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whistle from without saved Jill from that inconvenient offering。
〃It's the fellows； do you want to see them？〃 asked Frank； gazing
down with calm superiority upon the three eager faces which
looked up at him。
〃Guess I'd o！〃 and Jack promptly threw the kitten overboard；
scorning to be seen by any manly eye amusing himself with such
girlish toys。
Bang！ went the front door； tramp； tramp； tramp； came six booted
feet up the stairs； and； as Frank threw wide the door； three large
beings paused on the threshold to deliver the courteous 〃Hullo！〃
which is the established greeting among boys on all social
occasions。
〃Come along； old fellows； I'm ever so glad to see you！〃 cried the
invalid； with such energetic demonstrations of the arms that he
looked as if about to fly or crow； like an excited young cockerel。
〃How are you； Major？〃
〃Does the leg ache much； Jack？〃
〃Mr。 Phipps says you'll have to pay for the new rails。〃
With these characteristic greetings； the gentlemen cast away their
hats and sat down； all grinning cheerfully； and all with eyes
irresistibly fixed upon the dainties； which proved too much for the
politeness of ever…hungry boys。
〃Help yourselves；〃 said Jack； with a hospitable wave。 〃All the dear
old ladies in town have been sending in nice things； and I can't
begin to eat them up。 Lend a hand and clear away this
lot； or we shall have to throw them out of the window。 Bring on
the doughnuts and the tarts and the shaky stuff in the entry closet；
Frank； and let's have a lark。〃
No sooner said than done。 Gus took the tarts； Joe the doughnuts；
Ed the jelly； and Frank suggested 〃spoons all round〃 for the Italian
cream。 A few trifles in the way of custard； fruit； and wafer biscuits
were not worth mentioning； but every dish was soon emptied； and
Jack said； as he surveyed the scene of devastation with great
satisfaction；
〃Call again to…morrow； gentlemen； and we will have another bout。
Free lunches at ~ P。M。 till further notice。 Now tell me all the
news。〃
For half an hour； five tongues went like mill clappers； and there is
no knowing when they would have stopped if the little bell had not
suddenly rung with a violence that made them jump。
〃That's Jill； see what she wants； Frank〃； and while his brother sent
off the basket； Jack told about the new invention； and invited his
mates to examine and admire。
They did so； and shouted with merriment when the next despatch
from Jill arrived。 A pasteboard jumping…jack； with one leg done up
in cotton…wool to preserve the likeness； and a great lump of
molasses candy in a brown paper； with accompanying note：
〃Dear Sir…I saw the boys go in； and know you are having a nice
time； so I send over the candy Molly Loo and Merry brought me。
Mammy says I can't eat it； and it will all melt away if I keep it。
Also a picture of Jack Minot； who will dance on one leg and
waggle the other； and make you laugh。 I wish I could come； too。
Don't you hate grewel？ I'do。 In haste；
J。P。 〃
〃Let's all send her a letter；〃 proposed Jack； and out came pens； ink；
paper； and the lamp； and everyone fell to scribbling。 A droll
collection was the result； for Frank drew a picture of the fatal fall
with broken rails flying in every direction； Jack with his head
swollen to the size of a balloon； and Jill in two pieces； while the
various boys and girls were hit off with a sly skill that gave Gus
legs like a stork； Molly Loo hair several yards long； and Boo a
series of visible howls coming out of an immense mouth in the
shape of o s。 The oxen were particularly good； for their horns
branched like those of the moose； and Mr。 Grant had a patriarchal
beard which waved in the breeze as he bore the wounded girl to a
sled very like a funeral pyre； the stakes being crowned with big
mittens like torches。
〃You ought to be an artist。 I never saw such a dabster as you are。
That's the very moral of Joe； all in a bunch on the fence； with a
blot to show how purple his nose was；〃 said Gus； holding up the
sketch for general criticism and admiration。
〃I'd rather have a red nose than legs like a grasshopper； so you
needn't twit； Daddy；〃 growled Joe； quite unconscious that a blot
actually did adorn his nose； as he labored over a brief despatch。
The boys enjoyed the joke； and one after the other read out his
message to the captive lady：
〃Dear Jill…Sorry you ain't here。 Great fun。 Jack pretty lively。 Laura
and Lot would send love if they knew of the chance。 Fly round and
get well。
Gus〃
〃Dear Gilliflower…Hope you are pretty comfortable in your
'dungeon cell。 Would you like a serenade when the moon comes？
Hope you will soon be up again； for we miss you very much。 Shall
be very happy to help in anyway I can。 Love to your mother。 Your
true friend；
E。D。〃
〃Miss Pecq。
〃Dear Madam…I am happy to tell you that we are all well； and hope
you are the same。 I gave Jem Cox a licking because he went to
your desk。 You had better send for your books。 You won't have to
pay for the sled or the fence。 Jack says he will see to it。 We have
been having a spread over here。 First…rate things。 I wouldn't mind
breaking a leg； if I had such good grub and no chores to do。 No
more now； from yours； with esteem；
Joseph P。 Flint〃
Joe thought that an elegant epistle； having copied portions of it
from the 〃Letter Writer；〃 and proudly read it off to the boys； who
assured him that Jill would be much impressed。
〃Now； Jack； hurry up and let us send the lot off； for we must go；〃
said Gus； as Frank put the letters in the basket； and the clatter of
tea…things was heard below。
〃I'm not going to show mine。 It's private and you mustn't look；〃
answered Jack； patting down an envelope with such care that no
one had a chance to peep。
But Joe had seen the little note copied； and while the others were
at the window working the telegraph he caught up the original；
carelessly thrust by Jack under the pillow； and read it aloud before
anyone knew what he was about。
〃My Dear…I wish I could send you some of my good times。 As I
can't； I send you much love； and I hope you will try and be patient
as I am going to； for it was our fault； and we must not make a fuss
now。 Ain't mothers sweet？ Mine is coming over to…morrow to see
you and tell me how you are。 This round thing is a kiss for
good…night。
Your Jack〃
〃Isn't that spoony？ You d better hide your face； I think。 He's getting
to be a regular mollycoddle； isn't he？〃 jeered Joe； as the boys
laughed； and then grew sober； seeing Jack's head buried in the
bedclothes； after sending a pillow at his tormentor。
It nearly hit Mrs。 Minot； coming in with her patient's tea on a tray；
and at sight of her the guests hurriedly took leave； Joe nearly
tumbling downstairs to escape from Frank； who would have
followed； if his mother had not said quickly； 〃Stay； and tell me
what is the mat