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tumbling downstairs to escape from Frank； who would have
followed； if his mother had not said quickly； 〃Stay； and tell me
what is the matter。〃
〃Only teasing Jack a bit。 Don't be mad； old boy； Joe didn't mean
any harm； and it was rather soft； now wasn't it？〃 asked Frank；
trying to appease the wounded feelings of his brother。
〃I charged you not to worry him。 Those boys were too much for the
poor dear； and I ought not to have left him；〃 said Mamma； as she
vainly endeavored to find and caress the yellow head burrowed so
far out of sight that nothing but one red ear was visible。
〃He liked it； and we got on capitally till Joe roughed him about
Jill。 Ah； Joe's getting it now！ I thought Gus and Ed would do that
little job for me；〃 added Frank； running to the window as the sound
of stifled cries and laughter reached him。
The red ear heard also； and Jack popped up his head to ask； with
interest；
'What are they doing to him？〃
〃Rolling him in the snow； and he's howling like fun。〃
〃Serves him right；〃 muttered Jack； with a frown。 Then； as a wail
arose suggestive of an unpleasant mixture of snow in the mouth
and thumps on the back； he burst out laughing； and said；
good…naturedly； 〃Go and stop them； Frank； I won't mind； only tell
him it was a mean trick。 Hurry！ Gus is so strong he doesn't know
how his pounding hurts。〃
Off ran Frank； and Jack told his wrongs to his mother。 She
sympathized heartily； and saw no harm in the affectionate little
note； which would please Jill； and help her to bear her trials
patiently。
〃It isn't silly to be fond of her； is it？ She is so nice and funny； and
tries to be good； and likes me； and I won't be ashamed of my
friends； if folks do laugh；〃 protested Jack； with a rap of his
teaspoon。
〃No； dear； it is quite kind and proper； and I'd rather have you play
with a merry little girl than with rough boys till you are big enough
to hold your own；〃 answered Mamma； putting the cup to his lips
that the reclining lad might take his broma without spilling。
〃Pooh！ I don't mean that； I'm strong enough now to take care of
myself；〃 cried Jack； stoutly。 〃I can thrash Joe any day； if I like。 Just
look at my arm； there's muscle for you！〃 and up went a sleeve； to
the great danger of overturning the tray； as the boy proudly
displayed his biceps and expanded his chest； both of which were
very fine for a lad of his years。 〃If I'd been on my legs； he
wouldn't have dared to insult me； and it was cowardly to hit a
fellow when he was down。
Mrs。 Minot wanted to laugh at Jack's indignation； but the bell rang；
and she had to go and pull in the basket； much amused at the new
game。
Burning to distinguish herself in the eyes of the big boys； Jill had
sent over a tall； red flannel night…cap； which she had been making
for some proposed Christmas plays； and added the following verse；
for she was considered a gifted rhymester at the game parties：
〃When it comes night；
We put out the light。
Some blow with a puff；
Some turn down and snuff；
But neat folks prefer
A nice extinguisher。
So here I send you back
One to put on Mr。 Jack。〃
〃Now； I call that regularly smart； not one of us could do it； and I
just wish Joe was here to see it。 I want to send once more；
something good for tea； she hates gruel so〃； and the last despatch
which the Great International Telegraph carried that day was a
baked apple and a warm muffin； with 〃J。 M。's best regards。〃
Chapter 4 WARD NO。 2。
〃I do believe the child will fret herself into a fever； mem； and I m
clean distraught to know what to do for her。 She never used to
mind trifles； but now she frets about the oddest things； and I can't
change them。 This wall…paper is well enough； but she has taken a
fancy that the spots on it look like spiders； and it makes her
nervous。 I've no other warm place to put her； and no money for a
new paper。 Poor lass！ There are hard times before her； I'm fearing。
Mrs。 Pecq said this in a low voice to Mrs。 Minot； who came in as
often as she could； to see what her neighbor needed； for both
mothers were anxious； and sympathy drew them to one another。
While one woman talked； the other looked about the little room；
not wondering in the least that Jill found it hard to be contented
there。 It was very neat； but so plain that there was not even a
picture on the walls； nor an ornament upon the mantel； except the
necessary clock； lamp； and match…box。 The paper was ugly； being
a deep buff with a brown figure that did look very like spiders
sprawling over it； and might well make one nervous to look at day
after day。
Jill was asleep in the folding chair Dr。 Whiting had sent； with a
mattress to make it soft。 The back could be raised or lowered at
will； but only a few inches had been gained as yet； and the thin
hair pillow was all she could bear。 She looked very pretty as she
lay； with dark lashes against the feverish cheeks； lips apart； and a
cloud of curly black locks all about the face pillowed on one arm。
She seemed like a brilliant little flower in that dull place for the
French blood in her veins gave her a color； warmth； and grace
which were very charming。 Her natural love of beauty showed
itself in many ways： a red ribbon had tied up her hair； a gay but
faded shawl was thrown over the bed； and the gifts sent her were
arranged with care upon the table by her side among her own few
toys and treasures。 There was something pathetic in this childish
attempt to beautify the poor place； and Mrs。 Minot's eyes were full
as she looked at the tired woman； whose one joy and comfort lay
there in such sad plight。
〃My dear soul； cheer up； and we will help one another through the
hard times；〃 she said； with a soft hand on the rough one； and a look
that promised much。
〃Please God； we will； mem！ With such good friends； I never
should complain。 I try not to do it； but it breaks my heart to see my
little lass spoiled for life； most like〃； and Mrs。 Pecq pressed the
kind hand with a despondent sigh。
〃We won't say； or even think； that； yet。 Everything is possible to
youth and health like Janey s。 We must keep her happy； and time
will do the rest； I'm sure。 Let us begin at once； and have a surprise
for her when she wakes。〃
As she spoke； Mrs。 Minot moved quietly about the room； pinning
the pages of several illustrated papers against the wall at the foot
of the bed； and placing to the best advantage the other comforts
she had brought。
〃Keep up your heart； neighbor。 I have an idea in my head which I
think will help us all； if I can carry it out；〃 she said； cheerily； as she
went； leaving Mrs。 Pecq to sew on Jack's new night…gowns； with
swift fingers； and the grateful wish that she might work for these
good friends forever。
As if the whispering and rustling had disturbed her； Jill soon began
to stir； and slowly opened the eyes which had closed so wearily on
the dull December afte