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paper he had been pretending to read； burst out with the whole
story。 Mrs。 Minot was as much surprised as he； but not angry；
because； like most mothers； she was sure that her sons could not
do anything very bad。
〃I will speak to him； my boy won't refuse to give me some
explanation；〃 she said； when Frank had freed his mind with as
much warmth as if Jack had broken all the ten commandments。
〃He will。 You often call me obstinate； but he is as pig…headed as a
mule； Joe only knows what he saw； old tell…tale！ and Jerry has left
town； or I'd have it out of him。 Make Jack own up； whether he can
or not。 Little donkey！〃 stormed Frank； who hated rowdies and
could not forgive his brother for being seen with one。
〃My dear； all boys do foolish things sometimes； even the Wisest
and best behaved； so don't be hard on the poor child。 He has got
into trouble； I've no doubt； but it cannot be very bad； and he earned
the money to pay for his prank； whatever it was。〃
Mrs。 Minot left the room as she spoke； and Frank cooled down as
if her words had been a shower…bath； for he remembered his own
costly escapade； and how kindly both his mother and Jack had
stood by him on that trying occasion。 So； feeling rather remorseful；
he went off to talk it over with Gus； leaving Jill in a fever of
curiosity； for Merry and Molly had dropped in on their way home
to break the blow to her； and Frank declined to discuss it with her；
after mildly stating that Jack was 〃a ninny；〃 in his opinion。
〃Well； I know one thing；〃 said Jill confidentially to Snow…ball；
when they were left alone together； 〃if everyone else is scolding
him I won't say a word。 It's so mean to crow over people when they
are down； and I'm sure he hasn't done anything to be ashamed of；
though he won't tell。〃
Snow…ball seemed to agree to this； for he went and sat down by
Jack's slippers waiting for him on the hearth； and Jill thought that a
very touching proof of affectionate fidelity to the little master who
ruled them both。
When he came； it was evident that he had found it harder to refuse
his mother than all the rest。 But she trusted him in spite of
appearances； and that was such a comfort！ For poor Jack's heart
was very full； and he longed to tell the whole story； but he would
not break his promise； and so kept silence bravely。 Jill asked no
questions； affecting to be anxious for the games they always
played together in the evening； but while they played； though the
lips were sealed； the bright eyes said as plainly as words； 〃I trust
you；〃 and Jack was very grateful。
It was well he had something to cheer him up at home； for he got
little peace at school。 He bore the grave looks of Mr。 Acton
meekly； took the boys' jokes good…naturedly； and withstood the
artful teasing of the girls with patient silence。 But it was very hard
for the social； affectionate fellow to bear the general distrust； for
he had been such a favorite he felt the change keenly。
But the thing that tried him most was the knowledge that his report
would not be what it usually was。 It was always a happy moment
when he showed it to his mother； and saw her eye brighten as it
fell on the 99 or moo； for she cared more for good behavior than
for perfect lessons。 Mr。 Acton once said that Frank Minot's moral
influence in the school was unusual； and Jack never forgot her
pride and delight as she told them what Frank himself had not
known till then。 It was Jack's ambition to have the same said of
him； for he was not much of a scholar； and he had tried hard since
he went back to school to get good records in that respect at least。
Now here was a dreadful downfall； tardy marks； bad company；
broken rules； and something too wrong to tell； apparently。
'Well； I deserve a good report； and that's a comfort； though nobody
believes it；〃 he said to himself； trying to keep up his spirits； as the
slow week went by； and no word from him had cleared up the
mystery。
Chapter 14 And Jill Finds It Out
Jill worried about it more than he did； for she was a faithful little
friend； and it was a great trial to have Jack even suspected of doing
anything wrong。 School is a child's world while he is there； and its
small affairs are very important to him； so Jill felt that the one
thing to be done was to clear away the cloud about her dear boy；
and restore him to public favor。
〃Ed will be here Saturday night and maybe he will find out； for
Jack tells him everything。 I do hate to have him hectored so； for I
know he is； though he's too proud to complain；〃 she said； on
Thursday evening； when Frank told her some joke played upon his
brother that day。
〃I let him alone； but I see that he isn't badgered too much。 That's
all I can do。 If Ed had only come home last Saturday it might have
done some good； but now it will be too late； for the reports are
given out to…morrow； you know；〃 answered Frank； feeling a little
jealous of Ed's influence over Jack； though his own would have
been as great if he had been as gentle。
〃Has Jerry come back？〃 asked Jill； who kept all her questions for
Frank； because she seldom alluded to the tender subject when with
Jack。
〃No； he's off for the summer。 Got a place somewhere。 Hope he'll
stay there and let Bob alone。〃
〃Where is Bob now？ I don't hear much about him lately；〃 said Jill；
who was constantly on the lookout for 〃the other fellow；〃 since it
was not Joe。
〃Oh； he went to Captain Skinner's the first of March； chores round；
and goes to school up there。 Captain is strict； and won't let Bob
come to town； except Sundays； but he don't mind it much； for he
likes horses； has nice grub； and the Hill fellows are good chaps for
him to be with。 So he's all right； if he only behaves。〃
〃How far is it to Captain Skinner's？〃 asked Jill suddenly； having
listened； with her sharp eyes on Frank； as he tinkered away at his
model； since he was forbidden all other indulgence in his beloved
pastime。
〃It's four miles to Hill District； but the Captain lives this side of the
school…house。 About three from here； I should say。〃
〃How long would it take a boy to walk up there？〃 went on the
questioner； with a new idea in her head。
〃Depends on how much of a walkist he is。〃
〃Suppose he was lame and it was sloshy； and he made a call and
came back。 How long would that take？〃 asked Jill impatiently。
〃Well； in that case； I should say two or three hours。 But it's
impossible to tell exactly； unless you know how lame the fellow
was； and how long a call he made；〃 said Frank； who liked to be
accurate。
〃Jack couldn't do it in less； could he？〃
〃He used to run up that hilly road for a breather； and think nothing
of it。 It would be a long job for him now； poor little chap； for his
leg often troubles him； though he hates to own it。〃
Jill lay back and laughed； a happy little laugh； as if she was
pleased about something； and Frank looked over his shoulde