemostenthusiasticmanner。
MollyandJilldidnotcareabouttennis,sotheywenthometorestanddressfortheevening,becausetotheirmindsthedancing,theillumination,andthefireworkswerethebestfunofall。Jill\'swhitebuntingwithcherryribbonswasverybecoming,andthelivelyfeetinthenewslipperspattedthefloorimpatientlyasthesoundofdancemusiccamedowntotheWillowsaftertea,andtheothergirlswaltzedonthewidepiazzabecausetheycouldnotkeepstill。
\"Nodancingforme,butMollymusthaveagoodtime。You\'llseethatshedoes,won\'tyou,boys？\"saidJill,whoknewthathershareofthefunwouldbelyingonasetteeandwatchingtherestenjoyherfavoritepastime。
FrankandJackpromised,andkc~ttheirwordhandsomely;fortherewasplentyofroominthegreatdancing—hallatthehotel,andthebandinthepavilionplayedsuchinspiringmusicthat,asthebicycleboysaid,\"Everyonewhohadalegcouldn\'thelpshakingit。\"Mollywastwirledabouttoherheart\'scontent,andflewhitherandthitherlikeabluebutterfly;foralltheladslikedher,andshekeptrunninguptotellJillthefunnythingstheysaidanddid。
Asnightdarkenedfromallthehousesinthevalley,onthecliffsandalongtheshorelightsshoneandsparkled;foreveryonedecoratedwithgaylanterns,andseveralyachtsinthebaystrungcoloredlampsaboutthelittlevessels,makingaprettypictureonthequietsea。Jillthoughtshehadneverseenanythingsolikefairy—land,andfeltverylikeoneinadreamasshedroveslowlyupanddownwithMamie,Gerty,Molly,andMrs。Coxinthecarriage,sothatshemightseeitallwithouttoomuchfatigue。Itwasverylovely;andwhenrocketsbegantowhizz,fillingtheairwithgoldenrain,ashowerofcoloredstars,fierydragons,orglitteringwheels,thegirlscouldonlyshriekwithdelight,andbegtostayalittlelongereachtimetheprudentladyproposedgoinghome。
Ithadtobeatlast;butMollyandJillcomfortedthemselvesbyalongtalkinbed,foritwasimpossibletosleepwithglaresoflightcomingeveryfewminutes,flocksofpeopletalkingandtrampingbyintheroad,andburstsofmusicfloatingdowntothem~sthcoldcrbutnotwiserrevellerskeptupthemerrimenttillalatehour。
They\'droppedoffatlast;butJillhadthenightmare,andMollywaswakedupbyaviolentjerkingofherbraidasJilltriedtotowheralong,dreamingshewasaboat。
Theyweretoosleepytolaughmuchthen,butnextmorningtheymademerryoverit,andwenttobreakfastwithsuchhappyfacesthatalltheyoungfolkspronouncedJill\'sfriendamostdelightfulgirl。WhatagoodtimeMollydidhavethatweek！Otherpeopleweregoingtoleavealso,andthereforemuchpicnicking,boating,anddrivingwascrowdedintothelastdays。Clambakesontheshore,charadesinthestudio,sewing—partiesattheboat,eveningfrolicsinthebigdining—room,farewellcalls,gifts,andInvitations,allSortsofplansfornextsummer,andvowsofeternalfriendshipexchangedbetweenpeoplewhowouldsoonforgeteachother。Itwasverypleasant,tillpoorBooinnocentlyaddedtotheexcitementbypoisoningafewofhisneighborswithabadlobster。
Theambitiouslittlesoulpinedtocatchoneofthesemysteriousbutlovelyredcreatures,andspentdaysfishingonthebeach,investigatingholesandcorners,andtaggingaftertheoldmanwhosuppliedthehouse。Onedayafterahighwindhefoundseveral\"lobs\"washeduponthebeach,and,thoughdisappointedattheircolor,hepickedoutabigone,andsetofftoshowhisprizetoMolly。Half—wayhomehemettheoldmanonhiswaywithabasketoffish,andbeingtiredoflugginghiscontributionlaiditwiththeothers,meaningtoexplainlater。Noonesawhimdoit,astheoldmanwasbusywithhispipe;andBooranbacktogetmoredearlobs,leavinghistreasuretogointothekettleandappearatsupper,bywhichtimehehadforgottenallaboutit。
Fortunatelynoneofthechildrenateany,butseveralolderpeopleweremadeill,andquiteapanicprevailedthatnightasoneaftertheothercalledupthedoctor,whowasboardingcloseby;andgoodMrs。Grey,thehostess,ranaboutwithhotflannels,bottlesofmedicine,anddistractedmessagesfromroomtoroom。Allwerecomfortablebymorning,butthefriendsofthesuffererslayinwaitfortheoldfisherman,andgavehimagoodscoldingforhiscarelessness。ThepoormanwasprotestinghisinnocencewhenBoo,whowaspassingby,lookedintothebasket,andaskedwhathadbecomeofhislob。Afewquestionsbroughtthetruthtolight,andagenerallaughputeveryoneingoodhumor,whenpoorBoomildlysaid,bywayofexplanation,\"IfoughtIwashelpin\'Mrs。Dray,andI\'didwanttoseethedreenlobcomeoutallredwhensheboiledhim。ButIfordot,andIdon\'tfinkI\'lleverfindsuchanicebigoneanymore。\"
\"Foroursakes,Ihopeyouwon\'t,mydear,\"saidMrs。Hammond,whohadbeennursingoneofthesufferers。
\"It\'sluckywearegoinghometo—morrow,orthatchildwouldbethedeathofhimselfandeverybodyelse。Heisperfectlycrazyaboutfish,andI\'vepulledhimoutofthatoldlobster—potonthebeachadozentimes,\"groanedMolly,muchafflictedbythemishapsofheryoungcharge。
Therewasagreatbreakingupnextday,andtheoldomnibuswentofftothestationwithBaconhangingonbehind,thebicycleboyandhisironwhirligigatop,andheadspoppingoutofallthewindowsforlastgood—byes。OurpartyandtheHammondsweregoingbyboat,andwereallreadytostartforthepierwhenBooandlittleHarryweremissing。Molly,themaid,andbothboysrandifferentwaystofindthem;andallsortsofdreadfulsuggestionswerebeingmadewhenshoutsoflaughterwereheardfromthebeach,andthetruantsappeared,proudlydragginginHarry\'slittlewagonadeaddevil—fish,asthenativescallthatuglythingwhichlookslikeamagnifiedtadpole——allheadandnobody。
\"We\'vedothim！\"calledtheinnocents,tugginguptheirprizewithsuchsolemnsatisfactionitwasimpossibletohelplaughing。
\"Ialwayswantedtotatchawhale,andthisisababyone,Ifink。A
boysaid,whentheywantedtodietheycornedonthesandanddidit,andwesawthisonegodeadjustnow。Ain\'tliepretty？\"askedBoo,displayingtheimmensemouthwithfondpride,whilehisfriendflappedthetail。
\"Whatareyougoingtodowithhim？\"saidMrs。Hammond,regardingherinfantasifsheoftenaskedherselfthesamequestionaboutherboy。
\"Waphimupinapaperandtatehimhometopaywid,\"answeredHarry,withsuchconfidenceinhisbigblueeyesthatitwasveryhardtodisappointhishopesandtellhimthetreasuremustbeleftbehind。
Wailsofdespairburstfrombothchildrenasthehard—heartedboystippedoutthelittlewhale,andhustledtheindignantfishermenonboardtheboat,whichhadbeenwhistlingforthemimpatiently。
Boorecoveredhisspiritsfirst,andgulpingdownasobthatnearlyshookhishatoff,consoledhiscompanioninafflictionandconvulsedhisfriendsbytakingfromhispocketseverallittlecrabs,theremainsofajelly—fish,andsuchacollectionofpebblesthatFrankunderstoodwhyhefoundthefatboysuchaburdenwhenheshoulderedhim,kickingandhowling,inthelateruntotheboat。
ThesedelicatetoyshealedthewoundsofBooandHarry,andtheyweresoonhappilywalkingthelittle\"trabs\"aboutinsideastonewalloftheirownbuilding,whiletheothersrestedaftertheirexertions,andlaidplansforcomingtotheWillowsanotheryear,aspeopleusuallydidwhohadoncetastedthewholesomedelightsandcordialhospitalityofthischarmingplace。
Chapter23CattleShowThechildrenwerenottheoniyoneswhohadlearnedsomethingatPebblyBeach。Mrs。Minotbadtalkedagooddealwithsomeverysuperiorpersons,andreceivedlightuponvarioussubjectswhichhadmuchinterestedorperplexedher。Whiletheladiesworkedorwalkedtogether,theynaturallyspokeoftenestandmostearnestlyabouttheirchildren,andeachcontributedherexperience。Mrs。
Hammond,whohadbeenaphysicianformanyyears,waswiseinthecareofhealthylittlebodies,andthecureofsickones。Mrs。
Channing,whohadread,travelled,andobservedmuchinthecauseofeducation,hadmanyusefulhintsaboutthetrainingofyoungmindsandhearts。Severalteachersreportedtheirtrials,andallthemotherswereeagertoknowhowtobringuptheirboysandgirlstobehealthy,happy,usefulmenandwomen。
Asyoungpeopledonotcareforsuchdiscussions,wewillnotdescribethem,butastheimpressiontheymadeupononeofthemammasaffectedourheroandheroine,wemustmentionthechangeswhichtookplaceintheirlifewhentheyallgothomeagain。
\"Schoolbeginsto—morrow。Oh,dear！\"sighedJack,ashelookeduphisbooksintheBirdRoom,adayortwoaftertheirreturn。
\"Don\'tyouwanttogo？Ilongto,butdon\'tbelieveIshall。Isawourmotherstalkingtothedoctorlastnight,butIhaven\'tdaredtoaskwhatthey\'decided,\"saidJill,affectionatelyeyingthelong—unusedbooksinherlittlelibrary。
\"I\'vehadsuchajollygoodtime,thatIhatetobeshutupalldayworsethanever,Don\'tyou,Frank？\"askedJack,withavengefulslapatthearithmeticwhichwasthetormentofhislife。
\"Well,IconfessIdon\'thankerforschoolasmuchasIexpected。
I\'drathertakeaspinontheoldbicycle。Ourroadsaresogood,itisagreattemptationtohireamachine,andastonishthenatives。
That\'swhatcomesofidleness。Sobraceup,myboy,andgotowork,forvacationisover,\"answeredFrank,gravelyregardingthetallpileofbooksbeforehim,asiftryingtowelcomehisoldfriends,ortyrants,rather,fortheyruledhimwitharodofironwhenheoncegavehimselfuptothem。
\"Ah,butvacationisnotover,mydears,\"saidMrs。Minot,hearingthelastwordsasshecameinpreparedtosurpriseherfamily。
\"Gladofit。Howmuchlongerisittobe？\"askedJack,hopingforaweekatleast。
\"Twoorthreeyearsforsomeofyou。\"
\"What？\"criedallthree,inutterastonishment,astheystaredatMamma,whocouldnothelpsmiling,thoughshewasverymuchinearnest。
\"ForthenexttwoorthreeyearsIintendtocultivatemyboys\'
bodies,andlettheirmindsrestagooddeal,frombooksatleast。
Thereisplentytolearnoutsideofschool—houses,andIdon\'tmeantoshutyouupjustwhenyoumostneedalltheairandexerciseyoucanget。Goodhealth,goodprinciples,andagoodeducationarethethreeblessingsIaskforyou,andIamgoingtomakesureofthefirst,asafirmfoundationfortheothertwo。\"
\"But,mother,whatbecomesofcollege？\"askedFrank,ratherdisturbedatthischangeofbase。
\"Putitoffforayear,andseeifyouarenotbetterfittedforitthenthannow。\"
\"ButIamalreadyfitted:I\'veworkedlikeatigerallthisyear,andI\'msureIshallpass。\"
\"Readyinoneway,butnotinanother。Thathardworkisnopreparationforfouryearsofstillharderstudy。Ithascostyoutheseroundshoulders,manyaheadache,andconsumedhourswhenyouhadfarbetterhavebeenontheriverorinthefields。Icannothaveyoubreakdown,assomanyboysdo,orpullthroughatthecostofill—healthafterward。Eighteenisyoungenoughtobeginthesteadygrind,ifyouhaveastrongconstitutiontokeeppacewiththeeagermind。Sixteenistooyoungtosendevenmygoodboyoutintotheworld,justwhenhemostneedshismother\'scaretohelphimbethemanshehopestoseehim。\"
Mrs。Minotlaidherhandonhisshoulderasshespoke,lookingsofondandproudthatitwasimpossibletorebel,thoughsomeofhismostcherishedplanswerespoilt。
\"Otherfellowsgoatmyage,andIwasratherpleasedtobereadyatsixteen,\"hebegan。Butsheadded,quickly,\"Theygo,buthowdotheycomeout？Manylosehealthofbody,andmanywhatismorepreciousstill,moralstrength,becausetooyoungandignoranttowithstandtemptationsofallsorts。Thebestpartofeducationdoesnotcomefrombooks,andthegoodprinciplesIvaluemorethaneitheroftheotherthingsaretobecarefullywatchedovertillfirmlyfixed;thenyoumayfacetheworld,andcometonorealharm。Trustme,dear,Idoitforyoursake;sobearthedisappointmentbravely,andintheendIthinkyouwillsayI\'mright。\"
\"I\'lldomybest;butIdon\'tseewhatistobecomeofusifwedon\'tgotoschool。Youwillgettiredofitfirst,\"saidFrank,tryingtosetagoodexampletotheothers,whowerelookingmuchimpressedandinterested。
\"Nodangerofthat,forIneversentmychildrentoschooltogetridofthem,andnowthattheyareoldenoughtobecompanions,I
wantthemathomemorethanever。Therearetobesomelessons,however,forbusymindsmustbefed,butnotcrammed;soyouboyswillgoandreciteatcertainhourssuchthingsasseemmostimportant。Butthereistobenostudyingatnight,noshuttingupallthebesthoursoftheday,nohurryandfretofgettingonfast,orskimmingoverthesurfaceofmanystudieswithoutlearninganythoroughly。\"
\"SoIsay！\"criedJack,pleasedwiththenewidea,forheneverdidlovebooks。\"IdohatetobedrivensoIdon\'thalfunderstand,becausethereisnotimetohavethingsexplained。Schoolisgoodfunasfarasplaygoes;butIdon\'tseethesenseofmakingafellowlearneightyquestionsingeographyoneday,andforgetthemthenext。
\"Whatistobecomeofme,please？\"askedJill,meekly。
\"YouandMollyaretohavelessonshere。IwasateacherwhenI
wasyoung,youknow,andlikedit,soIshallbeschool—ma\'am,andleavemyhouse—keepinginbetterhandsthanmine。Ialwaysthoughtthatmothersshouldteachtheirgirlsduringtheseyears,andvarytheirstudiestosuitthegrowingcreaturesasonlymotherscan。
\"Thatwillbesplendid！WillMolly\'sfatherlethercome？\"criedJill,feelingquitereconciledtostayingathome,ifherfriendwastobewithher。
\"Helikestheplanverymuch,forMollyisgrowingfast,andneedsasortofcarethatMissDawescannotgiveher。Iamnotahardmistress,andIhopeyouwillfindmyschoolapleasantone。\"
\"IknowIshall;andI\'mnotdisappointed,becauseIwasprettysureIcouldn\'tgototheoldschoolagain,whenIheardthedoctorsayI
mustbeverycarefulforalongtime。Ithoughthemeantmonths;
butifitmustheyears,Icanbearit,forI\'vebeenhappythislastonethoughIwassick,\"saidJill,gladtoshowthatithadnotbeenwastedtimebybeingcheerfulandpatientnow。
\"That\'smygoodgirl！\"andMrs。Minotstrokedthecurlyblackheadasifitwasherownlittledaughter\'s。\"Youhavedonesowell,I
wantyoutogoonimproving,forcarenowwillsaveyoupainanddisappointmentbyandby。Youallhavegotacapitalstartduringthesesixweeks,soitisagoodtimetobeginmyexperiment。Ifitdoesnotworkwell,wewillgobacktoschoolandcollegenextspring。\"
\"HurrahforMammaandthelongvacation！\"criedJack,catchinguptwobigbooksandwhirlingthemroundlikeclubs,asiftogethismusclesinorderatonce。
\"NowIshallhavetimetogototheGymnasiumandstraightenoutmyback,\"saidFrank,whowasgrowingsotallheneededmorebreadthtomakehisheightsymmetrical。
\"Andtoridehorscback。IamgoingtohireoldJaneandgetoutthelittlephaeton,sowecanallenjoythefineweatherwhileitlasts。
MollyandIcandriveJill,andyoucantaketurnsinthesaddlewhenyouaretiredofballandboating。Exerciseofallsortsisoneofthelessonswearetolearn,\"saidMrs。Minot,suggestingallthepleasantthingsshecouldtosweetenthepillforherpupils,twoofwhomdidlovetheirbooks,notbeingoldenoughtoknowthatevenanexcellentthingmaybeoverdone。
\"Won\'tthatbegay？I\'llgetdownthesaddleto—day,sowecanbeginrightoff。Lemrides,andwecangotogether。HopeoldJanewilllikeitaswellasIshall,\"saidJack,whohadfoundanewfriendinapleasantladlatelycometotown。
\"Youmustseethatshedoes,foryouboysaretotakecareofher。
Wewillputthebarninorder,andyoucandecidewhichshallbehostlerandwhichgardener,forIdon\'tintendtohirelaborontheplaceanymore。Ourestateisnotalargeone,anditwillbeexcellentworkforyou,mymen。\"
\"Allright！I\'llseetoJane。Ilovehorses,\"saidJack,wellpleasedwiththeprospect。
\"Myhorsewon\'tneedmuchcare。Ipreferabicycletoabeast,soI\'llgetinthesquashes,picktheapples,andcoverthestrawberrybedwhenitistime,\"addedFrank,whohadenjoyedthefreelifeatPebblyBeachsomuchthathewaswillingtoprolongit。
\"Youmayputmeinahen—coop,andkeepmethereayear,ifyoulike。Iwon\'tfret,forI\'msureyouknowwhatisbestforme,\"saidJill,gayly,asshelookedupatthegoodfriendwhohaddonesomuchforher。
\"I\'mnotsurethatIwon\'tputyouinaprettycageandsendyoutoCattleShow,asasampleofwhatwecandointhewayoftamingawildbirdtillitisnearlyasmeekasadove,\"answeredMrs。Minot,muchgratifiedattheamiabilityofherflock。
\"Idon\'tseewhythereshouldnotbeanexhibitionofchildren,andprizesforthegoodandprettyones,aswellasforfatpigs,finehorses,orhandsomefruitandflowers——Idon\'tmeanababyshow,butboysandgirls,sopeoplecanseewhattheprospectisofagoodcropforthenextgeneration,\"saidFrank,glancingtowardthetowerofthebuildingwheretheyearlyAgriculturalFairwassoontobeheld。
\"Yearsago,therewasaprettycustomhereofcollectingalltheschoolstogetherinthespring,andhavingafestivalattheTownHall。Eachschoolshoweditsbestpupils,andtheparentslookedonatthebloomingflowershow。Itwasapityitwasevergivenup,fortheschoolshaveneverbeensogoodasthen,northeinterestinthemsogreat\";andMrs。Minotwondered,asmanypeopledo,whyfarmersseemtocaremorefortheircattleandcropsthanfortheirchildren,willinglyspendinglargesumsonbigbarnsandcostlyexperiments,whiletheschool—housesareshabbyandinconvenient,andthecheapestteacherspreferred。
\"Ralphisgoingtosendmybust。Heaskedifhemight,andmothersaidYes。Mr。Germanthinksitverygood,andIhopeotherpeoplewill,\"saidJill,noddingtowardthelittleplasterheadthatsmileddownfromitsbracketwithherownmerrylook。
\"Icouldsendmymodel;itisnearlydone。Ralphtoldmeitwasacleverpieceofwork,andheknows,\"addedFrank,quitetakenwiththeideaofexhibitinghisskillinmechanics。
\"AndIcouldsendmystarbedquilt！TheyalwayshavethingsofthatkindatCattleShow\";andJillbegantorummageintheclosetfortheprideofherheart,burningtodisplayittoanadmiringworld。