第12章

Merrygaveadisdainfullittlesniffatthesavoryperfumeofhamwhichsalutedthem,andpausedwithherhandonthegate,asifshefounditpleasanterouttherethaninthehouse。Ralphseemedtoagreewithher,for,leaningonthegate,helingeredtosay,withrealsympathyinhistoneandsomethingelseinhisface,"Yes,I

should;soyouwriteandtellmeallaboutit。Ididn\'tknowyouhadanyworries,foryoualwaysseemedlikeoneofthehappiestpeopleintheworld,withsomanytopetandcareforyou,andplentyofmoney,andnothingveryhardorhatefultodo。You\'dthinkyouwerewelloffifyouknewasmuchaboutpovertyandworkandnevergettingwhatyouwant,asIdo。"

"Youbearyourworriessowellthatnobodyknowsyouhavethem。

Ioughtnottocomplain,andIwon\'t,forIdohaveallIneed。I\'msogladyouaregoingtogetwhatyouwantatlast";andMerryheldoutherhandtosaygood—night,withsomuchpleasureinherfacethatRalphcouldnotmakeuphismindtogojustyet。

"IshallhavetoscratchroundinalivelywaybeforeIdogetit,forDavidsaysafellowcan\'tliveonlessthanfourorfivehundredayear,evenlivingaspoorartistshaveto,ingarretsandonCrusts。I

don\'tmindaslongasGrandmaisallright。Sheisawayto—night,orIshouldnotbehere,"headded,asifsomeexcusewasnecessary。

Merryneedednohint,forhertenderheartwastouchedbythevisionofherfriendinagarret,andshesuddenlyrejoicedthattherewashamandeggsforsupper,sothathemightbewellfedonce,atleast,beforehewentawaytofeedonartisticcrusts。

"Beinghere,comeinandspendtheevening。Theboyswillliketohearthenews,andsowillfather。Do,now。"

Itwasimpossibletorefusetheinvitationhehadbeenlongingfor,andintheywenttothegreatdelightofRoxy,whoinstantlyretiredtothepantry,smilingsignificantly,andbroughtoutthemostelaboratepieinhonoroftheoccasion。Merrytouchedupthetable,andputalittlevaseofflowersinthemiddletoredeemthevulgarityofdoughnuts。Ofcoursetheboysupsetit,butastherewascompanynothingwassaid,andRalphdevouredhissupperwiththeappetiteofahungryboy,whilewatchingMerryeatbreadandcreamoutofanold—fashionedsilverporringer,andthinkingitthesweetestsightheeverbeheld。

Thentheyoungpeoplegatheredaboutthetable,fullofthenewplans,andtheelderslistenedastheyrestedaftertheweek\'swork。

Apleasantevening,fortheyalllikedRalph,butastheparentswatchedMerrysittingamongthegreatladslikealittlequeenamonghersubjects,halfunconsciousasyetofthepowerinherhands,theynoddedtooneanother,andthenshooktheirheadsasiftheysaid,"I\'mafraidthetimeiscoming,mother。"

"Nodangeraslongasshedon\'tknowit,father。"

Atninetheboyswentofftothebarn,thefarmertowinduptheeight—dayclock,andthehousewifetoseehowthebakedbeansandIndianpuddingforto—morrowweregettingonintheoven。Ralphtookuphishattogo,sayingashelookedattheshadeonthetallstudentlamp,"Whatagoodlightthatgives！IcanseeitasIgohomeeverynight,anditburnsupherelikeabeacon。Ialwayslookforit,andithardlyeverfailstobeburning。Sortofcheersuptheway,youknow,whenI\'mtiredorlowinmymind。"

"ThenI\'mverygladIgotit。Ilikedtheshape,buttheboyslaughedatitastheydidatmybuirushesinaginger—jaroverthere。I\'dbeenreadingabout\'householdart,\'andIthoughtI\'dtryalittle,"

answeredMerry,laughingatherownwhims。

"You\'vegotabettersortofhouseholdart,Ithink,foryoumakepeoplehappyandplacespretty,withoutfussingoverit。ThisroomiseversomuchimprovedeverytimeIcome,thoughIhardlyseewhatitisexcepttheflowers,"saidRalph,lookingfromthegirltothetallcallathatbentitswhitecupaboveherasiftopouritsdewuponherhead。

"Isn\'tthatlovely？Itriedtodrawit——theshapewassogracefulI

wantedtokeepit。ButIcouldn\'t。Isn\'titapitysuchbeautifulthingswon\'tlastforever？"andMerrylookedregretfullyatthehalf—fadedonethatgrewbesidethefreshblossom。

"Icankeepitforyou。Itwouldlookwellinplaster。MayI？"askedRalph。

"Thankyou,Ishouldlikethatverymuch。Taketherealoneasamodel——pleasedo;therearemorecoming,andthiswillbrightenupyourroomforadayortwo。"

Asshespoke,Merrycutthestem,and,addingtwoorthreeofthegreatgreenleaves,putthehandsomeflowerinhishandwithsomuchgood—willthathefeltasifhehadreceivedaverypreciousgift。Thenhesaidgood—nightsogratefullythatMerry\'shandquitetingledwiththegraspofhis,andwentaway,oftenlookingbackwardthroughthedarknesstowherethelightburnedbrightlyonthehill—top——thebeaconkindledbyanunconsciousHeroforayoungLeanderswimminggallantlyagainstwindandtidetowardthegoalofhisambition。

Chapter17DownatMolly\'s"Now,mydears,I\'vesomethingverycurioustotellyou,solistenquietlyandthenI\'llgiveyouyourdinners,"saidMolly,addressingtheninecatswhocametroopingafterherasshewentintotheshed—chamberwithabowlofmilkandaplateofscrapsinherhands。Shehadtaughtthemtobehavewellatmeals,so,thoughtheireyesglaredandtheirtailsquiveredwithimpatience,theyobeyed;andwhensheputthefoodonahighshelfandretiredtothebigbasket,thefouroldcatssatdemurelydownbeforeher,whilethefivekitsscrambledafterherandtumbledintoherlap,asifhopingtohastenthedesiredfeastbytheirinnocentgambols。

Granny,Tobias,Mortification,andMolassesweretheelders。

Granny,agrayoldpuss,wasthemotherandgrandmotherofalltherest。Tobiaswashereldestson,andMortificationhisbrother,sonamedbecausehehadlosthistail,whichafflictiondepressedhisspiritsandcastablightoverhisyounglife。Molasseswasayellowcat,themammaoffourofthekits,thefifthbeingGranny\'slatestdarling。Toddlekins,thelittleaunt,wastheimageofhermother,andverysedateevenatthatearlyage;MissMuffet,socalledfromherdreadofspiders,wasatimidblackandwhitekit;Beauty,aprettyMaltese,withaserenelittlefaceandpinknose;Ragbag,afunnything,everycolorthatacatcouldbe;andScamp,whowelldeservedhisname,forhewastheplagueofMissBat\'slife,andMolly\'sespecialpet。

Hewasnowperchedonhershoulder,and,asshetalked,keptpeepingintoherfaceorbitingherearinthemostimpertinentway,whiletheotherssprawledinherlaporpromenadedroundthebasketrim。

"Myfriends,somethingveryremarkablehashappened:MissBatiscleaninghouse！"and,havingmadethisannouncement,Mollyleanedbacktoseehowthecatsreceivedit,forsheinsistedthattheyunderstoodallshesaidtothem。

Tobiasstared,Mortificationlaydownasifitwastoomuchforhim,Molassesbeathertailonthefloorasifwhippingadustycarpet,andGrannybegantopurrapprovingly。Thegiddykitspaidnoattention,astheydidnotknowwhathouse—cleaningmeant,happylittledears！

"Ithoughtyou\'dlikeit,Granny,foryouareadecentcat,andknowwhatisproper,"continuedMolly,leaningdowntostroketheoldpuss,whoblinkedaffectionatelyather。"Ican\'timaginewhatputitintoMissBat\'shead。Ineversaidaword,andgaveupgroaningovertheclutter,asIcouldn\'tmendit。IjusttookcareofBooandmyself,andlefthertobeasuntidyasshepleased,andsheisaregularold————"

HereScampputhispawonherlipsbecausehesawthemmoving,butitseemedasifitwastocheckthedisrespectfulwordjustcomingout。

"Well,Iwon\'tcallnames;butwhatshallIdowhenIseeeverythinginconfusion,andshewon\'tletmeclearup？"askedMolly,lookingroundatScamp,whopromptlyputthelittlepawonhereyelid,asiftherolloftheblueballunderneathamusedhim。

"Shutmyeyestoit,youmean？IdoallIcan,butitishard,whenI

wishtobenice,anddotry;don\'tI？"askedMolly。ButScampwasreadyforher,andbegantocombherhairwithbothpawsashestoodonhishindlegstoworksobusilythatMollylaughedandpulledhimdown,saying,asshecuddledtheslykit。

"Yousharplittlething！Iknowmyhairisnotneatnow,forI\'vebeenchasingBooroundthegardentowashhimforschool。ThenMissBatthrewtheparlorcarpetoutofthewindow,andIwassosurprisedIhadtorunandtellyou。Now,whathadwebetterdoaboutit？"

Thecatsallwinkedather,butnoonehadanyadvicetooffer,exceptTobias,whowalkedtotheshelf,and,lookingup,utteredadeep,suggestiveyowl,whichsaidasplainlyaswords,"Dinnerfirstanddiscussionafterward。"

"Verywell,don\'tscramble,"saidMolly,gettinguptofeedherpets。Firstthekits,whorushedatthebowlandthrusttheirheadsin,lappingasifforawager;thenthecats,whoeachwenttooneofthefourpilesofscrapslaidroundatintervalsandplacidlyatetheirmeat;whileMollyretiredtothebasket,toponderoverthephenomenatakingplaceinthehouse。

Shecouldnotimaginewhathadstartedtheoldlady。Itwasnottheexampleofherneighbors,whohadbeatencarpetsandscrubbedpainteveryspringforyearswithoutexcitinghertoanygreaterexertionthancleaningafewwindowsandhavingamantoclearawaytherubbishdisplayedwhenthesnowmelted。Mollyneverguessedthatherowneffortswereatthebottomofthechange,orknewthatafewwordsnotmeantforherearhadshamedMissBatintoaction。Cominghomefromprayer—meetingonedarknight,shetrottedalongbehindtwooldladieswhoweregossipinginloudvoices,asonewasratherdeaf,andMissBatwasbothpleasedandtroubledtohearherselfundulypraised。

"IalwayssaidSisterDawesmeantwell;butshe\'sgettingintoyears,andthecareoftwochildrenisagooddealforher,withhercookingandherrheumatiz。Idon\'tdenyshedidneglect\'emforaspell,butshedoeswellby\'emnow,andIwouldn\'twishtoseebetter—appearingchildren。"

"You\'venoideehowimprovedMollyis。Shecameintoseemygirls,andbroughthersewing—work,shirtsfortheboy,anddoneitasneatandcapableasyou\'dwishtosee。Shealwayswasasmartchild,butdreadfulcareless,"saidtheotheroldlady,evidentlymuchimpressedbythechangeinharum—scarumMollyLoo。

"BeingovertoMisMinot\'ssomuchhasbeengoodforher,anduptoMisGrant\'s。Girlscatchneatwaysasquickasthey\'dountidyones,andthemwildlittletykesoftenturnoutsmartwomen。"

"SisterDaweshasdonewellbythemchildren,andIhopeMr。

Bemisseesit。Heoughttogivehersomethingcomfortabletoliveonwhenshecan\'tdoforhimanylonger。Hecanwellaffordit。"

"Ihaven\'tadoubthewill。He\'salavishmanwhenhestartstodoathing,butdreadfulunobserving,elsehe\'dhaveseentomatterslongago。Themchildrenwastown—talklastfall,andIusedtofeelasifitwasmyboundendutytospeaktoMissDawes。ButIneverdid,fearingImightspeaktooplain,andhurtherfeelings。"

"You\'vespokenplainenoughnow,andI\'mbeholdentoyou,thoughyou\'llneverknowit,"saidMissBattoherself,assheslippedintoherowngate,whilethegossipstrudgedonquiteunconsciousofthelistenerbehindthem。

MissBatwasaworthyoldsoulinthemain,only,likesomanyofus,sheneededrousinguptoherduty。Shehadgottherousingnow,anditdidhergood,forshecouldnotbeartobepraisedwhenshehadnotdeservedit。ShehadwatchedMolly\'seffortswithlazyinterest,andwhenthegirlgaveupmeddlingwithheraffairs,asshecalledthehousekeeping,MissBatceasedtoopposeher,andletherscrubBoo,mendclothes,andbrushherhairasmuchassheliked。SoMollyhadworkedalongwithoutanyhelpfromher,runningintoMrs。Pecqforadvice,toMerryforcomfort,orMrs。

Minotforthehigherkindofhelponeoftenneedssomuch。NowMissBatfoundthatshewasgettingthecreditandthepraisebelongingtootherpeople,anditstirredheruptotryanddeserveapartatleast。

"Mollydon\'twantanyhelpaboutherworkortheboy:it\'stoolateforthat;butifthishousedon\'tgetaspringcleaningthatwillmakeitshine,mynameain\'tBathshebaDawes,"saidtheoldlady,assheputawayherbonnetthatnight,andlaidenergeticplansforagrandrevolution,inspiredtheretonotonlybyshame,butbythehintthat"Mr。Bemiswasalavishman,"asnooneknewbetterthanshe。

Molly\'samazementnextdayatseeingcarpetsflyoutofwindow,ancientcobwebscomedown,andlong—undisturbedclosetsroutedouttothegreatdismayofmothsandmice,hasbeenalreadyconfidedtothecats,andasshesattherewatchingthemlapandgnaw,shesaidtoherself,"Idon\'tunderstandit,butassheneversaysmuchtomeaboutmyaffairs,Iwon\'ttakeanynoticetillshegetsthrough,thenI\'lladmireeverythingallIcan。Itissopleasanttobepraisedafteryou\'vebeentryinghard。"

Shemightwellsaythat,forshegotverylittleherself,andhertrialshadbeenmany,hereffortsnotalwayssuccessful,andherrewardseemedalongwayoff。PoorBoocouldhavesympathizedwithher,forhehadsufferedmuchpersecutionfromhissmallschoolmateswhenheappearedwithlargegraypatchesonthelittlebrowntrousers,wherehehadwornthemoutcoastingdownthosetoofascinatingsteps。Ashecouldnotseethepatcheshimself,hefanciedtheminvisible,andcamehomemuchafflictedbythejeersofhisfriends。ThenMollytriedtomakehimanewpairoutofasackofherown;butshecutbothsidesforthesameleg,soonewaswrongsideout。Fondlyhopingnoonewouldobserveit,shesewedbrightbuttonswherevertheycouldbeput,andsentconfidingBooawayinapairofbluetrousers,whichwereabsurdlyhunchybehindandbuttonybefore。Hecamehomeheart—brokenandmuddy,havingbeenaccidentallytippedintoamud—puddlebytwobadboyswhofeltthatsuchtailoringwasaninsulttomankind。

ThatrousedMolly\'sspirit,andshebeggedherfathertotaketheboyandhavehimproperlyfittedout,ashewasoldenoughnowtobewell—dressed,andshewouldn\'thavehimtormented。Hisattentionbeingcalledtothetrousers,Mr。Bemishadagoodlaughoverthem,andthengotBooasuitwhichcausedhimtobetheadmiredofallobservers,andtofeelasproudasalittlepeacock。

Cheeredbythissuccess,Mollyundertookasetofsmallshirts,andstitchedawaybravely,thoughherownsummerclotheswereinasadstate,andforthefirsttimeinherlifeshecaredaboutwhatsheshouldwear。

"ImustaskMerry,andmaybefatherwillletmegowithherandhermotherwhentheydotheirshopping,insteadofleavingittoMissBat,whodressesmelikeanoldwoman。Merryknowswhatisprettyandbecoming:Idon\'t,"thoughtMolly,meditatinginthebushelbasket,withhereyesonhersnuff—coloredgownandthedarkpurplebowattheendofthelongbraidMuffethadbeenplayingwith。

Mollywasbeginningtoseethatevensosmallamatterasthechoiceofcolorsmadeadifferenceinone\'sappearance,andtowonderwhyMerryalwaystooksuchpainstohaveabluetieforthegraydress,arosyoneforthebrown,andglovesthatmatchedherbonnetribbons。Merryneverworealocketoutsidehersack,agaybowinherhairandsoiledcuffs,asmarthatandthebraidwornoffherskirts。Shewasexquisitelyneatandsimple,yetalwayslookedwell—dressedandpretty;forherloveofbeautytaughtherwhatallgirlsshouldlearnassoonastheybegintocareforappearances——thatneatnessandsimplicityaretheirbestornaments,thatgoodhabitsarebetterthanfineclothes,andthemostelegantmannersarethekindest。

AllthesethoughtsweredancingthroughMolly\'shead,andwhenshelefthercats,afterageneralrompinwhichevendecorousGrannyallowedherfamilytoplayleap—frogoverherrespectableback,shehadmadeuphermindnottohaveyellowribbonsonhersummerhatifshegotapinkmuslinasshehadplanned,buttofinishoffBoo\'slastshirtbeforeshewentshoppingwithMerry。

Itrainedthatevening,andMr。Bemishadaheadache,sohethrewhimselfdownupontheloungeafterteaforanap,withhissilkhandkerchiefspreadoverhisface。Hedidgetanap,andwhenhewakedhelayforatimedrowsilylisteningtothepatteroftherain,andanothersoundwhichwasevenmoresoothing。Puttingbackacornerofthehandkerchieftolearnwhatitwas,hesawMollysittingbythefirewithBooinherlap,rockingandhummingasshewarmedhislittlebarefeet,havinglearnedtoguardagainstcroupbyattendingtothedampshoesandsocksbeforegoingtobed。Boolaywithhisroundfaceturneduptohers,strokinghercheekwhilethesleepyblueeyesblinkedlovinglyatherasshesangherlullabywithamotherlypatiencesweettosee。Theymadeaprettylittlepicture,andMr。Bemislookedatitwithpleasure,havingaleisuremomentinwhichtodiscover,asallparentsdosoonerorlater,thathischildrenweregrowingup。

"Mollyisgettingtobequiteawoman,andverylikehermother,"

thoughtpapa,wipingtheeyethatpeeped,forhehadbeenfondoftheprettywifewhodiedwhenBoowasborn。"Sadlosstothem,poorthings！ButMissBatseemstohavedonewellbythem。Mollyismuchimproved,andtheboylooksfinely。She\'sagoodsoul,afterall";andMr。Bemisbegantothinkhehadbeenhastywhenhehalfmadeuphismindtogetanewhousekeeper,feelingthatburntsteak,weakcoffee,andraggedwristbandsweresuresignsthatMissBat\'sdaysofusefulnesswereover。

Mollywassingingthelullabyhermotherusedtosingtoher,andherfatherlistenedtoitsilentlytillBoowascarriedawaytoosleepyforanythingbutbed。Whenshecamebackshesatdowntoherwork,fancyingherfatherstillasleep。Shehadacrimsonbowatherthroatandoneonthenewlybraidedhair,hercuffswereclean,andawhiteapronhidtheshabbinessoftheolddress。Shelookedlikeathriftylittlehousewifeasshesatwithherbasketbesideherfullofneatwhiterolls,herspoolssetforth,andanewpairofscissorsshiningonthetable。Therewasasortofcharminwatchingthebusyneedleflashtoandfro,theanxiouspuckeroftheforeheadasshelookedtoseeifthestitcheswereeven,andtheexpressionofintensereliefuponherfaceasshesurveyedthefinishedbutton—holewithgirlishsatisfaction。Herfatherwaswideawakeandlookingather,thinking,ashedidso,"Reallytheoldladyhasworkedwelltochangemytomboyintothatnicelittlegirl:Iwonderhowshedidit。"Thenhegaveayawn,pulledoffthehandkerchief,andsaidaloud,\'Whatareyoumaking,Molly？"foritstruckhimthatsewingwasanewamusement。

"ShirtsforBoo,sir。Four,andthisisthelast,"sheanswered,withpardonablepride,asshehelditupandnoddedtowardthepileinherbasket。

"Isn\'tthatanewnotion？IthoughtMissBatdidthesewing,"saidMr。Bemis,ashesmiledatthefunnylittlegarment,itlookedsolikeBoohimself。

"No,sir;onlyyours。IdomineandBoo\'s。Atleast,I\'mlearninghow,andMrs。PecqsaysIgetonnicely,"answeredMolly,threadingherneedleandmakingaknotinhermostcapableway。

"Isupposeitistimeyoudidlearn,foryouaregettingtobeagreatgirl,andallwomenshouldknowhowtomakeandmend。Youmusttakeastitchformenowandthen:MissBat\'seyesarenotwhattheywere,Ifind";andMr。Bemislookedathisfrayedwristband,asifheparticularlyfelttheneedofastitchjustthen。

"I\'dloveto,andIguessIcould。Icanmendgloves;Merrytaughtme,soI\'dbetterbeginonthem,ifyouhaveany,"saidMolly,muchpleasedatbeingabletodoanythingforherfather,andstillmoresoatbeingasked。

"There\'ssomethingtostartwith";andhethrewherapair,withnearlyeveryfingerripped。

Mollyshookherheadoverthem,butgotouthergraysilkandfelltowork,gladtoshowhowwellshecouldsew。

"Whatareyousmilingabout？"askedherfather,afteralittlepause,forhisheadfeltbetter,anditamusedhimtoquestionMolly。

"Iwasthinkingaboutmysummerclothes。Imustgetthembeforelong,andI\'dliketogowithMrs。Grantandlearnhowtoshop,ifyouarewilling。"

IthoughtMissBatdidthatforyou。

"Shealwayshas,butshegetsugly,cheapthingsthatIdon\'tlike。I

thinkIamoldenoughtochoosemyself,ifthereissomeonetotellmeaboutpricesandthegoodnessofthestuff。Merrydoes;andsheisonlyafewmonthsolderthanIam。"

"Howoldareyou,child？"askedherfather,feelingasifhehadlosthisreckoning。

"FifteeninAugust";andMollylookedveryproudofthefact。

"Soyouare！Blessmyheart,howthetimegoes！Well,getwhatyouplease;ifI\'mtohaveayoungladyhere,I\'dliketohaveherprettilydressed。Itwon\'toffendMissBat,willit？"

Molly\'seyessparkled,butshegavealittleshrugassheanswered,"Shewon\'tcare。ShenevertroublesherselfaboutmeifIietncralone。

"Hey？what？Nottroubleherself？Ifshedoesn\'t,whodoes？"andMr。Bemissatupasifthisdiscoverywasmoresurprisingthantheother。

"ItakecareofmyselfandBoo,andshelooksafteryou。Thehousegoesanyway。"

"Ishouldthinkso！Inearlybrokemyneckovertheparlorsofainthehallto—night。Whatisittherefor？"

Mollylaughed。"That\'sthejoke,sir,MissBatiscleaninghouse,andI\'msureitneedscleaning,foritisyearssinceitwasproperlydone。Ithoughtyoumighthavetoldherto。"

"I\'vesaidnothing。Don\'tlikehouse—cleaningwellenoughtosuggestit。IdidthinkthehallwasratherdirtywhenIdroppedmycoatandtookitupcoveredwithlint。Isshegoingtoupsetthewholeplace？"askedMr。Bemis,lookingalarmedattheprospect。

"Ihopeso,forIreallyamashamedwhenpeoplecome,tohavethemseethedustandcobwebs,andoldcarpetsanddirtywindows,"saidMolly,withasigh,thoughsheneverhadcaredabittilllately。

"Whydon\'tyoudustroundalittle,then？Notimetosparefromthebooksandplay？"

"Itried,father,butMissBatdidn\'tlikeit,anditwastoohardformealone。Ifthingswereonceinniceorder,IthinkIcouldkeepthemso;forIdowanttobeneat,andI\'mlearningasfastasIcan。"

"Itishightimesomeonetookhold,ifmattersareleftasyousay。

I\'vejustbeenthinkingwhatacleverwomanMissBatwas,tomakesuchatidylittlegirloutofwhatIusedtohearcalledthegreatesttomboyintown,andwonderingwhatIcouldgivetheoldlady。

NowIfindyouaretheonetobethanked,anditisaverypleasantsurprisetome。"

"Giveherthepresent,please;I\'msatisfied,ifyoulikewhatI\'vedone。Itisn\'tmuch,andI\'didn\'tknowasyouwouldeverobserveanydifference。ButI\'didtry,andnowIguessI\'mreallygettingon,"saidMolly,sewingawaywithabrightcolorinhercheeks,forshe,too,founditapleasantsurprisetobepraisedaftermanyfailuresandfewsuccesses。

"Youcertainlyare,mydear。I\'llwaittillthehouse—cleaningisover,andthen,ifweareallalive,I\'llseeaboutMissBat\'sreward。

Meantime,yougowithMrs。Grantandgetwhateveryouandtheboyneed,andsendthebillstome";andMr。Bemislightedacigar,asifthatmatterwassettled。

"Oh,thankyou,sir！Thatwillbesplendid。Merryalwayshasprettythings,andIknowyouwilllikemewhenIgetfixed,"saidMolly,smoothingdownherapron,withalittleair。

"Seemstomeyoulookverywellasyouare。Isn\'tthataprettyenoughfrock？"askedMr。Bemis,quiteunconsciousthathisownunusualinterestinhisdaughter\'saffairsmadeherlooksobrightandwinsome。

"This？Why,father,I\'vewornitallwinter,andit\'sfrightfullyugly,andalmostinrags。Iaskedyouforanewoneamonthago,andyousaidyou\'d\'seeaboutit\';butyoudidn\'t,soIpatchedthisupaswellasIcould";andMollyshowedherelbows,feelingthatsuchmasculineblindnessasthisdeservedamildreproof。

"Toobad！Well,goandgethalfadozenprettymuslinandginghamthings,andbeasgayasabutterfly,tomakeupforit,"

laughedherfather,reallytouchedbythepatchesandMolly\'sresignationtotheunreliable"I\'llseeaboutit,"whichherecognizedasahouseholdword。

Mollyclappedherhands,oldglovesandall,exclaiming,withgirlishdelight,"Howniceitwillseemtohaveaplentyofnew,neatdressesallatonce,andbelikeothergirls！MissBatalwaystalksabouteconomy,andhasnomoretastethana——caterpillar。"

Mollymeanttosay"cat,"butrememberingherpets,sparedthemtheinsult。

"IthinkIcanaffordtodressmygirlaswellasGrantdoeshis。Getanewhatandcoat,child,andanylittlenotionsyoufancy。MissBat\'seconomyisn\'tthesortIlike";andMr。Bemislookedathiswristbandsagain,asifhecouldsympathizewithMolly\'selbows。

"Atthisrate,IshallhavemoreclothesthanIknowwhattodowith,afterbeingarag—bag,"thoughtthegirl,ingreatglee,asshebravelystitchedawayattheworstglove,whileherfathersmokedsilentlyforawhile,feelingthatseverallittlemattershadescapedhiseyewhichhereallyoughtto"seeabout。"

Presentlyhewenttohisdesk,butnottoburyhimselfinbusinesspapers,asusual,for,afterrummaginginseveraldrawers,hetookoutasmallbunchofkeys,andsatlookingatthemwithanexpressiononlyseenonhisfacewhenhelookedupattheportraitofadark—eyedwomanhanginginhisroom。Hewasaverybusyman,buthehadatenderplaceinhisheartforhischildren;andwhenalook,afewwords,amoment\'sreflection,calledhisattentiontothefactthathislittlegirlwasgrowingup,hefoundbothprideandpleasureinthethoughtthatthisyoungdaughterwastryingtofillhermother\'splace,andbeacomforttohim,ifhewouldlether。

"Molly,mydear,hereissomethingforyou,"hesaid;andwhenshestoodbesidehim,added,asheputthekeysintoherhand,keepingbothinhisownforaminute,"Thosearethekeystoyourmother\'sthings。Ialwaysmeantyoutohavethem,whenyouwereoldenoughtouseorcareforthem。I

thinkyou\'iifancythisbetterthananyotherpresent,foryouareagoodchild,andverylikeher。"

Somethingseemedtogetintohisthroatthere,andMollyputherarmroundhisneck,saying,withalittlechokeinherownvoice,"Thankyou,father,I\'dratherhavethisthananythingelseintheworld,andI\'lltrytobemorelikehereveryday,foryoursake。

Hekissedher,thensaid,ashebegantostirhispapersabout,"I

mustwritesomeletters。Runofftobed,child。Good—night,mydear,good—night。"

Seeingthathewantedtobealone,Mollyslippedaway,feelingthatshehadreceivedaverypreciousgift;forsherememberedthedear,deadmother,andhadoftenlongedtopossesstherelicslaidawayintheoneroomwhereorderreignedandMissBathadnopowertomeddle。Asshesiowlyundressed,shewasnotthinkingoftheprettynewgownsinwhichshewastobe"asgayasabutterfly,"

butofthehalf—worngarmentswaitingforherhandstounfoldwithatendertouch;andwhenshefellasleep,withthekeysunderherpillowandherarmsroundBoo,afewhappytearsonhercheeksseemedtoshowthat,intryingtodothedutywhichlaynearesther,shehadearnedaverysweetreward。

Sothelittlemissionariessucceededbetterintheirsecondattemptthanintheirfirst;for,thoughstillveryfarfrombeingperfectgirls,eachwasslowlylearning,inherownway,oneofthethreelessonsallarethebetterforknowing——thatcheerfulnesscanchangemisfortuneintoloveandfriends;thatinorderingone\'sselfarightonehelpsotherstodothesame;andthatthepoweroffindingbeautyinthehumblestthingsmakeshomehappyandlifelovely。

Chapter18MayBasketsSpringwaslatethatyear,buttoJillitseemedtheloveliestshehadeverknown,forhopewasgrowinggreenandstronginherownlittleheart,andalltheworldlookedbeautiful。Withthehelpofthebraceshecouldsitupforashorttimeeveryday,andwhentheairwasmildenoughshewaswarmlywrappedandallowedtolookoutattheopenwindowintothegarden,wherethegoldandpurplecrocuseswerecomingbravelyup,andthesnowdropsnoddedtheirdelicateheadsasifcallingtoher,"Goodday,littlesister,comeoutandplaywithus,forwinterisoverandspringishere。"

"IwishIcould！"thoughtJill,asthesoftwindkissedatingeofcolorintoherpalecheeks。"Nevermind,theyhavebeenshutupinadarkerplacethanIformonths,andhadnofunatall;Iwon\'tfret,butthinkaboutJulyandtheseashorewhileIwork。"

ThejobnowinhandwasMaybaskets,foritwasthecustomofthechildrentohangthemonthedoorsoftheirfriendsthenightbeforeMay—day;andthegirlshadagreedtosupplybasketsiftheboyswouldhuntforflowers,muchthehardertaskofthetwo。Jillhadmoreleisureaswellastasteandskillthantheothergirls,sosheamusedherselfwithmakingagoodlystoreofprettybasketsofallshapes,sizes,andcolors,quiteconfidentthattheywouldbefilled,thoughnotaflowerhadshownitsheadexceptafewhardydandelions,andhereandthereasmallclusterofsaxifrage。