按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
folded it up to carry home。
〃King Henry the Eighth to six spouses was wedded；
One died； one survived； two divorced； two beheaded；'
was all I knew about them before。 Poor things； what a bad time
they did have；〃 added Jill； patting down the red braid； which would
pucker a bit at the corners。
〃Katherine Parr had the best of it； because she outlived the old
tyrant and so kept her head on；〃 said Molly； winding the thread
round her last button； as if bound to fasten it on so firmly that
nothing should decapitate that。
〃I used to think I'd like to be a queen or a great lady； and wear
velvet and jewels； and live in a palace； but now I don't care much
for that sort of splendor。 I like to make things pretty at home； and
know that they all depend on me； and love me very much。 Queens
arc not happy； and I am；〃 said Merry； pausing to look at Anne
Hathaway's cottage as she put up the picture； and to wonder if it
was very pleasant to have a famous man for one's husband。
〃I guess your missionarying has done you good； mine has； and I'm
getting to have things my own way more and more every day。 Miss
Bat is so amiable； I hardly know her； and father tells her to ask
Miss Molly when she goes to him for orders。 Isn't that fun？〃
laughed Molly； in high glee； at the agreeable change。 〃I like it ever
so much； but I don't want to stay so all my days。 I mean to travel；
and just as soon as I can I shall take Boo and go all round the
world； and see everything；〃 she added； waving her gay sack； as if it
were the flag she was about to nail to the masthead of her ship。
〃Well； I should like to be famous in some way； and have people
admire me very much。 I'd like to act； or dance； or sing； or be what I
heard the ladies at Pebbly Beach call a 'queen of society。' But I
don't expect to be anything； and I'm not going to worry I shall not
be a Lucinda； so I ought to be contented and happy all my life；〃
said Jill； who was very ambitious in spite of the newly acquired
meekness； which was all the more becoming because her natural
liveliness often broke out like sunshine through a veil of light
clouds。
If the three girls could have looked forward ten years they would
have been surprised to see how different a fate was theirs from the
one each had chosen； and how happy each was in the place she
was called to fill。 Merry was not making the old farmhouse pretty；
but living in Italy； with a young sculptor for her husband； and
beauty such as she never dreamed of all about her。 Molly was not
travelling round the world； but contentedly keeping house for her
father and still watching over Boo； who was becoming her pride
and joy as well as care。 Neither was Jill a famous woman； but a
very happy and useful one； with the two mothers leaning on her as
they grew old； the young men better for her influence over them；
many friends to love and honor her； and a charming home； where
she was queen by right of her cheery spirit； grateful heart； and
unfailing devotion to those who had made her what she was。
If any curious reader； not content with this peep into futurity； asks；
〃Did Molly and Jill ever marry？〃 we must reply； for the sake of
peaceMolly remained a merry spinster all her days； one of the
independent； brave； and busy creatures of whom there is such need
in the world to help take care of other peoples' wives and children；
and do the many useful jobs that the married folk have no time for。
Jill certainly did wear a white veil on the day she was twenty…five
and called her husband Jack。 Further than that we cannot go；
except to say that this leap did not end in a catastrophe； like the
first one they took together。
That day； however； they never dreamed of what was in store for
them； but chattered away as they cleared up the room； and then ran
off ready for play； feeling that they had earned it by work well
done。 They found the lads just finishing； with Boo to help by
picking up the windfalls for the cider…heap； after he had amused
himself by putting about a bushel down the various holes old Bun
had left behind him。 Jack was risking his neck climbing in the
most dangerous places； while Frank； with a long…handled
apple…picker； nipped off the finest fruit with care； both enjoying
the pleasant task and feeling proud of the handsome red and
yellow piles all about the little orchard。 Merry and Molly caught
up baskets and fell to work with all their might； leaving Jill to sit
upon a stool and sort the early apples ready to use at once； looking
up now and then to nod and smile at her mother who watched her
from the window； rejoicing to see her lass so well and happy。
It was such a lovely day； they all felt its cheerful influence； for the
sun shone bright and warm； the air was full of an invigorating
freshness which soon made the girls' faces look like rosy apples；
and their spirits as gay as if they had been stealing sips of new
cider through a straw。 Jack whistled like a blackbird as he swung
and bumped about； Frank orated and joked； Merry and Molly ran
races to see who would fill and empty fastest； and Jill sung to Boo；
who reposed in a barrel； exhausted with his labors。
〃These are the last of the pleasant days； and we ought to make the
most of them。 Let's have one more picnic before the frost spoils the
leaves；〃 said Merry； resting a minute at the gate to look down the
street； which was a glorified sort of avenue； with brilliant maples
lining the way and carpeting the ground with crimson and gold。
〃Oh； yes！ Go down the river once more and have supper on the
Island。 I couldn't go to some of your picnics； and I do long for a
last good time before winter shuts me up again；〃 cried Jill； eager to
harvest all the sunshine she could； for she was not yet quite her old
self again。
〃I'm your man； if the other fellows agree。 We can't barrel these up
for a while； so to…morrow will be a holiday for us。 Better make
sure of the day while you can； this weather can't last long〃； and
Frank shook his head like one on intimate terms with Old Prob。
〃Don't worry about those high ones； Jack。 Give a shake and come
down and plan about the party；〃 called Molly； throwing up a big
Baldwin with what seemed a remarkably good aim； for a shower of
apples followed； and a boy came tumbling earthward to catch on
the lowest bough and swing down like a caterpillar； exclaiming； as
he landed；
〃I'm glad that job is done！ I've rasped every knuckle I've got and
worn out the knees of my pants。 Nice little crop though； isn't it？〃
〃It will be nicer if this young man does not bite every apple he
touches。 Hi there！ Stop it； Boo；〃 commanded Frank； as he caught
his young assistant putting his small teeth into the best ones； to see
if they were sweet or sour。
Molly set the barrel up on end； and that took the boy out of the
reach of mischief； so he retired from view and peeped through a
crack as he ate his fifth pearmain； regardless of consequences。