第10章

Butthethingthattriedhimmostwastheknowledgethathisreportwouldnotbewhatitusuallywas。Itwasalwaysahappymomentwhenheshowedittohismother,andsawhereyebrightenasitfellonthe99ormoo,forshecaredmoreforgoodbehaviorthanforperfectlessons。Mr。ActononcesaidthatFrankMinot\'smoralinfluenceintheschoolwasunusual,andJackneverforgotherprideanddelightasshetoldthemwhatFrankhimselfhadnotknowntillthen。ItwasJack\'sambitiontohavethesamesaidofhim,forhewasnotmuchofascholar,andhehadtriedhardsincehewentbacktoschooltogetgoodrecordsinthatrespectatleast。

Nowherewasadreadfuldownfall,tardymarks,badcompany,brokenrules,andsomethingtoowrongtotell,apparently。

\'Well,Ideserveagoodreport,andthat\'sacomfort,thoughnobodybelievesit,"hesaidtohimself,tryingtokeepuphisspirits,astheslowweekwentby,andnowordfromhimhadclearedupthemystery。

Chapter14AndJillFindsItOutJillworriedaboutitmorethanhedid,forshewasafaithfullittlefriend,anditwasagreattrialtohaveJackevensuspectedofdoinganythingwrong。Schoolisachild\'sworldwhileheisthere,anditssmallaffairsareveryimportanttohim,soJillfeltthattheonethingtobedonewastoclearawaythecloudaboutherdearboy,andrestorehimtopublicfavor。

"EdwillbehereSaturdaynightandmaybehewillfindout,forJacktellshimeverything。Idohatetohavehimhectoredso,forI

knowheis,thoughhe\'stooproudtocomplain,"shesaid,onThursdayevening,whenFranktoldhersomejokeplayeduponhisbrotherthatday。

"Ilethimalone,butIseethatheisn\'tbadgeredtoomuch。That\'sallIcando。IfEdhadonlycomehomelastSaturdayitmighthavedonesomegood,butnowitwillbetoolate;forthereportsaregivenoutto—morrow,youknow,"answeredFrank,feelingalittlejealousofEd\'sinfluenceoverJack,thoughhisownwouldhavebeenasgreatifhehadbeenasgentle。

"HasJerrycomeback？"askedJill,whokeptallherquestionsforFrank,becausesheseldomalludedtothetendersubjectwhenwithJack。

"No,he\'soffforthesummer。Gotaplacesomewhere。Hopehe\'llstaythereandletBobalone。"

"WhereisBobnow？Idon\'thearmuchabouthimlately,"saidJill,whowasconstantlyonthelookoutfor"theotherfellow,"sinceitwasnotJoe。

"Oh,hewenttoCaptainSkinner\'sthefirstofMarch,choresround,andgoestoschoolupthere。Captainisstrict,andwon\'tletBobcometotown,exceptSundays;buthedon\'tminditmuch,forhelikeshorses,hasnicegrub,andtheHillfellowsaregoodchapsforhimtobewith。Sohe\'sallright,ifheonlybehaves。"

"HowfarisittoCaptainSkinner\'s？"askedJillsuddenly,havinglistened,withhersharpeyesonFrank,ashetinkeredawayathismodel,sincehewasforbiddenallotherindulgenceinhisbelovedpastime。

"It\'sfourmilestoHillDistrict,buttheCaptainlivesthissideoftheschool—house。Aboutthreefromhere,Ishouldsay。"

"Howlongwouldittakeaboytowalkupthere？"wentonthequestioner,withanewideainherhead。

"Dependsonhowmuchofawalkistheis。"

"Supposehewaslameanditwassloshy,andhemadeacallandcameback。Howlongwouldthattake？"askedJillimpatiently。

"Well,inthatcase,Ishouldsaytwoorthreehours。Butit\'simpossibletotellexactly,unlessyouknowhowlamethefellowwas,andhowlongacallhemade,"saidFrank,wholikedtobeaccurate。

"Jackcouldn\'tdoitinless,couldhe？"

"Heusedtorunupthathillyroadforabreather,andthinknothingofit。Itwouldbealongjobforhimnow,poorlittlechap,forhislegoftentroubleshim,thoughhehatestoownit。"

Jilllaybackandlaughed,ahappylittlelaugh,asifshewaspleasedaboutsomething,andFranklookedoverhisshouldertoaskquestionsinhisturn。

"Whatareyoulaughingat？"

"Can\'ttell。"

"WhydoyouwanttoknowaboutHillDistrict？Areyougoingthere？"

"WishIcould！I\'dsoonhaveitoutofhim。"

"Who？"

"Nevermind。Pleasepushupmytable。Imustwritealetter,andI

wantyoutopostitformeto—night,andneversayawordtillIgiveyouleave。

"Oh,nowyouaregoingtohavesecretsandbemysterious,andgetintoamess,areyou？"andFranklookeddownatherwithasuspiciousair,thoughhewasintenselycurioustoknowwhatshewasabout。

"GoawaytillI\'mdone。Youwillhavetoseetheoutside,butyoucan\'tknowtheinsidetilltheanswercomes";andproppingherselfup,Jillwrotethefollowingnote,withsomehesitationatthebeginningandend,forshedidnotknowthegentlemanshewasaddressing,exceptbysight,anditwasratherawkward:

"RobertWalker"DearSir,IwanttoaskifJackMinotcametoseeyoulastFridayafternoon。HegotintotroublebeingseenwithJerryShannon。Hepaidhimsomemoney。Jackwon\'ttell,andMr。Actontalkedtohimaboutitbeforealltheschool。Wefeelbad,becausewethinkJackdidnotdowrong。Idon\'tknowasyouhaveanythingtodowithit,butIthoughtI\'dask。Pleaseanswerquick。Respectfullyyours,JanePecq"

Tomakesurethatherdespatchwasnottamperedwith,Jillputagreatsplashofredsealing—waxonit,whichgaveitaveryofficiallook,andmuchimpressedBobwhenhereceivedit。

"There！Goandpostit,anddon\'tletanyoneseeorknowaboutit,"

shesaid,handingitovertoFrank,wholefthisworkwithunusualalacritytodohererrand。Whenhiseyefellontheaddress,helaughed,andsaidinateasingway,"AreyouandBobsuchgoodfriendsthatyoucorrespond？WhatwillJacksay？"

"Don\'tknow,anddon\'tcare！Begood,now,andlet\'shavealittlesecretaswellasotherfolks。I\'lltellyouallaboutitwhenheanswers,"saidJillinhermostcoaxingtone。

"Supposehedoesn\'t？"

"ThenIshallsendyouuptoseehim。Imustknowsomething,andIwanttodoitmyself,ifIcan。"

"Lookhere;whatareyouafter？Idobelieveyouthink————"Frankgotnofarther,forJillgavealittlescream,andstoppedhimbycryingeagerly,"Don\'tsayitoutloud！Ireallydobelieveitmaybe,andI\'mgoingtofindout。"

"Whatmadeyouthinkofhim？"andFranklookedthoughtfullyattheletter,asifturningcarefullyoverinhismindtheideathatJill\'squickwitshadjumpedat。

"ComehereandI\'lltellyou。"

Holdinghimbyonebutton,shewhisperedsomethinginhisearthatmadehimexclaim,withalookattherug,"No！didhe？IdeclareIshouldn\'twonder！Itwouldbejustlikethedearoldblunder—head。"

"IneverthoughtofittillyoutoldmewhereBobwas,andthenitallsortofburstuponmeinoneminute！"criedJill,wavingherarmsabouttoexpresstheintellectualexplosionwhichhadthrownlightuponthemystery,likesky—rocketsinadarknight。

"Youareasbrightasabutton。Notimetolose;I\'moff";andoffhewas,splashingthroughthemudtoposttheletter,onthebackofwhichheadded,tomakethethingsure,"Hurryup。

F。M。"

Bothfeltratherguiltynextday,butenjoyedthemselvesverymuchnevertheless,andkeptchucklingovertheminetheyweremakingunderJack\'sunconsciousfeet。Theyhardlyexpectedanansweratnoon,astheHillpeoplewerenotveryeagerfortheirmail,butatnightJillwassureofaletter,andtohergreatdelightitcame。Jackbroughtithimself,whichaddedtothefun,andwhilesheeagerlyreadithesatcalmlyporingoverthelatestnumberofhisownprivateandparticular"Youth\'sCompanion。"

Bobwasnota"completeletter—writer"byanymeans,andwithgreatlaborandmuchinkhadproducedthefollowingbriefbuthighlysatisfactoryepistle。Notknowinghowtoaddresshisfaircorrespondentheletitalone,andwentatoncetothepointinthefrankestpossibleway:

"JackdidcomeupFriday。Sorryhegotintoamess。Itwasrealkindofhim,andIshallpayhimbacksoon。JackpaidJerryformeandImadehimpromisenottotell。Jerrysaidhe\'dcomehereandmakearowifIdidn\'tcashup。IwasafraidI\'dlosetheplaceifhedid,fortheCapt。isawfulstrict。IfJackdon\'ttellnow,Iwill。Iain\'tmean。Gladyouwrote。

R。O。W。"

"Hurrah！"criedJill,wavingtheletteroverherheadingreattriumph。"Calleverybodyandreaditout,"sheadded,asFranksnatchedit,andranforhismother,seeingataglancethatthenewswasgood。Jillwassoafraidsheshouldtellbeforetheotherscamethatsheburstoutsinging"PrettyBobbyShafto"atthetopofhervoice,toJack\'sgreatdisgust,forheconsideredthesongverypersonal,ashewa。sratherfondof"combingdownhisyellowhair,"andJilloftenplaguedhimbysingingitwhenhecameinwiththegoldenquirisverysmoothandnicetohidethescaronhisforehead。

InaboutfiveminutesthedoorflewopenandincameMamma,makingstraightforbewilderedJack,whothoughtthefamilyhadgonecrazywhenhisparentcaughthiminherarms,sayingtenderly,"Mygood,generousboy！Iknewhewasrightallthetime！"whileFrankworkedhishandupanddownlikeapump—handle,exclaimingheartily,"You\'reatrump,sir,andI\'mproudofyou！"Jillmeantimecallingout,inwilddelight,"Itoldyouso！Itoldyouso！Ididfindout;ha,ha,Idid！"

"Come,Isay！What\'sthematter？I\'mallright。Don\'tsqueezethebreathoutofme,please,"expostulatedJack,lookingsostartledandinnocent,ashestruggledfeebly,thattheyalllaughed,andthisplaintiveprotestcausedhimtobereleased。Butthenextproceedingdidnotenlightenhimmuch,forFrankkeptwavingaveryinkypaperbeforehimandorderinghimtoreadit,whileMammamadeachargeatJill,asifitwasabsolutelynecessarytohugsomebody。

"Hullo！"saidJack,whenhegottheletterintohisownhandandreadit。"NowwhoputBobuptothis？Nobodyhadanybusinesstointerfere——butit\'smightygoodofhim,anyway,"headded,astheanxiouslinesinhisroundfacesmoothedthemselvesaway,whileasmileofrelieftoldhowhardithadbeenforhimtokeephisword。

"Idid！"criedJill,clappingherhands,andlookingsohappythathecouldnothavescoldedherifhehadwantedto。

"Whotoldyouhewasinthescrape？"demandedJack,inahurrytoknowallaboutitnowthesealwastakenoffhisownlips。

"Youdid";andJill\'sfacetwinkledwithnaughtysatisfaction,forthiswasthebestfunofall。

"Ididn\'t！When？Where？It\'sajoke！"

"Youdid,"criedJill,pointingtotherug。"Youwenttosleepthereafterthelongwalk,andtalkedinyoursleepabout\'Bob\'and\'Allright,oldboy,\'andeversomuchgibberish。Ididn\'tthinkaboutitthen,butwhenIheardthatBobwasupthereIthoughtmaybeheknewsomethingaboutit,andlastnightIwroteandaskedhim,andthat\'stheanswer,andnowitisallright,andyouarethebestboythateverwas,andI\'msoglad！"

HereJillpaused,alloutofbreath,andFranksaid,withanapprovingpatonthehead,"Itwon\'tdotohavesuchasharpyoungpersonroundifwearegoingtohavesecrets。You\'dmakeagooddetective,miss。"

"Catchmetakingnapsbeforepeopleagain";andJacklookedrathercrestfallenthathisownwordshadset"FineEar"onthetrack。"Nevermind,Ididn\'tmeantotell,thoughIjustachedtodoitallthetime,soIhaven\'tbrokenmyword。I\'mgladyouallknow,butyouneedn\'tletitgetout,forBobisagoodfellow,anditmightmaketroubleforhim,"addedJack,anxiouslesthisgainshouldbetheother\'sloss。

"IshalltellMr。Actonmyself,andtheCaptain,also,forI\'mnotgoingtohavemysonsuspectedofwrong—doingwhenhehasonlytriedtohelpafriend,andborneenoughforhissake,"saidMamma,muchexcitedbythisdiscoveryofgenerousfidelityinherboy;thoughwhenonecametolookatitcalmly,onesawthatitmighthavebeendoneinawiserway。

"Now,please,don\'tmakeafussaboutit;thatwouldbemostasbadashavingeveryonedownonme。Icanstandyourpraisingme,butIwon\'tbepattedontheheadbyanybodyelse";andJackassumedamanlyair,thoughhisfacewasfullofgenuineboyishpleasureatbeingsetrightintheeyesofthoseheloved。

"I\'llbediscreet,dear,butyouoweittoyourself,aswellasBob,tohavethetruthknown。Bothhavebehavedwell,andnoharmwillcometohim,Iamsure。I\'llseetothatmyself,"saidMrs。Minot,inatonethatsetJack\'smindatrestonthatpoint。

"Nowdotellallaboutit,"criedJill,whowaspiningtoknowthewholestory,andfeltasifshehadearnedtherighttohearit。

"Oh,itwasn\'tmuch。WepromisedEdtostandbyBob,soIdidaswellasIknewhow";andJackseemedtothinkthatwasaboutalltherewastosay。

"Ineversawsuchafellowforkeepingapromise！Yousticktoitthroughthickandthin,nomatterhowsillyorharditis。Youremember,mother,lastsummer,howyoutoldhimnottogoinaboatandhepromised,thedaywewentonthepicnic。Werodeup,butthehorseranoffhome,sowehadtocomebackbywayoftheriver,allbutJack,andhewalkedeverystepoffivemilesbecausehewouldn\'tgonearaboat,thoughMr。Burtonwastheretotakecareofhim。Icallthatratheroverdoingthematter";andFranklookedasifhethoughtmoderationeveninvirtueagoodthing。

"AndIcallitafinesampleofentireobedience。Heobeyedorders,andthatiswhatweallmustdo,withoutalwaysseeingwhy,ordaringtouseourownjudgment。ItisagreatsafeguardtoJack,andaverygreatcomforttome;forIknowthatifhepromiseshewillkeephisword,nomatterwhatitcostshim,"saidMammawarmly,asshetumbledupthequirlswithanirrepressiblecaress,rememberinghowtheboycamewearilyinafteralltheothers,withoutseemingforamomenttothinkthathecouldhavedoneanythingelse。

"LikeCasabianca！"criedJill,muchimpressed,forobediencewasherhardesttrial。

"Ithinkhewasafooltoburnup,"saidFrank,boundnottogivein。

"Idon\'t。It\'sasplendidpiece,andeveryonelikestospeakit,anditwastrue,anditwouldn\'tbeinallthebooksifhewasafool。

Grownpeopleknowwhatisgood,"declaredJill,wholikedheroicactions,andwasalwayshopingforachancetodistinguishherselfinthatway。

"Youadmire\'TheChargeoftheLightBrigade,\'andglowalloverasyouthunderitout。Yettheywentgallantlytotheirdeathratherthandisobeyorders。Amistake,perhaps,butitmakesusthrilltohearofit;andthesamespiritkeepsmyJacktrueassteelwhenoncehiswordispassed,orhethinksitishisduty。Don\'tbelaughedoutofit,myson,forfaithfulnessinlittlethingsfitsoneforheroismwhenthegreattrialscome。One\'sconsciencecanhardlybetootenderwhenhonorandhonestyareconcerned。"

"Youareright,mother,andIamwrong。Ibegyourpardon,Jack,andyousha\'n\'tgetaheadofmenexttime。"

Frankmadehismotheralittlebow,gavehisbrotherashakeofthehand,andnoddedtoJill,asifanxioustoshowthathewasnottooproudtoownupwhenhemadeamistake。

"Pleasetellon,Jack。Thisisverynice,butIdowanttoknowallabouttheother,"saidJill,afterashortpause。

"Letmesee。Oh,IsawBobatchurch,andhelookedratherblue;

so,afterSundaySchool,Iaskedwhatthematterwas。HesaidJerrybotheredhimforsomemoneyhelenthimatdifferenttimeswhentheywereloafingroundtogether,beforewetookhimup。Hewouldn\'tgetanywagesforsometime。TheCaptainkeepshimshortonpurpose,Iguess,andwon\'tlethimcomedowntownexceptonSundays。Hedidn\'twantanyonetoknowaboutit,forfearhe\'dlosehisplace。SoIpromisedIwouldn\'ttell。ThenIwasafraidJerrywouldgoandmakeafuss,andBobwouldrunoff,ordosomethingdesperate,beingworried,andIsaidI\'dpayitforhim,ifIcould。Sohewenthomeprettyjolly,andIscratched\'roundforthemoney。Gotit,too,andwasn\'tIglad？"

Jackpausedtorubhishands,andFranksaid,withmorethanusualrespect,"Couldn\'tyougetholdofJerryinanyotherplace,andoutofschooltime？Thatdidthemischief,thankstoJoe。Ithrashedhim,Jill——didImentionit？"

"Icouldn\'tgetallmymoneytillFridaymorning,andIknewJerrywasoffatnight。Ilookedforhimbeforeschool,andatnoon,butcouldn\'tfindhim,soafternoonrecesswasmylastchance。IwasboundtodoitandIdidn\'tmeantobreaktherule,butJerrywasjustgoingintotheshop,soIpeltedafterhim,andasitwasprivatebusinesswewenttothebilliard—room。IdeclareIneverwassorelievedaswhenIhandedoverthatmoney,andmadehimsayitwasallright,andhewouldn\'tgonearBob。He\'soff,somymindiseasy,andBobwillbesogratefulIcankeephimsteady,perhaps。

Thatwillbeworthtwoseventy—five,Ithink,"saidJackheartily。

"Youshouldhavecometome,"beganFrank。

"Andgotlaughedat——no,thankyou,"interruptedJack,recollectingseveralphilanthropiclittleenterpriseswhichwerenippedinthebudforwantofco—operation。

"Tome,then,"saidhismother。"Itwouldhavesavedsomuchtrouble。"

"Ithoughtofit,butBobdidn\'twantthebigfellowstoknowforfearthey\'dbedownonhim,soIthoughthemightnotlikemetotellgrownpeople。Idon\'tmindthefussnow,andBobisaskindashecanbe。Wantedtogivemehisbigknife,butIwouldn\'ttakeit。

I\'dratherhavethis,"andJackputtheletterinhispocketwithaslapoutside,asifitwarmedthecocklesofhishearttohaveitthere。

"Well,itseemsratherlikeatempestinateapot,nowitisallover,butIdoadmireyourpluck,littleboy,inholdingoutsowellwheneveryonewasscoldingatyou,andyouintherightallthetime,"

saidFrank,gladtopraise,nowthathehonestlycould,afterhiswholesalecondemnation。

"Thatiswhatpulledmethrough,Isuppose。IusedtothinkifIhaddoneanythingwrong,thatIcouldn\'tstandthesnubbingaday。I

shouldhavetoldrightoff,andhaditover。Now,IguessI\'llhaveagoodreportifyoudotellMr。Acton,"saidJack,lookingathismothersowistfully,thatsheresolvedtoslipawaythatveryevening,andmakesurethatthethingwasdone。

"Thatwillmakeyouhappierthananythingelse,won\'tit？"askedJill,eagertohavehimrewardedafterhistrials。

"There\'sonethingIlikebetter,thoughI\'dbeverysorrytolosemyreport。It\'sthefunoftellingEdItriedtodoashewantedusto,andseeinghowpleasedhe\'llbe,"addedJack,ratherbashfully,fortheboyslaughedathimsometimesforhisloveofthisfriend。

"Iknowhewon\'tbeanyhappieraboutitthansomeoneelse,whostoodbyyouallthrough,andsetherbrightwitstoworktillthetroublewasallclearedaway,"saidMrs。Minot,lookingatJill\'scontentedface,asshelaysmilingonthemall。

Jackunderstood,and,hoppingacrosstheroom,gaveboththethinhandsaheartyshake;then,notfindinganywordsquitecordialenoughinwhichtothankthisfaithfullittlesister,hestoopeddownandkissedhergratefully。

Chapter15SaintLucySaturdaywasabusyandahappytimetoJack,forinthemorningMr。Actoncametoseehim,havingheardthestoryovernight,andpromisedtokeepBob\'ssecretwhilegivingJackanacquittalaspublicasthereprimandhadbeen。ThenheaskedforthereportwhichJackhadbravelyreceivedthedaybeforeandputawaywithoutshowingtoanybody。

"Thereisonemistakeherewhichwemustrectify,"saidMr。

Acton,ashecrossedoutthelowfiguresundertheword"Behavior,"andputthemuch—desired100there。

"ButIdidbreaktherule,sir,"saidJack,thoughhisfaceglowedwithpleasure,forMammawaslookingon。

"IoverlookthatasIshouldyourbreakingintomyhouseifyousawitwasonfire。Yourantosaveafriend,andIwishIcouldtellthosefellowswhyyouwerethere。Itwoulddothemgood。Iamnotgoingtopraiseyou,John,butIdidbelieveyouinspiteofappearances,andIamgladtohaveforapupilaboywholoveshisneighborbetterthanhimself。"

Then,havingshakenhandsheartily,Mr。Actonwentaway,andJackflewofftohaverejoicingswithJill,whosatuponhersofa,withoutknowingit,soeagerwasshetohearallaboutthecall。

IntheafternoonJackdrovehismothertotheCaptain\'s,confidingtoheronthewaywhatahardtimehehadwhenhewentbefore,andhownothingbutthethoughtofcheeringBobkepthimupwhenheslippedandhurthisknee,andhisbootsprungaleak,andthewindcameupverycold,andthehillseemedanendlessmountainofmudandsnow。

Mrs。MinothadsuchagentlewayofputtingthingsthatshewouldhavewonoveramuchhardermanthanthestrictoldCaptain,whoheardthestorywithinterest,andwasmuchpleasedwiththeboys\'

effortstokeepBobstraight。ThatyoungpersondodgedawayintothebarnwithJack,andonlyappearedatthelastminutetoshoveabagofchestnutsintothechaise。Buthegotafewkindwordsthatdidhimgood,fromMrs。MinotandtheCaptain,andfromthatdayfelthimselfunderbondstobehavewellifhewouldkeeptheirconfidence。

"IshallgiveJillthenuts;andIwishIhadsomethingshewantedvery,verymuch,forIdothinksheoughttoberewardedforgettingmeoutofthemess,"saidJack,asthey\'drovehappilyhomeagain。

"Ihopetohavesomethinginadayortwothatwilldelightherverymuch。Iwillsaynomorenow,butkeepmylittlesecretandletitbeasurprisetoallbyandby,"answeredhismother,lookingasifshehadnotmuchdoubtaboutthematter。

"Thatwillbejolly。Youarewelcometoyoursecret,Mamma。I\'vehadenoughofthemforonewhile";andJackshruggedhisbroadshouldersasifaburdenhadbeentakenoff。

IntheeveningEdcame,andJackwasquitesatisfiedwhenhesawhowpleasedhisfriendwasatwhathehaddone。

"Inevermeantyoushouldtakesomuchtrouble,onlybekindtoBob,"saidEd,whodidnotknowhowstronghisinfluencewas,norwhatasweetexampleofquietwell—doinghisownlifewastoallhismates。

"Iwishedtobereallyuseful;notjusttotalkaboutitanddonothing。Thatisn\'tyourway,andIwanttobelikeyou,"answeredJack,withsuchaffectionatesinceritythatEdcouldnothelpbelievinghim,thoughhemodestlydeclinedthecomplimentbysaying,ashebegantoplaysoftly,"BetterthanIam,Ihope。Idon\'tamounttomuch。"

"Yes,youdo！andifanyonesaysyoudon\'tI\'llshakehim。Ican\'ttellwhatitis,onlyyoualwayslooksohappyandcontented——sortofsweetandshiny,"saidJack,ashestrokedthesmoothbrownhead,ratheratalosstodescribetheunusuallyfreshandsunnyexpressionofEd\'sface,whichwasalwayscheerful,yethadacertainthoughtfulnessthatmadeitveryattractivetobothyoungandold。

"Soapmakeshimshiny;Ineversawsuchafellowtowashandbrush,"putinFrank,ashecameupwithoneofthepiecesofmusicheandEdwerefondofpractisingtogether。

"Idon\'tmeanthat！"saidJackindignantly。"Iwashandbrushtillyoucallmeadandy,butIdon\'thavethesamelook——itseemstocomefromtheinside,somehow,asifhewasalwaysjollyandcleanandgoodinhismind,youknow。"

"Bornso,"saidFrank,rumblingawayinthebasswithapairofhandsthatwouldhavebeenthebetterforsomeoftheabove—

mentionedsoap,forhedidnotlovetodomuchinthewashingandbrushingline。

"Isupposethat\'sit。Well,Ilikeit,andIshallkeepontrying,forbeinglovedbyeveryoneisaboutthenicestthingintheworld。Isn\'tit,Ed？"askedJack,withagentletweakoftheearasheputaquestionwhichheknewwouldgetnoanswer,forEdwassomodesthecouldnotseewhereinhedifferedfromotherboys,norbelievethatthesunshinehesawinotherfaceswasonlythereflectionfromhisown。

SundayeveningMrs。Minotsatbythefire,planninghowsheshouldtellsomegoodnewsshehadbeensavingupallday。Mrs。

Pecqknewit,andseemedsodelightedthatshewentaboutsmilingasifshedidnotknowwhattroublemeant,andcouldnotdoenoughforthefamily。Shewasdownstairsnow,seeingthattheclotheswereproperlypreparedforthewash,sotherewasnooneintheBirdRoombutMammaandthechildren。FrankwasreadingupallhecouldfindaboutsomeBiblicalheromentionedintheday\'ssermon;Jilllaywhereshehadlainfornearlyfourlongmonths,andthoughherfacewaspaleandthinwiththeconfinement,therewasanexpressiononitnowsweetereventhanhealth。Jacksatontherugbesideher,lookingatawhitecarnationthroughthemagnifyingglass,whileshewasenjoyingtheperfumeofaredoneasshetalkedtohim。

"Ifyoulookatthewhitepetalsyou\'llseethattheysparklelikemarble,andgowindingalongwaydowntothemiddleoftheflowerwhereitgrowssortofrosy;andinamongthesmall,curlyleaves,likefringedcurtains,youcanseethelittlegreenfairysittingallalone。Yourmothershowedmethat,andIthinkitisverypretty。Icallita\'fairy,\'butitisreallywheretheseedsarehiddenandthesweetsmellcomesfrom。"

Jillspokesoftlylestsheshoulddisturbtheothers,and,assheturnedtopushupherpillow,shesawMrs。Minotlookingatherwithasmileshedidnotunderstand。

"Didyouspeak,\'m？"sheasked,smilingbackagain,withoutintheleastknowingwhy。

"No,dear。Iwaslisteningandthinkingwhataprettylittlestoryonecouldmakeoutofyourfairylivingalonedownthere,andonlyknownbyherperfume。"

"Tellit,Mamma。Itistimeforourstory,andthatwouldbeaniceone,Iguess,"saidJack,whowasasfondofstoriesaswhenhesatinhismother\'slapandchuckledovertheheroofthebeanstalk。

\'Wedon\'thavefairytalesonSunday,youknow,"beganJillregretfully。

"Callitaparable,andhaveamoraltoit,thenitwillbeallright,"

putinFrank,asheshuthisbigbook,havingfoundwhathewanted。

"Ilikestoriesaboutsaints,andthegoodandwonderfulthingstheydid,"saidJill,whoenjoyedthewiseandinterestingbitsMrs。

Minotoftenfoundforheringrown—upbooks,forJillhadthoughtfultimes,andaskedquestionswhichshowedthatshewasgrowingfastinmindifnotinbody。

"Thisisatruestory;butIwilldisguiseitalittle,andcallit\'TheMiracleofSaintLucy,"beganMrs。Minot,seeingawaytotellhergoodnewsandamusethechildrenlikewise。

Frankretiredtotheeasy—chair,thathemightsleepifthetaleshouldprovetoochildishforhim。Jillsettledherselfamonghercushions,andJacklayflatupontherug,withhisfeetup,sothathecouldadmirehisredslippersandresthisknee,whichached。

"Onceuponatimetherewasaqueenwhohadtwoprinces。"

"Wasn\'tthereaprincess？"askedJack,interestedatonce。

"No;anditwasagreatsorrowtothequeenthatshehadnolittledaughter,forthesonsweregrowingup,andshewasoftenverylonely。

"LikeSnowdrop\'smother,"whisperedJill。

"Now,don\'tkeepinterrupting,children,orwenevershallgeton,"

saidFrank,moreanxioustohearabouttheboysthatwerethanthegirlthatwasnot。

"Oneday,whentheprinceswereout——ahem！we\'llsayhunting——theyfoundalittledamsellyingonthesnow,halfdeadwithcold,theythought。Shewasthechildofapoorwomanwholivedintheforest——awildlittlething,alwaysdancingandsingingabout;ashardtocatchasasquirrel,andsofearlessshewouldclimbthehighesttrees,leapbroadbrooks,orjumpoffthesteeprockstoshowhercourage。Theboyscarriedherhometothepalace,andthequeenwasgladtohaveher。Shehadfallenandhurtherself,soshelayinbedweekafterweek,withhermothertotakecareofher——"