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trouble。〃
〃I thought of it； but Bob didn't want the big fellows to know for
fear they'd be down on him； so I thought he might not like me to
tell grown people。 I don't mind the fuss now； and Bob is as kind as
he can be。 Wanted to give me his big knife； but I wouldn't take it。
I'd rather have this；〃 and Jack put the letter in his pocket with a
slap outside； as if it warmed the cockles of his heart to have it
there。
〃Well； it seems rather like a tempest in a teapot； now it is all over；
but I do admire your pluck； little boy； in holding out so well when
everyone was scolding at you； and you in the right all the time；〃
said Frank； glad to praise； now that he honestly could； after his
wholesale condemnation。
〃That is what pulled me through； I suppose。 I used to think if I had
done anything wrong； that I couldn't stand the snubbing a day。 I
should have told right off； and had it over。 Now； I guess I'll have a
good report if you do tell Mr。 Acton；〃 said Jack； looking at his
mother so wistfully； that she resolved to slip away that very
evening； and make sure that the thing was done。
〃That will make you happier than anything else； won't it？〃 asked
Jill； eager to have him rewarded after his trials。
〃There's one thing I like better； though I'd be very sorry to lose my
report。 It's the fun of telling Ed I tried to do as he wanted us to； and
seeing how pleased he'll be；〃 added Jack； rather bashfully； for the
boys laughed at him sometimes for his love of this friend。
〃I know he won't be any happier about it than someone else； who
stood by you all through； and set her bright wits to work till the
trouble was all cleared away；〃 said Mrs。 Minot； looking at Jill's
contented face； as she lay smiling on them all。
Jack understood； and； hopping across the room； gave both the thin
hands a hearty shake； then； not finding any words quite cordial
enough in which to thank this faithful little sister； he stooped down
and kissed her gratefully。
Chapter 15 Saint Lucy
Saturday was a busy and a happy time to Jack； for in the morning
Mr。 Acton came to see him； having heard the story overnight； and
promised to keep Bob's secret while giving Jack an acquittal as
public as the reprimand had been。 Then he asked for the report
which Jack had bravely received the day before and put away
without showing to anybody。
〃There is one mistake here which we must rectify；〃 said Mr。
Acton； as he crossed out the low figures under the word
〃Behavior；〃 and put the much…desired 100 there。
〃But I did break the rule； sir；〃 said Jack； though his face glowed
with pleasure； for Mamma was looking on。
〃I overlook that as I should your breaking into my house if you saw
it was on fire。 You ran to save a friend； and I wish I could tell
those fellows why you were there。 It would do them good。 I am not
going to praise you； John； but I did believe you in spite of
appearances； and I am glad to have for a pupil a boy who loves his
neighbor better than himself。〃
Then； having shaken hands heartily； Mr。 Acton went away； and
Jack flew off to have rejoicings with Jill； who sat up on her sofa；
without knowing it； so eager was she to hear all about the call。
In the afternoon Jack drove his mother to the Captain's； confiding
to her on the way what a hard time he had when he went before；
and how nothing but the thought of cheering Bob kept him up
when he slipped and hurt his knee； and his boot sprung a leak； and
the wind came up very cold； and the hill seemed an endless
mountain of mud and snow。
Mrs。 Minot had such a gentle way of putting things that she would
have won over a much harder man than the strict old Captain； who
heard the story with interest； and was much pleased with the boys'
efforts to keep Bob straight。 That young person dodged away into
the barn with Jack； and only appeared at the last minute to shove a
bag of chestnuts into the chaise。 But he got a few kind words that
did him good； from Mrs。 Minot and the Captain； and from that day
felt himself under bonds to behave well if he would keep their
confidence。
〃I shall give Jill the nuts； and I wish I had something she wanted
very； very much； for I do think she ought to be rewarded for
getting me out of the mess；〃 said Jack； as they'd rove happily
home again。
〃I hope to have something in a day or two that will delight her very
much。 I will say no more now； but keep my little secret and let it
be a surprise to all by and by；〃 answered his mother； looking as if
she had not much doubt about the matter。
〃That will be jolly。 You are welcome to your secret； Mamma。 I've
had enough of them for one while〃； and Jack shrugged his broad
shoulders as if a burden had been taken off。
In the evening Ed came； and Jack was quite satisfied when he saw
how pleased his friend was at what he had done。
〃I never meant you should take so much trouble； only be kind to
Bob；〃 said Ed； who did not know how strong his influence was；
nor what a sweet example of quiet well…doing his own life was to
all his mates。
〃I wished to be really useful； not just to talk about it and do
nothing。 That isn't your way； and I want to be like you；〃 answered
Jack； with such affectionate sincerity that Ed could not help
believing him； though he modestly declined the compliment by
saying； as he began to play softly； 〃Better than I am； I hope。 I don't
amount to much。〃
〃Yes； you do！ and if anyone says you don't I'll shake him。 I can't
tell what it is； only you always look so happy and contentedsort
of sweet and shiny；〃 said Jack； as he stroked the smooth brown
head； rather at a loss to describe the unusually fresh and sunny
expression of Ed's face； which was always cheerful； yet had a
certain thoughtfulness that made it very attractive to both young
and old。
〃Soap makes him shiny； I never saw such a fellow to wash and
brush；〃 put in Frank； as he came up with one of the pieces of music
he and Ed were fond of practising together。
〃I don't mean that！〃 said Jack indignantly。 〃I wash and brush till
you call me a dandy； but I don't have the same lookit seems to
come from the inside； somehow； as if he was always jolly and
clean and good in his mind； you know。〃
〃Born so；〃 said Frank； rumbling away in the bass with a pair of
hands that would have been the better for some of the above…
mentioned soap； for he did not love to do much in the washing and
brushing line。
〃I suppose that's it。 Well； I like it； and I shall keep on trying； for
being loved by everyone is about the nicest thing in the world。 Isn't
it； Ed？〃 asked Jack； with a gentle tweak of the ear as he put a
question which he knew would get no answer； for Ed was so
modest he could not see wherein he differed from other boys； nor
believe that the sunshine he saw in other faces was only the
reflection from his own。
Sunday evening Mrs。 Minot sat by the fire； planning how she
should tell so