第1章

TotheschoolmatesofELLSWORTHDEVENS,Whoselovelycharacterwillnotsoonbeforgotten,ThisVillageStoryisaffectionatelyinscribedbytheirfriend,L。M。A。

1880

ContentsChapter1TheCatastropheChapter2TwoPenitentsChapter3WardNo。I

Chapter4WardNo。2

Chapter5SecretsChapter6SurprisesChapter7Jill\'sMissionChapter8MerryandMollyChapter9TheDebatingClubChapter10TheDramaticClubChapter11"DownBrakes"

Chapter12TheTwenty—secondofFebruaryChapter13JackHasaMysteryChapter14AndJillFindsitoutChapter15SaintLucyChapter16UpatMerry\'sChapter17DownatMolly\'sChapter18MayBasketsChapter19GoodTemplarsChapter20ASweetMemoryChapter21PebblyBeachChapter22AHappyDayChapter23CattleShowChapter24DowntheRiverJackandJillJackandJillwentupthehillTocoastwithfunandlaughter;

Jackfelldownandbrokehiscrown,AndJillcametumblingafter。

Chapter1TheCatastrophe"Clearthelulla！"wasthegeneralcryonabrightDecemberafternoon,whenalltheboysandgirlsofHarmonyVillagewereoutenjoyingthefirstgoodsnowoftheseason。Upanddownthreelongcoaststheywentasfastaslegsandsledscouldcarrythem。

Onesmoothpathledintothemeadow,andherethelittlefolkcongregated;onesweptacrossthepond,whereskatersweredartingaboutlikewater—bugs;andthethird,fromtheverytopofthesteephill,endedabruptlyatarailfenceonthehighbankabovetheroad。Therewasagroupofladsandlassessittingorleaningonthisfencetorestafteranexcitingrace,and,astheyreposed,theyamusedthemselveswithcriticisingtheirmates,stillabsorbedinthismostdelightfulofout—doorsports。

"HerecomesFrankMinot,lookingassolemnasajudge,"criedone,asatallfellowofsixteenspunby,withasetlookaboutthemouthandakeensparkleoftheeyes,fixedonthedistantgoalwithado—or—dieexpression。

"Here\'sMollyLooAndlittleBoo？

sangoutanother;anddowncameagirlwithflyinghair,carryingasmallboybehindher,sofatthathisshortlegsstuckoutfromthesides,andhisroundfacelookedoverhershoulderlikeafullmoon。

"There\'sGusBurton;doesn\'thegoit？"andsuchaverylongboywhizzedby,thatitlookedalmostasifhisheelswereatthetopofthehillwhenhisheadwasatthebottom！

"HurrahforEdDevlin！"andageneralshoutgreetedasweet—facedlad,withalaughonhislips,afinecoloronhisbrowncheek,andagaywordforeverygirlhepassed。

"LauraandLottykeeptothesafecoastintothemeadow,andMollyLooistheonlygirlthatdarestotrythislongonetothepond。Iwouldn\'tfortheworld;theicecan\'tbestrongyet,thoughitiscoldenoughtofreezeone\'snoseoff,"saidatimiddamsel,whosathuggingapostandscreamingwheneveramischievousladshookthefence。

"No,sheisn\'there\'sJackandJillgoinglikefury。"

"ClearthetrackForjollyJack！"

sangtheboys,whohadrhymesandnicknamesfornearlyeveryone。

Downcameagayredsled,bearingaboywhoseemedallsmileandsunshine,sowhitewerehisteeth,sogoldenwashishair,sobrightandhappyhiswholeair。Behindhimclungalittlegypsyofagirl,withblackeyesandhair,cheeksasredasherhood,andafacefulloffunandsparkle,asshewavedJack\'sbluetippetlikeabannerwithonehand,andheldonwiththeother。

"JillgoeswhereverJackdoes,andheletsher。He\'ssuchagood—naturedchap,hecan\'tsayNo。"

"Toagirl,"slylyaddedoneoftheboys,whohadwishedtoborrowtheredsled,andhadbeenpolitelyrefusedbecauseJillwantedit。

"He\'sthenicestboyintheworld,forhenevergetsmad,"saidthetimidyounglady,recallingthemanytimesJackhadshieldedherfromtheterrorswhichbesetherpathtoschool,intheshapeofcows,dogs,andboyswhomadefacesandcalledher"Fraidcat。"

"Hedoesn\'tdaretogetmadwithJill,forshe\'dtakehisheadoffintwominutesifhedid,"growledJoeFlint,stillsmartingfromtherebukeJillhadgivenhimforrobbingthelittleonesoftheirsafecoastbecausehefanciedit。

"Shewouldn\'t！she\'sadear！Youneedn\'tsniffatherbecausesheispoor。She\'seversomuchbrighterthanyouare,orshewouldn\'talwaysbeattheheadofyourclass,oldJoe,"criedthegirls,standingbytheirfriendwithaunanimitywhichprovedwhatafavoriteshewas。

Joesubsidedwithasscornfulacurltohisnoseasitschillystatepermitted,andMerryGrantintroducedasubjectofgeneralinterestbyaskingabruptly,"Whoisgoingtothecandy—scrapeto—night？"

"Allofus。Frankinvitedthewholeset,andweshallhaveatiptoptime。WealwaysdoattheMinots\',"criedSue,thetimidtrembler。

"Jacksaidtherewasabarrelofmolassesinthehouse,sotherewouldbeenoughforalltoeatandsometocarryaway。Theyknowhowtodothingshandsomely";andthespeakerlickedhislips,asifalreadytastingthefeastinstoreforhim。

"Mrs。Minotisamotherworthhaving,"saidMollyLoo,comingupwithBooonthesled;andsheknewwhatitwastoneedamother,forshehadnone,andtriedtocareforthelittlebrotherwithmaternalloveandpatience。

"Sheisjustassweetasshecanbe！"declaredMerry,enthusiastically。

"Especiallywhenshehasacandy—scrape,"saidJoe,tryingtobeamiable,lestheshouldbeleftoutoftheparty。

Whereattheyalllaughed,andwentgaylyawayforafarewellfrolic,asthesunwassettingandthekeenwindnippedfingersandtoesaswellasnoses。

Downtheywent,oneafteranother,onthevariouscoastssolemnFrank,longGus,gallantEd,fly—awayMollyLoo,prettyLauraandLotty,grumpyJoe,sweet—facedMerrywithSueshriekingwildlybehindher,gayJackandgypsyJill,alwaystogetheroneandallbubblingoverwiththeinnocentjollitybornofhealthfulexercise。

Peoplepassingintheroadbelowlookedupandsmiledinvoluntarilyatthered—cheekedladsandlasses,fillingthefrostyairwithpealsoflaughterandcriesoftriumphastheyflewbyineveryconceivableattitude;forthefunwasatitsheightnow,andtheoldestandgravestobserversfeltaglowofpleasureastheylooked,rememberingtheirownyoungdays。

"Jack,takemedownthatcoast。JoesaidIwouldn\'tdaretodoit,soImust,"commandedJill,astheypausedforbreathafterthelongtrudgeuphill。Jill,ofcourse,wasnotherrealname,buthadbeengivenbecauseofherfriendshipwithJack,whosoadmiredJaneyPecq\'sspiritandfun。

"IguessIwouldn\'t,Itisverybumpyandendsinabigdrift;nothalfsoniceasthisone。Hoponandwe\'llhaveagoodspinacrossthepond";andJackbrought"Thunderbolt"roundwithaskilfulswingandanengagingairthatwouldhavewonobediencefromanybodybutwilfulJill。

"Itisverynice,butIwon\'tbetoldIdon\'t\'darebyanyboyintheworld。Ifyouareafraid,I\'llgoalone。"And,beforehecouldspeak,shehadsnatchedtheropefromhishand,thrownherselfuponthesled,andwasoff,helter—skelter,downthemostdangerouscoastonthehill—side。

Shedidnotgetfar,however;for,startinginahurry,shedidnotguidehersteedwithcare,andtheredchargerlandedherinthesnowhalf—waydown,whereshelaylaughingtillJackcametopickherup。

"Ifyouwillgo,I\'lltakeyoudownallright。Imnotafraid,forIvedoneitadozentimeswiththeotherfellows;butwegaveitupbecauseitisshortandbad,"hesaid,stillgood—natured,thoughofcows,dogs,andboyswhomadefacesandcalledher"Fraidcat。

"Hedoesn\'tdaretogetmadwithJill,forshe\'dtakehisheadoffintwominutesifhedid,"growledJoeFlint,stillsmartinghorntherebukeJillhadgivenhimforrobbingthelittleonesoftheirsafecoastbecausehefanciedit。

"Shewouldn\'t！she\'sadear！Youneedn\'tsniffatherbecausesheispoor。She\'seversomuchbrighterthanyouare,orshewouldn\'talwaysbeattheheadofyourclass,oldJoe,"criedthegirls,standingbytheirfriendwithaunanimitywhichprovedwhatafavoriteshewas。

Joesubsidedwithasscornfulacurltohisnoseasitschillystatepermitted,andMerryGrantintroducedasubjectofgeneralinterestbyaskingabruptly,"Whoisgoingtothecandy—scrapeto—night？"

"Allofus。Frankinvitedthewholeset,andweshallhaveatiptoptime。WealwaysdoattheMinors\',"criedSue,thetimidtrembler。

"Jacksaidtherewasabarrelofmolassesinthehouse,sotherewouldbeenoughforalltoeatandsometocarryaway。Theyknowhowtodothingshandsomely";andthespeakerlickedhislips,asifalreadytastingthefeastinstoreforhim。

"Mrs。Minotisamotherworthhaving,"saidMollyLoo,comingupwithBooonthesled;andsheknewwhatitwastoneedamother,forshehadnone,andtriedtocareforthelittlebrotherwithmaternalloveandpatience。

"Sheisjustassweetasshecanbe！"declaredMerry,enthusiastically。

"Especiallywhenshehasacandy—scrape,"saidJoe,tryingtobeamiable,lestheshouldbeleftoutoftheparty。

Whereattheyalllaughed,andwentgaylyawayforafarewellfrolic,asthesunwassettingandthekeenwindnippedfingersandtoesaswellasnoses。

Alittlehurtatthechargeofcowardice;forJackwasasbraveasalittlelion,andwiththebestsortofbraverythecouragetodoright。

"Soitis;butImustdoitafewtimes,orJoewillplaguemeandspoilmyfunto—night,"answeredJill,shakingherskirtsandrubbingherbluehands,wetandcoldwiththesnow。

"Here,puttheseon;Ineverusethem。Keepthemiftheyfit;Ionlycarrythemtopleasemother。"AndJackpulledoutapairofredmittenswiththeairofaboyusedtogivingaway。

"Theyarelovelywarm,andtheydofit。Mustbetoosmallforyourpaws,soI\'llknityouanewpairforChristmas,andmakeyouwearthem,too,"saidJill,puttingonthemittenswithanodofthanks,andendingherspeechwithastampofherrubberbootstoenforceherthreat。

Jacklaughed,anduptheytrudgedtothespotwhencethethreecoastsdiverged。

"Now,whichwillyouhave？"heasked,withawarninglookinthehonestblueeyeswhichoftenunconsciouslycontrollednaughtyJillagainstherwill。

"Thatone！"andtheredmittenpointedfirmlytotheperilouspathjusttried。

"Youwilldoit？"

"Comeon,then,andholdtight。"

Jack\'ssmilewasgonenow,andhewaitedwithoutawordwhileJilltuckedherselfup,thentookhisplaceinfront,andofftheywentonthebrief,breathlesstripstraightintothedriftbythefencebelow。

"Idon\'tseeanythingveryawfulinthat。Comeupandhaveanother。

Joeiswatchingus,andIdliketoshowhimthatwearen\'tafraidofanything,"saidJill,withadefiantglanceatadistantboy,whohadpausedtowatchthedescent。

"Itisaregular\'go—bang,ifthatiswhatyoulike,"answeredJack,astheyplowedtheirwayupagain。

"Itis。Youboysthinkgirlslikelittlemeancoastswithoutanyfunordangerinthem,asifwecouldn\'tbebraveandstrongaswellasyou。Givemethreego—bangsandthenwe\'llstop。Mytumbledoesn\'tcount,sogivemetwomoreandthenI\'llbegood。"

Jilltookherseatasshespoke,andlookedupwithsucharosy,pleadingfacethatJackgaveinatonce,anddowntheywentagain,raisingacloudofglitteringsnow—dustastheyreinedupinfinestylewiththeirfeetonthefence。

"It\'sjustsplendid！Now,onemore！"criedJill,excitedbythecheersofasleighingpartypassingbelow。

Proudofhisskill,Jackmarchedback,resolvedtomakethethird"go"thecrowningachievementoftheafternoon,whileJillprancedafterhimaslightlyasifthebigbootswerethefamousseven—leaguedones,andchatteringaboutthecandy—scrapeandwhethertherewouldbenutsornot。

Sofullweretheyofthisimportantquestion,thattheypiledonhap—hazard,andstartedoffstilltalkingsobusilythatJillforgottoholdtightandJacktosteercarefully。Alas,forthecandy—scrapethatneverwastobe！Alas,forpoor"Thunderbolt"blindlysettingforthonthelasttripheevermade！Andoh,alas,forJackandJill,whowilfullychosethewrongroadandendedtheirfunforthewinter！Nooneknewhowithappened,butinsteadoflandinginthedrift,oratthefence,therewasagreatcrashagainstthebars,adreadfulplungeoffthesteepbank,asuddenscatteringofgirl,boy,sled,fence,earth,andsnow,allabouttheroad,twocries,andthensilence。

"Iknewthey\'ddoit！"and,standingonthepostwherehehadperched,Joewavedhisarmsandshouted:"Smash—up！Smash—up！

Run！Run！"likearavencroakingoverabattlefieldwhenthefightwasdone。

Downrushedboysandgirlsreadytolaughorcry,asthecasemightbe,foraccidentswillhappenonthebest—regulatedcoasting—grounds。TheyfoundJacksittinguplookingabouthimwithaqueer,dazedexpression,whileanuglycutontheforeheadwasbleedinginawaywhichsoberedtheboysandfrightenedthegirlshalfoutoftheirwits。

"He\'skilled！He\'skilled！"wailedSue,hidingherfaceandbeginningtocry。

"No,Imnot。I\'llbeallrightwhenIgetmybreath。Where\'sJill？"

askedJack,stoutly,thoughstilltoogiddytoseestraight。

Thegroupabouthimopened,andhiscomradeinmisfortunewasdiscoveredlyingquietlyinthesnowwithalltheprettycolorshockedoutofherfacebythefall,andwinkingrapidly,asifhalfstunned。Butnowoundsappeared,andwhenaskedifshewasdead,sheansweredinavaguesortofway,"Iguessnot。isJackhurt？"

"Brokenhishead,"croakedJoe,steppingaside,thatshemightbeholdthefallenherovainlytryingtolookcalmandcheerfulwithreddropsrunningdownhischeekandalumponhisforehead。

Jillshuthereyesandwavedthegirlsaway,saying,faintly,"Nevermindme。Goandseetohim。"

"Don\'t！Imallright,"andJacktriedtogetupinordertoprovethatheadersoffabankweremeretriflestohim;butatthefirstmovementoftheleftlegheutteredasharpcryofpain,andwouldhavefallenifGushadnotcaughtandgentlylaidhimdown。

"Whatisit,oldchap？"askedFrank,kneelingbesidehim,reallyalarmednow,thehurtsseemingworsethanmerebumps,whichwerecommonaffairsamongbaseballplayers,andnotworthmuchnotice。

"Ilitonmyhead,butIguessI\'vebrokenmyleg。Don\'tfrightenmother,"andJackheldfasttoFrank\'sarmashelookedintotheanxiousfacebentoverhim;for,thoughtheeldertyrannizedovertheyounger,thebrotherslovedoneanotherdearly。

"Lifthishead,Frank,whileItiemyhandkerchiefroundtostopthebleeding,"saidaquietvoice,asEdDevlinlaidahandfulofsoftsnowonthewound;andJack\'sfacebrightenedasheturnedtothanktheonebigboywhoneverwasroughwiththesmallones。

"Bettergethimrighthome,"advisedGus,whostoodbylookingon,withhislittlesistersLauraandLottyclingingtohim。

"TakeJill,too,forit\'smyopinionshehasbrokenherback。Shecan\'tstironebit,"announcedMollyLoo,withadrollairoftriumph,asifratherpleasedthanotherwisetohaveherpatienthurttheworse;forJack\'swoundwasveryeffective,andMollyhadatasteforthetragic。

ThischeerfulstatementwasgreetedwithawailfromSusanandhowlsfromBoo,whohadearnedthatnamefromtheeasewithwhich,onalloccasions,hecouldburstintoadismalroarwithoutsheddingatear,andstopassuddenlyashebegan。

"Oh,Iamsosorry！Itwasmyfault;Ishouldn\'thaveletherdoit,"

saidJack,distressfully。

"Itwasallmyfault;Imadehim。IfIdbrokeneveryboneI\'vegot,itwouldservemeright。Don\'thelpme,anybody;Imawickedthing,andIdeservetoliehereandfreezeandstarveanddie！"

criedJill,pilinguppunishmentsinherremorsefulanguishofmindandbody。

"Butwewanttohelpyou,andwecansettleaboutblamebyandby,"whisperedMerrywithakiss;forsheadoreddashingJill,andneverwouldownthatshedidwrong。

"Herecomethewood—sledsjustintime。I\'llcutawayandtelloneofthemtohurryup。"And,freeinghimselffromhissisters,Guswentoffatagreatpace,provingthatthelonglegscarriedasensibleheadaswellasakindheart。

Asthefirstsledapproached,anairofreliefpervadedtheagitatedparty,foritwasdrivenbyMr。Grant,abig,benevolent—lookingfarmer,whosurveyedthescenewiththesympatheticinterestofamanandafather。

"Hadalittleaccident,haveyou？Well,that\'saprettylikelyplaceforaspill。Trieditoncemyselfandbrokethebridgeofmynose,"

hesaid,tappingthatmassivefeaturewithalaughwhichshowedthatfiftyyearsoffarminghadnottakenalltheboyoutofhim。

"Nowthen,let\'sseeaboutthislittlechore,andlively,too,forit\'slate,andthesepartiesoughttobehoused,"headded,throwingdownhiswhip,pushingbackhiscap,andnoddingatthewoundedwithareassuringsmile。

"Jillfirst,please,sir,"saidEd,thegentlesquireofdames,spreadinghisovercoatonthesledaseagerlyaseverRaleighlaiddownhisvelvetcloakforaqueentowalkupon。

"Allright。Justlayeasy,mydear,andIwon\'thurtyouamiteifI

canhelpit。"

CarefulasMr。Grantwas,Jillcouldhavescreamedwithpainasheliftedher;butshesetherlipsandboreitwiththecourageofalittleIndian;foralltheladswerelookingon,andJillwasproudtoshowthatagirlcouldbearasmuchasaboy。Shehidherfaceinthecoatassoonasshewassettled,tohidethetearsthatwouldcome,andbythetimeJackwasplacedbesideher,shehadquitealittlecisternofsaltwaterstoredupinEd\'scoat—pocket。

Thenthemournfulprocessionsetforth,Mr。Grantdrivingtheoxen,thegirlsclusteringabouttheinterestinginvalidsonthesled,whiletheboyscamebehindlikeaguardofhonor,leavingthehilldesertedbyallbutJoe,whohadreturnedtohoveraboutthefatalfence,andpoor"Thunderbolt,"splitasunder,lyingonthebanktomarkthespotwherethegreatcatastropheoccurred。

Chapter2TwoPenitentsJackandJillnevercaredtosaymuchaboutthenightwhichfollowedthefirstcoastingpartyoftheseason,foritwasthesaddestandthehardesttheirshortliveshadeverknown。Jacksufferedmostinbody;forthesettingofthebrokenlegwassuchapainfuljob,thatitwrungseveralsharpcriesfromhim,andmadeFrank,whohelped,quiteweakandwhitewithsympathy,whenitwasover。Thewoundedheadacheddreadfully,andthepoorboyfeltasifbruisedallover,forhehadtheworstofthefall。Dr。

Whitingspokecheerfullyofthecase,andmadesolightofbrokenlegs,thatJackinnocentlyaskedifheshouldnotbeupinaweekorso。

"Well,no;itusuallytakestwenty—onedaysforbonestoknit,andyoungonesmakequickworkofit,"answeredthedoctor,withalastscientifictucktothevariousbandages,whichmadeJackfeellikeahaplesschickentrussedforthespit。

"Twenty—onedays！Threewholeweeksinbed！Ishouldn\'tcallthatquickwork,"groanedthedismayedpatient,whoseexperienceofillnesshadbeenlimited。

"Itisafortydaysjob,youngman,andyoumustmakeupyourmindtobearitlikeahero。Wewilldoourbest;butnexttime,lookbeforeyouleap,andsaveyourbones。Good—night;you\'llfeelbetterinthemorning。Nojigs,remember";andoffwentthebusydoctorforanotherlookatJill,whohadbeenorderedtobedandlefttoresttilltheothercasewasattendedto。

AnyonewouldhavethoughtJack\'splightmuchtheworse,butthedoctorlookedmoresoberoverJill\'shurtbackthantheboy\'scompoundfractures;andthepoorlittlegirlhadaverybadquarterofanhourwhilehewastryingtodiscovertheextent0ftheinjury,"Keepherquiet,andtimewillshowhowmuchdamageisdone,"

wasallhesaidinherhearing;butifshehadknownthathetoldMrs。Pecqhefearedseriousconsequences,shewouldnothavewonderedwhyhermothercriedassherubbedthenumblimbsandpacedthepillowssotenderly。

Jillsufferedmostinhermind;foronlyasharpstabofpainnowandthenremindedherofherbody;butherremorsefullittlesoulgavehernopeaceforthinkingofJack,whosebruisesandbreakagesherlivelyfancypaintedinthedarkestcolors。

"Oh,don\'tbegoodtome,Mammy;Imadehimgo,andnowhe\'shurtdreadfully,andmaydie;anditisallmyfault,andeverybodyoughttohateme,"sobbedpoorJill,asaneighborlefttheroomafterreportinginaminutemannerhowJackscreamedwhenhislegwasset,andhowFrankwasfoundwhiteasasheet,withhisheadunderthepump,whileGusrestoredthetoneofhisfriend\'snerves,bypumpingasifthehousewasonfire。

"Whist,mylass,andgotosleep。TakeasupofthegoodwineMrs。

Minotsent,foryouareascoldasaclod,anditbreaksmyhearttoseemyJaneyso。"

"Ican\'tgotosleep;Idon\'tseehowJack\'smothercouldsendmyanythingwhenI\'vehalfkilledhim。Iwanttobecoldandacheandhavehorridthingsdonetome。Oh,ifIevergetoutofthisbedI\'llbethebestgirlintheworld,topayforthis。SeeifIaint！"andJillgavesuchadecidednodthathertearsflewallaboutthepillowlikeashower。

"Youdbetterbeginatonce,foryouwon\'tgetoutofthatbedforalongwhile,Imafraid,mylamb,"sighedhermother,unabletoconcealtheanxietythatlaysoheavyonherheart。

"AmIhurtbadly,Mammy？"

"Ifearit,lass。"

"I\'mgladofit;IoughttobeworsethanJack,andIhopeIam。I\'llbearitwell,andbegoodrightaway。Sing,Mammy,andI\'lltrytogotosleeptopleaseyou。"

Jillshuthereyeswithsuddenandunusualmeekness,andbeforehermotherhadcroonedhalfadozenversesofanoldballad,thelittleblackheadlaystilluponthepillow,andrepentantJillwasfastasleepwitharedmitteninherhand。

Mrs。PecqwasanEnglishwomanwhohadleftMontrealatthedeathofherhusband,aFrenchCanadian,andhadcometoliveinthetinycottagewhichstoodnearMrs。Minot\'sbighouse,separatedonlybyanarbor—vitaehedge。Asad,silentperson,whohadseenbetterdays,butsaidnothingaboutthem,andearnedherbreadbysewing,nursing,workinthefactory,oranythingthatcameinherway,beinganxioustoeducateherlittlegirl。Now,asshesatbesidethebedinthesmall,poorroom,thathopealmostdiedwithinher,forherewasthechildlaidupformonths,probably,andtheoneambitionandpleasureofthesolitarywoman\'slifewastoseeJaneyPecq\'snameoverallthehighmarksintheschool—reportssheproudlybroughthome。

"She\'llwinthrough,pleaseHeaven,andI\'llseemylassagentlewomanyet,thankstothegoodfriendinyonder,whowillneverletherwantforcare,"thoughtthepoorsoul,lookingoutintothegloomwherealongrayoflightstreamedfromthegreathousewarmandcomfortableuponthecottage,likethespiritofkindnesswhichmadetheinmatesfriendsandneighbors。

Meantime,thatothermothersatbyherboy\'sbedasanxiousbutwithbetterhope,forMrs。Minotmadetroublesweetandhelpfulbythewayinwhichsheboreit;andherboyswerelearningofherhowtofindsilverliningstothecloudsthatmustcomeintothebluestskies。

Jacklaywideawake,withhotcheeks,andthrobbinghead,andallsortsofqueersensationsinthebrokenleg。Thesoothingpotionhehadtakendidnotaffecthimyet,andhetriedtobeguilethewearytimebywonderingwhocameandwentbelow。Gentleringsatthefrontdoor,andmysterioustappingsattheback,hadbeengoingonalltheevening;forthereportoftheaccidenthadgrownastonishinglyinitstravels,andateightoclockthegeneralbeliefwasthatJackhadbrokenbothlegs,fracturedhisskull,andlayatthepointofdeath,whileJillhaddislocatedoneshoulder,andwasbruisedblackandbluefromtoptotoe。Suchbeingthecase,itisnowonderthatanxiousplaymatesandneighborshauntedthedoorstepsofthetwohouses,andthatoffersofhelppouredin。

Frank,havingtiedupthebellandputanoticeinthelightedside—window,saying,"Gotothebackdoor,"satintheparlor,supportedbyhischum,Gus,whileEdplayedsoftlyonthepiano,hopingtolullJacktosleep。Itdidsoothehim,foraverysweetfriendshipexistedbetweenthetallyouthandtheladofthirteen。

Edwentwiththebigfellows,butalwayshadakindwordforthesmallerboys;andaffectionateJack,neverashamedtoshowhislove,wasoftenseenwithhisarmroundEd\'sshoulder,astheysattogetherinthepleasantredparlors,wherealltheyoungpeoplewerewelcomeandFrankwasking。

"Isthepainanyeasier,mydarling？"askedMrs。Minot,leaningoverthepillow,wherethegoldenheadlayquietforamoment。

"Notmuch。Iforgetitlisteningtothemusic。DearoldEdisplayingallmyfavoritetunes,anditisverynice。Iguesshefeelsprettysorryaboutme。"

"Theyalldo。Frankcouldnottalkofit。Guswouldn\'tgohometotea,hewassoanxioustodosomethingforus。Joebroughtbackthebitsofyourpoorsled,becausehedidn\'tliketoleavethemlyingroundforanyonetocarryoff,hesaid,andyoumightlikethemtorememberyourfallby。"

Jacktriedtolaugh,butitwasratherafailure,thoughbemanagedtosay,cheerfully,"ThatwasgoodofoldJoe。Iwouldn\'tlendhim\'Thunderboltforfearhedhurtit。Couldn\'thavesmasheditupbetterthanIdid,couldhe？Don\'tthinkIwantanypiecestoremindmeofthatfall。I

justwishyoudseenus,mother！Itmusthavebeenasplendidspilltolookat,anyway。"

"No,thankyou;Idrathernoteventrytoimaginemypreciousboygoingheelsoverheaddownthatdreadfulhill。Nomorepranksofthatsortforsometime,Jacky";andMrs。Minotlookedratherpleasedonthewholetohaveherventuresomebirdsafeunderhermaternalwing。

"NocoastingtillsometimeinJanuary。WhatafoolIwastodoit！

Go—bangsalwaysaredangerous,andthat\'sthefunofthething。Ohdear！"

Jackthrewhisarmsaboutandfrowneddarkly,butneversaidawordofthewilfullittlebaggagewhohadledhimintomischief;hewastoomuchofagentlemantotellonagirl,thoughitcosthimanefforttoholdhistongue,becauseMamma\'sgoodopinionwasveryprecioustohim,andhelongedtoexplain。Sheknewallaboutit,however,forJillhadbeencarriedintothehouserevilingherselfforthemishap,andeveninthemidstofherownanxietyforherboy,Mrs。Minotunderstoodthestateofthecasewithoutmorewords。Soshenowsethismindatrestbysaying,quietly。

"Foolishfun,asyousee,dear。Anothertime,standfirmandhelpJilltocontrolherheadstrongwill。Whenyoulearntoyieldlessandshemore,therewillbenoscrapeslikethistotryusall。"

"I\'llremember,mother。Ihatenottobeobliging,butIguessitwouldhavesaveduslotsoftroubleifI\'dsaidNointhebeginning。Itriedto,butshewouldgo。PoorJill！I\'lltakebettercareofhernexttime。Issheveryill,Mamma？"

"Icantellyoubetterto—morrow。Shedoesnotsuffermuch,andwehopethereisnogreatharmdone。"

"Iwishshehadaniceplacelikethistobesickin。Itmustbeverypokyinthoselittlerooms,"saidJack,ashiseyerovedroundthelargechamberwherehelaysocosey,warm,andpleasant,withthegaychintzcurtainsdrapingdoorsandwindows,therosycarpet,comfortablechairs,andafireglowinginthegrate。

"Ishallseethatshesuffersfornothing,sodon\'ttroubleyourkindheartaboutherto—night,buttrytosleep;that\'swhatyouneed,"

answeredhismother,wettingthebandageonhisforehead,andputtingacoolhandontheflushedcheeks。