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。