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morning concert。 She did not know then that he stayed for her
sake； but she found it out soon after； and when the time came did
as much for him； as we shall see。
It proved a wise decision； for the last part of January was so
stormy Jack could not have gone half the time。 So； while the snow
drifted； and bitter winds raged； he sat snugly at home amusing Jill；
and getting on bravely with his lessons； for Frank took great pains
with him to show his approbation of the little kindness； and；
somehow； the memory of it seemed to make even the detested
Latin easier。
With February fair weather set in； and Jack marched happily away
to school； with Jill's new mittens on his hands； Mamma nodding
from the door…step； and Frank ready to give him a lift on the new
sled； if the way proved too long or too rough。
〃I shall not have time to miss him now； for we are to be very busy
getting ready for the Twenty…second。 The Dramatic Club meets
to…night； and would like to come here； if they may； so 1 can help？〃
said Jill； as Mrs。 Minot came up； expecting to find her rather low
in her mind。
〃Certainly； and I have a basket of old finery I looked up for the
club when I was rummaging out bits of silk for your blue quilt；〃
answered the good lady； who had set up a new employment to
beguile the hours of Jack's absence。
When the girls arrived； that evening； they found Mrs。 Chairwoman
surrounded by a strew of theatrical properties； enjoying herself
very much。 All brought such contributions as they could muster；
and all were eager about a certain tableau which was to be the gem
of the whole； they thought。 Jill； of course； was not expected to take
any part； but her taste was good； so all consulted her as they
showed their old silks； laces； and flowers； asking who should be
this； and who that。 All wanted to be the 〃Sleeping Beauty；〃 for that
was the chosen scene； with the slumbering court about the
princess； and the prince in the act of awakening her。 Jack was to be
the hero； brave in his mother's velvet cape； red boots； and a real
sword； while the other boys were to have parts of more or less
splendor。
〃Mabel should be the Beauty； because her hair is so lovely；〃 said
Juliet； who was quite satisfied with her own part of the Queen。
〃No； Merry ought to have it； as she is the prettiest； and has that
splendid veil to wear；〃 answered Molly； who was to be the maid of
honor； cuffing the little page； Boo。
〃I don't care a bit； but my feather would be fine for the Princess；
and I don't know as Emma would like to have me lend it to anyone
else；〃 said Annette； waving a long white plume over her head； with
girlish delight in its grace。
〃I should think the white silk dress； the veil； and the feather ought
to go together； with the scarlet crape shawl and these pearls。 That
would be sweet； and just what princesses really wear；〃 advised Jill；
who was stringing a quantity of old Roman pearls。
〃We all want to wear the nice things； so let us draw lots。 Wouldn't
that be the fairest way？〃 asked Merry； looking like a rosy little
bride； under a great piece of illusion； which had done duty in many
plays。
〃The Prince is light； so the Princess must be darkish。 We ought to
choose the girl who will look best； as it is a picture。 I heard Miss
Delano say so； when the ladies got up the tableaux； last winter； and
everyone wanted to be Cleopatra；〃 said Jill decidedly。
〃You choose； and then if we can't agree we will draw lots；〃
proposed Susy； who； being plain； knew there was little hope of her
getting a chance in any other way。
So all stood in a row； and Jill； from her sofa； surveyed them
critically； feeling that the one Jack would really prefer was not
among the number。
〃I choose that one； for Juliet wants to be Queen； Molly would
make faces； and the others are too big or too light；〃 pronounced
Jill； pointing to Merry； who looked pleased； while Mabel's face
darkened； and Susy gave a disdainful sniff。
〃You'd better draw lots； and then there will be no fuss。 Ju and I are
out of the fight； but you three can try； and let this settle the
matter；〃 said Molly； handing Jill a long strip of paper。
All agreed to let it be so； and when the bits were ready drew in
turn。 This time fate was evidently on Merry's side； and no one
grumbled when she showed the longest paper。
〃Go and dress； then come back； and we'll plan how we are to be
placed before we call up the boys；〃 commanded Jill； who was
manager； since she could be nothing else。
The girls retired to the bedroom and began to 〃rig up；〃 as they
called it； but discontent still lurked among them； and showed itself
in sharp words； envious looks； and disobliging acts。
〃Am I to have the white silk and the feather？〃 asked Merry；
delighted with the silvery shimmer of the one and the graceful
droop of the other； though both were rather shabby。
〃You can use your own dress。 I don't see why you should have
everything；〃 answered Susy； who was at the mirror； putting a
wreath of scarlet flowers on her red head； bound to be gay since
she could not be pretty。
〃I think I'd better keep the plume； as I haven't anything else that is
nice； and I'm afraid Emma wouldn't like me to lend it；〃 added
Annette； who was disappointed that Mabel was not to be the
Beauty。
〃1 don't intend to act at all！〃 declared Mabel； beginning to braid up
her hair with a jerk； out of humor with the whole affair。
〃1 think you are a set of cross； selfish girls to back out and keep
your nice things just because you can't all have the best part。 I'm
ashamed of you！〃 scolded Molly； standing by Merry； who was
sadly surveying her mother's old purple silk； which looked like
brown in the evening。
〃I'm going to have Miss Delano's red brocade for the Queen； and I
shall ask her for the yellow…satin dress for Merry when I go to get
mine； and tell her how mean you are；〃 said Juliet； frowning under
her gilt…paper crown as she swept about in a red table…S cloth for
train till the brocade arrived。
〃Perhaps you'd like to have Mabel cut her hair off； so Merry can
have that； too？〃 cried Susy； with whom hair was a tender point。
〃Light hair isn't wanted； so Ju will have to give hers； or you'd better
borrow Miss Bat's frisette；〃 added Mabel； with a scornful laugh。
〃I just wish Miss Bat was here to give you girls a good shaking。 Do
let someone else have a chance at the glass； you peacock！〃
exclaimed Molly Loo； pushing Susy aside to arrange her own blue
turban； out of which she plucked the pink pompon to give Merry。
〃Don't quarrel about me。 I shall do well enough； and the scarlet
shawl will hide my ugly dress；〃 said Merry； from the corner； where
she sat waiting for her turn at the mirror。
As she spoke of the shawl her eye went in search of it； and
something that she saw in the other room put her own
disappointment out of her head。 Jill lay there all alone； rather tired
with the l