Thevioletswouldnotopentheirblueeyestillthesunshinewaswarmer,thecolumbinesrefusedtodancewiththeboisterouseastwind,thefernskeptthemselvesrolledupintheirbrownflanneljackets,andlittleHepatica,withmanyanotherspringbeauty,hidawayinthewoods,afraidtoventureout,inspiteoftheeagerwelcomeawaitingthem。Butthebirdshadcome,punctualasever,andthebluejayswerescreamingintheorchard,robinswereperkinguptheirheadsandtailsastheywenthouse—hunting,purplefinchesintheirlittleredhoodswerefeastingonthesprucebuds,andthefaithfulchipbirdschirpedgaylyonthegrapevinetrelliswheretheyhadlivedallwinter,warmingtheirlittlegraybreastsagainstthesouthernsideofthehousewhenthesunshone,andhidingundertheevergreenboughswhenthesnowfell。
　　"Thattreeisasortofbird'shotel,"saidJill,lookingoutatthetallsprucebeforeherwindow,everyspraynowtippedwithasoftgreen。"Theyallgotheretosleepandeat,andithasroomforeveryone,Itisgreenwhenothertreesdie,thewindcan'tbreakit,andthesnowonlymakesitlookprettier。Itsingstome,andnodsasifitknewIlovedit。"
　　"Wemightcallit'TheHollyTreeInn,'assomeofthecheapeating—housesforpoorpeoplearecalledinthecity,asmyhollybushgrowsatitsfootforasign。Youcanbethelandlady,andfeedyourfeatherycustomerseveryday,tillthehardtimesareover,"
　　saidMrs。Minot,gladtoseethechild'senjoymentoftheouterworldfromwhichshehadbeenshutsolong。
　　Jilllikedthefancy,andgladlystrewedcrumbsonthewindowledgeforthechippies,whocameconfidinglytoeatalmostfromherhand。Shethrewoutgrainforthehandsomejays,thejauntyrobins,andtheneighbors'doves,whocamewithsoftflighttotripaboutontheirpinkfeet,archingtheirshiningnecksastheycooedandpecked。Carrotsandcabbage—leavesalsoflewoutofthewindowforthemaraudinggrayrabbit,lastofallJack'shalf—dozen,wholedhimawearylifeofitbecausetheywouldnotstayintheBunny—house,butunderminedthegardenwiththeirburrows,atetheneighbors'plants,andrefusedtobecaughttillallbutoneranaway,toJack'sgreatrelief。Thisoldfellowcampedoutforthewinter,andseemedtogetonverywellamongthecatsandthehens,whosharedtheirstoreswithhim,andhemightbeseenatallhoursofthedayandnightscamperingabouttheplace,orkickinguphisheelsbymoonlight,forhewasadesperatepoacher。
　　Jilltookgreatdelightinherprettypensioners,whosoonlearnedtolove"TheHollyTreeInn,"andtofeelthattheBirdRoomheldacagedcomrade;for,whenitwastoocoldorwettoopenthewindows,thedovescameandtappedatthepane,thechippiessatontheledgeinplumplittlebunchesasifsheweretheirsunshine,thejayscalledherintheirshrillvoicestoringthedinner—bell,andtherobinstiltedonthespruceboughswherelunchwasalwaystobehad。
　　ThefirstofMaycameonSunday,soallthecelebratingmustbedoneonSaturday,whichhappilyprovedfair,thoughtoochillyformuslingowns,papergarlands,andpicnicsondampgrass。Beingaholiday,theboysdecidedtodevotethemorningtoballandtheafternoontotheflowerhunt,whilethegirlsfinishedthebaskets;
　　andintheeveningourparticularsevenweretomeetattheMinotstofillthem,readyfortheclosingfrolicofhangingondoor—handles,ringingbells,andrunningaway。
　　"NowImustdomyMaying,fortherewillbenomoresunshine,andIwanttopickmyflowersbeforeitisdark。Come,Mammy,yougotoo,"saidJill,asthelastsunbeamsshoneinatthewesternwindowwhereherhyacinthsstoodthatnofosteringraymightbelost。
　　Itwasratherpathetictoseetheoncemerrygirlwhousedtobethelifeofthewood—partiesnowcarefullyliftingherselffromthecouch,and,leaningonhermother'sstrongarm,slowlytakethehalf—dozenstepsthatmadeupherlittleexpedition。Butshewashappy,andstoodsmilingoutatoldBunskippingdownthewalk,thegold—edgedcloudsthatdrewapartsothatasunbeamtiiightgiveheragood—nightkissasshegatheredherlong—cherisheddaisies,primroses,andhyacinthstofilltheprettybasketinherhand。
　　"Whoisitfor,mydeane？"askedhermother,standingbehindherasaprop,whilethethinfingersdidtheirworksowillinglythatnot~aflowerwasleft。
　　"ForMyLady,ofcourse。WhoelsewouldIgivemyposiesto,whenIlovethemsowell？"answeredJill,whothoughtnonametoofinefortheirbestfriend。
　　"IfancieditwouldbeforMasterJack,"saidhermother,wishingtheexcursiontobeacheerfulone。
　　"I'veanotherforhim,butshemusthavetheprettiest。Heisgoingtohangitforme,andringandrunaway,andshewon'tknowwhoit'sfromtillsheseesthis。Shewillrememberit,forI'vebeenturningandtendingiteversolong,tomakeitbloomto—day。Isn'titabeauty？"andJillheldupherfinesthyacinth,whichseemedtoringitspalepinkbellsasifgladtocarryitssweetmessagefromagratefullittleheart。
　　"Indeeditis;andyouarerighttogiveyourbesttoher。Comeawaynow,youmustnotstandanylonger。ComeandrestwhileIfetchadishtoputtheflowersintillyouwantthem";andMrs。PecqturnedherroundwithhersmallMayingsafelydone。
　　"Ididn'tthinkI'deverbeabletodoevensomuch,andhereIamwalkingandsittingup,andgoingtodrivesomeday。Isn'titnicethatI'mnottobeapoorLucindaafterall？"andJilldrewalongsighofreliefthatsixmonthsinsteadoftwentyyearswouldprobablybetheendofhercaptivity。
　　"Yes,thankHeaven！Idon'tthinkIcouldhavebornethat";andthemothertookJillinherarmsasifshewereababy,holdinghercloseforaminute,andlayingherdownwithatenderkissthatmadethearmsclingaboutherneckasherlittlegirlreturneditheartily,forallsortsofnew,sweetfeelingsseemedtobebuddinginboth,bornofgreatjoyandthankfulness。
　　ThenMrs。Pecqhurriedawaytoseeaboutteaforthehungryboys,andJillwatchedthepleasanttwilightdeepenasshelaysingingtoherselfoneofthesongsherfriendtaughtherbecauseitfittedhersowell。
　　"AlittlebirdIam,Shutfromthefieldsofair,AndinmycageIsitandsingToHimwhoplacedmethere:
　　Wellpleasedaprisonertobe,Because,myGod,itpleasesThee！
　　"NaughthaveIelsetodo;
　　Isingthewholedaylong;
　　AndHewhommostIlovetopleaseDothlistentomysong,Hecaughtandboundmywanderingwing,ButstillHebendstohearmesing。"
　　"Nowwearereadyforyou,sobringonyourflowers,"saidMollytotheboys,assheandMerryaddedtheirstoreofbasketstothegayshowJillhadsetforthonthelongtablereadyfortheevening'swork。
　　"Theywouldn'tletmeseeone,butIguesstheyhavehadgoodluck,theylooksojolly,"answeredJill,lookingatGus,Frank,andJack,whostoodlaughing,eachwithalargebasketinhishands。
　　"Fairtomiddling。Justlookinandsee";withwhichcheerfulremarkGustippeduphisbasketanddisplayedafewbitsofgreenatthebottom。
　　"I'didbetter。Now,don'tallscreamatonceoverthesebeauties";
　　andFrankshookoutsomeevergreensprigs,halfadozensaxifrages,andtwoorthreeforlornvioletswithhardlyanystems。
　　"Idon'tbrag,buthere'sthebestofallthethree,"chuckledJack,producingabunchoffeatherycarrot—tops,withafewhalf—shutdandelionstryingtolookbraveandgay。
　　"Oh,boys,isthatall？"
　　"Whatshallwedo？"
　　"We'veonlyafewhouse—flowers,andallthosebasketstofill,"
　　criedthegirls,indespair;forMerry'scontributionhadbeensmall,andMollyhadonlyahandfulofartificialflowers"tofillup,"shesaid。
　　"Itisn'tourfault:itisthelatespring。Wecan'tmakeflowers,canwe？"askedFrank,inatoneofcalmresignation。
　　"Couldn'tyoubuysome,then？"saidMolly,smoothinghercrumpledmorning—glories,withasigh。
　　'Whoeverheardofafellowhavinganymoneyleftthelastdayofthemonth？"demandedGus,severely。
　　"Orgirlseither。Ispentallmineinribbonandpaperformybaskets,andnowtheyareofnouse。It'sashame！"lamentedJill,whileMerrybegantothinoutherfullbasketstofilltheemptyones。
　　"Holdon！"criedFrank,relenting。"Now,Jack,maketheirmindseasybeforetheybegintoweepandwail。"
　　"Lefttheboxoutside。YoutellwhileIgoforit";andJackbolted,asifafraidtheyoungladiesmightbetoodemonstrativewhenthetalewastold。
　　"Tellaway,"saidFrank,modestlypassingthestoryalongtoGus,whomadeshortworkofit。
　　"Werampagedalloverthecountry,andgotonlythatsmallmessofgreens。Knewyou'dbedisgusted,andsatdowntoseewhatwecoulddo。ThenJackpipedup,andsaidhe'dshowusaplacewherewecouldgetaplenty。'Comeon,'saidwe,andafterleadingusanicetramp,hebroughtusoutatMorse'sgreenhouse。
　　Sowegotafewontick,aswehadbutfourcentsamongus,andthereyouare。Prettycleverofthelittlechap,wasn'tit？"
　　AchorusofdelightgreetedJackashepoppedhisheadin,waspromptlyseizedbyhiseldersandwalkeduptothetable,wheretheboxwasopened,displayinggayposiesenoughtofillmostofthebasketsifdistributedwithgreateconomyandmuchgreen。
　　"Youarethedearestboythateverwas！"beganJill,withhernoseluxuriouslyburiedinthebox,thoughtheflowersweremoreremarkableforcolorthanperfume。
　　"No,I'mnot;there'samuchdeareronecomingupstairsnow,andhe'sgotsomethingthatwillmakeyouhowlforjoy,"saidJack,ignoringhisownprowessasEdcameinwithabiggerbox,lookingasifhehaddonenothingbutgoaMayingallhisdays。
　　"Don'tbelieveit！"criedJill,huggingherowntreasurejealously。
　　"It'soniyanotherjoke。Iwon'tlook,"saidMolly,stillstrugglingtomakehercambricrosesbloomagain。
　　"Iknowwhatitis！Oh,howsweet！"addedMerry,sniffing,asEdsettheboxbeforeher,sayingpleasantly,"Youshallseefirst,becauseyouhadfaith。"
　　Upwentthecover,andawhiffofthefreshestfragranceregaledtheseveneagernosesbenttoinhaleit,asageneralmurmurofpleasuregreetedthenestofgreat,rosymayflowersthatlaybeforethem。
　　"Thedearthings,howlovelytheyare！"andMerrylookedasifgreetinghercousins,sobloomingandsweetwasherownface。
　　Mollypushedherdingygarlandsaway,ashamedofsuchpoorattemptsbesidetheseperfectworksofnature,andJillstretchedoutherhandinvoluntarily,asshesaid,forgettingherexotics,"Givemejustonetosmellof,itissowoodsyanddelicious。"
　　"Hereyouare,plentyforall。RealPilgrimFathers,rightfromPlymouth。Oneofourfellowslivesthere,andItoldhimtobringmeagoodlot;sohedid,andyoucandowhatyoulikewiththem,"
　　explainedEd,passingroundbunchesandshakingtherestinamossypileuponthetable。
　　"Edalwaysgetsaheadofusindoingtherightthingattherighttime。Hopeyou'vegotsomefirst—classbasketsreadyforhim,"saidGus,refreshingtheWashingtoniannosewithapinkblossomortwo。
　　"Notmuchdangerofhisbeingforgotten,"answeredMolly;andeveryonelaughed,forEdwasmuchbelovedbyallthegirls,andhisdoor—stepsalwaysbloomedlikeaflower—bedonMayeve。
　　"Nowwemustflyroundandfillup。Come,boys,sortoutthegreenandhandustheflowersaswewantthem。Thenwemustdirectthem,and,bythetimethatisdone,youcangoandleavethem,"
　　saidJill,settingalltowork。
　　"Edmustchoosehisbasketsfirst。Theseareours;butanyofthoseyoucanhave";andMollypointedtoadetachmentofgaybaskets,setapartfromthosealreadypartlyfilled。
　　Edchoseablueone,andMerryfilleditwiththerosiestmay—flowers,knowingthatitwastohangonMabel'sdoor—handle。
　　Theothersdidthesame,andtheprettyworkwenton,withmuchfun,tillallwerefilled,andreadyforthenamesornotes。
　　"Letushavepoetry,aswecan'tgetwildflowers。Thatwillberatherfine,"proposedJill,wholikedjingles。
　　Allhadhadsomepracticeatthegameparties,andpencilswentbrisklyforafewminutes,whilesilencereigned,asthepoetsrackedtheirbrainsforrhymes,andstaredatthebloomingarraybeforethemforinspiration。
　　"Oh,dear！Ican'tfindawordtorhymeto'geranium,'"sighedMolly,pullingherbraid,asiftopumpthewellofherfancydry。
　　"Cranium,"saidFrank,whowasgettingonbravelywith"Annette"
　　and"violet。"
　　"Thatiselegant！"andMollyscribbledawayingreatglee,forherpoemswerealwaysfunnyones。
　　"Howdoyouspellanemoly——thewildflower,Imean？"askedJill,whowastryingtocomposeaveryappropriatepieceforherbestbasket,andfounditeasiertofeelloveandgratitudethantoputthemintoverse。
　　"Anemone;dospellitproperly,oryou'llgetlaughedat,"answeredGus,wildlystrugglingtomakehislinesexpressgreatardor,withoutbeing"toospoony,"asheexpressedit。
　　"No,Ishouldn't。Thispersonneverlaughsatotherpersons'
　　mistakes,assomepersonsdo,"repliedJill,withdignity。
　　Jackwasdesperatelychewinghispencil,forhecouldnotgetonatall;butEdhadevidentlypreparedhispoem,forhispaperwashalffullalready,andMerrywassmilingasshewroteafriendlylineortwoforRalph'sbasket,asshefearedhewouldbeforgotten,andknewhelovedkindnessevenmorethanhedidbeauty。
　　"Nowlet'sreadthem,"proposedMolly,wholovedtolaughevenatherself。
　　Theboyspolitelydeclined,andscrambledtheirnotesintothechosenbasketsingreathaste;butthegirlswerelessbashful。Jillwasinvitedtobegin,andgaveherlittlepiece,withthepinkhyacinthbasketbeforeher,toillustrateherpoem。
　　"TOMYLADY
　　"Therearenoflowersinthefields,Nogreenleavesonthetree,Nocolumbines,noviolets,Nosweetanemone。
　　SoIhavegatheredfrommypotsAllthatIhavetofillThebasketthatIhangto—night,WithheapsoflovefromJill。"
　　"That'sperfectlysweet！Mineisn't;butImeantittobefunny,"saidMolly,asiftherecouldbeanydoubtaboutthefollowingditty:
　　"DearGrif,HereisawhiffOfbeautifulspringflowers;
　　ThebigredroseIsforyournose,Astowardtheskyittowers。
　　"Oh,donoifrownUponthiscrownOfgreenpinksandbluegeraniumButthinkofmeWhenthisyousee,Andputitonyourcranium。"
　　"OMolly,youwillneverhearthelastofthatifGrifgetsit,"saidJill,astheapplausesubsided,fortheboyspronouncedit"tip—top。"
　　"Don'tcare,hegetstheworstofitanyway,forthereisapininthatrose,andifhegoestosmellthemayflowersunderneathhewillfindathorntopayforthetackheputinmyrubberboot。Iknowhewillplaymesomejoketo—night,andImeantobefirstifIcan,"
　　answeredMolly,settlingtheartificialwreathroundtheorange—coloredcanoewhichheldhereffusion。
　　"Now,Merry,readyours:youalwayshavesweetpoems";andJillfoldedherhandstolistenwithpleasuretosomethingsentimental。
　　"Ican'treadthepoemsinsomeofmine,becausetheyareforyou;
　　butthislittleverseyoucanhear,ifyoulike:I'mgoingtogivethatbaskettoRalph。Hesaidheshouldhangoneforhisgrandmother,andIthoughtthatwassoniceofhim,I'dlovetosurprisehimwithonealltohimself。He'salwayssogoodtous";andMerrylookedsoinnocentlyearnestthatnoonesmiledatherkindthoughtortheunconsciousparaphraseshehadmadeofafamousstanzainherown"littleverse。"
　　"ToonewhoteachesmeThesweetnessandthebeautyOfdoingfaithfullyAndcheerfullymyduty。"
　　"Hewilllikethat,andknowwhosentit,fornoneofushaveprettypinkpaperbutyou,orwritesuchaneleganthand,"saidMolly,admiringthedelicatewhitebasketshapedlikealily,withtheflowersinsideandthenotehiddenamongthem,alldaintilytiedupwiththepalestblush—coloredribbon。
　　"Well,that'snoharm。HelikesprettythingsasmuchasI'do,andI
　　mademybasketlikeaflowerbecauseIgavehimoneofmycallas,headmiredtheshapesomuch";andMerrysmiledassherememberedhowpleasedRalphlookedashewentawaycarryingthelovelything。
　　"Ithinkitwouldbeagoodplantohangsomebasketsonthedoorsofotherpeoplewhodon'texpectoroftenhaveany。I'lldoitifyoucansparesomeofthese,wehavesomany。Givemeonlyone,andlettheothersgotooldMrs。Tucker,andthelittleIrishgirlwhohasbeensicksolong,andlameNeddy,andDaddyMunson。Itwouldpleaseandsurprisethemso。Willwe？"askedEd,inthatpersuasivevoiceofhis。
　　Allagreedatonce,andseveralpeopleweremadeveryhappybyabitofspringleftattheirdoorsbytheMayelveswhohauntedthetownthatnightplayingallsortsofpranks。Suchatwangingofbellsandrappingofknockers;suchascamperingoffeetinthedark;suchdrollcollisionsasboyscameracingroundcorners,orgirlsranintooneanother'sarmsastheycreptupanddownstepsonthesly;suchlaughing,whistling,flyingaboutofflowersandfriendlyfeeling——itwasalmostapitythatMay—daydidnotcomeoftener。
　　Mollygothomelate,andfoundthatGrifhadbeenbeforeher,afterall;forshestumbledoveramarket—basketatherdoor,andontakingitinfoundamammothnosegayofpurpleandwhitecabbages,herfavoritevegetable。EvenMissBatlaughedatthefunnysight,andMollyresolvedtogetRalphtocarveherabouquetoutofcarrots,beets,andturnipsfornexttime,asGrifwouldneverthinkofthat。
　　Merryranupthegarden—walkalone,forFrankleftheratthegate,andwasfumblingforthelatchwhenshefeltsomethinghangingthere。Openingthedoorcarefully,shefounditgaywithofferingsfromhermates;andamongthemwasonelongquiver—shapedbasketofbirchbark,withsomethingheavyunderthegreenleavesthatlayatthetop。Liftingthese,aslenderhas—reliefofacallalilyinplasterappeared,withthiscoupletslippedintothebluecordbywhichitwastohang:
　　"ThatmercyyoutoothersshowThatMercyGranttome。"
　　"Howlovely！andthisonewillneverfade,butalwaysbeapleasurehangingthere。Now,Ireallyhavesomethingbeautifulallmyown,"saidMerrytoherselfassheranuptohangtheprettythingonthedarkwainscotofherroom,wherethegracefulcurveofitspointedleavesandthedepthofitswhitecupwouldbeajoytohereyesaslongastheylasted。
　　"Iwonderwhatthatmeans,"andMerryreadoverthelinesagain,whileasoftcolorcameintohercheeksandalittlesmileofgirlishpleasurebegantodimpleroundherlips;forshewassoromantic,thistouchofsentimentshowedherthatherfriendshipwasmorevaluedthanshedreamed。Butsheonlysaid,"HowgladIamI
　　rememberedhim,andhowsurprisedhewillbetoseemayflowersinreturnforthelily。"
　　Hewas,andworkedawaymorehappilyandbravelyforthethoughtofthelittlefriendwhoseeyeswoulddailyfallonthewhiteflowerwhichalwaysremindedhimofher。
　　Chapter19GoodTemplars"Hithere！Bell'srung！Getup,lazy—bones！"calledFrankfromhisroomastheclockstrucksixonebrightmorning,andagreatcreakingandstampingproclaimedthathewasastir。
　　"Allright,I'mcoming,"respondedadrowsyvoice,andJackturnedoverasiftoobey;buttheretheeffortended,andhewasoffagain,forgrowingladsarehardtorouse,asmanyamotherknowstohersorrow。
　　Frankmadeabeginningonhisowntoilet,andthentookalookathisbrother,forthestillnesswassuspicious。
　　"Ithoughtso！Hetoldmetowakehim,andIguessthiswilldoit";
　　and,fillinghisgreatspongewithwater,Frankstalkedintothenextroomandstoodovertheunconsciousvictimlikeasternexecutioner,gladtounitebusinesswithpleasureinthisagreeablemanner。
　　Awomanwouldhaverelentedandtriedsomemildermeans,forwhenhisbroadshouldersandstoutlimbswerehidden,Jacklookedveryyoungandinnocentinhissleep。EvenFrankpausedamomenttolookattheround,rosyface,thecurlyeyelashes,half—openmouth,andthepeacefulexpressionofadreamingbaby。
　　"Imustdoit,orhewon'tbereadyforbreakfast,"saidtheSpartanbrother,anddowncamethesponge,cold,wet,andchoky,asitwasbrisklyrubbedtoandfroregardlessofeveryobstacle。
　　"Come,Isay！That'snotfair！Leavemealone！"sputteredJack,hittingoutsovigorouslythatthespongeflewacrosstheroom,andFrankfellbacktolaughattheindignantsufferer。
　　"Ipromisedtowakeyou,andyoubelieveinkeepingpromises,soI'mdoingmybesttogetyouup。"
　　"Well,youneedn'tpouraquartofwaterdownafellow'sneck,andrubhisnoseoff,needyou？I'mawake,sotakeyouroldspongeandgoalong,"growledJack,withoneeyeopenandamightygape。
　　"Seethatyoukeepso,then,orI'llcomeandgiveyouanothersortofarouser,"saidFrank,retiringwell—pleasedwithhissuccess。
　　"Ishallhaveonegoodstretch,ifIlike。Itisstrengtheningtothemuscles,andI'masstiffasaboardwithallthatfootballyesterday,"murmuredJack,lyingdownforonedeliciousmoment。
　　Heshuttheopeneyetoenjoyitthoroughly,andforgotthestretchaltogether,forthebedwaswarm,thepillowsoft,andahalf—finisheddreamstillhungabouthisdrowsybrain。Whodoesnotknowthefatalcharmofthatstolenmoment——foronceyieldtoit,andoneislost。
　　Jackwasmilesaway"inthetwinklingofabedpost,"andthepleasingdreamseemedabouttoreturn,whenaruthlesshandtoreofftheclothes,swepthimoutofbed,andhereallydidawaketofindhimselfstandinginthemiddleofhisbath—panwithbothwindowsopen,andFrankabouttopourapailofwateroverhim。
　　"Holdon！Yah,howcoldthewateris！Why,IthoughtIwasup";
　　and,hoppingout,JackrubbedhiseyesandlookedaboutwithsuchagenuinesurprisethatFrankputdownthepail,feelingthatthedelugewouldnotbeneededthistime。
　　"Youarenow,andI'llseethatyoukeepso,"hesaid,ashestrippedthebedandcarriedoffthepillows。
　　"Idon'tcare。Whatajollyday！"andJacktookalittlepromenadetofinishtherousingprocess。
　　"You'dbetterhurryup,oryouwon'tgetyourchoresdonebeforebreakfast。Notimeforagoasyoupleasenow,saidFrank;andbothboyslaughed,foritwasanoldjokeoftheirs,andratherfunny。
　　GoinguptobedonenightexpectingtofindJackasleep,Frankdiscoveredhimtrampingroundandroundtheroomairilyattiredinatowel,andsodizzywithhisbriskrevolutionsthatashisbrotherlookedhetumbledoverandlaypantinglikeafallengladiator。
　　"Whatonearthareyouabout？"
　　"PlayingRowell。Walkingforthebelt,andI'vegotittoo,"laughedJack,pointingtoanoldgiltchandelierchainhangingonthebedpost。
　　"Youlittlenoodle,you'dbetterrevolveintobedbeforeyouloseyourheadentirely。Ineversawsuchafellowfortakinghimselfoffhislegs。"
　　"Well,ifIdidn'texercise,doyousupposeIshouldbeabletodothat——orthat？"criedJack,turningasomersaultandstrikingafineattitudeashecameup,flatteringhimselfthathewasthemodelofayouthfulathlete。
　　"Youlookmorelikeaclothes—pinthanaHercules,"wasthecrushingreplyofthisunsympatheticbrother,andJackmeeklyretiredwithabadheadache。
　　"Idon'tdosuchsillythingsnow:I'masbroadacrosstheshouldersasyouare,andtwiceasstrongonmypins,thankstomygymnastics。BetyouacentI'llbedressedfirst,thoughyouhavegotthestart,"saidJack,knowingthatFrankalwayshadaprotractedwrestlewithhiscollar—buttons,whichgavehisadversaryagreatadvantageoverhim。
　　"Done！"answeredFrank,andatittheywent。AwildscramblewasheardinJack'sroom,andasteadytrampintheotherasFrankworkedawayatthestiffcollarandtheunaccommodatingbuttontilleveryfingerached。Aclashingofbootsfollowed,whileJackwhistled"PollyHopkins,"andFrankdeclaimedinhisdeepestvoice,"Armavirumquecano,TrojaequiprimusaborisItaliam,fatoprofugus,Laviniaquevenitlitora。"
　　Hair—brushescamenext,andhereFrankgotahead,forJack'sthickcropwouldstandstraightuponthecrown,andonlyagoodwettingandasteadybrushwouldmakeitliedown。
　　"Playaway,No。2calledoutfrankasheputonhisvest,whileJackwasstillatitwithapairofthestiffestbrushesprocurableformoney。
　　"Holdhard,No。11,anddon'tforgetyourteeth,"answeredJack,whohaddonehis。
　　Franktookahastyrubandwhiskedonhiscoat,whileJackwaspickingupthevarioustreasureswhichhadflownoutofhispocketsashecaughtuphisroundabout。
　　"Ready！I'lltroubleyouforacent,sonny";andFrankheldouthishandasheappearedequippedfortheday。
　　"Youhaven'thungupyournight—gown,norairedthebed,noropenedthewindows。That'spartofthedressing;mothersaidso。
　　I'vegotyouthere,foryoudidallthatforme,exceptthis,"andJackthrewhisgownoverachairwithatriumphantflourishasFrankturnedbacktoleavehisroomintheorderwhichtheyhadbeentaughtwasoneofthesignsofagoodbringing—upinboysaswellasgirls。
　　"Ready！I'lltroubleyouforacent,oldman";andJackheldouthishand,withachuckle。
　　Hegotthemoneyandagoodclapbeside;thentheyretiredtotheshedtoblacktheirboots,afterwhichFrankfilledthewoodboxesandJacksplitkindlings,tillthedailyallowancewasready。Bothwentattheirlessonsforhalfanhour,Jackscowlingoverhisalgebrainthesofacorner,whileFrank,withhiselbowsonandhislegsroundthelittlestandwhichheldhisbooks,seemedtobehavingawrestling—matchwithHerodotus。
　　Whenthebellrangtheyweregladtodropthelessonsandfallupontheirbreakfastwiththeappetiteofwolves,especiallyJack,whosequesteredoatmealandmilkwithsuchrapiditythatonewouldhavethoughthehadaleathernbaghiddensomewheretoslipitinto,likehisfamousnamesakewhenhebreakfastedwiththegiant。
　　"IdeclareIdon'tseewhathedoeswithit！Hereallyoughtnotto'gobble'so,mother,"saidFrank,whowaseatingwithgreatdeliberationandpropriety。
　　"Neveryoumind,oldquiddle。I'msohungryIcouldtuckawayabushel,"answeredJack,emptyingaglassofmilkandholdingouthisplateformoremush,regardlessofhiswhitemoustache。
　　"Temperanceinallthingsiswise,inspeechaswellaseatinganddrinking——rememberthat,boys,"saidMammafrombehindtheurn。
　　"Thatremindsme！Wepromisedtodothe'Observer'thisweek,andhereitisTuesdayandIhaven'tdoneathing:haveyou？"askedFrank。
　　"Neverthoughtofit。Wemustlookupsomebitsatnooninstead0fplaying。DaresayJillhasgotsome:shealwayssavesallshefindsforme。"
　　"Ihaveoneortwogooditems,andcandoanycopyingtheremaybe。ButIthinkifyouundertakethepaperyoushouldgivesometimeandlabortomakeitgood,"saidMamma,whowasusedtothisstateofaffairs,andofteneditedthelittlesheetreadeveryweekattheLodge。Theboysseldommissedgoing,butthebusyladywasoftenunabletobethere,sohelpedwiththepaperashershareofthelabor。