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stamps one by one from Jill's forehead； which they crossed like a
band。
She bore it without flinching； saying to herself with a secret smile；
as she glanced at the hot fire； which scorched her if she kept near
enough to Jack to help him； 〃This really is being like a missionary；
with a tattooed savage to look after。 I have to suffer a little； as the
good folks did who got speared and roasted sometimes； but I won't
complain a bit； though my forehead smarts； my arms are tired； and
one cheek is as red as fire。〃
〃The Roman States make a handsome page； don't they？〃 asked
Jack； little dreaming of the part he was playing in Jill's mind。 〃Oh；
I say； isn't Corea a beauty？ I'm ever so proud of that〃； and he gazed
fondly on a big blue stamp； the sole ornament of one page。
〃I don't see why the Cape of Good Hope has pyramids。 They ought
to go in Egypt。 The Sandwich Islands are all right； with
heads of the black kings and queens on them；〃 said Jill； feeling
that they were very appropriate to her private play。
〃Turkey has crescents； Australia swans； and Spain women's heads；
with black bars across them。 Frank says it is because they keep
women shut up so； but that was only his fun。 I'd rather have a
good； honest green United States； with Washington on it； or a blue
one…center with old Franklin； than all their eagles and lions and
kings and queens put together；〃 added the democratic boy； with a
disrespectful slap on a crowned head as he settled Heligoland in its
place。
〃Why does Austria have Mercury on the stamp； I wonder？ Do they
wear helmets like that？〃 asked Jill； with the brush…handle in her
mouth as she cut a fresh batch of flaps。
〃Maybe he was postman to the gods； so he is put on stamps now。
The Prussians wear helmets； but they have spikes like the old
Roman fellows。 I like Prussians ever so much； they fight
splendidly； and always beat。 Austrians have a handsome uniform；
though。〃
〃Talking of Romans reminds me that I have not heard your Latin
for two days。 Come； lazybones； brace up； and let us have it now。
I've done my compo； and shall have just time before I go out for a
tramp with Gus；〃 said Frank； putting by a neat page to dry； for he
studied every day like a conscientious lad as he was。
〃Don't know it。 Not going to try till next week。 Grind away over
your old Greek as much as you like； but don't bother me；〃
answered Jack； frowning at the mere thought of the detested
lesson。
But Frank adored his Xenophon； and would not see his old friend；
Caesar； neglected without an effort to defend him； so he
confiscated the gum…pot； and effectually stopped the stamp
business by whisking away at one fell swoop all that lay on Jill's
table。
〃Now then； young man； you will quit this sort of nonsense and do
your lesson； or you won't see these fellows again in a hurry。 You
asked me to hear you； and I'm going to do it； here's the book。〃
Frank's tone was the dictatorial one； which Jack hated and always
found hard to obey； especially when he knew he ought to do it。
Usually； when his patience was tried； he strode about the room； or
ran off for a race round the garden； coming back breathless； but
good…tempered。 Now both these vents for irritation were denied
him； and he had fallen into the way of throwing things about in a
pet。 He longed to send Caesar to perpetual banishment in the fire
blazing close by； but resisted the temptation； and answered
honestly； though gruffly： 〃I know I'd id； but I don't see any use in
pouncing on a fellow when he isn't ready。 I haven't got my lesson；
and don't mean to worry about it； so you may just give me back my
things and go about your business。〃
〃I'll give you back a stamp for every perfect lesson you get； and
you won't see them on any other terms〃； and； thrusting the
treasures into his pocket； Frank caught up his rubber boots； and
went off swinging them like a pair of clubs； feeling that he would
give a trifle to be able to use them on his lazy brother。
At this high…handed proceeding； and the threat which accompanied
it； Jack's patience gave out； and catching up Caesar； as he thought；
sent him flying after the retreating tyrant with the defiant
declaration；
〃Keep them； then； and your old book； too！ I won't look at it till you
give all my stamps back and say you are sorry。 So now！〃
It was all over before Mamma could interfere； or Jill do more than
clutch and cling to the gum…brush。 Frank vanished unharmed； but
the poor book dashed against the wall to fall half open on the
floor； its gay cover loosened； and its smooth leaves crushed by the
blow。
〃It's the album！ O Jack； how could you？〃 cried Jill； dismayed at
sight of the precious book so maltreated by the owner。
〃Thought it was the other。 Guess it isn't hurt much。 Didn't mean to
hit him； anyway。 He does provoke me so；〃 muttered Jack； very red
and shamefaced as his mother picked up the book and laid it
silently on the table before him。 He did not know what to do with
himself； and was thankful for the stamps still left him； finding
great relief in making faces as he plucked them one by one from
his mortified countenance。 Jill looked on； half glad； half sorry that
her savage showed such signs of unconverted ferocity； and Mrs。
Minot went on writing letters； wearing the grave look her sons
found harder to bear than another person's scolding。 No one spoke
for a moment； and the silence was becoming awkward when Gus
appeared in a rubber suit； bringing a book to Jack from Laura and
a note to Jill from Lotty。
〃Look here； you just trundle me into my den； please； I'm going to
have a nap； it's so dull to…day I don't feel like doing much；〃 said
Jack； when Gus had done his errands； trying to look as if he knew
nothing about the fracas。
Jack folded his arms and departed like a warrior borne from the
battle…field； to be chaffed unmercifully for a 〃pepper…pot；〃 while
Gus made him comfortable in his own room。
〃I heard once of a boy who threw a fork at his brother and put his
eye out。 But he didn't mean to； and the brother forgave him； and he
never did so any more；〃 observed Jill； in a pensive tone； wishing to
show that she felt all the dangers of impatience； but was sorry for
the culprit。
〃Did the boy ever forgive himself？〃 asked Mrs。 Minot。
〃No； 'm； I suppose not。 But Jack didn't hit Frank； and feels real
sorry； I know。〃
〃He might have； and hurt him very much。 Our actions are in our
own hands； but the consequences of them are not。 Remember that；
my dear； and think twice before you do anything。〃
〃Yes； 'm； I will〃； and Jill composed herself to consider what
missionaries usually did when the natives hurled tomahawks and
boomerangs at one another； and defied the rulers of the land。
Mrs。 Minot wrote one page of a new letter； then stopped； pushed
her papers about； thought a little； and finally got up； saying； as if
she found it impossible to resist the yearning o