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turning and tending it ever so long； to make it bloom to…day。 Isn't it
a beauty？〃 and Jill held up her finest hyacinth； which seemed to
ring its pale pink bells as if glad to carry its sweet message from a
grateful little heart。
〃Indeed it is； and you are right to give your best to her。 Come away
now； you must not stand any longer。 Come and rest while I fetch a
dish to put the flowers in till you want them〃； and Mrs。 Pecq
turned her round with her small Maying safely done。
〃I didn't think I'd ever be able to do even so much； and here I am
walking and sitting up； and going to drive some day。 Isn't it nice
that I'm not to be a poor Lucinda after all？〃 and Jill drew a long
sigh of relief that six months instead of twenty years would
probably be the end of her captivity。
〃Yes； thank Heaven！ I don't think I could have borne that〃； and
the mother took Jill in her arms as if she were a baby； holding her
close for a minute； and laying her down with a tender kiss that
made the arms cling about her neck as her little girl returned it
heartily； for all sorts of new； sweet feelings seemed to be budding
in both； born of great joy and thankfulness。
Then Mrs。 Pecq hurried away to see about tea for the hungry boys；
and Jill watched the pleasant twilight deepen as she lay singing to
herself one of the songs her friend taught her because it fitted her
so well。
〃A little bird I am；
Shut from the fields of air；
And in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there：
Well pleased a prisoner to be；
Because； my God； it pleases Thee！
〃Naught have I else to do；
I sing the whole day long；
And He whom most I love to please
Doth listen to my song；
He caught and bound my wandering wing；
But still He bends to hear me sing。〃
〃Now we are ready for you； so bring on your flowers；〃 said Molly
to the boys； as she and Merry added their store of baskets to the
gay show Jill had set forth on the long table ready for the evening's
work。
〃They wouldn't let me see one； but I guess they have had good
luck； they look so jolly；〃 answered Jill； looking at Gus； Frank； and
Jack； who stood laughing； each with a large basket in his hands。
〃Fair to middling。 Just look in and see〃； with which cheerful
remark Gus tipped up his basket and displayed a few bits of green
at the bottom。
〃I'd id better。 Now； don't all scream at once over these beauties〃；
and Frank shook out some evergreen sprigs； half a dozen
saxifrages； and two or three forlorn violets with hardly any stems。
〃I don't brag； but here's the best of all the three；〃 chuckled Jack；
producing a bunch of feathery carrot…tops； with a few half…shut
dandelions trying to look brave and gay。
〃Oh； boys； is that all？〃
〃What shall we do？〃
〃We've only a few house…flowers； and all those baskets to fill；〃
cried the girls； in despair； for Merry's contribution had been small；
and Molly had only a handful of artificial flowers 〃to fill up；〃 she
said。
〃It isn't our fault： it is the late spring。 We can't make flowers； can
we？〃 asked Frank； in a tone of calm resignation。
〃Couldn't you buy some； then？〃 said Molly； smoothing her
crumpled morning…glories； with a sigh。
'Who ever heard of a fellow having any money left the last day of
the month？〃 demanded Gus； severely。
〃Or girls either。 I spent all mine in ribbon and paper for my
baskets； and now they are of no use。 It's a shame！〃 lamented Jill；
while Merry began to thin out her full baskets to fill the empty
ones。
〃Hold on！〃 cried Frank； relenting。 〃Now； Jack； make their minds
easy before they begin to weep and wail。〃
〃Left the box outside。 You tell while I go for it〃； and Jack bolted；
as if afraid the young ladies might be too demonstrative when the
tale was told。
〃Tell away；〃 said Frank； modestly passing the story along to Gus；
who made short work of it。
〃We rampaged all over the country； and got only that small mess
of greens。 Knew you'd be disgusted； and sat down to see what we
could do。 Then Jack piped up； and said he'd show us a place where
we could get a plenty。 'Come on；' said we； and after leading us a
nice tramp； he brought us out at Morse's greenhouse。
So we got a few on tick； as we had but four cents among us； and
there you are。 Pretty clever of the little chap； wasn't it？〃
A chorus of delight greeted Jack as he popped his head in； was
promptly seized by his elders and walked up to the table； where the
box was opened； displaying gay posies enough to fill most of the
baskets if distributed with great economy and much green。
〃You are the dearest boy that ever was！〃 began Jill； with her nose
luxuriously buried in the box； though the flowers were more
remarkable for color than perfume。
〃No； I'm not； there's a much dearer one coming upstairs now； and
he's got something that will make you howl for joy；〃 said Jack；
ignoring his own prowess as Ed came in with a bigger box； looking
as if he had done nothing but go a Maying all his days。
〃Don't believe it！〃 cried Jill； hugging her own treasure jealously。
〃It's oniy another joke。 I won't look；〃 said Molly； still struggling to
make her cambric roses bloom again。
〃I know what it is！ Oh； how sweet！〃 added Merry； sniffing； as Ed
set the box before her； saying pleasantly；
〃You shall see first； because you had faith。〃
Up went the cover； and a whiff of the freshest fragrance regaled
the seven eager noses bent to inhale it； as a general murmur of
pleasure greeted the nest of great； rosy mayflowers that lay before
them。
〃The dear things； how lovely they are！〃 and Merry looked as if
greeting her cousins； so blooming and sweet was her own face。
Molly pushed her dingy garlands away； ashamed of such poor
attempts beside these perfect works of nature； and Jill stretched
out her hand involuntarily； as she said； forgetting her exotics；
〃Give me just one to smell of； it is so woodsy and delicious。〃
〃Here you are； plenty for all。 Real Pilgrim Fathers； right from
Plymouth。 One of our fellows lives there； and I told him to bring
me a good lot； so he did； and you can do what you like with them；〃
explained Ed； passing round bunches and shaking the rest in a
mossy pile upon the table。
〃Ed always gets ahead of us in doing the right thing at the right
time。 Hope you've got some first…class baskets ready for him；〃 said
Gus； refreshing the Washingtonian nose with a pink blossom or
two。
〃Not much danger of his being forgotten；〃 answered Molly； and
everyone laughed； for Ed was much beloved by all the girls； and
his door…steps always bloomed like a flower…bed on May eve。
〃Now we must fly round and fill up。 Come； boys； sort out the green
and hand us the flowers as we want them。 Then we must direct
them； and； by the time that is done； you can go and leave them；〃
said Jill； setting all to work。
〃Ed must choose his baskets first。 These are ours； but any of those