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！
to stir； and slowly opened the eyes which had closed so wearily on
the dull December afternoon。 The bare wall with its brown spiders
no longer confronted her； but the colored print of a little girl
dancing to the tune her father was playing on a guitar； while a
stately lady； with satin dress； ruff； and powder； stood looking on；
well pleased。 The quaint figure； in its belaced frock； quilted
petticoat； and red…heeled shoes； seemed to come tripping toward
her in such a life…like way； that she almost saw the curls blow
back； heard the rustle of the rich brocade； and caught the sparkle
of the little maid's bright eyes。
〃Oh； how pretty！ Who sent them？〃 asked Jill； eagerly； as her eye
glanced along the wall； seeing other new and interesting things
beyond： an elephant…hunt； a ship in full sail； a horse…race； and a
ball…room。
〃The good fairy who never comes empty…handed。 Look round a bit
and you will see more pretties all for you； my dearie〃； and her
mother pointed to a bunch of purple grapes in a green leaf plate； a
knot of bright flowers pinned on the white curtain； and a gay little
double gown across the foot of the bed。
Jill clapped her hands； and was enjoying her new pleasures； when
in came Merry and Molly Loo； with Boo； of course； trotting after
her like a fat and amiable puppy。 Then the good times began； the
gown was put on； the fruit tasted； and the pictures were studied
like famous works of art。
〃It's a splendid plan to cover up that hateful wall。 I'd stick pictures
all round and have a gallery。 That reminds me！ Up in the garret at
our house is a box full of old fashion…books my aunt left。 I often
look at them on rainy days； and they are very funny。 I'll go this
minute and get everyone。 We can pin them up； or make paper
dolls〃； and away rushed Molly Loo； with the small brother
waddling behind； for； when he lost sight of her； he was desolate
indeed。
The girls had fits of laughter over the queer costumes of years
gone by； and put up a splendid procession of ladies in full skirts；
towering hats； pointed slippers； powdered hair； simpering faces；
and impossible waists。
〃I do think this bride is perfectly splendid； the long train and vail
are so sweet；〃 said Jill； revelling in fine clothes as she turned from
one plate to another。
〃I like the elephants best； and I'd give anything to go on a hunt
like that！〃 cried Molly Loo； who rode cows； drove any horse she
could get； had nine cats； and was not afraid of the biggest dog that
ever barked。
〃I fancy 'The Dancing Lesson ； it is so sort of splendid； with the
great windows； gold chairs； and fine folks。 Oh； I would like to live
in a castle with a father and mother like that；〃 said Merry； who was
romantic； and found the old farmhouse on the bill a sad trial to her
high…flown ideas of elegance。
〃Now； that ship； setting out for some far…away place； is more to my
mind。 I weary for home now and then； and mean to see it again
some day〃； and Mrs。 Pecq looked longingly at the English ship；
though it was evidently outward bound。 Then； as if reproaching
herself for discontent； she added： 〃It looks like those I used to see
going off to India with a load of missionaries。 I came near going
myself once； with a lady bound for Siam； but I went to Canada
with her sister； and here I am。〃
〃I'd like to be a missionary and go where folks throw their babies
to the crocodiles。 I'd watch and fish them out； and have a school；
and bring them up； and convert all the people till they knew
better；〃 said warm…hearted Molly Loo； who befriended every
abused animal and forlorn child she met。
〃We needn't go to Africa to be missionaries； they have 'em nearer
home and need 'em； too。 In all the big cities there are a many； and
they have their hands full with the poor； the wicked； and the
helpless。 One can find that sort of work anywhere； if one has a
mind；〃 said Mrs。 Pecq。
〃I wish we had some to do here。 I'd so like to go round with
baskets of tea and rice； and give out tracts and talk to people。
Wouldn't you； girls？〃 asked Molly； much taken with the new idea。
〃It would be rather nice to have a society all to ourselves； and have
meetings and resolutions and things；〃 answered Merry； who was
fond of little ceremonies； and always went to the sewing circle
with her mother。
〃We wouldn't let the boys come in。 We d have it a secret society；
as they'd o their temperance lodge； and we d have badges and
pass…words and grips。 It would be fun if we can only get some
heathen to work at！〃 cried Jill； ready for fresh enterprises of every
sort。
〃I can tell you someone to begin on right away；〃 said her mother；
nodding at her。 〃As wild a little savage as I'd wish to see。 Take
her in hand； and make a pretty…mannered lady of her。 Begin at
home； my lass； and you'll find missionary work enough for a
while。〃
〃Now； Mammy； you mean me！ Well； I will begin； and I'll be so
good； folks won't know me。 Being sick makes naughty children
behave in story…books； I'll see if live ones can t〃； and Jill put on
such a sanctified face that the girls laughed and asked for their
missions also； thinking they would be the same。
〃You； Merry； might do a deal at home helping mother； and setting
the big brothers a good example。 One little girl in a house can do
pretty much as she will； especially if she has a mind to make plain
things nice and comfortable； and not long for castles before she
knows how to do her own tasks well；〃 was the first unexpected
reply。
Merry colored； but took the reproof sweetly； resolving to do what
she could； and surprised to find how many ways seemed open to
her after a few minutes thought。
〃Where shall I begin？ I'm not afraid of a dozen crocodiles after
Miss Bat〃； and Molly Loo looked about her with a fierce air；
having had practice in battles with the old lady who kept her
father's house。
〃Well； dear； you haven't far to look for as nice a little heathen as
you d wish〃； and Mrs。 Pecq glanced at Boo； who sat on the floor
staring hard at them； attracted by the dread word 〃crocodile。〃 He
had a cold and no handkerchief； his little hands were red with
chilblains； his clothes shabby； he had untidy darns in the knees of
his stockings； and a head of tight curls that evidently had not been
combed for some time。
〃Yes； I know he is； and I try to keep him decent； but I forget； and
he hates to be fixed； and Miss Bat doesn't care； and father laughs
when I talk about it。〃
Poor Molly Loo looked much ashamed as she made excuses； trying
at the same time to mend matters by seizing Boo and dusting him
all over with her handkerchief； giving a pull at his hair as if ringing
bells； and then dumping him down again with the despairing
exclamation： 〃Yes； we re a pair of heathens； and there's no one to
save us if I don't。〃
That was true enough； for Molly's father was a busy man； careless
of everything but his mills； Miss Bat was