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〃A fellow can be awfully hungry； I know that。 I didn't half eat
breakfast； I was in such a hurry to see you； and know all about the
secrets。 Frank kept saying I couldn't guess； that you had come；
Jack and Jill lay silently watching； with a sweet sort of soberness
in their young faces； and for a moment the room was very still as
all eyes looked up at the Blessed Child。 The sunshine seemed to
grow more golden as it flickered on the little head； the flames
glanced about the glittering tree as if trying to climb and kiss the
baby feet； and； without； a chime of bells rang sweetly； calling
people to hear again the lovely story of the life begun on Christmas
Day。
Only a minute； but it did them good； and presently； when the
pleasant work was over； and the workers gone； the boys to church；
and Mamma to see about lunch for the invalids； Jack said； gravely；
to Jill。
〃I think we ought to be extra good； everyone is so kind to us； and
we are getting well； and going to have such capital times。 Don't see
how we can do anything else to show we are grateful。〃
〃It isn't easy to be good when one is sick；〃 said Jill； thoughtfully。 〃I
fret dreadfully； I get so tired of being still。 I want to scream
sometimes； but I don't； because it would scare Mammy； so I cry。
Do you cry； Jack？〃
〃Men never do。 I want to tramp round when things bother me； but I
can t； so I kick and say； 'Hang it！ and when I get very bad I pitch
into Frank； and he lets me。 I tell you； Jill； he's a good brother！〃 and
Jack privately resolved then and there to invite Frank to take it out
of him in any form he pleased as soon as health would permit。
〃I rather think we shall grow good in this pretty place； for I don't
see how we can be bad if we want to； it is all so nice and sort of
pious here；〃 said Jill； with her eyes on the angel over the tree。
〃A fellow can be awfully hungry； I know that。 I'd idn't half eat
breakfast； I was in such a hurry to see you； and know all about the
secrets。 Frank kept saying I couldn't guess； that you had come；
and I never would be ready； till finally I got mad and fired an egg
at him； and made no end of a mess。〃
Jack and Jill went off into a gale of laughter at the idea of
dignified Frank dodging the egg that smashed on the wall； leaving
an indelible mark of Jack's besetting sin； impatience。
Just then Mrs。 Minot came in； well pleased to hear such pleasant
sounds； and to see two merry faces； where usually one listless one
met her anxious eyes。
〃The new medicine works well； neighbor；〃 she said to Mrs。 Pecq；
who followed with the lunch tray。
〃Indeed it does； mem。 I feel as if I'd taken a sup myself； I'm that
easy in my mind。〃
And she looked so； too； for she seemed to have left all her cares in
the little house when she locked the door behind her； and now
stood smiling with a clean apron on； so fresh and cheerful； that Jill
hardly knew her own mother。
〃Things taste better when you have someone to eat with you；〃
observed Jack； as they'd evoured sandwiches； and drank milk out
of little mugs with rosebuds on them。
〃Don't eat too much； or you won't be ready for the next surprise；〃
said his mother； when the plates were empty； and the last drop
gone down throats dry with much chatter。
〃More surprises！ Oh； what fun！〃 cried Jill。 And all the rest of the
morning； in the intervals of talk and play； they tried to guess what
it could be。
At two o clock they found out； for dinner was served in the Bird
Room； and the children revelled in the simple feast prepared for
them。 The two mothers kept the little bed…tables well supplied； and
fed their nurslings like maternal birds； while Frank presided over
the feast with great dignity； and ate a dinner which would have
astonished Mamma； if she had not been too busy to observe how
fast the mince pie vanished。
〃The girls said Christmas was spoiled because of us； but I don't
think so； and they won't either； when they see this splendid place
and know all about our nice plans；〃 said Jill； luxuriously eating the
nut…meats Jack picked out f or her； as they lay in Eastern style at
the festive board。
〃I call this broken bones made easy。 I never had a better Christmas。
Have a raisin？ Here's a good fat one。〃 And Jack made a long arm
to Jill's mouth； which began to sing 〃Little Jack Homer〃 as an
appropriate return。
〃It would have been a lonesome one to all of us； I'm thinking； but
for your mother； boys。 My duty and hearty thanks to you； mem；〃
put in grateful Mrs。 Pecq； bowing over her coffee…cup as she had
seen ladies bow over their wine…glasses at dinner parties in Old
England。
〃I rise to propose a health； Our Mothers。〃 And Frank stood up with
a goblet of water； for not even at Christmas time was wine seen on
that table。
〃Hip； hip； hurrah！〃 called Jack； baptizing himself with a good
sprinkle； as he waved his glass and drank the toast with a look that
made his mother's eyes fill with happy tears。
Jill threw her mother a kiss； feeling very grown up and elegant to
be dining out in such style。 Then they'd rank everyone's health
with much merriment； till Frank declared that Jack would float off
on the deluge of water he splashed about in his enthusiasm； and
Mamma proposed a rest after the merry…making。
〃Now the best fun is coming； and we have not long to wait；〃 said
the boy； when naps and rides about the room had whiled away the
brief interval between dinner and dusk； for the evening
entertainment was to be an early one； to suit the invalids bedtime。
〃I hope the girls will like their things。 I helped to choose them； and
each has a nice present。 I don't know mine； though； and I'm in a
twitter to see it；〃 said Jill； as they lay waiting for the fun to begin。
〃I do； I chose it； so I know you will like one of them； anyway。〃
〃Have I got more than one？〃
〃I guess you'll think so when they are handed down。 The bell was
going all day yesterday； and the girls kept bringing in bundles for
you； I see seven now；〃 and Jack rolled his eyes from one
mysterious parcel to another hanging on the laden boughs。
〃I know something； too。 That square bundle is what you want ever
so much。 I told Frank； and he got it for his present。 It is all red and
gold outside； and every sort of color inside； you'll hurrah when
you see it。 That roundish one is yours too； I made them；〃 cried Jill；
pointing to a flat package tied to the stem of the tree； and a neat
little roll in which were the blue mittens that she had knit for him。
〃I can wait〃； but the boy's eyes shone with eagerness； and he could
not resist firing two or three pop…corns at it to see whether it was
hard or soft。
〃That barking dog is for Boo； and the little yellow sled； so Molly
can drag him to school； he always tumbles down so when it is
slippery；〃 continued Jill； proud of her superior knowledge； as she
showed a small spotted animal hanging by its tail；