Jackobedientlyclosedhiseyesandlistenedwhiletheboyssang"TheSweetByandBy,"softeningtheirroughyoungvoicesforhissaketillthemusicwasassoftasalullaby。Helaysostillhismotherthoughthewasoff,butpresentlyatearslippedoutandrolleddowntheredcheek,wettingherhandasitpassed。
　　"Myblessedboy,whatisit？"shewhispered,withatouchandatonethatonlymothershave。
　　Theblueeyesopenedwide,andJack'sownsunshinysmilebrokethroughthetearsthatfilledthemashesaidwithasniff,"EverybodyissogoodtomeIcan'thelpmakinganoodleofmyself。
　　"Youarenotanoodle！"criedMamma,resentingtheepithet。"Oneofthesweetthingsaboutpainandsorrowisthattheyshowushowwellweareloved,howmuchkindnessthereisintheworld,andhoweasilywecanmakeothershappyinthesamewaywhentheyneedhelpandsympathy。Don'tforgetthat,littleson,"
　　"Don'tseehowIcan,withyoutoshowmehowniceitis。Kissmegood—night,andthen'I'llbegood,asJillsays。"
　　Nestlinghisheaduponhismother'sarm,Jacklayquiettill,lulledbythemusicofhismates,hedrowsedawayintothedreamlesssleepwhichisNurseNature'shealthiestsoothingsirupforwearysoulsandbodies。
　　Chapter3WardNo。I
　　Forsomedays,nothingwasseenandlittlewasheardofthe"dearsufferers,"astheoldladiescalledthem。Buttheywerenotforgotten;thefirstwordsutteredwhenanyoftheyoungpeoplemetwere:"HowisJack？""SeenJillyet？"andallwaitedwithimpatienceforthemomentwhentheycouldbeadmittedtotheirfavoritemates,morethaneverobjectsofinterestnow。
　　Meantime,thecaptivesspentthefirstfewdaysinsleep,pain,andtryingtoacceptthehardfactthatschoolandplayweredonewithformonthsperhaps。Butyoungspiritsarewonderfullyelasticandsooncheerup,andhealthyyoungbodieshealfast,oreasilyadaptthemselvestonewconditions。Soourinvalidsbegantomendonthefourthday,andtodrivetheirnursesdistractedwitheffortstoamusethem,beforethefirstweekwasover。
　　ThemostsuccessfulattemptoriginatedinWardNo。I,asMrs。
　　MinotcalledJack'sapartment,andwewillgiveoursympathizingreaderssomeideaofthisplace,whichbecamethestagewhereonwereenactedmanyvariedandremarkablescenes。
　　EachoftheMinotboyshadhisownroom,andtherecollectedhisowntreasuresandtrophies,arrangedtosuithisconvenienceandtaste。Frank'swasfullofbooks,maps,machinery,chemicalmesses,andgeometricaldrawings,whichadornedthewallslikeintricatecobwebs。Abigchair,wherehereadandstudiedwithhisheelshigherthanhishead,abasketofapplesforrefreshmentatallhoursofthedayornight,andanimmenseinkstand,inwhichseveralpenswerealwaysapparentlybathingtheirfeet,weretheprincipalornamentsofhisscholasticretreat。
　　Jack'shobbywasathleticsports,forhewasbentonhavingastrongandactivebodyforhishappylittlesoultoliveandenjoyitselfin。Soaseveresimplicityreignedinhisapartment;insummer,especially,forthenhisfloorwasbare,hiswindowswereuncurtained,andthechairsuncushioned,thebedbeingasnarrowandhardasNapoleon's。Theonlyornamentsweredumbbells,whips,bats,rods,skates,boxing—gloves,abigbath—panandasmalllibrary,consistingchieflyofbooksongames,horses,health,hunting,andtravels。Inwinterhismothermadethingsmorecomfortablebyintroducingrugs,curtains,andafire。Jack,also,relentedslightlyintheseverityofhistraining,occasionallyindulginginthenationalbuckwheatcake,insteadoftheprescribedoatmealporridge,forbreakfast,omittinghiscoldbathwhenthethermometerwasbelowzero,anddancingatnight,insteadofrunningagivendistancebyday。
　　Now,however,hewasahelplesscaptive,givenovertoallsortsofcoddling,laziness,andluxury,andtherewasadrollmixtureofmirthandmelancholyinhisface,ashelaytrussedupinbed,watchingthecomfortswhichhadsuddenlyrobbedhisroomofitsSpartansimplicity。Adeliciouscouchwasthere,withFrankreposinginitsdepths,halfhiddenunderseveralfolioswhichhewasconsultingforahistoryofthesteam—engine,thesubjectofhisnextcomposition。
　　Awhite—coveredtablestoodnear,withallmannerofdaintiessetforthinawaytotemptthesternestprinciples。Vasesofflowersbloomedonthechimney—piecegiftsfromanxiousyoungladies,leftwiththeirlove。Frivolousstory—booksandpicture—papersstrewedthebed,nowshroudedineffeminatechintzcurtains,beneathwhichJacklaylikeawoundedwarriorinhistent。Butthesaddestsightforourcrippledathletewasaglimpse,throughahalf—openeddoor,atthebeloveddumb—bells,bats,balls,boxing—gloves,andsnow—shoes,allpiledignominiouslyawayinthebath—pan,mournfullyrecallingthefactthattheirdaywasover,now,atleastforsometime。
　　Hewasabouttogroandismally,whenhiseyefellonasightwhichmadehimswallowthegroan,andcoughinstead,asifitchokedhimalittle。Thesightwashismother'sface,asshesatinalowchairrollingbandages,withabasketbesideherinwhichwerepilesofoldlinen,lint,plaster,andothermatters,neededforthedressingofwounds。Ashelooked,Jackrememberedhowsteadilyandtenderlyshehadstoodbyhimallthroughthehar4timesjustpast,andhowcarefullyshehadbathedanddressedhiswoundeachdayinspiteoftheeffortitcosthertogivehimpainorevenseehimsuffer。
　　"That'sabettersortofstrengththanswingingtwenty—pounddumb—bellsorrunningraces;IguessI'lltryforthatkind,too,andnothowlorletherseemesquirmwhenthedoctorhurts,"thoughttheboy,ashesawthatgentlefacesopaleandtiredwithmuchwatchingandanxiety,yetsopatient,serene,andcheerful,thatitwaslikesunshine。
　　"Liedownandtakeagoodnap,motherdear,Ifeelfirst—rate,andFrankcanseetomeifIwantanything。Do,now,"headded,withapersuasivenodtowardthecouch,andaboyishrelishinstirringuphislazybrother。
　　Aftersomeurging,Mammaconsentedtogotoherroomforfortywinks,leavingJackinthecareofFrank,begginghimtobeasquietaspossibleifthedearboywishedtosleep,andtoamusehimifhedidnot。
　　Beingwornout,Mrs。Minotlengthenedherfortywinksintoathreehoursnap,andasthe"dearboy"scornedrepose,Mr。Frankhadhishandsfullwhileonguard。
　　"I'llreadtoyou。Here'sWatt,Arkwright,Fulton,andalotofcapitalfellows,withpicturesthatwilldoyourheartgood。Haveabit,willyou？"askedthenewnurse,flappingtheleavesinvitinglyforFrankbadapassionforsuchthings,anddrewsteam—enginesalloverhisslate,asTommyTraddlesdrewhostsofskeletonswhenlowinhisspirits。
　　"Idon'twantanyofyouroldboilersandstokersandwhirligigs。I
　　mtiredofreading,andwantsomethingregularlyjolly,"answeredJack,whohadbeenchasingwhitebuffaloeswith"TheHuntersoftheWest,"tillhewasatrifletiredandfractious。
　　"Playcribbage,euchre,anythingyoulike";andFrankobliginglydisinterredhimselffromunderthefolios,feelingthatitwashardforafellowtolieflatawholeweek。
　　"Nofun;justtwoofus。Wishschoolwasover,sotheboyswouldcomein;doctorsaidImightseethemnow。"
　　"They'llbealongbyandby,andI'llhailthem。Tillthen,whatshallwedo？I'myourmanforanything,onlyputanametoit。
　　"JustwishIhadatelegraphoratelephone,soIcouldtalktoJill。
　　Wouldn'titbefuntopipeacrossandgetananswer！"
　　"I'llmakeeitheryousay";andFranklookedasiftriflesofthatsortweretobehadfortheasking。
　　"Couldyou,really？"
　　"We'llstartthetelegraphfirst,thenyoucansendthingsoverifyoulike,"saidFrank,prudentlyproposingthesurestexperiment。
　　"Goahead,then。I'dlikethat,andsowouldJill,forIknowshewantstohearfromme。"
　　"There'sonetrouble,though;IshallhavetoleaveyoualoneforafewminuteswhileIriguptheropes";andFranklookedsober,forhewasafaithfulboy,anddidnotwanttodeserthispost。
　　"Oh,nevermind;Iwon'twantanything。IfI'do,IcanpoundforAnn。"
　　"Andwakemother。I'llfixyouabetterwaythanthat";and,fullofinventivegenius,ouryoungEdisonsplicedthepokertopartofafishing—rodinajiffy,makingalong—handledhookwhichreachedacrosstheroom。
　　"There'sanarmforyou;nowhookaway,andlet'sseehowitworks,"hesaid,handingovertheinstrumenttoJack,whoproceededtoshowitsunexpectedcapabilitiesbyhookingtheclothoffthetableinattemptingtogethishandkerchief,catchingFrankbythehairwhenfishingforabook,andbreakingapaneofglassintryingtodrawdownthecurtain。—
　　"It'ssoeverlastinglong,Ican'tmanageit,"laughedJack,asitfinallycaughtinhisbed—hangings,andnearlypulledthem,ringandall,downuponhishead。
　　"Letitalone,unlessyouneedsomethingverymuch,anddon'tbotherabouttheglass。It'sjustwhatwewantforthetelegraphwireorropetogothrough。Keepstill,andI'llhavethethingrunningintenminutes";and,delightedwiththejob,Frankhurriedaway,leavingJacktocomposeamessagetosendassoonasitwaspossible。
　　"WhatintheworldisthatflyingacrosstheMinots'yardabrownhenoraboy'skite？"exclaimedoldMissHopkins,peeringoutofherwindowatthesingularperformancesgoingoninheroppositeneighbor'sgarden。
　　First,Frankappearedwithahatchetandchoppedaclearspaceinthehedgebetweenhisownhouseandthecottage;next,aclotheslinewaspassedthroughthisapertureandfastenedsomewhereontheotherside;lastly,asmallcoveredbasket,slungonthisrope,wasseenhitchingalong,drawneitherwaybyasetofstrings;then,asifsatisfiedwithhisjob,Frankretired,whistling"HailColumbia。"
　　"It'sthosechildrenattheirpranksagain。Ithoughtbrokenboneswouldn'tkeepthemoutofmischieflong,"saidtheoldlady,watchingwithgreatinterestthemysteriousbaskettravellingupanddowntheropefromthebighousetothecottage。
　　Ifshehadseenwhatcameandwentoverthewiresofthe"GreatInternationalTelegraph,"shewouldhavelaughedtillherspectaclesflewoffherRomannose。AletterfromJack,withalargeorange,wentfirst,explainingthenewenterprise:
　　"DearJill—It'stoobadyoucan'tcomeovertoseeme。Iamprettywell,butawfultiredofkeepingstill。Iwanttoseeyoueversomuch。Frankhasfixedusatelegraph,sowecanwriteandsendthings。Won'titbejolly！Ican'tlookouttoseehimdoit;but,whenyoupullyourstring,mylittlebellrings,andIknowamessageiscoming。Isendyouanorange。Doyoulikegorverjelly？Peoplesendinlotsofgoodies,andwewillgohalves。Good—by。
　　Jack"
　　Awaywentthebasket,andinfifteenminutesitcamebackfromthecottagewithnothinginitbuttheorange。
　　"Hullo！Isshemad？"askedJack,asFrankbroughtthedespatchforhimtoexamine。
　　But,atthefirsttouch,thehollowpeelopened,andoutfellaletter,twogum—drops,andanowlmadeofapeanut,withroundeyesdrawnattheendwherethestemformedafunnybeak。Twobitsofstrawwerethelegs,andthefacelookedsolikeDr。Whitingthatbothboyslaughedatthesight。
　　"That'ssolikeJill;she'dmakefunifshewashalfdead。Let'sseewhatshesays";andJackreadthelittlenote,whichshowedasadneglectofthespelling—book:
　　"DearJacky—Ican'tstirandit'shorrid。Thetellygrafisveryniceandwewillhavefunwithit。Ineverateanygorverjelly。Theorangewasfirstrate。Sendmeabooktoread。Allaboutbearsandshipsandcrockydiles。Thedoctorwascomingtoseeyou,soIsenthimthequickestway。MollyLoosaysitisdreadfullonesomeatschoolwithoutus。Yourstruly,Jill"
　　Jackimmediatelydespatchedthebookandasampleofguavajelly,whichunfortunatelyupsetontheway,tothegreatdetrimentof"TheWildBeastsofAsiaandAfrica。"Jillpromptlyrespondedwiththeloanofatinyblackkitten,whoemergedspittingandscratching,toJack'sgreatdelight;andhewascudgellinghisbrainsastohowafatwhiterabbitcouldbetransported,whenashrillwhistlefromwithoutsavedJillfromthatinconvenientoffering。
　　"It'sthefellows;doyouwanttoseethem？"askedFrank,gazingdownwithcalmsuperiorityuponthethreeeagerfaceswhichlookedupathim。
　　"GuessI'do！"andJackpromptlythrewthekittenoverboard,scorningtobeseenbyanymanlyeyeamusinghimselfwithsuchgirlishtoys。
　　Bang！wentthefrontdoor;tramp,tramp,tramp,camesixbootedfeetupthestairs;and,asFrankthrewwidethedoor,threelargebeingspausedonthethresholdtodeliverthecourteous"Hullo！"
　　whichistheestablishedgreetingamongboysonallsocialoccasions。
　　"Comealong,oldfellows;I'meversogladtoseeyou！"criedtheinvalid,withsuchenergeticdemonstrationsofthearmsthathelookedasifabouttoflyorcrow,likeanexcitedyoungcockerel。
　　"Howareyou,Major？"
　　"Doesthelegachemuch,Jack？"
　　"Mr。Phippssaysyou'llhavetopayforthenewrails。"
　　Withthesecharacteristicgreetings,thegentlemencastawaytheirhatsandsatdown,allgrinningcheerfully,andallwitheyesirresistiblyfixeduponthedainties,whichprovedtoomuchforthepolitenessofever—hungryboys。
　　"Helpyourselves,"saidJack,withahospitablewave。"Allthedearoldladiesintownhavebeensendinginnicethings,andIcan'tbegintoeatthemup。Lendahandandclearawaythislot,orweshallhavetothrowthemoutofthewindow。Bringonthedoughnutsandthetartsandtheshakystuffintheentrycloset,Frank,andlet'shavealark。"
　　Nosoonersaidthandone。Gustookthetarts,Joethedoughnuts,Edthejelly,andFranksuggested"spoonsallround"fortheItaliancream。Afewtriflesinthewayofcustard,fruit,andwaferbiscuitswerenotworthmentioning;buteverydishwassoonemptied,andJacksaid,ashesurveyedthesceneofdevastationwithgreatsatisfaction,"Callagainto—morrow,gentlemen,andwewillhaveanotherbout。
　　Freelunchesat~P。M。tillfurthernotice。Nowtellmeallthenews。"
　　Forhalfanhour,fivetongueswentlikemillclappers,andthereisnoknowingwhentheywouldhavestoppedifthelittlebellhadnotsuddenlyrungwithaviolencethatmadethemjump。
　　"That'sJill;seewhatshewants,Frank";andwhilehisbrothersentoffthebasket,Jacktoldaboutthenewinvention,andinvitedhismatestoexamineandadmire。
　　Theydidso,andshoutedwithmerrimentwhenthenextdespatchfromJillarrived。Apasteboardjumping—jack,withonelegdoneupincotton—wooltopreservethelikeness,andagreatlumpofmolassescandyinabrownpaper,withaccompanyingnote:
　　"DearSir—Isawtheboysgoin,andknowyouarehavinganicetime,soIsendoverthecandyMollyLooandMerrybroughtme。
　　MammysaysIcan'teatit,anditwillallmeltawayifIkeepit。
　　AlsoapictureofJackMinot,whowilldanceononelegandwaggletheother,andmakeyoulaugh。IwishIcouldcome,too。
　　Don'tyouhategrewel？I'do。Inhaste,J。P。"
　　"Let'sallsendheraletter,"proposedJack,andoutcamepens,ink,paper,andthelamp,andeveryonefelltoscribbling。Adrollcollectionwastheresult,forFrankdrewapictureofthefatalfallwithbrokenrailsflyingineverydirection,Jackwithhisheadswollentothesizeofaballoon,andJillintwopieces,whilethevariousboysandgirlswerehitoffwithaslyskillthatgaveGuslegslikeastork,MollyLoohairseveralyardslong,andBooaseriesofvisiblehowlscomingoutofanimmensemouthintheshapeofos。Theoxenwereparticularlygood,fortheirhornsbranchedlikethoseofthemoose,andMr。Granthadapatriarchalbeardwhichwavedinthebreezeasheborethewoundedgirltoasledverylikeafuneralpyre,thestakesbeingcrownedwithbigmittensliketorches。
　　"Yououghttobeanartist。Ineversawsuchadabsterasyouare。
　　That'stheverymoralofJoe,allinabunchonthefence,withablottoshowhowpurplehisnosewas,"saidGus,holdingupthesketchforgeneralcriticismandadmiration。
　　"I'dratherhavearednosethanlegslikeagrasshopper;soyouneedn'ttwit,Daddy,"growledJoe,quiteunconsciousthatablotactuallydidadornhisnose,ashelaboredoverabriefdespatch。
　　Theboysenjoyedthejoke,andoneaftertheotherreadouthismessagetothecaptivelady:
　　"DearJill—Sorryyouain'there。Greatfun。Jackprettylively。LauraandLotwouldsendloveiftheyknewofthechance。Flyroundandgetwell。
　　Gus"
　　"DearGilliflower—Hopeyouareprettycomfortableinyour'dungeoncell。Wouldyoulikeaserenadewhenthemooncomes？
　　Hopeyouwillsoonbeupagain,forwemissyouverymuch。ShallbeveryhappytohelpinanywayIcan。Lovetoyourmother。Yourtruefriend,E。D。"
　　"MissPecq。
　　"DearMadam—Iamhappytotellyouthatweareallwell,andhopeyouarethesame。IgaveJemCoxalickingbecausehewenttoyourdesk。Youhadbettersendforyourbooks。Youwon'thavetopayforthesledorthefence。Jacksayshewillseetoit。Wehavebeenhavingaspreadoverhere。First—ratethings。Iwouldn'tmindbreakingaleg,ifIhadsuchgoodgrubandnochorestodo。Nomorenow,fromyours,withesteem,JosephP。Flint"
　　Joethoughtthatanelegantepistle,havingcopiedportionsofitfromthe"LetterWriter,"andproudlyreaditofftotheboys,whoassuredhimthatJillwouldbemuchimpressed。
　　"Now,Jack,hurryupandletussendthelotoff,forwemustgo,"
　　saidGus,asFrankputthelettersinthebasket,andtheclatteroftea—thingswasheardbelow。
　　"I'mnotgoingtoshowmine。It'sprivateandyoumustn'tlook,"
　　answeredJack,pattingdownanenvelopewithsuchcarethatnoonehadachancetopeep。
　　ButJoehadseenthelittlenotecopied,andwhiletheotherswereatthewindowworkingthetelegraphhecaughtuptheoriginal,carelesslythrustbyJackunderthepillow,andreaditaloudbeforeanyoneknewwhathewasabout。
　　"MyDear—IwishIcouldsendyousomeofmygoodtimes。AsI
　　can't,Isendyoumuchlove,andIhopeyouwilltryandbepatientasIamgoingto,foritwasourfault,andwemustnotmakeafussnow。Ain'tmotherssweet？Mineiscomingoverto—morrowtoseeyouandtellmehowyouare。Thisroundthingisakissforgood—night。
　　YourJack"
　　"Isn'tthatspoony？Youdbetterhideyourface,Ithink。He'sgettingtobearegularmollycoddle,isn'the？"jeeredJoe,astheboyslaughed,andthengrewsober,seeingJack'sheadburiedinthebedclothes,aftersendingapillowathistormentor。
　　ItnearlyhitMrs。Minot,cominginwithherpatient'steaonatray,andatsightofhertheguestshurriedlytookleave,JoenearlytumblingdownstairstoescapefromFrank,whowouldhavefollowed,ifhismotherhadnotsaidquickly,"Stay,andtellmewhatisthematter。"
　　"OnlyteasingJackabit。Don'tbemad,oldboy,Joedidn'tmeananyharm,anditwasrathersoft,nowwasn'tit？"askedFrank,tryingtoappeasethewoundedfeelingsofhisbrother。
　　"Ichargedyounottoworryhim。Thoseboysweretoomuchforthepoordear,andIoughtnottohavelefthim,"saidMamma,asshevainlyendeavoredtofindandcaresstheyellowheadburrowedsofaroutofsightthatnothingbutoneredearwasvisible。
　　"Helikedit,andwegotoncapitallytillJoeroughedhimaboutJill。Ah,Joe'sgettingitnow！IthoughtGusandEdwoulddothatlittlejobforme,"addedFrank,runningtothewindowasthesoundofstifledcriesandlaughterreachedhim。
　　Theredearheardalso,andJackpoppeduphisheadtoask,withinterest,'Whataretheydoingtohim？"
　　"Rollinghiminthesnow,andhe'showlinglikefun。"
　　"Serveshimright,"mutteredJack,withafrown。Then,asawailarosesuggestiveofanunpleasantmixtureofsnowinthemouthandthumpsontheback,heburstoutlaughing,andsaid,good—naturedly,"Goandstopthem,Frank;Iwon'tmind,onlytellhimitwasameantrick。Hurry！Gusissostronghedoesn'tknowhowhispoundinghurts。"
　　OffranFrank,andJacktoldhiswrongstohismother。Shesympathizedheartily,andsawnoharmintheaffectionatelittlenote,whichwouldpleaseJill,andhelphertobearhertrialspatiently。
　　"Itisn'tsillytobefondofher,isit？Sheissoniceandfunny,andtriestobegood,andlikesme,andIwon'tbeashamedofmyfriends,iffolksdolaugh,"protestedJack,witharapofhisteaspoon。
　　"No,dear,itisquitekindandproper,andI'dratherhaveyouplaywithamerrylittlegirlthanwithroughboystillyouarebigenoughtoholdyourown,"answeredMamma,puttingthecuptohislipsthattherecliningladmighttakehisbromawithoutspilling。
　　"Pooh！Idon'tmeanthat;I'mstrongenoughnowtotakecareofmyself,"criedJack,stoutly。"IcanthrashJoeanyday,ifIlike。Justlookatmyarm;there'smuscleforyou！"andupwentasleeve,tothegreatdangerofoverturningthetray,astheboyproudlydisplayedhisbicepsandexpandedhischest,bothofwhichwereveryfineforaladofhisyears。"IfI'dbeenonmylegs,hewouldn'thavedaredtoinsultme,anditwascowardlytohitafellowwhenhewasdown。
　　Mrs。MinotwantedtolaughatJack'sindignation,butthebellrang,andshehadtogoandpullinthebasket,muchamusedatthenewgame。
　　Burningtodistinguishherselfintheeyesofthebigboys,Jillhadsentoveratall,redflannelnight—cap,whichshehadbeenmakingforsomeproposedChristmasplays,andaddedthefollowingverse,forshewasconsideredagiftedrhymesteratthegameparties:
　　"Whenitcomesnight,Weputoutthelight。
　　Someblowwithapuff,Someturndownandsnuff;
　　ButneatfolkspreferAniceextinguisher。
　　SohereIsendyoubackOnetoputonMr。Jack。"
　　"Now,Icallthatregularlysmart;notoneofuscoulddoit,andI
　　justwishJoewasheretoseeit。Iwanttosendoncemore,somethinggoodfortea;shehatesgruelso";andthelastdespatchwhichtheGreatInternationalTelegraphcarriedthatdaywasabakedappleandawarmmuffin,with"J。M。'sbestregards。"
　　Chapter4WARDNO。2。
　　"Idobelievethechildwillfretherselfintoafever,mem,andImcleandistraughttoknowwhattodoforher。Sheneverusedtomindtrifles,butnowshefretsabouttheoddestthings,andIcan'tchangethem。Thiswall—paperiswellenough,butshehastakenafancythatthespotsonitlooklikespiders,anditmakeshernervous。I'venootherwarmplacetoputher,andnomoneyforanewpaper。Poorlass！Therearehardtimesbeforeher,I'mfearing。
　　Mrs。PecqsaidthisinalowvoicetoMrs。Minot,whocameinasoftenasshecould,toseewhatherneighborneeded;forbothmotherswereanxious,andsympathydrewthemtooneanother。
　　Whileonewomantalked,theotherlookedaboutthelittleroom,notwonderingintheleastthatJillfoundithardtobecontentedthere。Itwasveryneat,butsoplainthattherewasnotevenapictureonthewalls,noranornamentuponthemantel,exceptthenecessaryclock,lamp,andmatch—box。Thepaperwasugly,beingadeepbuffwithabrownfigurethatdidlookverylikespiderssprawlingoverit,andmightwellmakeonenervoustolookatdayafterday。
　　JillwasasleepinthefoldingchairDr。Whitinghadsent,withamattresstomakeitsoft。Thebackcouldberaisedorloweredatwill;butonlyafewincheshadbeengainedasyet,andthethinhairpillowwasallshecouldbear。Shelookedveryprettyasshelay,withdarklashesagainstthefeverishcheeks,lipsapart,andacloudofcurlyblacklocksallaboutthefacepillowedononearm。
　　SheseemedlikeabrilliantlittleflowerinthatdullplacefortheFrenchbloodinherveinsgaveheracolor,warmth,andgracewhichwereverycharming。Hernaturalloveofbeautyshoweditselfinmanyways:aredribbonhadtiedupherhair,agaybutfadedshawlwasthrownoverthebed,andthegiftssentherwerearrangedwithcareuponthetablebyhersideamongherownfewtoysandtreasures。Therewassomethingpatheticinthischildishattempttobeautifythepoorplace,andMrs。Minot'seyeswerefullasshelookedatthetiredwoman,whoseonejoyandcomfortlaythereinsuchsadplight。
　　"Mydearsoul,cheerup,andwewillhelponeanotherthroughthehardtimes,"shesaid,withasofthandontheroughone,andalookthatpromisedmuch。
　　"PleaseGod,wewill,mem！Withsuchgoodfriends,Inevershouldcomplain。Itrynottodoit,butitbreaksmyhearttoseemylittlelassspoiledforlife,mostlike";andMrs。Pecqpressedthekindhandwithadespondentsigh。
　　"Wewon'tsay,oreventhink,that,yet。EverythingispossibletoyouthandhealthlikeJaneys。Wemustkeepherhappy,andtimewilldotherest,I'msure。Letusbeginatonce,andhaveasurpriseforherwhenshewakes。"
　　Asshespoke,Mrs。Minotmovedquietlyabouttheroom,pinningthepagesofseveralillustratedpapersagainstthewallatthefootofthebed,andplacingtothebestadvantagetheothercomfortsshehadbrought。
　　"Keepupyourheart,neighbor。IhaveanideainmyheadwhichI
　　thinkwillhelpusall,ifIcancarryitout,"shesaid,cheerily,asshewent,leavingMrs。PecqtosewonJack'snewnight—gowns,withswiftfingers,andthegratefulwishthatshemightworkforthesegoodfriendsforever。
　　Asifthewhisperingandrustlinghaddisturbedher,Jillsoonbegantostir,andslowlyopenedtheeyeswhichhadclosedsowearilyonthedullDecemberafternoon。Thebarewallwithitsbrownspidersnolongerconfrontedher,butthecoloredprintofalittlegirldancingtothetuneherfatherwasplayingonaguitar,whileastatelylady,withsatindress,ruff,andpowder,stoodlookingon,wellpleased。Thequaintfigure,initsbelacedfrock,quiltedpetticoat,andred—heeledshoes,seemedtocometrippingtowardherinsuchalife—likeway,thatshealmostsawthecurlsblowback,heardtherustleoftherichbrocade,andcaughtthesparkleofthelittlemaid'sbrighteyes。
　　"Oh,howpretty！Whosentthem？"askedJill,eagerly,ashereyeglancedalongthewall,seeingothernewandinterestingthingsbeyond:anelephant—hunt,ashipinfullsail,ahorse—race,andaball—room。
　　"Thegoodfairywhonevercomesempty—handed。Lookroundabitandyouwillseemoreprettiesallforyou,mydearie";andhermotherpointedtoabunchofpurplegrapesinagreenleafplate,aknotofbrightflowerspinnedonthewhitecurtain,andagaylittledoublegownacrossthefootofthebed。
　　Jillclappedherhands,andwasenjoyinghernewpleasures,whenincameMerryandMollyLoo,withBoo,ofcourse,trottingafterherlikeafatandamiablepuppy。Thenthegoodtimesbegan;thegownwasputon,thefruittasted,andthepictureswerestudiedlikefamousworksofart。
　　"It'sasplendidplantocoverupthathatefulwall。I'dstickpicturesallroundandhaveagallery。Thatremindsme！Upinthegarretatourhouseisaboxfullofoldfashion—booksmyauntleft。Ioftenlookatthemonrainydays,andtheyareveryfunny。I'llgothisminuteandgeteveryone。Wecanpinthemup,ormakepaperdolls";andawayrushedMollyLoo,withthesmallbrotherwaddlingbehind,for,whenhelostsightofher,hewasdesolateindeed。