Butthethingthattriedhimmostwastheknowledgethathisreportwouldnotbewhatitusuallywas。Itwasalwaysahappymomentwhenheshowedittohismother,andsawhereyebrightenasitfellonthe99ormoo,forshecaredmoreforgoodbehaviorthanforperfectlessons。Mr。ActononcesaidthatFrankMinot'smoralinfluenceintheschoolwasunusual,andJackneverforgotherprideanddelightasshetoldthemwhatFrankhimselfhadnotknowntillthen。ItwasJack'sambitiontohavethesamesaidofhim,forhewasnotmuchofascholar,andhehadtriedhardsincehewentbacktoschooltogetgoodrecordsinthatrespectatleast。
　　Nowherewasadreadfuldownfall,tardymarks,badcompany,brokenrules,andsomethingtoowrongtotell,apparently。
　　'Well,Ideserveagoodreport,andthat'sacomfort,thoughnobodybelievesit,"hesaidtohimself,tryingtokeepuphisspirits,astheslowweekwentby,andnowordfromhimhadclearedupthemystery。
　　Chapter14AndJillFindsItOutJillworriedaboutitmorethanhedid,forshewasafaithfullittlefriend,anditwasagreattrialtohaveJackevensuspectedofdoinganythingwrong。Schoolisachild'sworldwhileheisthere,anditssmallaffairsareveryimportanttohim,soJillfeltthattheonethingtobedonewastoclearawaythecloudaboutherdearboy,andrestorehimtopublicfavor。
　　"EdwillbehereSaturdaynightandmaybehewillfindout,forJacktellshimeverything。Idohatetohavehimhectoredso,forI
　　knowheis,thoughhe'stooproudtocomplain,"shesaid,onThursdayevening,whenFranktoldhersomejokeplayeduponhisbrotherthatday。
　　"Ilethimalone,butIseethatheisn'tbadgeredtoomuch。That'sallIcando。IfEdhadonlycomehomelastSaturdayitmighthavedonesomegood,butnowitwillbetoolate;forthereportsaregivenoutto—morrow,youknow,"answeredFrank,feelingalittlejealousofEd'sinfluenceoverJack,thoughhisownwouldhavebeenasgreatifhehadbeenasgentle。
　　"HasJerrycomeback？"askedJill,whokeptallherquestionsforFrank,becausesheseldomalludedtothetendersubjectwhenwithJack。
　　"No,he'soffforthesummer。Gotaplacesomewhere。Hopehe'llstaythereandletBobalone。"
　　"WhereisBobnow？Idon'thearmuchabouthimlately,"saidJill,whowasconstantlyonthelookoutfor"theotherfellow,"sinceitwasnotJoe。
　　"Oh,hewenttoCaptainSkinner'sthefirstofMarch,choresround,andgoestoschoolupthere。Captainisstrict,andwon'tletBobcometotown,exceptSundays;buthedon'tminditmuch,forhelikeshorses,hasnicegrub,andtheHillfellowsaregoodchapsforhimtobewith。Sohe'sallright,ifheonlybehaves。"
　　"HowfarisittoCaptainSkinner's？"askedJillsuddenly,havinglistened,withhersharpeyesonFrank,ashetinkeredawayathismodel,sincehewasforbiddenallotherindulgenceinhisbelovedpastime。
　　"It'sfourmilestoHillDistrict,buttheCaptainlivesthissideoftheschool—house。Aboutthreefromhere,Ishouldsay。"
　　"Howlongwouldittakeaboytowalkupthere？"wentonthequestioner,withanewideainherhead。
　　"Dependsonhowmuchofawalkistheis。"
　　"Supposehewaslameanditwassloshy,andhemadeacallandcameback。Howlongwouldthattake？"askedJillimpatiently。
　　"Well,inthatcase,Ishouldsaytwoorthreehours。Butit'simpossibletotellexactly,unlessyouknowhowlamethefellowwas,andhowlongacallhemade,"saidFrank,wholikedtobeaccurate。
　　"Jackcouldn'tdoitinless,couldhe？"
　　"Heusedtorunupthathillyroadforabreather,andthinknothingofit。Itwouldbealongjobforhimnow,poorlittlechap,forhislegoftentroubleshim,thoughhehatestoownit。"
　　Jilllaybackandlaughed,ahappylittlelaugh,asifshewaspleasedaboutsomething,andFranklookedoverhisshouldertoaskquestionsinhisturn。
　　"Whatareyoulaughingat？"
　　"Can'ttell。"
　　"WhydoyouwanttoknowaboutHillDistrict？Areyougoingthere？"
　　"WishIcould！I'dsoonhaveitoutofhim。"
　　"Who？"
　　"Nevermind。Pleasepushupmytable。Imustwritealetter,andI
　　wantyoutopostitformeto—night,andneversayawordtillIgiveyouleave。
　　"Oh,nowyouaregoingtohavesecretsandbemysterious,andgetintoamess,areyou？"andFranklookeddownatherwithasuspiciousair,thoughhewasintenselycurioustoknowwhatshewasabout。
　　"GoawaytillI'mdone。Youwillhavetoseetheoutside,butyoucan'tknowtheinsidetilltheanswercomes";andproppingherselfup,Jillwrotethefollowingnote,withsomehesitationatthebeginningandend,forshedidnotknowthegentlemanshewasaddressing,exceptbysight,anditwasratherawkward:
　　"RobertWalker"DearSir,IwanttoaskifJackMinotcametoseeyoulastFridayafternoon。HegotintotroublebeingseenwithJerryShannon。Hepaidhimsomemoney。Jackwon'ttell,andMr。Actontalkedtohimaboutitbeforealltheschool。Wefeelbad,becausewethinkJackdidnotdowrong。Idon'tknowasyouhaveanythingtodowithit,butIthoughtI'dask。Pleaseanswerquick。Respectfullyyours,JanePecq"
　　Tomakesurethatherdespatchwasnottamperedwith,Jillputagreatsplashofredsealing—waxonit,whichgaveitaveryofficiallook,andmuchimpressedBobwhenhereceivedit。
　　"There！Goandpostit,anddon'tletanyoneseeorknowaboutit,"
　　shesaid,handingitovertoFrank,wholefthisworkwithunusualalacritytodohererrand。Whenhiseyefellontheaddress,helaughed,andsaidinateasingway,"AreyouandBobsuchgoodfriendsthatyoucorrespond？WhatwillJacksay？"
　　"Don'tknow,anddon'tcare！Begood,now,andlet'shavealittlesecretaswellasotherfolks。I'lltellyouallaboutitwhenheanswers,"saidJillinhermostcoaxingtone。
　　"Supposehedoesn't？"
　　"ThenIshallsendyouuptoseehim。Imustknowsomething,andIwanttodoitmyself,ifIcan。"
　　"Lookhere;whatareyouafter？Idobelieveyouthink————"Frankgotnofarther,forJillgavealittlescream,andstoppedhimbycryingeagerly,"Don'tsayitoutloud！Ireallydobelieveitmaybe,andI'mgoingtofindout。"
　　"Whatmadeyouthinkofhim？"andFranklookedthoughtfullyattheletter,asifturningcarefullyoverinhismindtheideathatJill'squickwitshadjumpedat。
　　"ComehereandI'lltellyou。"
　　Holdinghimbyonebutton,shewhisperedsomethinginhisearthatmadehimexclaim,withalookattherug,"No！didhe？IdeclareIshouldn'twonder！Itwouldbejustlikethedearoldblunder—head。"
　　"IneverthoughtofittillyoutoldmewhereBobwas,andthenitallsortofburstuponmeinoneminute！"criedJill,wavingherarmsabouttoexpresstheintellectualexplosionwhichhadthrownlightuponthemystery,likesky—rocketsinadarknight。
　　"Youareasbrightasabutton。Notimetolose;I'moff";andoffhewas,splashingthroughthemudtoposttheletter,onthebackofwhichheadded,tomakethethingsure,"Hurryup。
　　F。M。"
　　Bothfeltratherguiltynextday,butenjoyedthemselvesverymuchnevertheless,andkeptchucklingovertheminetheyweremakingunderJack'sunconsciousfeet。Theyhardlyexpectedanansweratnoon,astheHillpeoplewerenotveryeagerfortheirmail,butatnightJillwassureofaletter,andtohergreatdelightitcame。Jackbroughtithimself,whichaddedtothefun,andwhilesheeagerlyreadithesatcalmlyporingoverthelatestnumberofhisownprivateandparticular"Youth'sCompanion。"
　　Bobwasnota"completeletter—writer"byanymeans,andwithgreatlaborandmuchinkhadproducedthefollowingbriefbuthighlysatisfactoryepistle。Notknowinghowtoaddresshisfaircorrespondentheletitalone,andwentatoncetothepointinthefrankestpossibleway:
　　"JackdidcomeupFriday。Sorryhegotintoamess。Itwasrealkindofhim,andIshallpayhimbacksoon。JackpaidJerryformeandImadehimpromisenottotell。Jerrysaidhe'dcomehereandmakearowifIdidn'tcashup。IwasafraidI'dlosetheplaceifhedid,fortheCapt。isawfulstrict。IfJackdon'ttellnow,Iwill。Iain'tmean。Gladyouwrote。
　　R。O。W。"
　　"Hurrah！"criedJill,wavingtheletteroverherheadingreattriumph。"Calleverybodyandreaditout,"sheadded,asFranksnatchedit,andranforhismother,seeingataglancethatthenewswasgood。Jillwassoafraidsheshouldtellbeforetheotherscamethatsheburstoutsinging"PrettyBobbyShafto"atthetopofhervoice,toJack'sgreatdisgust,forheconsideredthesongverypersonal,ashewa。sratherfondof"combingdownhisyellowhair,"andJilloftenplaguedhimbysingingitwhenhecameinwiththegoldenquirisverysmoothandnicetohidethescaronhisforehead。
　　InaboutfiveminutesthedoorflewopenandincameMamma,makingstraightforbewilderedJack,whothoughtthefamilyhadgonecrazywhenhisparentcaughthiminherarms,sayingtenderly,"Mygood,generousboy！Iknewhewasrightallthetime！"whileFrankworkedhishandupanddownlikeapump—handle,exclaimingheartily,"You'reatrump,sir,andI'mproudofyou！"Jillmeantimecallingout,inwilddelight,"Itoldyouso！Itoldyouso！Ididfindout;ha,ha,Idid！"
　　"Come,Isay！What'sthematter？I'mallright。Don'tsqueezethebreathoutofme,please,"expostulatedJack,lookingsostartledandinnocent,ashestruggledfeebly,thattheyalllaughed,andthisplaintiveprotestcausedhimtobereleased。Butthenextproceedingdidnotenlightenhimmuch,forFrankkeptwavingaveryinkypaperbeforehimandorderinghimtoreadit,whileMammamadeachargeatJill,asifitwasabsolutelynecessarytohugsomebody。
　　"Hullo！"saidJack,whenhegottheletterintohisownhandandreadit。"NowwhoputBobuptothis？Nobodyhadanybusinesstointerfere——butit'smightygoodofhim,anyway,"headded,astheanxiouslinesinhisroundfacesmoothedthemselvesaway,whileasmileofrelieftoldhowhardithadbeenforhimtokeephisword。
　　"Idid！"criedJill,clappingherhands,andlookingsohappythathecouldnothavescoldedherifhehadwantedto。
　　"Whotoldyouhewasinthescrape？"demandedJack,inahurrytoknowallaboutitnowthesealwastakenoffhisownlips。
　　"Youdid";andJill'sfacetwinkledwithnaughtysatisfaction,forthiswasthebestfunofall。
　　"Ididn't！When？Where？It'sajoke！"
　　"Youdid,"criedJill,pointingtotherug。"Youwenttosleepthereafterthelongwalk,andtalkedinyoursleepabout'Bob'and'Allright,oldboy,'andeversomuchgibberish。Ididn'tthinkaboutitthen,butwhenIheardthatBobwasupthereIthoughtmaybeheknewsomethingaboutit,andlastnightIwroteandaskedhim,andthat'stheanswer,andnowitisallright,andyouarethebestboythateverwas,andI'msoglad！"
　　HereJillpaused,alloutofbreath,andFranksaid,withanapprovingpatonthehead,"Itwon'tdotohavesuchasharpyoungpersonroundifwearegoingtohavesecrets。You'dmakeagooddetective,miss。"
　　"Catchmetakingnapsbeforepeopleagain";andJacklookedrathercrestfallenthathisownwordshadset"FineEar"onthetrack。"Nevermind,Ididn'tmeantotell,thoughIjustachedtodoitallthetime,soIhaven'tbrokenmyword。I'mgladyouallknow,butyouneedn'tletitgetout,forBobisagoodfellow,anditmightmaketroubleforhim,"addedJack,anxiouslesthisgainshouldbetheother'sloss。
　　"IshalltellMr。Actonmyself,andtheCaptain,also,forI'mnotgoingtohavemysonsuspectedofwrong—doingwhenhehasonlytriedtohelpafriend,andborneenoughforhissake,"saidMamma,muchexcitedbythisdiscoveryofgenerousfidelityinherboy;thoughwhenonecametolookatitcalmly,onesawthatitmighthavebeendoneinawiserway。
　　"Now,please,don'tmakeafussaboutit;thatwouldbemostasbadashavingeveryonedownonme。Icanstandyourpraisingme,butIwon'tbepattedontheheadbyanybodyelse";andJackassumedamanlyair,thoughhisfacewasfullofgenuineboyishpleasureatbeingsetrightintheeyesofthoseheloved。
　　"I'llbediscreet,dear,butyouoweittoyourself,aswellasBob,tohavethetruthknown。Bothhavebehavedwell,andnoharmwillcometohim,Iamsure。I'llseetothatmyself,"saidMrs。Minot,inatonethatsetJack'smindatrestonthatpoint。
　　"Nowdotellallaboutit,"criedJill,whowaspiningtoknowthewholestory,andfeltasifshehadearnedtherighttohearit。
　　"Oh,itwasn'tmuch。WepromisedEdtostandbyBob,soIdidaswellasIknewhow";andJackseemedtothinkthatwasaboutalltherewastosay。
　　"Ineversawsuchafellowforkeepingapromise！Yousticktoitthroughthickandthin,nomatterhowsillyorharditis。Youremember,mother,lastsummer,howyoutoldhimnottogoinaboatandhepromised,thedaywewentonthepicnic。Werodeup,butthehorseranoffhome,sowehadtocomebackbywayoftheriver,allbutJack,andhewalkedeverystepoffivemilesbecausehewouldn'tgonearaboat,thoughMr。Burtonwastheretotakecareofhim。Icallthatratheroverdoingthematter";andFranklookedasifhethoughtmoderationeveninvirtueagoodthing。
　　"AndIcallitafinesampleofentireobedience。Heobeyedorders,andthatiswhatweallmustdo,withoutalwaysseeingwhy,ordaringtouseourownjudgment。ItisagreatsafeguardtoJack,andaverygreatcomforttome;forIknowthatifhepromiseshewillkeephisword,nomatterwhatitcostshim,"saidMammawarmly,asshetumbledupthequirlswithanirrepressiblecaress,rememberinghowtheboycamewearilyinafteralltheothers,withoutseemingforamomenttothinkthathecouldhavedoneanythingelse。
　　"LikeCasabianca！"criedJill,muchimpressed,forobediencewasherhardesttrial。
　　"Ithinkhewasafooltoburnup,"saidFrank,boundnottogivein。
　　"Idon't。It'sasplendidpiece,andeveryonelikestospeakit,anditwastrue,anditwouldn'tbeinallthebooksifhewasafool。
　　Grownpeopleknowwhatisgood,"declaredJill,wholikedheroicactions,andwasalwayshopingforachancetodistinguishherselfinthatway。
　　"Youadmire'TheChargeoftheLightBrigade,'andglowalloverasyouthunderitout。Yettheywentgallantlytotheirdeathratherthandisobeyorders。Amistake,perhaps,butitmakesusthrilltohearofit;andthesamespiritkeepsmyJacktrueassteelwhenoncehiswordispassed,orhethinksitishisduty。Don'tbelaughedoutofit,myson,forfaithfulnessinlittlethingsfitsoneforheroismwhenthegreattrialscome。One'sconsciencecanhardlybetootenderwhenhonorandhonestyareconcerned。"
　　"Youareright,mother,andIamwrong。Ibegyourpardon,Jack,andyousha'n'tgetaheadofmenexttime。"
　　Frankmadehismotheralittlebow,gavehisbrotherashakeofthehand,andnoddedtoJill,asifanxioustoshowthathewasnottooproudtoownupwhenhemadeamistake。
　　"Pleasetellon,Jack。Thisisverynice,butIdowanttoknowallabouttheother,"saidJill,afterashortpause。
　　"Letmesee。Oh,IsawBobatchurch,andhelookedratherblue;
　　so,afterSundaySchool,Iaskedwhatthematterwas。HesaidJerrybotheredhimforsomemoneyhelenthimatdifferenttimeswhentheywereloafingroundtogether,beforewetookhimup。Hewouldn'tgetanywagesforsometime。TheCaptainkeepshimshortonpurpose,Iguess,andwon'tlethimcomedowntownexceptonSundays。Hedidn'twantanyonetoknowaboutit,forfearhe'dlosehisplace。SoIpromisedIwouldn'ttell。ThenIwasafraidJerrywouldgoandmakeafuss,andBobwouldrunoff,ordosomethingdesperate,beingworried,andIsaidI'dpayitforhim,ifIcould。Sohewenthomeprettyjolly,andIscratched'roundforthemoney。Gotit,too,andwasn'tIglad？"
　　Jackpausedtorubhishands,andFranksaid,withmorethanusualrespect,"Couldn'tyougetholdofJerryinanyotherplace,andoutofschooltime？Thatdidthemischief,thankstoJoe。Ithrashedhim,Jill——didImentionit？"
　　"Icouldn'tgetallmymoneytillFridaymorning,andIknewJerrywasoffatnight。Ilookedforhimbeforeschool,andatnoon,butcouldn'tfindhim,soafternoonrecesswasmylastchance。IwasboundtodoitandIdidn'tmeantobreaktherule,butJerrywasjustgoingintotheshop,soIpeltedafterhim,andasitwasprivatebusinesswewenttothebilliard—room。IdeclareIneverwassorelievedaswhenIhandedoverthatmoney,andmadehimsayitwasallright,andhewouldn'tgonearBob。He'soff,somymindiseasy,andBobwillbesogratefulIcankeephimsteady,perhaps。
　　Thatwillbeworthtwoseventy—five,Ithink,"saidJackheartily。
　　"Youshouldhavecometome,"beganFrank。
　　"Andgotlaughedat——no,thankyou,"interruptedJack,recollectingseveralphilanthropiclittleenterpriseswhichwerenippedinthebudforwantofco—operation。
　　"Tome,then,"saidhismother。"Itwouldhavesavedsomuchtrouble。"
　　"Ithoughtofit,butBobdidn'twantthebigfellowstoknowforfearthey'dbedownonhim,soIthoughthemightnotlikemetotellgrownpeople。Idon'tmindthefussnow,andBobisaskindashecanbe。Wantedtogivemehisbigknife,butIwouldn'ttakeit。
　　I'dratherhavethis,"andJackputtheletterinhispocketwithaslapoutside,asifitwarmedthecocklesofhishearttohaveitthere。
　　"Well,itseemsratherlikeatempestinateapot,nowitisallover,butIdoadmireyourpluck,littleboy,inholdingoutsowellwheneveryonewasscoldingatyou,andyouintherightallthetime,"
　　saidFrank,gladtopraise,nowthathehonestlycould,afterhiswholesalecondemnation。
　　"Thatiswhatpulledmethrough,Isuppose。IusedtothinkifIhaddoneanythingwrong,thatIcouldn'tstandthesnubbingaday。I
　　shouldhavetoldrightoff,andhaditover。Now,IguessI'llhaveagoodreportifyoudotellMr。Acton,"saidJack,lookingathismothersowistfully,thatsheresolvedtoslipawaythatveryevening,andmakesurethatthethingwasdone。
　　"Thatwillmakeyouhappierthananythingelse,won'tit？"askedJill,eagertohavehimrewardedafterhistrials。
　　"There'sonethingIlikebetter,thoughI'dbeverysorrytolosemyreport。It'sthefunoftellingEdItriedtodoashewantedusto,andseeinghowpleasedhe'llbe,"addedJack,ratherbashfully,fortheboyslaughedathimsometimesforhisloveofthisfriend。
　　"Iknowhewon'tbeanyhappieraboutitthansomeoneelse,whostoodbyyouallthrough,andsetherbrightwitstoworktillthetroublewasallclearedaway,"saidMrs。Minot,lookingatJill'scontentedface,asshelaysmilingonthemall。
　　Jackunderstood,and,hoppingacrosstheroom,gaveboththethinhandsaheartyshake;then,notfindinganywordsquitecordialenoughinwhichtothankthisfaithfullittlesister,hestoopeddownandkissedhergratefully。
　　Chapter15SaintLucySaturdaywasabusyandahappytimetoJack,forinthemorningMr。Actoncametoseehim,havingheardthestoryovernight,andpromisedtokeepBob'ssecretwhilegivingJackanacquittalaspublicasthereprimandhadbeen。ThenheaskedforthereportwhichJackhadbravelyreceivedthedaybeforeandputawaywithoutshowingtoanybody。
　　"Thereisonemistakeherewhichwemustrectify,"saidMr。
　　Acton,ashecrossedoutthelowfiguresundertheword"Behavior,"andputthemuch—desired100there。
　　"ButIdidbreaktherule,sir,"saidJack,thoughhisfaceglowedwithpleasure,forMammawaslookingon。
　　"IoverlookthatasIshouldyourbreakingintomyhouseifyousawitwasonfire。Yourantosaveafriend,andIwishIcouldtellthosefellowswhyyouwerethere。Itwoulddothemgood。Iamnotgoingtopraiseyou,John,butIdidbelieveyouinspiteofappearances,andIamgladtohaveforapupilaboywholoveshisneighborbetterthanhimself。"
　　Then,havingshakenhandsheartily,Mr。Actonwentaway,andJackflewofftohaverejoicingswithJill,whosatuponhersofa,withoutknowingit,soeagerwasshetohearallaboutthecall。
　　IntheafternoonJackdrovehismothertotheCaptain's,confidingtoheronthewaywhatahardtimehehadwhenhewentbefore,andhownothingbutthethoughtofcheeringBobkepthimupwhenheslippedandhurthisknee,andhisbootsprungaleak,andthewindcameupverycold,andthehillseemedanendlessmountainofmudandsnow。
　　Mrs。MinothadsuchagentlewayofputtingthingsthatshewouldhavewonoveramuchhardermanthanthestrictoldCaptain,whoheardthestorywithinterest,andwasmuchpleasedwiththeboys'
　　effortstokeepBobstraight。ThatyoungpersondodgedawayintothebarnwithJack,andonlyappearedatthelastminutetoshoveabagofchestnutsintothechaise。Buthegotafewkindwordsthatdidhimgood,fromMrs。MinotandtheCaptain,andfromthatdayfelthimselfunderbondstobehavewellifhewouldkeeptheirconfidence。
　　"IshallgiveJillthenuts;andIwishIhadsomethingshewantedvery,verymuch,forIdothinksheoughttoberewardedforgettingmeoutofthemess,"saidJack,asthey'drovehappilyhomeagain。
　　"Ihopetohavesomethinginadayortwothatwilldelightherverymuch。Iwillsaynomorenow,butkeepmylittlesecretandletitbeasurprisetoallbyandby,"answeredhismother,lookingasifshehadnotmuchdoubtaboutthematter。
　　"Thatwillbejolly。Youarewelcometoyoursecret,Mamma。I'vehadenoughofthemforonewhile";andJackshruggedhisbroadshouldersasifaburdenhadbeentakenoff。
　　IntheeveningEdcame,andJackwasquitesatisfiedwhenhesawhowpleasedhisfriendwasatwhathehaddone。
　　"Inevermeantyoushouldtakesomuchtrouble,onlybekindtoBob,"saidEd,whodidnotknowhowstronghisinfluencewas,norwhatasweetexampleofquietwell—doinghisownlifewastoallhismates。
　　"Iwishedtobereallyuseful;notjusttotalkaboutitanddonothing。Thatisn'tyourway,andIwanttobelikeyou,"answeredJack,withsuchaffectionatesinceritythatEdcouldnothelpbelievinghim,thoughhemodestlydeclinedthecomplimentbysaying,ashebegantoplaysoftly,"BetterthanIam,Ihope。Idon'tamounttomuch。"
　　"Yes,youdo！andifanyonesaysyoudon'tI'llshakehim。Ican'ttellwhatitis,onlyyoualwayslooksohappyandcontented——sortofsweetandshiny,"saidJack,ashestrokedthesmoothbrownhead,ratheratalosstodescribetheunusuallyfreshandsunnyexpressionofEd'sface,whichwasalwayscheerful,yethadacertainthoughtfulnessthatmadeitveryattractivetobothyoungandold。
　　"Soapmakeshimshiny;Ineversawsuchafellowtowashandbrush,"putinFrank,ashecameupwithoneofthepiecesofmusicheandEdwerefondofpractisingtogether。
　　"Idon'tmeanthat！"saidJackindignantly。"Iwashandbrushtillyoucallmeadandy,butIdon'thavethesamelook——itseemstocomefromtheinside,somehow,asifhewasalwaysjollyandcleanandgoodinhismind,youknow。"
　　"Bornso,"saidFrank,rumblingawayinthebasswithapairofhandsthatwouldhavebeenthebetterforsomeoftheabove—
　　mentionedsoap,forhedidnotlovetodomuchinthewashingandbrushingline。
　　"Isupposethat'sit。Well,Ilikeit,andIshallkeepontrying,forbeinglovedbyeveryoneisaboutthenicestthingintheworld。Isn'tit,Ed？"askedJack,withagentletweakoftheearasheputaquestionwhichheknewwouldgetnoanswer,forEdwassomodesthecouldnotseewhereinhedifferedfromotherboys,norbelievethatthesunshinehesawinotherfaceswasonlythereflectionfromhisown。
　　SundayeveningMrs。Minotsatbythefire,planninghowsheshouldtellsomegoodnewsshehadbeensavingupallday。Mrs。
　　Pecqknewit,andseemedsodelightedthatshewentaboutsmilingasifshedidnotknowwhattroublemeant,andcouldnotdoenoughforthefamily。Shewasdownstairsnow,seeingthattheclotheswereproperlypreparedforthewash,sotherewasnooneintheBirdRoombutMammaandthechildren。FrankwasreadingupallhecouldfindaboutsomeBiblicalheromentionedintheday'ssermon;Jilllaywhereshehadlainfornearlyfourlongmonths,andthoughherfacewaspaleandthinwiththeconfinement,therewasanexpressiononitnowsweetereventhanhealth。Jacksatontherugbesideher,lookingatawhitecarnationthroughthemagnifyingglass,whileshewasenjoyingtheperfumeofaredoneasshetalkedtohim。
　　"Ifyoulookatthewhitepetalsyou'llseethattheysparklelikemarble,andgowindingalongwaydowntothemiddleoftheflowerwhereitgrowssortofrosy;andinamongthesmall,curlyleaves,likefringedcurtains,youcanseethelittlegreenfairysittingallalone。Yourmothershowedmethat,andIthinkitisverypretty。Icallita'fairy,'butitisreallywheretheseedsarehiddenandthesweetsmellcomesfrom。"
　　Jillspokesoftlylestsheshoulddisturbtheothers,and,assheturnedtopushupherpillow,shesawMrs。Minotlookingatherwithasmileshedidnotunderstand。
　　"Didyouspeak,'m？"sheasked,smilingbackagain,withoutintheleastknowingwhy。
　　"No,dear。Iwaslisteningandthinkingwhataprettylittlestoryonecouldmakeoutofyourfairylivingalonedownthere,andonlyknownbyherperfume。"
　　"Tellit,Mamma。Itistimeforourstory,andthatwouldbeaniceone,Iguess,"saidJack,whowasasfondofstoriesaswhenhesatinhismother'slapandchuckledovertheheroofthebeanstalk。
　　'Wedon'thavefairytalesonSunday,youknow,"beganJillregretfully。
　　"Callitaparable,andhaveamoraltoit,thenitwillbeallright,"
　　putinFrank,asheshuthisbigbook,havingfoundwhathewanted。
　　"Ilikestoriesaboutsaints,andthegoodandwonderfulthingstheydid,"saidJill,whoenjoyedthewiseandinterestingbitsMrs。
　　Minotoftenfoundforheringrown—upbooks,forJillhadthoughtfultimes,andaskedquestionswhichshowedthatshewasgrowingfastinmindifnotinbody。
　　"Thisisatruestory;butIwilldisguiseitalittle,andcallit'TheMiracleofSaintLucy,"beganMrs。Minot,seeingawaytotellhergoodnewsandamusethechildrenlikewise。
　　Frankretiredtotheeasy—chair,thathemightsleepifthetaleshouldprovetoochildishforhim。Jillsettledherselfamonghercushions,andJacklayflatupontherug,withhisfeetup,sothathecouldadmirehisredslippersandresthisknee,whichached。
　　"Onceuponatimetherewasaqueenwhohadtwoprinces。"
　　"Wasn'tthereaprincess？"askedJack,interestedatonce。
　　"No;anditwasagreatsorrowtothequeenthatshehadnolittledaughter,forthesonsweregrowingup,andshewasoftenverylonely。
　　"LikeSnowdrop'smother,"whisperedJill。
　　"Now,don'tkeepinterrupting,children,orwenevershallgeton,"
　　saidFrank,moreanxioustohearabouttheboysthatwerethanthegirlthatwasnot。
　　"Oneday,whentheprinceswereout——ahem！we'llsayhunting——theyfoundalittledamsellyingonthesnow,halfdeadwithcold,theythought。Shewasthechildofapoorwomanwholivedintheforest——awildlittlething,alwaysdancingandsingingabout;ashardtocatchasasquirrel,andsofearlessshewouldclimbthehighesttrees,leapbroadbrooks,orjumpoffthesteeprockstoshowhercourage。Theboyscarriedherhometothepalace,andthequeenwasgladtohaveher。Shehadfallenandhurtherself,soshelayinbedweekafterweek,withhermothertotakecareofher——"