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the pillows； thinking over the pleasures of the day； too wide…awake
for sleep。 There was no lamp in the chamber； but she could look
into the pretty Bird Room； where the fire…light still shone on
flowery walls； deserted tree； and Christ…child floating above the
green。 Jill's eyes wandered there and lingered till they were full of
regretful tears； because the sight of the little angel recalled the
words spoken when it was hung up； the good resolution she had
taken then； and how soon it was broken。
〃I said I couldn't be bad in that lovely place； and I was a cross；
ungrateful girl after all they ve done for Mammy and me。 Poor
Jack was hurt the worst； and he was brave； though he did scream。
I wish I could go and tell him so； and hear him say； 'All right。 Oh；
me； I've spoiled the day！〃
A great sob choked more words； and Jill was about to have a
comfortable cry； when someone entered the other room； and she
saw Frank doing something with a long cord and a thing that
looked like a tiny drum。 Quiet as a bright…eyed mouse； Jill peeped
out wondering what it was； and suspecting mischief； for the boy
was laughing to himself as he stretched the cord； and now and then
bent over the little object in his hand； touching it with great care。
〃Maybe it's a torpedo to blow up and scare me； Jack likes to play
tricks。 Well； I'll scream loud when it goes off； so he will be
satisfied that I'm dreadfully frightened；〃 thought Jill； little
dreaming what the last surprise of the day was to be。
Presently a voice whispered；
Are you awake？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Anyone there but you？〃
〃Catch this； then。 Hold it to your ear and see what you'll get。〃
The little drum came flying in； and； catching it； Jill； with some
hesitation； obeyed Frank's order。 Judge of her amazement when
she caught in broken whispers these touching words：
〃Sorry I was cross。 Forgive and forget。 Start fair to…morrow。 All
right。 Jack。〃
Jill was so delighted with this handsome apology； that she could
not reply for a moment； then steadied her voice； and answered
back in her sweetest tone；
〃I'm sorry； too。 Never； never； will again。 Feel much better now。
Good…night； you dear old thing。〃
Satisfied with the success of his telephone； Frank twitched back
the drum and vanished； leaving Jill to lay her cheek upon the hand
that wore the little ring and fall asleep； saying to herself； with a
farewell glance at the children's saint； dimly seen in the soft
gloom； 〃I will not forget。 I will be good！〃
Chapter 7 Jill's Mission
The good times began immediately； and very little studying was
done that week in spite of the virtuous resolutions made by certain
young persons on Christmas Day。 But； dear me； how was it
possible to settle down to lessons in the delightful Bird Room；
with not only its own charms to distract one； but all the new gifts
to enjoy； and a dozen calls a day to occupy one's time？
〃I guess we'd better wait till the others are at school； and just go in
for fun this week；〃 said Jack； who was in great spirits at the
prospect of getting up； for the splints were off； and he hoped to be
promoted to crutches very soon。
〃I shall keep my Speller by me and take a look at it every day； for
that is what I'm most backward in。 But I intend to devote myself to
you； Jack； and be real kind and useful。 I've made a plan to do it；
and I mean to carry it out； anyway；〃 answered Jill； who had begun
to be a missionary； and felt that this was a field of labor where she
could distinguish herself。
〃Here's a home mission all ready for you； and you can be paying
your debts beside doing yourself good；〃 Mrs。 Pecq said to her in
private； having found plenty to do herself。
Now Jill made one great mistake at the outsetshe forgot that she
was the one to be converted to good manners and gentleness； and
devoted her efforts to looking after Jack； finding it much easier to
cure other people's faults than her own。 Jack was a most engaging
heathen； and needed very little instruction； therefore Jill thought
her task would be an easy one。 But three or four weeks of petting
and play had rather demoralized both children； so Jill's Speller；
though tucked under the sofa pillow every day； was seldom looked
at； and Jack shirked his Latin shamefully。 Both read all the
story…books they could get； held daily levees in the Bird Room； and
all their spare minutes were spent in teaching Snowdrop； the great
Angora cat； to bring the ball when they dropped it in their game。
So Saturday came； and both were rather the worse for so much
idleness； since daily duties and studies are the wholesome bread
which feeds the mind better than the dyspeptic plum…cake of
sensational reading； or the unsubstantial bon…bons of frivolous
amusement。
It was a stormy day； so they had few callers； and devoted
themselves to arranging the album； for these books were all the
rage just then； and boys met to compare； discuss； buy； sell； and
〃swap〃 stamps with as much interest as men on 'Change gamble in
stocks。 Jack had a nice little collection； and had been saving up
pocket…money to buy a book in which to preserve his treasures。
Now； thanks to Jill's timely suggestion； Frank had given him a fine
one； and several friends had contributed a number of rare stamps
to grace the large； inviting pages。 Jill wielded the gum…brush and
fitted on the little flaps； as her fingers were skilful at this nice
work； and Jack put each stamp in its proper place with great
rustling of leaves and comparing of marks。 Returning； after a brief
absence； Mrs。 Minot beheld the countenances of the workers
adorned with gay stamps； giving them a very curious appearance。
〃My dears！ what new play have you got now？ Are you wild
Indians？ or letters that have gone round the world before finding
the right address？〃 she asked； laughing at the ridiculous sight； for
both were as sober as judges and deeply absorbed in some doubtful
specimen。
〃Oh； we just stuck them there to keep them safe； they get lost if we
leave them lying round。 It's very handy； for I can see in a minute
what I want on Jill's face and she on mine； and put our fingers on
the right chap at once；〃 answered Jack； adding； with an anxious
gaze at his friend's variegated countenance； 〃Where the dickens is
my New Granada？ It's rare； and I wouldn't lose it for a dollar。〃
'Why； there it is on your own nose。 Don't you remember you put it
there because you said mine was not big enough to hold it？〃
laughed Jill； tweaking a large orange square off the round nose of
her neighbor； causing it to wrinkle up in a droll way； as the gum
made the operation slightly painful。
〃So I'd id； and gave you Little Bolivar on yours。 Now I'll have
Alsace and Lorraine； 1870。 There are seven of them； so hold still
and see how you like it；〃 returned Jack； picking the large； pale
stamps one by one from Jill's forehead； which they crossed like a
band。
She bor