JackandJilllaysilentlywatching,withasweetsortofsobernessintheiryoungfaces,andforamomenttheroomwasverystillasalleyeslookedupattheBlessedChild。Thesunshineseemedtogrowmoregoldenasitflickeredonthelittlehead,theflamesglancedabouttheglitteringtreeasiftryingtoclimbandkissthebabyfeet,and,without,achimeofbellsrangsweetly,callingpeopletohearagainthelovelystoryofthelifebegunonChristinusDay。
　　Onlyaminute,butitdidthemgood,andpresently,whenthepleasantworkwasover,andtheworkersgone,theboystochurch,andMammatoseeaboutlunchfortheinvalids,Jacksaid,gravcly,toJill,"Ithinkweoughttobeextragood,everyoneissokindtous,andwearegettingwell,andgoingtohavesuchcapitaltimes。Don'tseehowwecandoanythingelsetoshowwearegrateful。"
　　"Itisn'teasytobegoodwhenoneissick,"saidJill,thoughtfully。"I
　　fretdreadfully,Igetsotiredofbeingstill。Iwanttoscreamsometimes,butIdon't,becauseitwouldscareMammy,soIcry。
　　Doyoucry,Jack？"
　　"Menneverdo。Iwanttotramproundwhenthingsbotherme;butI
　　cant,soIkickandsay,'Hangit！andwhenIgetverybadIpitchintoFrank,aridheletsme。Itellyou,Jill,he'sagoodbrother！"andJackprivatelyresolvedthenandtheretoinviteFranktotakeitoutofhiminanyformhepleasedassoonashealthwouldpermit。
　　"Iratherthinkweshallgrowgoodinthisprettyplace,forIdon'tseehowwecanbebadifwewantto,itisallsoniceandsortofpioushere,"saidJill,withhereyesontheangeloverthetree。
　　"Afellowcanbeawfullyhungry,Iknowthat。Ididn'thalfeatbreakfast,Iwasinsuchahurrytoseeyou,andknowallaboutthesecrets。FrankkeptsayingIcouldn'tguess,thatyouhadcome,JackandJilllaysilentlywatching,withasweetsortofsobernessintheiryoungfaces,andforamomenttheroomwasverystillasalleyeslookedupattheBlessedChild。Thesunshineseemedtogrowmoregoldenasitflickeredonthelittlehead,theflamesglancedabouttheglitteringtreeasiftryingtoclimbandkissthebabyfeet,and,without,achimeofbellsrangsweetly,callingpeopletohearagainthelovelystoryofthelifebegunonChristmasDay。
　　Onlyaminute,butitdidthemgood,andpresently,whenthepleasantworkwasover,andtheworkersgone,theboystochurch,andMammatoseeaboutlunchfortheinvalids,Jacksaid,gravely,toJill。
　　"Ithinkweoughttobeextragood,everyoneissokindtous,andwearegettingwell,andgoingtohavesuchcapitaltimes。Don'tseehowwecandoanythingelsetoshowwearegrateful。"
　　"Itisn'teasytobegoodwhenoneissick,"saidJill,thoughtfully。"I
　　fretdreadfully,Igetsotiredofbeingstill。Iwanttoscreamsometimes,butIdon't,becauseitwouldscareMammy,soIcry。
　　Doyoucry,Jack？"
　　"Menneverdo。Iwanttotramproundwhenthingsbotherme;butI
　　cant,soIkickandsay,'Hangit！andwhenIgetverybadIpitchintoFrank,andheletsme。Itellyou,Jill,he'sagoodbrother！"andJackprivatelyresolvedthenandtheretoinviteFranktotakeitoutofhiminanyformhepleasedassoonashealthwouldpermit。
　　"Iratherthinkweshallgrowgoodinthisprettyplace,forIdon'tseehowwecanbebadifwewantto,itisallsoniceandsortofpioushere,"saidJill,withhereyesontheangeloverthetree。
　　"Afellowcanbeawfullyhungry,Iknowthat。I'didn'thalfeatbreakfast,Iwasinsuchahurrytoseeyou,andknowallaboutthesecrets。FrankkeptsayingIcouldn'tguess,thatyouhadcome,andIneverwouldbeready,tillfinallyIgotmadandfiredaneggathim,andmadenoendofamess。"
　　JackandJillwentoffintoagaleoflaughterattheideaofdignifiedFrankdodgingtheeggthatsmashedonthewall,leavinganindeliblemarkofJack'sbesettingsin,impatience。
　　JustthenMrs。Minotcamein,wellpleasedtohearsuchpleasantsounds,andtoseetwomerryfaces,whereusuallyonelistlessonemetheranxiouseyes。
　　"Thenewmedicineworkswell,neighbor,"shesaidtoMrs。Pecq,whofollowedwiththelunchtray。
　　"Indeeditdoes,mem。IfeelasifI'dtakenasupmyself,I'mthateasyinmymind。"
　　Andshelookedso,too,forsheseemedtohaveleftallhercaresinthelittlehousewhenshelockedthedoorbehindher,andnowstoodsmilingwithacleanapronon,sofreshandcheerful,thatJillhardlyknewherownmother。
　　"Thingstastebetterwhenyouhavesomeonetoeatwithyou,"
　　observedJack,asthey'devouredsandwiches,anddrankmilkoutoflittlemugswithrosebudsonthem。
　　"Don'teattoomuch,oryouwon'tbereadyforthenextsurprise,"
　　saidhismother,whentheplateswereempty,andthelastdropgonedownthroatsdrywithmuchchatter。
　　"Moresurprises！Oh,whatfun！"criedJill。Andalltherestofthemorning,intheintervalsoftalkandplay,theytriedtoguesswhatitcouldbe。
　　Attwooclocktheyfoundout,fordinnerwasservedintheBirdRoom,andthechildrenrevelledinthesimplefeastpreparedforthem。Thetwomotherskeptthelittlebed—tableswellsupplied,andfedtheirnurslingslikematernalbirds,whileFrankpresidedoverthefeastwithgreatdignity,andateadinnerwhichwouldhaveastonishedMamma,ifshehadnotbeentoobusytoobservehowfastthemincepievanished。
　　"ThegirlssaidChristmaswasspoiledbecauseofus;butIdon'tthinkso,andtheywon'teither,whentheyseethissplendidplaceandknowallaboutourniceplans,"saidJill,luxuriouslyeatingthenut—meatsJackpickedoutforher,astheylayinEasternstyleatthefestiveboard。
　　"Icallthisbrokenbonesmadeeasy。IneverhadabetterChristmas。
　　Havearaisin？Here'sagoodfatone。"AndJackmadealongarmtoJill'smouth,whichbegantosing"LittleJackHomer"asanappropriatereturn。
　　"Itwouldhavebeenalonesomeonetoallofus,I'mthinking,butforyourmother,boys。Mydutyandheartythankstoyou,mem,"
　　putingratefulMrs。Pecq,bowingoverhercoffee—cupasshehadseenladiesbowovertheirwine—glassesatdinnerpartiesinOldEngland。
　　"Irisetoproposeahealth,OurMothers。"AndFrankstoodupwithagobletofwater,fornotevenatChristmastimewaswineseenonthattable。
　　"Hip,hip,hurrah！"calledJack,baptizinghimselfwithagoodsprinkle,ashewavedhisglassanddrankthetoastwithalookthatmadehismother'seyesfillwithhappytears。
　　Jillthrewhermotherakiss,feelingverygrownupandeleganttobediningoutinsuchstyle。Thenthey'drankeveryone'shealthwithmuchmerriment,tillFrankdeclaredthatJackwouldfloatoffonthedelugeofwaterhesplashedaboutinhisenthusiasm,andMammaproposedarestafterthemerry—making。
　　"Nowthebestfuniscoming,andwehavenotlongtowait,"saidtheboy,whennapsandridesabouttheroomhadwhiledawaythebriefintervalbetweendinneranddusk,fortheeveningentertainmentwastobeanearlyone,tosuittheinvalidsbedtime。
　　"Ihopethegirlswillliketheirthings。Ihelpedtochoosethem,andeachhasanicepresent。Idon'tknowmine,though,andI'minatwittertoseeit,"saidJill,astheylaywaitingforthefuntobegin。
　　"Ido;Ichoseit,soIknowyouwilllikeoneofthem,anyway。"
　　"HaveIgotmorethanone？"
　　"Iguessyou'llthinksowhentheyarehandeddown。Thebellwasgoingalldayyesterday,andthegirlskeptbringinginbundlesforyou;Iseesevennow,"andJackrolledhiseyesfromonemysteriousparceltoanotherhangingontheladenboughs。
　　"Iknowsomething,too。Thatsquarebundleiswhatyouwanteversomuch。ItoldFrank,andhegotitforhispresent。Itisallredandgoldoutside,andeverysortofcolorinside;you'llhurrahwhenyouseeit。Thatroundishoneisyourstoo;Imadethem,"criedJill,pointingtoaflatpackagetiedtothestemofthetree,andaneatlittlerollinwhichwerethebluemittensthatshehadknitforhim。
　　"Icanwait";buttheboy'seyesshonewitheagerness,andhecouldnotresistfiringtwoorthreepop—cornsatittoseewhetheritwashardorsoft。
　　"ThatbarkingdogisforBoo,andthelittleyellowsled,soMollycandraghimtoschool,healwaystumblesdownsowhenitisslippery,"continuedJill,proudofhersuperiorknowledge,assheshowedasmallspottedanimalhangingbyitstail,witharedtonguedisplayedasifabouttotastethesweetiesinthehornbelow。
　　"Don'ttalkaboutsleds,formercy'ssake！Ineverwanttoseeanother,andyouwouldn't,either,ifyouhadtoliewithaflat—irontiedtoyourankle,asIdo,"saidJack,withakickofthewelllegandanirefulglanceattheweightattachedtotheotherthatitmightnotcontractwhilehealing。
　　"Well,Ithinkplasters,andliniment,andrubbing,asbadasflat—ironsanyday。Idon'tbelieveyouhaveachedhalfsomuchasI
　　have,thoughitsoundsworsetobreaklegsthantosprainyourback,"protestedJill,eagertoproveherselfthegreatersufferer,asinvalidsareapttobe。
　　"Iguessyouwouldn'tthinksoifyoudbeenpulledroundasI
　　waswhentheysetmyleg。Caesar,howitdidhurt！"andJacksquirmedattherecollectionofit。
　　"Youdidn'tfaintawayasI'didwhenthedoctorwasfindingoutifmyvertebrumswerehurt,sonow！"criedJill,boundtocarryherpoint,thoughnotatallclearwhatvertebraewere。
　　"Pooh！Girlsalwaysfaint。Menarebraver,andIdidn'tfaintabitinspiteofallthathorridagony。"
　　"Youhowled;Franktoldmeso。DoctorsaidIwasabravegirl,soyouneedn'tbrag,foryou'llhavetogoonacrutchforawhile。I
　　knowthat。"
　　"Youmayhavetousetwoofthemforyears,maybe。Iheardthedoctortellmymotherso。Ishallbeupandaboutlongbeforeyouwill。Nowthen！"
　　Bothchildrenweregettingexcited,forthevariouspleasuresofthedayhadbeenrathertoomuchforthem,andthereisnoknowingbuttheywouldhaveaddedthesadsurpriseofaquarreltothepleasantonesoftheday,ifacheerfulwhistlehadnotbeenheard,asRalphcameintolightthecandlesandgivethelastartistictouchestotheroom。
　　"Well,youngfolks,howgoesit？Hadamerrytimesofar？"heasked,ashefixedthestepsandranupwithalightedmatchinhishand。
　　"Verynice,thankyou,"answeredaprimlittlevoicefromtheduskbelow,foronlytheglowofthefirefilledtheroomjustthen。
　　Jacksaidnothing,andtworedsulkyfaceswerehiddeninthedark,watchingcandleaftercandlesputter,brighten,andtwinkle,tillthetremblingshadowsbegantoflitawaylikeimpsafraidofthelight。
　　"Nowhewillseemyface,andIknowitiscross,"thoughtJill,asRalphwentroundthelastcircle,leavinganotherlineofsparksamongthehemlockboughs。
　　Jackthoughtthesame,andhadjustgotthefrownsmoothedoutofhisforehead,whenFrankbroughtafreshlog,andagloriousblazesprungup,fillingeverycorneroftheroom,anddancingoverthefiguresinthelongchairstilltheyhadtobrightenwhethertheylikeditornot。Presentlythebellbegantoringandgayvoicestosoundbelow:thenJillsmiledinspiteofherselfasMollyLoo'susualcryof"Oh,dear,whereisthatchild？"reachedher,andJackcouldnothelpkeepingtimetothemarchEdplayed,whileFrankandGusmarshalledtheprocession。
　　"Ready！"criedMrs。Minot,atlast,andupcamethetroopofeagerladsandlasses,braveinholidaysuits,withfacestomatch。A
　　unanimous"0,o,o！"burstfromtwentytongues,asthefullsplendorofthetree,theroom,anditsinmates,dawneduponthem;
　　fornotonlydidtheprettyChrist—childhoverabove,butSantaClaushimselfstoodbelow,fur—clad,white—bearded,andpowderedwithsnowfromthedredging—box。
　　Ralphwasagoodactor,and,whenthefirstraptureswereoverhedistributedthepresentswithsuchdrollspeeches,jokes,andgambols,thattheroomrangwithmerriment,andpassers—bypausedtolisten,surethathere,atleast,Christmaswasmerry。Itwouldbeimpossibletotellaboutallthegiftsorthejoyofthereceivers,buteveryonewassatisfied,andthekingandqueenoftherevelssooverwhelmedwithlittletokensofgood—will,thattheirbedslookedlikeboothsatafair。Jackbeamedoverthehandsomepostage—stampbookwhichhadlongbeenthedesireofhisheart,andJillfeltlikeamillionaire,withasilverfruit—knife,aprettywork—basket,andoh！coalsoffireonherheadaringfromJack。
　　Asimplelittlethingenough,withonetinyturquoiseforget—me—
　　not,butsomethinglikeadew—dropfellonitwhennoonewaslooking,andshelongedtosay,"I'msorryIwascross;forgiveme,Jack。"Butitcouldnotbedonethen,sosheturnedtoadmireMerry'sbed—shoes,thepotsofpansies,hyacinths,andgeraniumwhichGusandhissisterssentforherwindowgarden,Molly'squeerChristmaspie,andthezitherEdpromisedtoteachherhowtoplayupon。
　　Thetreewassoonstripped,andpop—cornsstrewedthefloorasthechildrenstoodaboutpickingthemofftheredthreadswhencandygaveout,withanoccasionalcranberrybywayofrelish。Booinsistedontryingthenewsledatonce,andenlivenedthetripbythesqueakingofthespotteddog,thetootofatintrumpet,andshoutsofjoyatthesplendoroftheturn—out。
　　Thegirlsallputontheirnecklaces,anddancedaboutlikefineladiesataball。Theboysfelltocomparingskates,balls,andcuff—buttonsonthespot,whilethelittleonesdevotedalltheirenergiestoeatingeverythingeatabletheycouldlaytheirhandson。
　　Gameswereplayedtillnineoclock,andthenthepartybrokeup,aftertheyhadtakenhandsroundthetreeandsungasongwrittenbyonewhomyouallknowsofaithfullyandbeautifullydoessheloveandlaborforchildrentheworldover。
　　THEBLESSEDDAY
　　"WhatshalllittlechildrenbringOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay？
　　WhatshalllittlechildrenbringOnChristmasDayinthemorning？
　　ThisshalllittlechildrenbringOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay;
　　LoveandjoytoChristtheirking,OnChristmasDayinthemorning！
　　"WhatshalllittlechildrensingOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay？
　　WhatshalllittlechildrensingOnChristmasDayinthemorning？
　　ThegrandoldcarolsshalltheysingOnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay;
　　Withalltheirhearts,theirofferingsbringOnChristmasDayinthemorning。"
　　Jackwascarriedofftobedinsuchhastethathehadonlytimetocallout,"Good—night！"beforehewasrolledaway,gapingashewent。Jillsoonfoundherselftuckedupinthegreatwhitebedshewastosharewithhermother,andlaylookingaboutthepleasantchamber,whileMrs。Pecqranhomeforaminutetoseethatallwassafethereforthenight。
　　Afterthemerrydinthehouseseemedverystill,withonlyalightstepnowandthen,themurmurofvoicesnotfaraway,orthejingleofsleigh—bellsfromwithout,andthelittlegirlrestedeasilyamongthepillows,thinkingoverthepleasuresoftheday,toowide—awakeforsleep。Therewasnolampinthechamber,butshecouldlookintotheprettyBirdRoom,wherethefire—lightstillshoneonflowerywalls,desertedtree,andChrist—childfloatingabovethegreen。Jill'seyeswanderedthereandlingeredtilltheywerefullofregretfultears,becausethesightofthelittleangelrecalledthewordsspokenwhenitwashungup,thegoodresolutionshehadtakenthen,andhowsoonitwasbroken。
　　"IsaidIcouldn'tbebadinthatlovelyplace,andIwasacross,ungratefulgirlafteralltheyvedoneforMammyandme。PoorJackwashurttheworst,andhewasbrave,thoughhedidscream。
　　IwishIcouldgoandtellhimso,andhearhimsay,'Allright。Oh,me,I'vespoiledtheday！"
　　Agreatsobchokedmorewords,andJillwasabouttohaveacomfortablecry,whensomeoneenteredtheotherroom,andshesawFrankdoingsomethingwithalongcordandathingthatlookedlikeatinydrum。Quietasabright—eyedmouse,Jillpeepedoutwonderingwhatitwas,andsuspectingmischief,fortheboywaslaughingtohimselfashestretchedthecord,andnowandthenbentoverthelittleobjectinhishand,touchingitwithgreatcare。
　　"Maybeit'satorpedotoblowupandscareme;Jacklikestoplaytricks。Well,I'llscreamloudwhenitgoesoff,sohewillbesatisfiedthatI'mdreadfullyfrightened,"thoughtJill,littledreamingwhatthelastsurpriseofthedaywastobe。
　　Presentlyavoicewhispered,Areyouawake？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Anyonetherebutyou？"
　　"Catchthis,then。Holdittoyourearandseewhatyou'llget。"
　　Thelittledrumcameflyingin,and,catchingit,Jill,withsomehesitation,obeyedFrank'sorder。Judgeofheramazementwhenshecaughtinbrokenwhispersthesetouchingwords:
　　"SorryIwascross。Forgiveandforget。Startfairto—morrow。Allright。Jack。"
　　Jillwassodelightedwiththishandsomeapology,thatshecouldnotreplyforamoment,thensteadiedhervoice,andansweredbackinhersweetesttone,"I'msorry,too。Never,never,willagain。Feelmuchbetternow。
　　Good—night,youdearoldthing。"
　　Satisfiedwiththesuccessofhistelephone,Franktwitchedbackthedrumandvanished,leavingJilltolayhercheekuponthehandthatworethelittleringandfallasleep,sayingtoherself,withafarewellglanceatthechildren'ssaint,dimlyseeninthesoftgloom,"Iwillnotforget。Iwillbegood！"
　　Chapter7Jill'sMissionThegoodtimesbeganimmediately,andverylittlestudyingwasdonethatweekinspiteofthevirtuousresolutionsmadebycertainyoungpersonsonChristmasDay。But,dearme,howwasitpossibletosettledowntolessonsinthedelightfulBirdRoom,withnotonlyitsowncharmstodistractone,butallthenewgiftstoenjoy,andadozencallsadaytooccupyone'stime？
　　"Iguesswe'dbetterwaittilltheothersareatschool,andjustgoinforfunthisweek,"saidJack,whowasingreatspiritsattheprospectofgettingup,forthesplintswereoff,andhehopedtobepromotedtocrutchesverysoon。
　　"IshallkeepmySpellerbymeandtakealookatiteveryday,forthatiswhatI'mmostbackwardin。ButIintendtodevotemyselftoyou,Jack,andberealkindanduseful。I'vemadeaplantodoit,andImeantocarryitout,anyway,"answeredJill,whohadbeguntobeamissionary,andfeltthatthiswasafieldoflaborwhereshecoulddistinguishherself。
　　"Here'sahomemissionallreadyforyou,andyoucanbepayingyourdebtsbesidedoingyourselfgood,"Mrs。Pecqsaidtoherinprivate,havingfoundplentytodoherself。
　　NowJillmadeonegreatmistakeattheoutset——sheforgotthatshewastheonetobeconvertedtogoodmannersandgentleness,anddevotedhereffortstolookingafterJack,findingitmucheasiertocureotherpeople'sfaultsthanherown。Jackwasamostengagingheathen,andneededverylittleinstruction;thereforeJillthoughthertaskwouldbeaneasyone。Butthreeorfourweeksofpettingandplayhadratherdemoralizedbothchildren,soJill'sSpeller,thoughtuckedunderthesofapilloweveryday,wasseldomlookedat,andJackshirkedhisLatinshamefully。Bothreadallthestory—bookstheycouldget,helddailyleveesintheBirdRoom,andalltheirspareminuteswerespentinteachingSnowdrop,thegreatAngoracat,tobringtheballwhentheydroppeditintheirgame。
　　SoSaturdaycame,andbothwererathertheworseforsomuchidleness,sincedailydutiesandstudiesarethewholesomebreadwhichfeedsthemindbetterthanthedyspepticplum—cakeofsensationalreading,ortheunsubstantialbon—bonsoffrivolousamusement。
　　Itwasastormyday,sotheyhadfewcallers,anddevotedthemselvestoarrangingthealbum;forthesebookswerealltheragejustthen,andboysmettocompare,discuss,buy,sell,and"swap"stampswithasmuchinterestasmenon'Changegambleinstocks。Jackhadanicelittlecollection,andhadbeensavinguppocket—moneytobuyabookinwhichtopreservehistreasures。
　　Now,thankstoJill'stimelysuggestion,Frankhadgivenhimafineone,andseveralfriendshadcontributedanumberofrarestampstogracethelarge,invitingpages。Jillwieldedthegum—brushandfittedonthelittleflaps,asherfingerswereskilfulatthisnicework,andJackputeachstampinitsproperplacewithgreatrustlingofleavesandcomparingofmarks。Returning,afterabriefabsence,Mrs。Minotbeheldthecountenancesoftheworkersadornedwithgaystamps,givingthemaverycuriousappearance。
　　"Mydears！whatnewplayhaveyougotnow？AreyouwildIndians？orlettersthathavegoneroundtheworldbeforefindingtherightaddress？"sheasked,laughingattheridiculoussight,forbothwereassoberasjudgesanddeeplyabsorbedinsomedoubtfulspecimen。
　　"Oh,wejuststuckthemtheretokeepthemsafe;theygetlostifweleavethemlyinground。It'sveryhandy,forIcanseeinaminutewhatIwantonJill'sfaceandsheonmine,andputourfingersontherightchapatonce,"answeredJack,adding,withananxiousgazeathisfriend'svariegatedcountenance,"WherethedickensismyNewGranada？It'srare,andIwouldn'tloseitforadollar。"
　　'Why,thereitisonyourownnose。Don'tyourememberyouputittherebecauseyousaidminewasnotbigenoughtoholdit？"
　　laughedJill,tweakingalargeorangesquareofftheroundnoseofherneighbor,causingittowrinkleupinadrollway,asthegummadetheoperationslightlypainful。
　　"SoI'did,andgaveyouLittleBolivaronyours。NowI'llhaveAlsaceandLorraine,1870。Therearesevenofthem,soholdstillandseehowyoulikeit,"returnedJack,pickingthelarge,palestampsonebyonefromJill'sforehead,whichtheycrossedlikeaband。
　　Sheboreitwithoutflinching,sayingtoherselfwithasecretsmile,assheglancedatthehotfire,whichscorchedherifshekeptnearenoughtoJacktohelphim,"Thisreallyisbeinglikeamissionary,withatattooedsavagetolookafter。Ihavetosufferalittle,asthegoodfolksdidwhogotspearedandroastedsometimes;butIwon'tcomplainabit,thoughmyforeheadsmarts,myarmsaretired,andonecheekisasredasfire。"
　　"TheRomanStatesmakeahandsomepage,don'tthey？"askedJack,littledreamingoftheparthewasplayinginJill'smind。"Oh,Isay,isn'tCoreaabeauty？I'meversoproudofthat";andhegazedfondlyonabigbluestamp,thesoleornamentofonepage。
　　"Idon'tseewhytheCapeofGoodHopehaspyramids。TheyoughttogoinEgypt。TheSandwichIslandsareallright,withheadsoftheblackkingsandqueensonthem,"saidJill,feelingthattheywereveryappropriatetoherprivateplay。
　　"Turkeyhascrescents,Australiaswans,andSpainwomen'sheads,withblackbarsacrossthem。Franksaysitisbecausetheykeepwomenshutupso;butthatwasonlyhisfun。I'dratherhaveagood,honestgreenUnitedStates,withWashingtononit,orablueone—centerwitholdFranklin,thanalltheireaglesandlionsandkingsandqueensputtogether,"addedthedemocraticboy,withadisrespectfulslaponacrownedheadashesettledHeligolandinitsplace。
　　"WhydoesAustriahaveMercuryonthestamp,Iwonder？Dotheywearhelmetslikethat？"askedJill,withthebrush—handleinhermouthasshecutafreshbatchofflaps。
　　"Maybehewaspostmantothegods,soheisputonstampsnow。
　　ThePrussianswearhelmets,buttheyhavespikesliketheoldRomanfellows。IlikePrussianseversomuch;theyfightsplendidly,andalwaysbeat。Austrianshaveahandsomeuniform,though。"
　　"TalkingofRomansremindsmethatIhavenotheardyourLatinfortwodays。Come,lazybones,braceup,andletushaveitnow。
　　I'vedonemycompo,andshallhavejusttimebeforeIgooutforatrampwithGus,"saidFrank,puttingbyaneatpagetodry,forhestudiedeverydaylikeaconscientiousladashewas。
　　"Don'tknowit。Notgoingtotrytillnextweek。GrindawayoveryouroldGreekasmuchasyoulike,butdon'tbotherme,"
　　answeredJack,frowningatthemerethoughtofthedetestedlesson。
　　ButFrankadoredhisXenophon,andwouldnotseehisoldfriend,Caesar,neglectedwithoutanefforttodefendhim;soheconfiscatedthegum—pot,andeffectuallystoppedthestampbusinessbywhiskingawayatonefellswoopallthatlayonJill'stable。
　　"Nowthen,youngman,youwillquitthissortofnonsenseanddoyourlesson,oryouwon'tseethesefellowsagaininahurry。Youaskedmetohearyou,andI'mgoingtodoit;here'sthebook。"
　　Frank'stonewasthedictatorialone,whichJackhatedandalwaysfoundhardtoobey,especiallywhenheknewheoughttodoit。
　　Usually,whenhispatiencewastried,hestrodeabouttheroom,orranoffforaraceroundthegarden,comingbackbreathless,butgood—tempered。Nowboththeseventsforirritationweredeniedhim,andhehadfallenintothewayofthrowingthingsaboutinapet。HelongedtosendCaesartoperpetualbanishmentinthefireblazingcloseby,butresistedthetemptation,andansweredhonestly,thoughgruffly:"IknowI'did,butIdon'tseeanyuseinpouncingonafellowwhenheisn'tready。Ihaven'tgotmylesson,anddon'tmeantoworryaboutit;soyoumayjustgivemebackmythingsandgoaboutyourbusiness。"
　　"I'llgiveyoubackastampforeveryperfectlessonyouget,andyouwon'tseethemonanyotherterms";and,thrustingthetreasuresintohispocket,Frankcaughtuphisrubberboots,andwentoffswingingthemlikeapairofclubs,feelingthathewouldgiveatrifletobeabletousethemonhislazybrother。
　　Atthishigh—handedproceeding,andthethreatwhichaccompaniedit,Jack'spatiencegaveout,andcatchingupCaesar,ashethought,senthimflyingaftertheretreatingtyrantwiththedefiantdeclaration,"Keepthem,then,andyouroldbook,too！Iwon'tlookatittillyougiveallmystampsbackandsayyouaresorry。Sonow！"
　　ItwasalloverbeforeMammacouldinterfere,orJilldomorethanclutchandclingtothegum—brush。Frankvanishedunharmed,butthepoorbookdashedagainstthewalltofallhalfopenonthefloor,itsgaycoverloosened,anditssmoothleavescrushedbytheblow。
　　"It'sthealbum！OJack,howcouldyou？"criedJill,dismayedatsightofthepreciousbooksomaltreatedbytheowner。
　　"Thoughtitwastheother。Guessitisn'thurtmuch。Didn'tmeantohithim,anyway。Hedoesprovokemeso,"mutteredJack,veryredandshamefacedashismotherpickedupthebookandlaiditsilentlyonthetablebeforehim。Hedidnotknowwhattodowithhimself,andwasthankfulforthestampsstilllefthim,findinggreatreliefinmakingfacesashepluckedthemonebyonefromhismortifiedcountenance。Jilllookedon,halfglad,halfsorrythathersavageshowedsuchsignsofunconvertedferocity,andMrs。
　　Minotwentonwritingletters,wearingthegravelookhersonsfoundhardertobearthananotherperson'sscolding。Noonespokeforamoment,andthesilencewasbecomingawkwardwhenGusappearedinarubbersuit,bringingabooktoJackfromLauraandanotetoJillfromLotty。
　　"Lookhere,youjusttrundlemeintomyden,please,I'mgoingtohaveanap,it'ssodullto—dayIdon'tfeellikedoingmuch,"saidJack,whenGushaddonehiserrands,tryingtolookasifheknewnothingaboutthefracas。
　　Jackfoldedhisarmsanddepartedlikeawarriorbornefromthebattle—field,tobechaffedunmercifullyfora"pepper—pot,"whileGusmadehimcomfortableinhisownroom。
　　"Iheardonceofaboywhothrewaforkathisbrotherandputhiseyeout。Buthedidn'tmeanto,andthebrotherforgavehim,andheneverdidsoanymore,"observedJill,inapensivetone,wishingtoshowthatshefeltallthedangersofimpatience,butwassorryfortheculprit。
　　"Didtheboyeverforgivehimself？"askedMrs。Minot。
　　"No,'m;Isupposenot。ButJackdidn'thitFrank,andfeelsrealsorry,Iknow。"