下载辰思小说免费APP
Thevioletswouldnotopentheirblueeyestillthesunshinewaswarmer,thecolumbinesrefusedtodancewiththeboisterouseastwind,thefernskeptthemselvesrolledupintheirbrownflanneljackets,andlittleHepatica,withmanyanotherspringbeauty,hidawayinthewoods,afraidtoventureout,inspiteoftheeagerwelcomeawaitingthem。Butthebirdshadcome,punctualasever,andthebluejayswerescreamingintheorchard,robinswereperkinguptheirheadsandtailsastheywenthouse—hunting,purplefinchesintheirlittleredhoodswerefeastingonthesprucebuds,andthefaithfulchipbirdschirpedgaylyonthegrapevinetrelliswheretheyhadlivedallwinter,warmingtheirlittlegraybreastsagainstthesouthernsideofthehousewhenthesunshone,andhidingundertheevergreenboughswhenthesnowfell。
"Thattreeisasortofbird\'shotel,"saidJill,lookingoutatthetallsprucebeforeherwindow,everyspraynowtippedwithasoftgreen。"Theyallgotheretosleepandeat,andithasroomforeveryone,Itisgreenwhenothertreesdie,thewindcan\'tbreakit,andthesnowonlymakesitlookprettier。Itsingstome,andnodsasifitknewIlovedit。"
"Wemightcallit\'TheHollyTreeInn,\'assomeofthecheapeating—housesforpoorpeoplearecalledinthecity,asmyhollybushgrowsatitsfootforasign。Youcanbethelandlady,andfeedyourfeatherycustomerseveryday,tillthehardtimesareover,"
saidMrs。Minot,gladtoseethechild\'senjoymentoftheouterworldfromwhichshehadbeenshutsolong。
Jilllikedthefancy,andgladlystrewedcrumbsonthewindowledgeforthechippies,whocameconfidinglytoeatalmostfromherhand。Shethrewoutgrainforthehandsomejays,thejauntyrobins,andtheneighbors\'doves,whocamewithsoftflighttotripaboutontheirpinkfeet,archingtheirshiningnecksastheycooedandpecked。Carrotsandcabbage—leavesalsoflewoutofthewindowforthemaraudinggrayrabbit,lastofallJack\'shalf—dozen,wholedhimawearylifeofitbecausetheywouldnotstayintheBunny—house,butunderminedthegardenwiththeirburrows,atetheneighbors\'plants,andrefusedtobecaughttillallbutoneranaway,toJack\'sgreatrelief。Thisoldfellowcampedoutforthewinter,andseemedtogetonverywellamongthecatsandthehens,whosharedtheirstoreswithhim,andhemightbeseenatallhoursofthedayandnightscamperingabouttheplace,orkickinguphisheelsbymoonlight,forhewasadesperatepoacher。
Jilltookgreatdelightinherprettypensioners,whosoonlearnedtolove"TheHollyTreeInn,"andtofeelthattheBirdRoomheldacagedcomrade;for,whenitwastoocoldorwettoopenthewindows,thedovescameandtappedatthepane,thechippiessatontheledgeinplumplittlebunchesasifsheweretheirsunshine,thejayscalledherintheirshrillvoicestoringthedinner—bell,andtherobinstiltedonthespruceboughswherelunchwasalwaystobehad。
ThefirstofMaycameonSunday,soallthecelebratingmustbedoneonSaturday,whichhappilyprovedfair,thoughtoochillyformuslingowns,papergarlands,andpicnicsondampgrass。Beingaholiday,theboysdecidedtodevotethemorningtoballandtheafternoontotheflowerhunt,whilethegirlsfinishedthebaskets;
andintheeveningourparticularsevenweretomeetattheMinotstofillthem,readyfortheclosingfrolicofhangingondoor—handles,ringingbells,andrunningaway。
"NowImustdomyMaying,fortherewillbenomoresunshine,andIwanttopickmyflowersbeforeitisdark。Come,Mammy,yougotoo,"saidJill,asthelastsunbeamsshoneinatthewesternwindowwhereherhyacinthsstoodthatnofosteringraymightbelost。
Itwasratherpathetictoseetheoncemerrygirlwhousedtobethelifeofthewood—partiesnowcarefullyliftingherselffromthecouch,and,leaningonhermother\'sstrongarm,slowlytakethehalf—dozenstepsthatmadeupherlittleexpedition。Butshewashappy,andstoodsmilingoutatoldBunskippingdownthewalk,thegold—edgedcloudsthatdrewapartsothatasunbeamtiiightgiveheragood—nightkissasshegatheredherlong—cherisheddaisies,primroses,andhyacinthstofilltheprettybasketinherhand。
"Whoisitfor,mydeane？"askedhermother,standingbehindherasaprop,whilethethinfingersdidtheirworksowillinglythatnot~aflowerwasleft。
"ForMyLady,ofcourse。WhoelsewouldIgivemyposiesto,whenIlovethemsowell？"answeredJill,whothoughtnonametoofinefortheirbestfriend。
"IfancieditwouldbeforMasterJack,"saidhermother,wishingtheexcursiontobeacheerfulone。
"I\'veanotherforhim,butshemusthavetheprettiest。Heisgoingtohangitforme,andringandrunaway,andshewon\'tknowwhoit\'sfromtillsheseesthis。Shewillrememberit,forI\'vebeenturningandtendingiteversolong,tomakeitbloomto—day。Isn\'titabeauty？"andJillheldupherfinesthyacinth,whichseemedtoringitspalepinkbellsasifgladtocarryitssweetmessagefromagratefullittleheart。
"Indeeditis;andyouarerighttogiveyourbesttoher。Comeawaynow,youmustnotstandanylonger。ComeandrestwhileIfetchadishtoputtheflowersintillyouwantthem";andMrs。PecqturnedherroundwithhersmallMayingsafelydone。
"Ididn\'tthinkI\'deverbeabletodoevensomuch,andhereIamwalkingandsittingup,andgoingtodrivesomeday。Isn\'titnicethatI\'mnottobeapoorLucindaafterall？"andJilldrewalongsighofreliefthatsixmonthsinsteadoftwentyyearswouldprobablybetheendofhercaptivity。
"Yes,thankHeaven！Idon\'tthinkIcouldhavebornethat";andthemothertookJillinherarmsasifshewereababy,holdinghercloseforaminute,andlayingherdownwithatenderkissthatmadethearmsclingaboutherneckasherlittlegirlreturneditheartily,forallsortsofnew,sweetfeelingsseemedtobebuddinginboth,bornofgreatjoyandthankfulness。
ThenMrs。Pecqhurriedawaytoseeaboutteaforthehungryboys,andJillwatchedthepleasanttwilightdeepenasshelaysingingtoherselfoneofthesongsherfriendtaughtherbecauseitfittedhersowell。
"AlittlebirdIam,Shutfromthefieldsofair,AndinmycageIsitandsingToHimwhoplacedmethere:
Wellpleasedaprisonertobe,Because,myGod,itpleasesThee！
"NaughthaveIelsetodo;
Isingthewholedaylong;
AndHewhommostIlovetopleaseDothlistentomysong,Hecaughtandboundmywanderingwing,ButstillHebendstohearmesing。"
"Nowwearereadyforyou,sobringonyourflowers,"saidMollytotheboys,assheandMerryaddedtheirstoreofbasketstothegayshowJillhadsetforthonthelongtablereadyfortheevening\'swork。
"Theywouldn\'tletmeseeone,butIguesstheyhavehadgoodluck,theylooksojolly,"answeredJill,lookingatGus,Frank,andJack,whostoodlaughing,eachwithalargebasketinhishands。
"Fairtomiddling。Justlookinandsee";withwhichcheerfulremarkGustippeduphisbasketanddisplayedafewbitsofgreenatthebottom。
"I\'didbetter。Now,don\'tallscreamatonceoverthesebeauties";
andFrankshookoutsomeevergreensprigs,halfadozensaxifrages,andtwoorthreeforlornvioletswithhardlyanystems。
"Idon\'tbrag,buthere\'sthebestofallthethree,"chuckledJack,producingabunchoffeatherycarrot—tops,withafewhalf—shutdandelionstryingtolookbraveandgay。
"Oh,boys,isthatall？"
"Whatshallwedo？"
"We\'veonlyafewhouse—flowers,andallthosebasketstofill,"
criedthegirls,indespair;forMerry\'scontributionhadbeensmall,andMollyhadonlyahandfulofartificialflowers"tofillup,"shesaid。
"Itisn\'tourfault:itisthelatespring。Wecan\'tmakeflowers,canwe？"askedFrank,inatoneofcalmresignation。
"Couldn\'tyoubuysome,then？"saidMolly,smoothinghercrumpledmorning—glories,withasigh。
\'Whoeverheardofafellowhavinganymoneyleftthelastdayofthemonth？"demandedGus,severely。
"Orgirlseither。Ispentallmineinribbonandpaperformybaskets,andnowtheyareofnouse。It\'sashame！"lamentedJill,whileMerrybegantothinoutherfullbasketstofilltheemptyones。
"Holdon！"criedFrank,relenting。"Now,Jack,maketheirmindseasybeforetheybegintoweepandwail。"
"Lefttheboxoutside。YoutellwhileIgoforit";andJackbolted,asifafraidtheyoungladiesmightbetoodemonstrativewhenthetalewastold。
"Tellaway,"saidFrank,modestlypassingthestoryalongtoGus,whomadeshortworkofit。
"Werampagedalloverthecountry,andgotonlythatsmallmessofgreens。Knewyou\'dbedisgusted,andsatdowntoseewhatwecoulddo。ThenJackpipedup,andsaidhe\'dshowusaplacewherewecouldgetaplenty。\'Comeon,\'saidwe,andafterleadingusanicetramp,hebroughtusoutatMorse\'sgreenhouse。
Sowegotafewontick,aswehadbutfourcentsamongus,andthereyouare。Prettycleverofthelittlechap,wasn\'tit？"
AchorusofdelightgreetedJackashepoppedhisheadin,waspromptlyseizedbyhiseldersandwalkeduptothetable,wheretheboxwasopened,displayinggayposiesenoughtofillmostofthebasketsifdistributedwithgreateconomyandmuchgreen。
"Youarethedearestboythateverwas！"beganJill,withhernoseluxuriouslyburiedinthebox,thoughtheflowersweremoreremarkableforcolorthanperfume。
"No,I\'mnot;there\'samuchdeareronecomingupstairsnow,andhe\'sgotsomethingthatwillmakeyouhowlforjoy,"saidJack,ignoringhisownprowessasEdcameinwithabiggerbox,lookingasifhehaddonenothingbutgoaMayingallhisdays。
"Don\'tbelieveit！"criedJill,huggingherowntreasurejealously。
"It\'soniyanotherjoke。Iwon\'tlook,"saidMolly,stillstrugglingtomakehercambricrosesbloomagain。
"Iknowwhatitis！Oh,howsweet！"addedMerry,sniffing,asEdsettheboxbeforeher,sayingpleasantly,"Youshallseefirst,becauseyouhadfaith。"
Upwentthecover,andawhiffofthefreshestfragranceregaledtheseveneagernosesbenttoinhaleit,asageneralmurmurofpleasuregreetedthenestofgreat,rosymayflowersthatlaybeforethem。
"Thedearthings,howlovelytheyare！"andMerrylookedasifgreetinghercousins,sobloomingandsweetwasherownface。
Mollypushedherdingygarlandsaway,ashamedofsuchpoorattemptsbesidetheseperfectworksofnature,andJillstretchedoutherhandinvoluntarily,asshesaid,forgettingherexotics,"Givemejustonetosmellof,itissowoodsyanddelicious。"
"Hereyouare,plentyforall。RealPilgrimFathers,rightfromPlymouth。Oneofourfellowslivesthere,andItoldhimtobringmeagoodlot;sohedid,andyoucandowhatyoulikewiththem,"
explainedEd,passingroundbunchesandshakingtherestinamossypileuponthetable。
"Edalwaysgetsaheadofusindoingtherightthingattherighttime。Hopeyou\'vegotsomefirst—classbasketsreadyforhim,"saidGus,refreshingtheWashingtoniannosewithapinkblossomortwo。
"Notmuchdangerofhisbeingforgotten,"answeredMolly;andeveryonelaughed,forEdwasmuchbelovedbyallthegirls,andhisdoor—stepsalwaysbloomedlikeaflower—bedonMayeve。
"Nowwemustflyroundandfillup。Come,boys,sortoutthegreenandhandustheflowersaswewantthem。Thenwemustdirectthem,and,bythetimethatisdone,youcangoandleavethem,"
saidJill,settingalltowork。
"Edmustchoosehisbasketsfirst。Theseareours;butanyofthoseyoucanhave";andMollypointedtoadetachmentofgaybaskets,setapartfromthosealreadypartlyfilled。
Edchoseablueone,andMerryfilleditwiththerosiestmay—flowers,knowingthatitwastohangonMabel\'sdoor—handle。
Theothersdidthesame,andtheprettyworkwenton,withmuchfun,tillallwerefilled,andreadyforthenamesornotes。
"Letushavepoetry,aswecan\'tgetwildflowers。Thatwillberatherfine,"proposedJill,wholikedjingles。
Allhadhadsomepracticeatthegameparties,andpencilswentbrisklyforafewminutes,whilesilencereigned,asthepoetsrackedtheirbrainsforrhymes,andstaredatthebloomingarraybeforethemforinspiration。
"Oh,dear！Ican\'tfindawordtorhymeto\'geranium,\'"sighedMolly,pullingherbraid,asiftopumpthewellofherfancydry。
"Cranium,"saidFrank,whowasgettingonbravelywith"Annette"
and"violet。"
"Thatiselegant！"andMollyscribbledawayingreatglee,forherpoemswerealwaysfunnyones。
"Howdoyouspellanemoly——thewildflower,Imean？"askedJill,whowastryingtocomposeaveryappropriatepieceforherbestbasket,andfounditeasiertofeelloveandgratitudethantoputthemintoverse。
"Anemone;dospellitproperly,oryou\'llgetlaughedat,"answeredGus,wildlystrugglingtomakehislinesexpressgreatardor,withoutbeing"toospoony,"asheexpressedit。
"No,Ishouldn\'t。Thispersonneverlaughsatotherpersons\'
mistakes,assomepersonsdo,"repliedJill,withdignity。
Jackwasdesperatelychewinghispencil,forhecouldnotgetonatall;butEdhadevidentlypreparedhispoem,forhispaperwashalffullalready,andMerrywassmilingasshewroteafriendlylineortwoforRalph\'sbasket,asshefearedhewouldbeforgotten,andknewhelovedkindnessevenmorethanhedidbeauty。
"Nowlet\'sreadthem,"proposedMolly,wholovedtolaughevenatherself。
Theboyspolitelydeclined,andscrambledtheirnotesintothechosenbasketsingreathaste;butthegirlswerelessbashful。Jillwasinvitedtobegin,andgaveherlittlepiece,withthepinkhyacinthbasketbeforeher,toillustrateherpoem。
"TOMYLADY
"Therearenoflowersinthefields,Nogreenleavesonthetree,Nocolumbines,noviolets,Nosweetanemone。
SoIhavegatheredfrommypotsAllthatIhavetofillThebasketthatIhangto—night,WithheapsoflovefromJill。"
"That\'sperfectlysweet！Mineisn\'t;butImeantittobefunny,"saidMolly,asiftherecouldbeanydoubtaboutthefollowingditty:
"DearGrif,HereisawhiffOfbeautifulspringflowers;
ThebigredroseIsforyournose,Astowardtheskyittowers。
"Oh,donoifrownUponthiscrownOfgreenpinksandbluegeraniumButthinkofmeWhenthisyousee,Andputitonyourcranium。"
"OMolly,youwillneverhearthelastofthatifGrifgetsit,"saidJill,astheapplausesubsided,fortheboyspronouncedit"tip—top。"
"Don\'tcare,hegetstheworstofitanyway,forthereisapininthatrose,andifhegoestosmellthemayflowersunderneathhewillfindathorntopayforthetackheputinmyrubberboot。Iknowhewillplaymesomejoketo—night,andImeantobefirstifIcan,"
answeredMolly,settlingtheartificialwreathroundtheorange—coloredcanoewhichheldhereffusion。
"Now,Merry,readyours:youalwayshavesweetpoems";andJillfoldedherhandstolistenwithpleasuretosomethingsentimental。
"Ican\'treadthepoemsinsomeofmine,becausetheyareforyou;
butthislittleverseyoucanhear,ifyoulike:I\'mgoingtogivethatbaskettoRalph。Hesaidheshouldhangoneforhisgrandmother,andIthoughtthatwassoniceofhim,I\'dlovetosurprisehimwithonealltohimself。He\'salwayssogoodtous";andMerrylookedsoinnocentlyearnestthatnoonesmiledatherkindthoughtortheunconsciousparaphraseshehadmadeofafamousstanzainherown"littleverse。"
"ToonewhoteachesmeThesweetnessandthebeautyOfdoingfaithfullyAndcheerfullymyduty。"
"Hewilllikethat,andknowwhosentit,fornoneofushaveprettypinkpaperbutyou,orwritesuchaneleganthand,"saidMolly,admiringthedelicatewhitebasketshapedlikealily,withtheflowersinsideandthenotehiddenamongthem,alldaintilytiedupwiththepalestblush—coloredribbon。
"Well,that\'snoharm。HelikesprettythingsasmuchasI\'do,andI
mademybasketlikeaflowerbecauseIgavehimoneofmycallas,headmiredtheshapesomuch";andMerrysmiledassherememberedhowpleasedRalphlookedashewentawaycarryingthelovelything。
"Ithinkitwouldbeagoodplantohangsomebasketsonthedoorsofotherpeoplewhodon\'texpectoroftenhaveany。I\'lldoitifyoucansparesomeofthese,wehavesomany。Givemeonlyone,andlettheothersgotooldMrs。Tucker,andthelittleIrishgirlwhohasbeensicksolong,andlameNeddy,andDaddyMunson。Itwouldpleaseandsurprisethemso。Willwe？"askedEd,inthatpersuasivevoiceofhis。
Allagreedatonce,andseveralpeopleweremadeveryhappybyabitofspringleftattheirdoorsbytheMayelveswhohauntedthetownthatnightplayingallsortsofpranks。Suchatwangingofbellsandrappingofknockers;suchascamperingoffeetinthedark;suchdrollcollisionsasboyscameracingroundcorners,orgirlsranintooneanother\'sarmsastheycreptupanddownstepsonthesly;suchlaughing,whistling,flyingaboutofflowersandfriendlyfeeling——itwasalmostapitythatMay—daydidnotcomeoftener。
Mollygothomelate,andfoundthatGrifhadbeenbeforeher,afterall;forshestumbledoveramarket—basketatherdoor,andontakingitinfoundamammothnosegayofpurpleandwhitecabbages,herfavoritevegetable。EvenMissBatlaughedatthefunnysight,andMollyresolvedtogetRalphtocarveherabouquetoutofcarrots,beets,andturnipsfornexttime,asGrifwouldneverthinkofthat。
Merryranupthegarden—walkalone,forFrankleftheratthegate,andwasfumblingforthelatchwhenshefeltsomethinghangingthere。Openingthedoorcarefully,shefounditgaywithofferingsfromhermates;andamongthemwasonelongquiver—shapedbasketofbirchbark,withsomethingheavyunderthegreenleavesthatlayatthetop。Liftingthese,aslenderhas—reliefofacallalilyinplasterappeared,withthiscoupletslippedintothebluecordbywhichitwastohang:
"ThatmercyyoutoothersshowThatMercyGranttome。"
"Howlovely！andthisonewillneverfade,butalwaysbeapleasurehangingthere。Now,Ireallyhavesomethingbeautifulallmyown,"saidMerrytoherselfassheranuptohangtheprettythingonthedarkwainscotofherroom,wherethegracefulcurveofitspointedleavesandthedepthofitswhitecupwouldbeajoytohereyesaslongastheylasted。
"Iwonderwhatthatmeans,"andMerryreadoverthelinesagain,whileasoftcolorcameintohercheeksandalittlesmileofgirlishpleasurebegantodimpleroundherlips;forshewassoromantic,thistouchofsentimentshowedherthatherfriendshipwasmorevaluedthanshedreamed。Butsheonlysaid,"HowgladIamI
rememberedhim,andhowsurprisedhewillbetoseemayflowersinreturnforthelily。"
Hewas,andworkedawaymorehappilyandbravelyforthethoughtofthelittlefriendwhoseeyeswoulddailyfallonthewhiteflowerwhichalwaysremindedhimofher。
Chapter19GoodTemplars"Hithere！Bell\'srung！Getup,lazy—bones！"calledFrankfromhisroomastheclockstrucksixonebrightmorning,andagreatcreakingandstampingproclaimedthathewasastir。
"Allright,I\'mcoming,"respondedadrowsyvoice,andJackturnedoverasiftoobey;buttheretheeffortended,andhewasoffagain,forgrowingladsarehardtorouse,asmanyamotherknowstohersorrow。
Frankmadeabeginningonhisowntoilet,andthentookalookathisbrother,forthestillnesswassuspicious。
"Ithoughtso！Hetoldmetowakehim,andIguessthiswilldoit";
and,fillinghisgreatspongewithwater,Frankstalkedintothenextroomandstoodovertheunconsciousvictimlikeasternexecutioner,gladtounitebusinesswithpleasureinthisagreeablemanner。
Awomanwouldhaverelentedandtriedsomemildermeans,forwhenhisbroadshouldersandstoutlimbswerehidden,Jacklookedveryyoungandinnocentinhissleep。EvenFrankpausedamomenttolookattheround,rosyface,thecurlyeyelashes,half—openmouth,andthepeacefulexpressionofadreamingbaby。
"Imustdoit,orhewon\'tbereadyforbreakfast,"saidtheSpartanbrother,anddowncamethesponge,cold,wet,andchoky,asitwasbrisklyrubbedtoandfroregardlessofeveryobstacle。
"Come,Isay！That\'snotfair！Leavemealone！"sputteredJack,hittingoutsovigorouslythatthespongeflewacrosstheroom,andFrankfellbacktolaughattheindignantsufferer。
"Ipromisedtowakeyou,andyoubelieveinkeepingpromises,soI\'mdoingmybesttogetyouup。"
"Well,youneedn\'tpouraquartofwaterdownafellow\'sneck,andrubhisnoseoff,needyou？I\'mawake,sotakeyouroldspongeandgoalong,"growledJack,withoneeyeopenandamightygape。
"Seethatyoukeepso,then,orI\'llcomeandgiveyouanothersortofarouser,"saidFrank,retiringwell—pleasedwithhissuccess。
"Ishallhaveonegoodstretch,ifIlike。Itisstrengtheningtothemuscles,andI\'masstiffasaboardwithallthatfootballyesterday,"murmuredJack,lyingdownforonedeliciousmoment。
Heshuttheopeneyetoenjoyitthoroughly,andforgotthestretchaltogether,forthebedwaswarm,thepillowsoft,andahalf—finisheddreamstillhungabouthisdrowsybrain。Whodoesnotknowthefatalcharmofthatstolenmoment——foronceyieldtoit,andoneislost。
Jackwasmilesaway"inthetwinklingofabedpost,"andthepleasingdreamseemedabouttoreturn,whenaruthlesshandtoreofftheclothes,swepthimoutofbed,andhereallydidawaketofindhimselfstandinginthemiddleofhisbath—panwithbothwindowsopen,andFrankabouttopourapailofwateroverhim。
"Holdon！Yah,howcoldthewateris！Why,IthoughtIwasup";
and,hoppingout,JackrubbedhiseyesandlookedaboutwithsuchagenuinesurprisethatFrankputdownthepail,feelingthatthedelugewouldnotbeneededthistime。
"Youarenow,andI\'llseethatyoukeepso,"hesaid,ashestrippedthebedandcarriedoffthepillows。
"Idon\'tcare。Whatajollyday！"andJacktookalittlepromenadetofinishtherousingprocess。
"You\'dbetterhurryup,oryouwon\'tgetyourchoresdonebeforebreakfast。Notimeforagoasyoupleasenow,saidFrank;andbothboyslaughed,foritwasanoldjokeoftheirs,andratherfunny。
GoinguptobedonenightexpectingtofindJackasleep,Frankdiscoveredhimtrampingroundandroundtheroomairilyattiredinatowel,andsodizzywithhisbriskrevolutionsthatashisbrotherlookedhetumbledoverandlaypantinglikeafallengladiator。
"Whatonearthareyouabout？"
"PlayingRowell。Walkingforthebelt,andI\'vegotittoo,"laughedJack,pointingtoanoldgiltchandelierchainhangingonthebedpost。
"Youlittlenoodle,you\'dbetterrevolveintobedbeforeyouloseyourheadentirely。Ineversawsuchafellowfortakinghimselfoffhislegs。"
"Well,ifIdidn\'texercise,doyousupposeIshouldbeabletodothat——orthat？"criedJack,turningasomersaultandstrikingafineattitudeashecameup,flatteringhimselfthathewasthemodelofayouthfulathlete。
"Youlookmorelikeaclothes—pinthanaHercules,"wasthecrushingreplyofthisunsympatheticbrother,andJackmeeklyretiredwithabadheadache。
"Idon\'tdosuchsillythingsnow:I\'masbroadacrosstheshouldersasyouare,andtwiceasstrongonmypins,thankstomygymnastics。BetyouacentI\'llbedressedfirst,thoughyouhavegotthestart,"saidJack,knowingthatFrankalwayshadaprotractedwrestlewithhiscollar—buttons,whichgavehisadversaryagreatadvantageoverhim。
"Done！"answeredFrank,andatittheywent。AwildscramblewasheardinJack\'sroom,andasteadytrampintheotherasFrankworkedawayatthestiffcollarandtheunaccommodatingbuttontilleveryfingerached。Aclashingofbootsfollowed,whileJackwhistled"PollyHopkins,"andFrankdeclaimedinhisdeepestvoice,"Armavirumquecano,TrojaequiprimusaborisItaliam,fatoprofugus,Laviniaquevenitlitora。"
Hair—brushescamenext,andhereFrankgotahead,forJack\'sthickcropwouldstandstraightuponthecrown,andonlyagoodwettingandasteadybrushwouldmakeitliedown。
"Playaway,No。2calledoutfrankasheputonhisvest,whileJackwasstillatitwithapairofthestiffestbrushesprocurableformoney。
"Holdhard,No。11,anddon\'tforgetyourteeth,"answeredJack,whohaddonehis。
Franktookahastyrubandwhiskedonhiscoat,whileJackwaspickingupthevarioustreasureswhichhadflownoutofhispocketsashecaughtuphisroundabout。
"Ready！I\'lltroubleyouforacent,sonny";andFrankheldouthishandasheappearedequippedfortheday。
"Youhaven\'thungupyournight—gown,norairedthebed,noropenedthewindows。That\'spartofthedressing;mothersaidso。
I\'vegotyouthere,foryoudidallthatforme,exceptthis,"andJackthrewhisgownoverachairwithatriumphantflourishasFrankturnedbacktoleavehisroomintheorderwhichtheyhadbeentaughtwasoneofthesignsofagoodbringing—upinboysaswellasgirls。
"Ready！I\'lltroubleyouforacent,oldman";andJackheldouthishand,withachuckle。
Hegotthemoneyandagoodclapbeside;thentheyretiredtotheshedtoblacktheirboots,afterwhichFrankfilledthewoodboxesandJacksplitkindlings,tillthedailyallowancewasready。Bothwentattheirlessonsforhalfanhour,Jackscowlingoverhisalgebrainthesofacorner,whileFrank,withhiselbowsonandhislegsroundthelittlestandwhichheldhisbooks,seemedtobehavingawrestling—matchwithHerodotus。
Whenthebellrangtheyweregladtodropthelessonsandfallupontheirbreakfastwiththeappetiteofwolves,especiallyJack,whosequesteredoatmealandmilkwithsuchrapiditythatonewouldhavethoughthehadaleathernbaghiddensomewheretoslipitinto,likehisfamousnamesakewhenhebreakfastedwiththegiant。
"IdeclareIdon\'tseewhathedoeswithit！Hereallyoughtnotto\'gobble\'so,mother,"saidFrank,whowaseatingwithgreatdeliberationandpropriety。
"Neveryoumind,oldquiddle。I\'msohungryIcouldtuckawayabushel,"answeredJack,emptyingaglassofmilkandholdingouthisplateformoremush,regardlessofhiswhitemoustache。
"Temperanceinallthingsiswise,inspeechaswellaseatinganddrinking——rememberthat,boys,"saidMammafrombehindtheurn。
"Thatremindsme！Wepromisedtodothe\'Observer\'thisweek,andhereitisTuesdayandIhaven\'tdoneathing:haveyou？"askedFrank。
"Neverthoughtofit。Wemustlookupsomebitsatnooninstead0fplaying。DaresayJillhasgotsome:shealwayssavesallshefindsforme。"
"Ihaveoneortwogooditems,andcandoanycopyingtheremaybe。ButIthinkifyouundertakethepaperyoushouldgivesometimeandlabortomakeitgood,"saidMamma,whowasusedtothisstateofaffairs,andofteneditedthelittlesheetreadeveryweekattheLodge。Theboysseldommissedgoing,butthebusyladywasoftenunabletobethere,sohelpedwiththepaperashershareofthelabor。
