Merrygaveadisdainfullittlesniffatthesavoryperfumeofhamwhichsalutedthem,andpausedwithherhandonthegate,asifshefounditpleasanterouttherethaninthehouse。Ralphseemedtoagreewithher,for,leaningonthegate,helingeredtosay,withrealsympathyinhistoneandsomethingelseinhisface,"Yes,I
　　should;soyouwriteandtellmeallaboutit。Ididn'tknowyouhadanyworries,foryoualwaysseemedlikeoneofthehappiestpeopleintheworld,withsomanytopetandcareforyou,andplentyofmoney,andnothingveryhardorhatefultodo。You'dthinkyouwerewelloffifyouknewasmuchaboutpovertyandworkandnevergettingwhatyouwant,asIdo。"
　　"Youbearyourworriessowellthatnobodyknowsyouhavethem。
　　Ioughtnottocomplain,andIwon't,forIdohaveallIneed。I'msogladyouaregoingtogetwhatyouwantatlast";andMerryheldoutherhandtosaygood—night,withsomuchpleasureinherfacethatRalphcouldnotmakeuphismindtogojustyet。
　　"IshallhavetoscratchroundinalivelywaybeforeIdogetit,forDavidsaysafellowcan'tliveonlessthanfourorfivehundredayear,evenlivingaspoorartistshaveto,ingarretsandonCrusts。I
　　don'tmindaslongasGrandmaisallright。Sheisawayto—night,orIshouldnotbehere,"headded,asifsomeexcusewasnecessary。
　　Merryneedednohint,forhertenderheartwastouchedbythevisionofherfriendinagarret,andshesuddenlyrejoicedthattherewashamandeggsforsupper,sothathemightbewellfedonce,atleast,beforehewentawaytofeedonartisticcrusts。
　　"Beinghere,comeinandspendtheevening。Theboyswillliketohearthenews,andsowillfather。Do,now。"
　　Itwasimpossibletorefusetheinvitationhehadbeenlongingfor,andintheywenttothegreatdelightofRoxy,whoinstantlyretiredtothepantry,smilingsignificantly,andbroughtoutthemostelaboratepieinhonoroftheoccasion。Merrytouchedupthetable,andputalittlevaseofflowersinthemiddletoredeemthevulgarityofdoughnuts。Ofcoursetheboysupsetit,butastherewascompanynothingwassaid,andRalphdevouredhissupperwiththeappetiteofahungryboy,whilewatchingMerryeatbreadandcreamoutofanold—fashionedsilverporringer,andthinkingitthesweetestsightheeverbeheld。
　　Thentheyoungpeoplegatheredaboutthetable,fullofthenewplans,andtheelderslistenedastheyrestedaftertheweek'swork。
　　Apleasantevening,fortheyalllikedRalph,butastheparentswatchedMerrysittingamongthegreatladslikealittlequeenamonghersubjects,halfunconsciousasyetofthepowerinherhands,theynoddedtooneanother,andthenshooktheirheadsasiftheysaid,"I'mafraidthetimeiscoming,mother。"
　　"Nodangeraslongasshedon'tknowit,father。"
　　Atninetheboyswentofftothebarn,thefarmertowinduptheeight—dayclock,andthehousewifetoseehowthebakedbeansandIndianpuddingforto—morrowweregettingonintheoven。Ralphtookuphishattogo,sayingashelookedattheshadeonthetallstudentlamp,"Whatagoodlightthatgives！IcanseeitasIgohomeeverynight,anditburnsupherelikeabeacon。Ialwayslookforit,andithardlyeverfailstobeburning。Sortofcheersuptheway,youknow,whenI'mtiredorlowinmymind。"
　　"ThenI'mverygladIgotit。Ilikedtheshape,buttheboyslaughedatitastheydidatmybuirushesinaginger—jaroverthere。I'dbeenreadingabout'householdart,'andIthoughtI'dtryalittle,"
　　answeredMerry,laughingatherownwhims。
　　"You'vegotabettersortofhouseholdart,Ithink,foryoumakepeoplehappyandplacespretty,withoutfussingoverit。ThisroomiseversomuchimprovedeverytimeIcome,thoughIhardlyseewhatitisexcepttheflowers,"saidRalph,lookingfromthegirltothetallcallathatbentitswhitecupaboveherasiftopouritsdewuponherhead。
　　"Isn'tthatlovely？Itriedtodrawit——theshapewassogracefulI
　　wantedtokeepit。ButIcouldn't。Isn'titapitysuchbeautifulthingswon'tlastforever？"andMerrylookedregretfullyatthehalf—fadedonethatgrewbesidethefreshblossom。
　　"Icankeepitforyou。Itwouldlookwellinplaster。MayI？"askedRalph。
　　"Thankyou,Ishouldlikethatverymuch。Taketherealoneasamodel——pleasedo;therearemorecoming,andthiswillbrightenupyourroomforadayortwo。"
　　Asshespoke,Merrycutthestem,and,addingtwoorthreeofthegreatgreenleaves,putthehandsomeflowerinhishandwithsomuchgood—willthathefeltasifhehadreceivedaverypreciousgift。Thenhesaidgood—nightsogratefullythatMerry'shandquitetingledwiththegraspofhis,andwentaway,oftenlookingbackwardthroughthedarknesstowherethelightburnedbrightlyonthehill—top——thebeaconkindledbyanunconsciousHeroforayoungLeanderswimminggallantlyagainstwindandtidetowardthegoalofhisambition。
　　Chapter17DownatMolly's"Now,mydears,I'vesomethingverycurioustotellyou,solistenquietlyandthenI'llgiveyouyourdinners,"saidMolly,addressingtheninecatswhocametroopingafterherasshewentintotheshed—chamberwithabowlofmilkandaplateofscrapsinherhands。Shehadtaughtthemtobehavewellatmeals,so,thoughtheireyesglaredandtheirtailsquiveredwithimpatience,theyobeyed;andwhensheputthefoodonahighshelfandretiredtothebigbasket,thefouroldcatssatdemurelydownbeforeher,whilethefivekitsscrambledafterherandtumbledintoherlap,asifhopingtohastenthedesiredfeastbytheirinnocentgambols。
　　Granny,Tobias,Mortification,andMolassesweretheelders。
　　Granny,agrayoldpuss,wasthemotherandgrandmotherofalltherest。Tobiaswashereldestson,andMortificationhisbrother,sonamedbecausehehadlosthistail,whichafflictiondepressedhisspiritsandcastablightoverhisyounglife。Molasseswasayellowcat,themammaoffourofthekits,thefifthbeingGranny'slatestdarling。Toddlekins,thelittleaunt,wastheimageofhermother,andverysedateevenatthatearlyage;MissMuffet,socalledfromherdreadofspiders,wasatimidblackandwhitekit;Beauty,aprettyMaltese,withaserenelittlefaceandpinknose;Ragbag,afunnything,everycolorthatacatcouldbe;andScamp,whowelldeservedhisname,forhewastheplagueofMissBat'slife,andMolly'sespecialpet。
　　Hewasnowperchedonhershoulder,and,asshetalked,keptpeepingintoherfaceorbitingherearinthemostimpertinentway,whiletheotherssprawledinherlaporpromenadedroundthebasketrim。
　　"Myfriends,somethingveryremarkablehashappened:MissBatiscleaninghouse！"and,havingmadethisannouncement,Mollyleanedbacktoseehowthecatsreceivedit,forsheinsistedthattheyunderstoodallshesaidtothem。
　　Tobiasstared,Mortificationlaydownasifitwastoomuchforhim,Molassesbeathertailonthefloorasifwhippingadustycarpet,andGrannybegantopurrapprovingly。Thegiddykitspaidnoattention,astheydidnotknowwhathouse—cleaningmeant,happylittledears！
　　"Ithoughtyou'dlikeit,Granny,foryouareadecentcat,andknowwhatisproper,"continuedMolly,leaningdowntostroketheoldpuss,whoblinkedaffectionatelyather。"Ican'timaginewhatputitintoMissBat'shead。Ineversaidaword,andgaveupgroaningovertheclutter,asIcouldn'tmendit。IjusttookcareofBooandmyself,andlefthertobeasuntidyasshepleased,andsheisaregularold————"
　　HereScampputhispawonherlipsbecausehesawthemmoving,butitseemedasifitwastocheckthedisrespectfulwordjustcomingout。
　　"Well,Iwon'tcallnames;butwhatshallIdowhenIseeeverythinginconfusion,andshewon'tletmeclearup？"askedMolly,lookingroundatScamp,whopromptlyputthelittlepawonhereyelid,asiftherolloftheblueballunderneathamusedhim。
　　"Shutmyeyestoit,youmean？IdoallIcan,butitishard,whenI
　　wishtobenice,anddotry;don'tI？"askedMolly。ButScampwasreadyforher,andbegantocombherhairwithbothpawsashestoodonhishindlegstoworksobusilythatMollylaughedandpulledhimdown,saying,asshecuddledtheslykit。
　　"Yousharplittlething！Iknowmyhairisnotneatnow,forI'vebeenchasingBooroundthegardentowashhimforschool。ThenMissBatthrewtheparlorcarpetoutofthewindow,andIwassosurprisedIhadtorunandtellyou。Now,whathadwebetterdoaboutit？"
　　Thecatsallwinkedather,butnoonehadanyadvicetooffer,exceptTobias,whowalkedtotheshelf,and,lookingup,utteredadeep,suggestiveyowl,whichsaidasplainlyaswords,"Dinnerfirstanddiscussionafterward。"
　　"Verywell,don'tscramble,"saidMolly,gettinguptofeedherpets。Firstthekits,whorushedatthebowlandthrusttheirheadsin,lappingasifforawager;thenthecats,whoeachwenttooneofthefourpilesofscrapslaidroundatintervalsandplacidlyatetheirmeat;whileMollyretiredtothebasket,toponderoverthephenomenatakingplaceinthehouse。
　　Shecouldnotimaginewhathadstartedtheoldlady。Itwasnottheexampleofherneighbors,whohadbeatencarpetsandscrubbedpainteveryspringforyearswithoutexcitinghertoanygreaterexertionthancleaningafewwindowsandhavingamantoclearawaytherubbishdisplayedwhenthesnowmelted。Mollyneverguessedthatherowneffortswereatthebottomofthechange,orknewthatafewwordsnotmeantforherearhadshamedMissBatintoaction。Cominghomefromprayer—meetingonedarknight,shetrottedalongbehindtwooldladieswhoweregossipinginloudvoices,asonewasratherdeaf,andMissBatwasbothpleasedandtroubledtohearherselfundulypraised。
　　"IalwayssaidSisterDawesmeantwell;butshe'sgettingintoyears,andthecareoftwochildrenisagooddealforher,withhercookingandherrheumatiz。Idon'tdenyshedidneglect'emforaspell,butshedoeswellby'emnow,andIwouldn'twishtoseebetter—appearingchildren。"
　　"You'venoideehowimprovedMollyis。Shecameintoseemygirls,andbroughthersewing—work,shirtsfortheboy,anddoneitasneatandcapableasyou'dwishtosee。Shealwayswasasmartchild,butdreadfulcareless,"saidtheotheroldlady,evidentlymuchimpressedbythechangeinharum—scarumMollyLoo。
　　"BeingovertoMisMinot'ssomuchhasbeengoodforher,anduptoMisGrant's。Girlscatchneatwaysasquickasthey'dountidyones,andthemwildlittletykesoftenturnoutsmartwomen。"
　　"SisterDaweshasdonewellbythemchildren,andIhopeMr。
　　Bemisseesit。Heoughttogivehersomethingcomfortabletoliveonwhenshecan'tdoforhimanylonger。Hecanwellaffordit。"
　　"Ihaven'tadoubthewill。He'salavishmanwhenhestartstodoathing,butdreadfulunobserving,elsehe'dhaveseentomatterslongago。Themchildrenwastown—talklastfall,andIusedtofeelasifitwasmyboundendutytospeaktoMissDawes。ButIneverdid,fearingImightspeaktooplain,andhurtherfeelings。"
　　"You'vespokenplainenoughnow,andI'mbeholdentoyou,thoughyou'llneverknowit,"saidMissBattoherself,assheslippedintoherowngate,whilethegossipstrudgedonquiteunconsciousofthelistenerbehindthem。
　　MissBatwasaworthyoldsoulinthemain,only,likesomanyofus,sheneededrousinguptoherduty。Shehadgottherousingnow,anditdidhergood,forshecouldnotbeartobepraisedwhenshehadnotdeservedit。ShehadwatchedMolly'seffortswithlazyinterest,andwhenthegirlgaveupmeddlingwithheraffairs,asshecalledthehousekeeping,MissBatceasedtoopposeher,andletherscrubBoo,mendclothes,andbrushherhairasmuchassheliked。SoMollyhadworkedalongwithoutanyhelpfromher,runningintoMrs。Pecqforadvice,toMerryforcomfort,orMrs。
　　Minotforthehigherkindofhelponeoftenneedssomuch。NowMissBatfoundthatshewasgettingthecreditandthepraisebelongingtootherpeople,anditstirredheruptotryanddeserveapartatleast。
　　"Mollydon'twantanyhelpaboutherworkortheboy:it'stoolateforthat;butifthishousedon'tgetaspringcleaningthatwillmakeitshine,mynameain'tBathshebaDawes,"saidtheoldlady,assheputawayherbonnetthatnight,andlaidenergeticplansforagrandrevolution,inspiredtheretonotonlybyshame,butbythehintthat"Mr。Bemiswasalavishman,"asnooneknewbetterthanshe。
　　Molly'samazementnextdayatseeingcarpetsflyoutofwindow,ancientcobwebscomedown,andlong—undisturbedclosetsroutedouttothegreatdismayofmothsandmice,hasbeenalreadyconfidedtothecats,andasshesattherewatchingthemlapandgnaw,shesaidtoherself,"Idon'tunderstandit,butassheneversaysmuchtomeaboutmyaffairs,Iwon'ttakeanynoticetillshegetsthrough,thenI'lladmireeverythingallIcan。Itissopleasanttobepraisedafteryou'vebeentryinghard。"
　　Shemightwellsaythat,forshegotverylittleherself,andhertrialshadbeenmany,hereffortsnotalwayssuccessful,andherrewardseemedalongwayoff。PoorBoocouldhavesympathizedwithher,forhehadsufferedmuchpersecutionfromhissmallschoolmateswhenheappearedwithlargegraypatchesonthelittlebrowntrousers,wherehehadwornthemoutcoastingdownthosetoofascinatingsteps。Ashecouldnotseethepatcheshimself,hefanciedtheminvisible,andcamehomemuchafflictedbythejeersofhisfriends。ThenMollytriedtomakehimanewpairoutofasackofherown;butshecutbothsidesforthesameleg,soonewaswrongsideout。Fondlyhopingnoonewouldobserveit,shesewedbrightbuttonswherevertheycouldbeput,andsentconfidingBooawayinapairofbluetrousers,whichwereabsurdlyhunchybehindandbuttonybefore。Hecamehomeheart—brokenandmuddy,havingbeenaccidentallytippedintoamud—puddlebytwobadboyswhofeltthatsuchtailoringwasaninsulttomankind。
　　ThatrousedMolly'sspirit,andshebeggedherfathertotaketheboyandhavehimproperlyfittedout,ashewasoldenoughnowtobewell—dressed,andshewouldn'thavehimtormented。Hisattentionbeingcalledtothetrousers,Mr。Bemishadagoodlaughoverthem,andthengotBooasuitwhichcausedhimtobetheadmiredofallobservers,andtofeelasproudasalittlepeacock。
　　Cheeredbythissuccess,Mollyundertookasetofsmallshirts,andstitchedawaybravely,thoughherownsummerclotheswereinasadstate,andforthefirsttimeinherlifeshecaredaboutwhatsheshouldwear。
　　"ImustaskMerry,andmaybefatherwillletmegowithherandhermotherwhentheydotheirshopping,insteadofleavingittoMissBat,whodressesmelikeanoldwoman。Merryknowswhatisprettyandbecoming:Idon't,"thoughtMolly,meditatinginthebushelbasket,withhereyesonhersnuff—coloredgownandthedarkpurplebowattheendofthelongbraidMuffethadbeenplayingwith。
　　Mollywasbeginningtoseethatevensosmallamatterasthechoiceofcolorsmadeadifferenceinone'sappearance,andtowonderwhyMerryalwaystooksuchpainstohaveabluetieforthegraydress,arosyoneforthebrown,andglovesthatmatchedherbonnetribbons。Merryneverworealocketoutsidehersack,agaybowinherhairandsoiledcuffs,asmarthatandthebraidwornoffherskirts。Shewasexquisitelyneatandsimple,yetalwayslookedwell—dressedandpretty;forherloveofbeautytaughtherwhatallgirlsshouldlearnassoonastheybegintocareforappearances——thatneatnessandsimplicityaretheirbestornaments,thatgoodhabitsarebetterthanfineclothes,andthemostelegantmannersarethekindest。
　　AllthesethoughtsweredancingthroughMolly'shead,andwhenshelefthercats,afterageneralrompinwhichevendecorousGrannyallowedherfamilytoplayleap—frogoverherrespectableback,shehadmadeuphermindnottohaveyellowribbonsonhersummerhatifshegotapinkmuslinasshehadplanned,buttofinishoffBoo'slastshirtbeforeshewentshoppingwithMerry。
　　Itrainedthatevening,andMr。Bemishadaheadache,sohethrewhimselfdownupontheloungeafterteaforanap,withhissilkhandkerchiefspreadoverhisface。Hedidgetanap,andwhenhewakedhelayforatimedrowsilylisteningtothepatteroftherain,andanothersoundwhichwasevenmoresoothing。Puttingbackacornerofthehandkerchieftolearnwhatitwas,hesawMollysittingbythefirewithBooinherlap,rockingandhummingasshewarmedhislittlebarefeet,havinglearnedtoguardagainstcroupbyattendingtothedampshoesandsocksbeforegoingtobed。Boolaywithhisroundfaceturneduptohers,strokinghercheekwhilethesleepyblueeyesblinkedlovinglyatherasshesangherlullabywithamotherlypatiencesweettosee。Theymadeaprettylittlepicture,andMr。Bemislookedatitwithpleasure,havingaleisuremomentinwhichtodiscover,asallparentsdosoonerorlater,thathischildrenweregrowingup。
　　"Mollyisgettingtobequiteawoman,andverylikehermother,"
　　thoughtpapa,wipingtheeyethatpeeped,forhehadbeenfondoftheprettywifewhodiedwhenBoowasborn。"Sadlosstothem,poorthings！ButMissBatseemstohavedonewellbythem。Mollyismuchimproved,andtheboylooksfinely。She'sagoodsoul,afterall";andMr。Bemisbegantothinkhehadbeenhastywhenhehalfmadeuphismindtogetanewhousekeeper,feelingthatburntsteak,weakcoffee,andraggedwristbandsweresuresignsthatMissBat'sdaysofusefulnesswereover。
　　Mollywassingingthelullabyhermotherusedtosingtoher,andherfatherlistenedtoitsilentlytillBoowascarriedawaytoosleepyforanythingbutbed。Whenshecamebackshesatdowntoherwork,fancyingherfatherstillasleep。Shehadacrimsonbowatherthroatandoneonthenewlybraidedhair,hercuffswereclean,andawhiteapronhidtheshabbinessoftheolddress。Shelookedlikeathriftylittlehousewifeasshesatwithherbasketbesideherfullofneatwhiterolls,herspoolssetforth,andanewpairofscissorsshiningonthetable。Therewasasortofcharminwatchingthebusyneedleflashtoandfro,theanxiouspuckeroftheforeheadasshelookedtoseeifthestitcheswereeven,andtheexpressionofintensereliefuponherfaceasshesurveyedthefinishedbutton—holewithgirlishsatisfaction。Herfatherwaswideawakeandlookingather,thinking,ashedidso,"Reallytheoldladyhasworkedwelltochangemytomboyintothatnicelittlegirl:Iwonderhowshedidit。"Thenhegaveayawn,pulledoffthehandkerchief,andsaidaloud,'Whatareyoumaking,Molly？"foritstruckhimthatsewingwasanewamusement。
　　"ShirtsforBoo,sir。Four,andthisisthelast,"sheanswered,withpardonablepride,asshehelditupandnoddedtowardthepileinherbasket。
　　"Isn'tthatanewnotion？IthoughtMissBatdidthesewing,"saidMr。Bemis,ashesmiledatthefunnylittlegarment,itlookedsolikeBoohimself。
　　"No,sir;onlyyours。IdomineandBoo's。Atleast,I'mlearninghow,andMrs。PecqsaysIgetonnicely,"answeredMolly,threadingherneedleandmakingaknotinhermostcapableway。
　　"Isupposeitistimeyoudidlearn,foryouaregettingtobeagreatgirl,andallwomenshouldknowhowtomakeandmend。Youmusttakeastitchformenowandthen:MissBat'seyesarenotwhattheywere,Ifind";andMr。Bemislookedathisfrayedwristband,asifheparticularlyfelttheneedofastitchjustthen。
　　"I'dloveto,andIguessIcould。Icanmendgloves;Merrytaughtme,soI'dbetterbeginonthem,ifyouhaveany,"saidMolly,muchpleasedatbeingabletodoanythingforherfather,andstillmoresoatbeingasked。
　　"There'ssomethingtostartwith";andhethrewherapair,withnearlyeveryfingerripped。
　　Mollyshookherheadoverthem,butgotouthergraysilkandfelltowork,gladtoshowhowwellshecouldsew。
　　"Whatareyousmilingabout？"askedherfather,afteralittlepause,forhisheadfeltbetter,anditamusedhimtoquestionMolly。
　　"Iwasthinkingaboutmysummerclothes。Imustgetthembeforelong,andI'dliketogowithMrs。Grantandlearnhowtoshop,ifyouarewilling。"
　　IthoughtMissBatdidthatforyou。
　　"Shealwayshas,butshegetsugly,cheapthingsthatIdon'tlike。I
　　thinkIamoldenoughtochoosemyself,ifthereissomeonetotellmeaboutpricesandthegoodnessofthestuff。Merrydoes;andsheisonlyafewmonthsolderthanIam。"
　　"Howoldareyou,child？"askedherfather,feelingasifhehadlosthisreckoning。
　　"FifteeninAugust";andMollylookedveryproudofthefact。
　　"Soyouare！Blessmyheart,howthetimegoes！Well,getwhatyouplease;ifI'mtohaveayoungladyhere,I'dliketohaveherprettilydressed。Itwon'toffendMissBat,willit？"
　　Molly'seyessparkled,butshegavealittleshrugassheanswered,"Shewon'tcare。ShenevertroublesherselfaboutmeifIietncralone。
　　"Hey？what？Nottroubleherself？Ifshedoesn't,whodoes？"andMr。Bemissatupasifthisdiscoverywasmoresurprisingthantheother。
　　"ItakecareofmyselfandBoo,andshelooksafteryou。Thehousegoesanyway。"
　　"Ishouldthinkso！Inearlybrokemyneckovertheparlorsofainthehallto—night。Whatisittherefor？"
　　Mollylaughed。"That'sthejoke,sir,MissBatiscleaninghouse,andI'msureitneedscleaning,foritisyearssinceitwasproperlydone。Ithoughtyoumighthavetoldherto。"
　　"I'vesaidnothing。Don'tlikehouse—cleaningwellenoughtosuggestit。IdidthinkthehallwasratherdirtywhenIdroppedmycoatandtookitupcoveredwithlint。Isshegoingtoupsetthewholeplace？"askedMr。Bemis,lookingalarmedattheprospect。
　　"Ihopeso,forIreallyamashamedwhenpeoplecome,tohavethemseethedustandcobwebs,andoldcarpetsanddirtywindows,"saidMolly,withasigh,thoughsheneverhadcaredabittilllately。
　　"Whydon'tyoudustroundalittle,then？Notimetosparefromthebooksandplay？"
　　"Itried,father,butMissBatdidn'tlikeit,anditwastoohardformealone。Ifthingswereonceinniceorder,IthinkIcouldkeepthemso;forIdowanttobeneat,andI'mlearningasfastasIcan。"
　　"Itishightimesomeonetookhold,ifmattersareleftasyousay。
　　I'vejustbeenthinkingwhatacleverwomanMissBatwas,tomakesuchatidylittlegirloutofwhatIusedtohearcalledthegreatesttomboyintown,andwonderingwhatIcouldgivetheoldlady。
　　NowIfindyouaretheonetobethanked,anditisaverypleasantsurprisetome。"
　　"Giveherthepresent,please;I'msatisfied,ifyoulikewhatI'vedone。Itisn'tmuch,andI'didn'tknowasyouwouldeverobserveanydifference。ButI'didtry,andnowIguessI'mreallygettingon,"saidMolly,sewingawaywithabrightcolorinhercheeks,forshe,too,founditapleasantsurprisetobepraisedaftermanyfailuresandfewsuccesses。
　　"Youcertainlyare,mydear。I'llwaittillthehouse—cleaningisover,andthen,ifweareallalive,I'llseeaboutMissBat'sreward。
　　Meantime,yougowithMrs。Grantandgetwhateveryouandtheboyneed,andsendthebillstome";andMr。Bemislightedacigar,asifthatmatterwassettled。
　　"Oh,thankyou,sir！Thatwillbesplendid。Merryalwayshasprettythings,andIknowyouwilllikemewhenIgetfixed,"saidMolly,smoothingdownherapron,withalittleair。
　　"Seemstomeyoulookverywellasyouare。Isn'tthataprettyenoughfrock？"askedMr。Bemis,quiteunconsciousthathisownunusualinterestinhisdaughter'saffairsmadeherlooksobrightandwinsome。
　　"This？Why,father,I'vewornitallwinter,andit'sfrightfullyugly,andalmostinrags。Iaskedyouforanewoneamonthago,andyousaidyou'd'seeaboutit';butyoudidn't,soIpatchedthisupaswellasIcould";andMollyshowedherelbows,feelingthatsuchmasculineblindnessasthisdeservedamildreproof。
　　"Toobad！Well,goandgethalfadozenprettymuslinandginghamthings,andbeasgayasabutterfly,tomakeupforit,"
　　laughedherfather,reallytouchedbythepatchesandMolly'sresignationtotheunreliable"I'llseeaboutit,"whichherecognizedasahouseholdword。
　　Mollyclappedherhands,oldglovesandall,exclaiming,withgirlishdelight,"Howniceitwillseemtohaveaplentyofnew,neatdressesallatonce,andbelikeothergirls！MissBatalwaystalksabouteconomy,andhasnomoretastethana——caterpillar。"
　　Mollymeanttosay"cat,"butrememberingherpets,sparedthemtheinsult。
　　"IthinkIcanaffordtodressmygirlaswellasGrantdoeshis。Getanewhatandcoat,child,andanylittlenotionsyoufancy。MissBat'seconomyisn'tthesortIlike";andMr。Bemislookedathiswristbandsagain,asifhecouldsympathizewithMolly'selbows。
　　"Atthisrate,IshallhavemoreclothesthanIknowwhattodowith,afterbeingarag—bag,"thoughtthegirl,ingreatglee,asshebravelystitchedawayattheworstglove,whileherfathersmokedsilentlyforawhile,feelingthatseverallittlemattershadescapedhiseyewhichhereallyoughtto"seeabout。"
　　Presentlyhewenttohisdesk,butnottoburyhimselfinbusinesspapers,asusual,for,afterrummaginginseveraldrawers,hetookoutasmallbunchofkeys,andsatlookingatthemwithanexpressiononlyseenonhisfacewhenhelookedupattheportraitofadark—eyedwomanhanginginhisroom。Hewasaverybusyman,buthehadatenderplaceinhisheartforhischildren;andwhenalook,afewwords,amoment'sreflection,calledhisattentiontothefactthathislittlegirlwasgrowingup,hefoundbothprideandpleasureinthethoughtthatthisyoungdaughterwastryingtofillhermother'splace,andbeacomforttohim,ifhewouldlether。
　　"Molly,mydear,hereissomethingforyou,"hesaid;andwhenshestoodbesidehim,added,asheputthekeysintoherhand,keepingbothinhisownforaminute,"Thosearethekeystoyourmother'sthings。Ialwaysmeantyoutohavethem,whenyouwereoldenoughtouseorcareforthem。I
　　thinkyou'iifancythisbetterthananyotherpresent,foryouareagoodchild,andverylikeher。"
　　Somethingseemedtogetintohisthroatthere,andMollyputherarmroundhisneck,saying,withalittlechokeinherownvoice,"Thankyou,father,I'dratherhavethisthananythingelseintheworld,andI'lltrytobemorelikehereveryday,foryoursake。
　　Hekissedher,thensaid,ashebegantostirhispapersabout,"I
　　mustwritesomeletters。Runofftobed,child。Good—night,mydear,good—night。"
　　Seeingthathewantedtobealone,Mollyslippedaway,feelingthatshehadreceivedaverypreciousgift;forsherememberedthedear,deadmother,andhadoftenlongedtopossesstherelicslaidawayintheoneroomwhereorderreignedandMissBathadnopowertomeddle。Asshesiowlyundressed,shewasnotthinkingoftheprettynewgownsinwhichshewastobe"asgayasabutterfly,"
　　butofthehalf—worngarmentswaitingforherhandstounfoldwithatendertouch;andwhenshefellasleep,withthekeysunderherpillowandherarmsroundBoo,afewhappytearsonhercheeksseemedtoshowthat,intryingtodothedutywhichlaynearesther,shehadearnedaverysweetreward。
　　Sothelittlemissionariessucceededbetterintheirsecondattemptthanintheirfirst;for,thoughstillveryfarfrombeingperfectgirls,eachwasslowlylearning,inherownway,oneofthethreelessonsallarethebetterforknowing——thatcheerfulnesscanchangemisfortuneintoloveandfriends;thatinorderingone'sselfarightonehelpsotherstodothesame;andthatthepoweroffindingbeautyinthehumblestthingsmakeshomehappyandlifelovely。
　　Chapter18MayBasketsSpringwaslatethatyear,buttoJillitseemedtheloveliestshehadeverknown,forhopewasgrowinggreenandstronginherownlittleheart,andalltheworldlookedbeautiful。Withthehelpofthebraceshecouldsitupforashorttimeeveryday,andwhentheairwasmildenoughshewaswarmlywrappedandallowedtolookoutattheopenwindowintothegarden,wherethegoldandpurplecrocuseswerecomingbravelyup,andthesnowdropsnoddedtheirdelicateheadsasifcallingtoher,"Goodday,littlesister,comeoutandplaywithus,forwinterisoverandspringishere。"
　　"IwishIcould！"thoughtJill,asthesoftwindkissedatingeofcolorintoherpalecheeks。"Nevermind,theyhavebeenshutupinadarkerplacethanIformonths,andhadnofunatall;Iwon'tfret,butthinkaboutJulyandtheseashorewhileIwork。"
　　ThejobnowinhandwasMaybaskets,foritwasthecustomofthechildrentohangthemonthedoorsoftheirfriendsthenightbeforeMay—day;andthegirlshadagreedtosupplybasketsiftheboyswouldhuntforflowers,muchthehardertaskofthetwo。Jillhadmoreleisureaswellastasteandskillthantheothergirls,sosheamusedherselfwithmakingagoodlystoreofprettybasketsofallshapes,sizes,andcolors,quiteconfidentthattheywouldbefilled,thoughnotaflowerhadshownitsheadexceptafewhardydandelions,andhereandthereasmallclusterofsaxifrage。