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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 lively chatter； and the effort it cost her not to repine at
being shut out from the great delight of dressing up and acting。
Her eyes were closed； her net was off； and all the pretty black curls
lay about her shoulders as one hand idly pulled them out； while the
other rested on the red shawl； as if she loved its glowing color and
soft texture。 She was humming to herself the little song of the dove
and the donjon； and something in the plaintive voice； the solitary
figure； went straight to Merry's gentle heart。
〃Poor Jilly can't have any of the fun；〃 was the first thought； then
came a second； that made Merry start and smile； and in a minute
whisper so that all but Jill could hear her； 〃Girls； I'm not going to
be the Princess。 But I've thought of a splendid one！〃
'Who？〃 asked the rest； staring at one another； much surprised by
this sudden announcement。
〃Hush！ Speak low； or you will spoil it all。 Look in the Bird Room；
and tell me if that isn't a prettier Princess than I could make？〃
They all looked； but no one spoke； and Merry added； with sweet
eagerness； 〃It is the only thing poor Jill can be； and it would make
her so happy； Jack would like it； and it would please everyone； I
know。 Perhaps she will never walk again； so we ought to be very
good to her； poor dear。〃
The last words； whispered with a little quiver in the voice； settled
the matter better than hours of talking； for girls are tenderhearted
creatures； and not one of these but would have gladly given all the
pretty things she owned to see Jill dancing about well and strong
again。 Like a ray of sunshine the kind thought touched and
brightened every face； envy； impatience； vanity； and discontent
flew away like imps at the coming of the good fairy； and with one
accord they all cried；
〃It will be lovely； let us go and tell her！〃
Forgetting their own adornment； out they trooped after Merry； who
ran to the sofa； saying； with a smile which was reflected in all the
other faces； 〃Jill； dear； we have chosen another Princess； and I
know you'll like her。〃
〃Who is it？〃 asked Jill； languidly； opening her eyes without the
least suspicion of the truth。
〃I'll show you〃； and taking the cherished veil from her own head；
Merry dropped it like a soft cloud over Jill； Annette added the long
plume； Susy laid the white silk dress about her； while Juliet and
Mabel lifted the scarlet shawl to spread it over the foot of the sofa；
and Molly tore the last ornament from her turban； a silver star； to
shine on Jill's breast。 Then they all took hands and danced round
the couch； singing； as they laughed at her astonishment； 〃There she
is！ There she is！ Princess Jill as fine as you please！
〃Do you really mean it？ But can I？ Is it fair？ How sweet of you！
Come here and let me hug you all！〃 cried Jill； in a rapture at the
surprise； and the pretty way in which it was done。
The grand scene on the Twenty…second was very fine； indeed； but
the little tableau of that minute was infinitely better； though no one
saw it； as Jill tried to gather them all in her arms； for that nosegay
of girlish faces was the sweeter； because each one bad sacrificed
her own little vanity to please a friend； and her joy was reflected in
the eyes that sparkled round the happy Princess。
〃Oh； you dear； kind things； to think of me and give me all your
best clothes！ I never shall forget it； and I'll do anything for you。
Yes！ I'll write and ask Mrs。 Piper to lend us her ermine cloak for
the king。 See if I don't！〃
Shrieks of delight hailed this noble offer； for no one had dared to
borrow the much…coveted mantle； but all agreed that the old lady
would not refuse Jill。 It was astonishing how smoothly everything
went after this； for each was eager to help； admire； and suggest； in
the friendliest way； and when all were dressed； the boys found a
party of very gay ladies waiting for them round the couch； where
lay the brightest little Princess ever seen。
〃Oh； Jack； I'm to act！ Wasn't it dear of the girls to choose me？
Don't they look lovely？ Aren't you glad？〃 cried Jill； as the lads
stared and the lasses blushed and smiled； well pleased at the frank
admiration the boyish faces showed。
〃I guess I am！ You are a set of trumps； and we'll give you a
first…class spread after the play to pay for it。 Won't we； fellows？〃
answered Jack； much gratified； and feeling that now he could act
his own part capitally。
〃We will。 It was a handsome thing to do； and we think well of you
for it。 Hey； Gus？〃 and Frank nodded approvingly at all； though he
looked only at Annette。
〃As king of this crowd； I call it to order；〃 said Gus； retiring to the
throne； where Juliet sat laughing in her red table…cloth。
〃We'll have 'The Fair One with Golden Locks' next time； I promise
you that；〃 whispered Ed to Mabel； whose shining hair streamed
over her blue dress like a mantle of gold…colored silk。
〃Girls are pretty nice things； aren't they？ Kind of 'em to take Jill in。
Don't Molly look fine； though？〃 and Grif's black eyes twinkled as
he planned to pin her skirts to Merry's at the first opportunity。
〃Susy looks as gay as a feather…duster。 I like her。 She never snubs a
fellow；〃 said Joe； much impressed with the splendor of the court
ladies。
The boys' costumes were not yet ready； but they posed well； and all
had a merry time； ending with a game of blind…man's…buff； in
which everyone caught the right person in the most singular way；
and all agreed as they went home in the moonlight that it had been
an ususually jolly meeting。
So the fairy play woke the sleeping beauty that lies in all of us； and
makes us lovely when we rouse it with a kiss of unselfish
good…will； for； though the girls did not know it then； they had
adorned themselves with pearls more precious than the waxen
ones they'd ecked their Princess in。
Chapter 11 〃Down Brakes〃
The greatest people have their weak points； and the best…behaved
boys now and then yield to temptation and get into trouble； as
everybody knows。 Frank was considered a remarkably well…bred
and proper lad； and rather prided himself on his good reputation；
for he never got into scrapes like the other fellows。 Well； hardly
ever； for we must confess that at rare intervals his besetting sin
overcame his prudence； and he proved himself an erring； human
boy。 Steam…engines had been his idols for years； and they alone
could lure him from the path of virtue。 Once； in trying to
investigate the mechanism of a toy specimen； which had its little
boiler and ran about whistling and puffing in the most delightful
way； he nearly set the house afire by the sparks that dropped on the
straw carpet。 Another time； in trying experiments with the kitchen
tea…kettle； he blew himself up； and the scars of that explosion he
s