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her papers about； thought a little； and finally got up； saying； as if
she found it impossible to resist the yearning of her heart for the
naughty boy；
〃I am going to see if Jack is covered up； he is so helpless； and
liable to take cold。 Don't stir till I come back。〃
〃No； 'm； I won't。〃
Away went the tender parent to find her son studying Caesar for
dear life； and all the more amiable for the little gust which had
blown away the temporary irritability。 The brothers were often
called 〃Thunder and Lightning；〃 because Frank lowered and
growled and was a good while clearing up； while Jack's temper
came and went like a flash； and the air was all the clearer for the
escape of dangerous electricity。 Of course Mamma had to stop and
deliver a little lecture； illustrated by sad tales of petulant boys； and
punctuated with kisses which took off the edge of these afflicting
narratives。
Jill meantime meditated morally on the superiority of her own
good temper over the hasty one of her dear playmate； and just
when she was feeling unusually uplifted and secure； alas！ like so
many of us； she fell； in the most deplorable manner。
Glancing about the room for something to do； she saw a sheet of
paper lying exactly out of reach； where it had fluttered from the
table unperceived。 At first her eye rested on it as carelessly as it
did on the stray stamp Frank had dropped； then； as if one thing
suggested the other； she took it into her head that the paper was
Frank's composition； or； better still； a note to Annette； for the two
corresponded when absence or weather prevented the daily
meeting at school。
〃Wouldn't it be fun to keep it till he gives back Jack's stamps？ It
would plague him so if it was a note； and I do believe it is； for
compo's don't begin with two words on one side。 I'll get it； and
Jack and I will plan some way to pay him off； cross thing！〃
Forgetting her promise not to stir； also how dishonorable it was to
read other people's letters； Jill caught up the long…handled hook；
often in use now； and tried to pull the paper nearer。 It would not
come at once； for a seam in the carpet held it； and Jill feared to
tear or crumple it if she was not very careful。 The hook was rather
heavy and long for her to manage； and Jack usually did the fishing；
so she was not very skilful； and just as she was giving a
particularly quick jerk； she lost her balance； fell off the sofa； and
dropped the pole with a bang。
〃Oh； my back！〃 was all she could think or say as she felt the jar all
through her little body； and a corresponding fear in her guilty little
mind that someone would come and find out the double mischief
she had been at。 For a moment she lay quite still to recover from
the shock； then as the pain passed she began to wonder how she
should get back； and looked about her to see if she could do it
alone。 She thought she could； as the sofa was near and she had
improved so much that she could sit up a little if the doctor would
have let her。 She was gathering herself together for the effort；
when； within arm's reach now； she saw the tempting paper； and
seized it with glee； for in spite of her predicament she did want to
tease Frank。 A glance showed that it was not the composition nor a
note； but the beginning of a letter from Mrs。 Minot to her sister；
and Jill was about to lay it down when her own name caught her
eye； and she could not resist reading it。 Hard words to write of one
so young； doubly hard to read； and impossible to forget。
〃Dear Lizzie； Jack continues to do very well； and will soon be up
again。 But we begin to fear that the little girl is permanently
injured in the back。 She is here； and we do our best for her； but I
never look at her without thinking of Lucinda Snow； who； you
remember； was bedridden for twenty years； owing to a fall at
fifteen。 Poor little Janey does not know yet； and I hope〃 There it
ended； and 〃poor little Janey's〃 punishment for disobedience began
that instant。 She thought she was getting well because she did not
suffer all the time； and everyone spoke cheerfully about 〃by and
by。〃 Now she knew the truth； and shut her eyes with a shiver as she
said； low； to herself；
〃Twenty years！ I couldn't bear it； oh； I couldn't bear it！〃
A very miserable Jill lay on the floor； and for a while did not care
who came and found her； then the last words of the letter 〃I
hope〃seemed to shine across the blackness of the dreadful
〃twenty years〃 and cheer her up a bit； for despair never lives long
in young hearts； and Jill was a brave child。
〃That is why Mammy sighs so when she dresses me； and everyone
is so good to me。 Perhaps Mrs。 Minot doesn't really know； after all。
She was dreadfully scared about Jack； and he is getting well。 I'd
like to ask Doctor； but he might find Out about the letter。 Oh； dear；
why didn't I keep still and let the horrid thing alone！〃
As she thought that； Jill pushed the paper away； pulled herself up；
and with much painful effort managed to get back to her sofa；
where she laid herself down with a groan； feeling as if the twenty
years had already passed over her since she tumbled off。
〃I've told a lie； for I said I wouldn't stir。 I've hurt my back； I've done
a mean thing； and I've got paid for it。 A nice missionary I am； I'd
better begin at home； as Mammy told me to〃； and Jill groaned
again； remembering her mother's words。 〃Now I've got another
secret to keep all alone； for I'd be ashamed to tell the girls。 I guess
I'll turn round and study my spelling； then no one will see my
face。〃
Jill looked the picture of a good； industrious child as she lay with
her back to the large table； her book held so that nothing was to be
seen but one cheek and a pair of lips moving busily。 Fortunately； it
is difficult for little sinners to act a part； and； even if the face is
hidden； something in the body seems to betray the internal remorse
and shame。 Usually； Jill lay flat and still； now her back was bent in
a peculiar way as she leaned over her book； and one foot wagged
nervously； while on the visible cheek was a Spanish stamp with a
woman's face looking through the black bars； very suggestively； if
she had known it。 How long the minutes seemed till someone
came； and what a queer little jump her heart gave when Mrs。
Minot's voice said； cheerfully； 〃Jack is all right； and； I declare； so
is Jill。 I really believe there is a telegraph still working somewhere
between you two； and each knows what the other is about without
words。〃
〃I didn't have any other book handy； so I thought I'd study awhile；〃
answered Jill； feeling that she deserved no praise for her seeming
industry。
She cast a sidelong glance as she spoke； and seeing that Mrs。
Minot was looking for the letter； hid her face and lay so still she
could hear the rustle of the paper as it was taken from the floor。 It
was well she did not also see the quick look the lady gave her as
she turned th