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rewarded in this way。
There is more。
〃Then the story isn't done？〃 cried Jack。
〃Oh dear； no； the most interesting things are to come； if you can
wait for them。〃
〃Yes； I see； this is the moral part。 Now keep still； and let us have
the rest；〃 commanded Frank； while the others composed
themselves for the sequel； suspecting that it was rather nice；
because Mamma's sober face changed； and her eyes laughed as
they looked at the fire。
〃The elder prince was very fond of driving dragons； for the people
of that country used these fiery monsters as horses。〃
〃And got run away with； didn't he？〃 laughed Jack； adding； with
great interest； 〃What did the other fellow do？〃
〃He went about fighting other people's battles； helping the poor；
and trying to do good。 But he lacked judgment； so he often got into
trouble； and was in such a hurry that he did not always stop to find
out the wisest way。 As when he gave away his best coat to a beggar
boy； instead of the old one which he intended to give。
〃I say； that isn't fair； mother！ Neither of them was new； and the boy
needed the best more than I'd id； and I wore the old one all winter；
didn't I？〃 asked Jack； who had rather exulted over Frank； and was
now taken down himself。
〃Yes； you did； my dear； and it was not an easy thing for my
dandiprat to do。 Now listen； and I'll tell you how they both learned
to be wiser。 The elder prince soon found that the big dragons were
too much for him； and set about training his own
little one； who now and then ran away with him。 Its name was
Will； a good servant； but a bad master； so he learned to control it；
and in time this gave him great power over himself； and fitted him
to be a king over others。〃
〃Thank you； mother； I'll remember my part of the moral。 Now give
Jack his；〃 said Frank； who liked the dragon episode； as he had been
wrestling with his own of late； and found it hard to manage。
〃He had a fine example before him in a friend； and he followed it
more reasonably till he grew able to use wisely one of the best and
noblest gifts of Godbenevolence。〃
〃Now tell about the girl。 Was there more to that part of the story？〃
asked Jack； well pleased with his moral； as it took Ed in likewise。
〃That is the best of all； but it seems as if I never should get to it。
After Patience made Lucy sweet and cheerful； she began to have a
curious power over those about her； and to work little miracles
herself； though she did not know it。 The queen learned to love her
so dearly she could not let her go； she cheered up all her friends
when they came with their small troubles； the princes found bright
eyes； willing hands； and a kind heart always at their service； and
felt； without quite knowing why； that it was good for them to have
a gentle little creature to care for； so they softened their rough
manners； loud voices； and careless ways； for her sake； and when it
was proposed to take her away to her own home they could not
give her up； but said she must stay longer； didn't they？〃
〃I'd like to see them saying anything else；〃 said Frank； while Jack
sat up to demand fiercely；
〃Who talks about taking Jill away？〃
〃Lucy's mother thought she ought to go； and said so； but the queen
told her how much good it did them all to have her there； and
begged the dear woman to let her little cottage and come and be
housekeeper in the palace； for the queen was getting lazy； and
liked to sit and read； and talk and sew with Lucy； better than to
look after things。〃
〃And she said she would？〃 cried Jill； clasping her hands in her
anxiety； for she had learned to love her cage now。
〃Yes。〃 Mrs。 Minot had no time to say more； for one of the red
slippers flew up in the air； and Jack had to clap both hands over his
mouth to suppress the 〃hurrah！〃 that nearly escaped。 Frank said；
〃That's good！〃 and nodded with his most cordial smile at Jill who
pulled herself up with cheeks now as rosy as the red carnation； and
a little catch in her breath as she said to herself；
〃It's too lovely to be true。〃
〃That's a first…rate end to a very good story；〃 began Jack； with
grave decision； as he put on his slipper and sat up to pat Jill's hand；
wishing it was not quite so like a little claw。
〃That's not the end〃； and Mamma's eyes laughed more than ever as
three astonished faces turned to her； and three voices cried out；
〃Still more？〃
〃The very best of all。 You must know that； while Lucy was busy
for others； she was not forgotten； and when she was expecting to
lie on her bed through the summer； plans were being made for all
sorts of pleasant changes。 First of all； she was to have a nice little
brace to support the back which was growing better every day；
then； as the warm weather came on； she was to go out； or lie on the
piazza； and by and by； when school was done； she was to go with
the queen and the princes for a month or two down to the sea…side；
where fresh air and salt water were to build her up in the most
delightful way。 There； now！ isn't that the best ending of all？〃 and
Mamma paused to read her answer in the bright faces of two of the
listeners； for Jill hid hers in the pillow； and lay quite still； as if it
was too much for her。
〃That will be regularly splendid！ I'll row you all aboutboating is
so much easier than riding； and I like it on salt water；〃 said
Frank； going to sit on the arm of the sofa； quite excited by the
charms of the new plan。
〃And I'll teach you to swim； and roll you over the beach； and get
sea…weed and shells； and no end of nice things； and we'll all come
home as strong as lions；〃 added Jack； scrambling up as if about to
set off at once。
〃The doctor says you have been doing finely of late； and the brace
will come to…morrow； and the first really mild day you are to have
a breath of fresh air。 Won't that be good？〃 asked Mrs。 Minot；
hoping her story had not been too interesting。
〃Is she crying？〃 said Jack； much concerned as he patted the pillow
in his most soothing way； while Frank lifted one curl after another
to see what was hidden underneath。
Not tears； for two eyes sparkled behind the fingers； then the hands
came down like clouds from before the sun； and Jill's face shone
out so bright and happy it did one's heart good to see it。
〃I'm not crying；〃 she said with a laugh which was fuller of blithe
music than any song she sung。 〃But it was so splendid； it sort of
took my breath away for a minute。 I thought I wasn't any better；
and never should be； and I made up my mind I wouldn't ask； it
would be so hard for anyone to tell me so。 Now I see why the
doctor made me stand up； and told me to get my baskets ready to
go a…Maying。 I thought he was in fun； did he really mean I could
go？〃 asked Jill； expecting too much； for a word of encouragement
made her as hopeful as she had been despondent before。
〃No； dear； not so soon as that。 It will be months； proba