"Hi！hi！Oh,pleasedostopandgetme！I'mlost,nooars,nobodytofixthesail！Oh,oh！pleasecome！"screamedJill,wavingherhatfranticallyastheotherboatskimmedbyandthemanstaredatherasifshereallywasamermaidwithafishytail。
　　"Keepstill！I'llcomeaboutandfetchyou！"hecalledout;andJillobeyed,sittinglikealittleimageoffaith,tillwithagooddealofshiftingandflappingofthesail,theotherboatcamealongsideandtookherintow,Afewwordstoldthestory,andinfiveminutesshewassittingsnuglytuckedupwatchingartunpleasantmassoflobstersflapaboutdangerouslynearhertoes,whiletheboatboundedoverthewaveswithadelightfulmotion,andeveryinstantbroughthernearerborne。Shedidnotsaymuch,butfeltagooddeal;andwhentheymettwoboatscomingtomeether,mannedbyveryanxiouscrewsofmenandboys,shewassopaleandquietthatJackwasquiteboweddownwithremorse,andFranknearlypitchedthebicycleboyoverboardbecausehegaylyaskedJillhowsheleftherfriendsinEngland。Therewasgreatrejoicingoverher,forthepeopleontherockshadheardofherloss,andranaboutlikeantswhentheirhillisdisturbed。OfcoursehalfadozenamiablesoulspostedofftotheWillowstotellthefamilythatthelittlegirlwasdrowned,sothatwhentherescuersappearedquiteacrowdwasassembledonthebeachtowelcomeher。ButJillfeltsousedupwithherownshareoftheexcitementthatshewasgladtobecarriedtothehousebyFrankandJack,andlaiduponherbed,whereMrs。Hammondsoonrestoredherwithsugar—coatedpills,andwordsevensweeterandmoresoothing。
　　Otherpeople,busiedwiththeirownpleasures,forgotallaboutitbythenextday;butJillrememberedthathourlongafterward,bothawakeandasleep,forherdreamsweretroubled,andsheoftenstartedupimploringsomeonetosaveher。Thenshewouldrecallthemomentwhen,feelingmosthelpless,shehadaskedforhelp,andithadcomeasquicklyasifthattearfullittlecryhadbeenheardandanswered,thoughhervoicehadbeendrownedbythedashofthewavesthatseemedreadytodevourher。Thismadeadeepimpressiononher,andasenseofchildlikefaithintheFatherofallbegantogrowupwithinher;forinthatlonelyvoyage,shortasitwas,shehadfoundaveryprecioustreasuretokeepforever,toleanon,andtoloveduringthelongervoyagewhichallmusttakebeforewereachourhome。
　　Chapter22AHappyDay"Ohdear！Onlyaweekmore,andthenwemustgoback。Don'tyouhatethethoughtsofit？"saidJack,ashewasgivingJillherearlywalkonthebeachoneAugustmorning。
　　"Yes,itwillbedreadfultoleaveGertyandMamieandallthenicepeople。ButI'msomuchbetterIwon'thavetobeshutupagain,evenifIdon'tgotoschool。HowIlongtoseeMerryandMolly。
　　Dearthings,ifitwasn'tforthemIshouldhategoinghomemorethanyoudo,"answeredJill,steppingalongquitebriskly,andfindingitveryhardtoresistbreakingintoaskiporarun,shefeltsowellandgay。
　　"Wishtheycouldbehereto—daytoseethefun,"saidJack,foritwastheanniversaryofthefoundingoftheplace,andthepeoplecelebrateditbyallsortsoffestivity。
　　"I'didwanttoaskMolly,butyourmotherissogoodtomeI
　　couldn'tfindcouragetodoit。Mammytoldmenottoaskforathing,andI'msureIdon'tgetachance。IfeeljustasifIwasyourtrulybornsister,Jack。"
　　"That'sallright,I'mgladyoudo,"answeredJack,comfortably,thoughhismindseemedalittleabsentandhiseyestwinkledwhenshespokeofMolly。"Now,yousitinthecubby—house,andkeepquiettilltheboatcomesin。Thenthefunwillbegin,andyoumustbefreshandreadytoenjoyit。Don'trunoff,now,Ishallwanttoknowwheretofindyoubyandby。"
　　"Nomorerunningoff,thankyou。I'llstayheretillyoucome,andfinishthisboxforMolly;shehasabirthdaythisweek,andI'vewrittentoaskwhatday,soIcansenditrightupandsurpriseher。
　　Jack'seyestwinkledmorethaneverashehelpedJillsettleherselfintheboat,andthenwithawhoophetoreoverthebeach,asifpractisingfortheracewhichwastocomeoffintheafternoon。
　　Jillwassobusywithherworkthattimewentquickly,andth~
　　earlyboatcameinjustasthelastpinkshellwasstuckinitsplace。
　　Puttingtheboxinthesuntodry,sheleanedoutofhernooktowatchthegaypartiesland,andgostreamingupthepieralongtheroadthatwentbehindthebankthatshelteredher。Flocksofchildrenwererunningaboutonthesand,andpresentlystrangersappeared,eagertoseeandenjoyallthedelightsofthisgala—day。
　　"There'safatlittleboywholookseversomuchlikeBoo,"saidJilltoherself,watchingthepeopleandhopingtheywouldnotcomeandfindher,sinceshehadpromisedtostaytillJackreturned。
　　Thefatlittleboywasstaringabouthiminablissfulsortofmaze,holdingawoodenshovelinonehandandtheskirtsofayounggirlwiththeother。HerbackwasturnedtoJill,butsomethinginthelongbrownbraidwithafly—awaybluebowhangingdownherbacklookedveryfamiliartoJill。SodidthegraysuitandtheJapaneseumbrella;butthehatwasstrange,andwhileshewasthinkinghownaturalthebootslooked,thegirlturnedround。
　　"Why,howmuchshelookslikeMolly！Itcan'tbe——yes,itmight,I
　　dobelieveitis！"criedJill,startingupandhardlydaringtotrustherowneyes。
　　Asshecameoutofhernestandshowedherself,therecouldbenodoubtabouttheothergirl,forshegaveoneshoutandcameracingoverthebeachwithbotharmsout,whileherhatblewoffunheeded,andthegayumbrellaflewaway,tothegreatdelightofallthelittlepeopleexceptBoo,whowasupsetbyhissister'simpetuousrush,andlayuponhisbackhowling。Mollydidnotdoalltherunning,though,andJillgotherwish,for,neverstoppingtothinkofherself,shewasoffatonce,andmetherfriendhalf—waywithanansweringcry。Jrwasaprettysighttoseethemrunintooneanother'sarmsandhugandkissandtalkandskipinsuchastateofgirlishjoytheynevercaredwhosaworlaughedattheirinnocentraptures。
　　"Youdarlingdear！wheredidyoucomefrom？"criedJill,holdingMollybybothshoulders,andshakingheralittletobesureshewasreal。
　　"Mrs。Minotsentforustospendaweek。Youlooksowell,Ican'tbelievemyeyes！"answeredMolly,pattingJill'scheeksandkissingthemoverandover,asiftomakesurethebrightcolorwouldnotcomeoff。
　　"Aweek？Howsplendid！Oh,I'vesuchheapstotellandshowyou;
　　comerightovertomycubbyandseehowlovelyitis,"saidJill,forgettingeverybodyelseinherdelightatgettingMolly。
　　"ImustgetpoorBoo,andmyhatandumbrella,IleftthemallbehindmewhenIsawyou,"laughedMolly,lookingback。
　　ButMrs。MinotandJackhadconsoledBooandcollectedthescatteredproperty,sothegirlswentonarminarm,andhadafinetimebeforeanyonehadthehearttodisturbthem。Mollywascharmedwiththeboat,andJillverygladtheboxwasdoneinseason。Bothhadsomuchtotellandhearandplan,thattheywouldhavesatthereforeverifbathing—timehadnotcome,andthebeachsuddenlylookedlikeabedofredandyellowtulips,foreveryonetookadip,andthestrangersaddedmuchtothefun。
　　Mollycouldswimlikeaduck,andquitecoveredherselfwithglorybydivingoffthepier。JackundertooktoteachBoo,whowasapromisingpupil,beingsoplumpthathecouldnotsinkifhetried。
　　Jillwassoonthrough,andlayonthesandenjoyingtheanticsofthebatherstillshewassofaintwithlaughtershewasgladtohearthedinner—hornanddothehonorsoftheWillowstoMolly,whoseroomwasnexthers。
　　Boat—racescamefirstintheafternoon,andthegirlswatchedthem,sittingluxuriouslyinthenest,withtheladiesandchildrencloseby。Thesailing—matcheswereveryprettytosee;butMollyandJillweremoreinterestedintherowing,forFrankandthebicycleboypulledoneboat,andthefriendsfeltthatthisonemustwin。Itdid,thoughtheracewasnotveryexcitingnortheprizeofgreatworth;
　　buttheboysandgirlsweresatisfied,andJackwasmuchexalted,forhealwaystoldFrankhecoulddogreatthingsifhewouldonlydropbooksand"goinonhismuscle。"
　　Foot—racesfollowed,and,burningtodistinguishhimselfalso,Jackinsistedontrying,thoughhismotherwarnedhimthattheweaklegmightbeharmed,andhehadhisowndoubtsaboutit,ashewasalloutofpractice。However,hetookhisplacewithahandkerchieftiedroundhishead,redshirtandstockings,andhissleevesrolledupasifhemeantbusiness。JillandMollycouldnotsitstillduringthisrace,andstoodonthebankquitetremblingwithexcitementasthehalf—dozenrunnersstoodinalineatthestarting—postwaitingfortheword"Go！"
　　Offtheywentatlastoverthesmoothbeachtothepolewiththeflagatthefurtherend,andcveryonewatchedthemwithmingledinterestandmerriment,fortheywereadrollset,andtherunningnotatallscientificwithmostofthem。Oneyoungfishermanwithbigbootsoverhistrousersstartedoffatagreatpace,poundingalonginthemostdoggedway,whilealittlechapinatightbathing—suitwithverythinlegsskimmedbyhim,lookingsolikeasand—piperitwasimpossibletohelplaughingatboth。Jack'sformertrainingstoodhimingoodsteadnow;forhewenttoworkinprofessionalstyle,andkeptasteadytrottilltheflagpolehadbeenpassed,thenheputonhisspeedandshotaheadofalltherest,severalofwhombrokedownandgaveup。ButCoxandBaconheldongallantly;andsoonitwasevidentthatthesturdylegsintheknickerbockersweregainingfast,forJackgavehisankleanuglywrenchonaroundpebble,andtheweakkneebegantofail。Hedidhisbest,however,andquiteabreezeofenthusiasmstirredthespectatorsasthethreeboyscamedownthecourselikemettlesomehorses,panting,pale,orpurple,buteachboundtowinatanycost。
　　Now,Bacon！"Goit,Minot！Hithimup,Cox！Jack'sahead！""No,heisn't！""Heretheycome！""Bacon'sdoneit！"shoutedtheotherboys,andtheywereright;Baconhadwon,forthegraylegscameinjusthalfayardaheadoftheredones,andMinottumbledintohisbrother'sarmswithhardlybreathenoughlefttogaspout,good—humoredly,"Allright,I'mgladhebeat！"
　　Thenthevictorwascongratulatedandborneoffbyhisfriendstorefreshhimself,whilethelookers—onscatteredtoseeagameoftennisandtheshootingoftheArcheryClubupatthehotel。Jackwassoonrested,and,makinglightofhisdefeat,insistedontakingthegirlstoseethefun。Sothey'droveupintheoldomnibus,andenjoyedtheprettysightverymuch;fortheyoungladieswereinuniform,andthebroadgreenribbonsoverthewhitedresses,thegayquivers,longbows,andbigtargets,madealivelyscene。Theshootingwasgood;ahandsomedamselgottheprizeofadozenarrows,andeveryoneclappedinthemostenthusiasticmanner。
　　MollyandJilldidnotcareabouttennis,sotheywenthometorestanddressfortheevening,becausetotheirmindsthedancing,theillumination,andthefireworkswerethebestfunofall。Jill'swhitebuntingwithcherryribbonswasverybecoming,andthelivelyfeetinthenewslipperspattedthefloorimpatientlyasthesoundofdancemusiccamedowntotheWillowsaftertea,andtheothergirlswaltzedonthewidepiazzabecausetheycouldnotkeepstill。
　　"Nodancingforme,butMollymusthaveagoodtime。You'llseethatshedoes,won'tyou,boys？"saidJill,whoknewthathershareofthefunwouldbelyingonasetteeandwatchingtherestenjoyherfavoritepastime。
　　FrankandJackpromised,andkc~ttheirwordhandsomely;fortherewasplentyofroominthegreatdancing—hallatthehotel,andthebandinthepavilionplayedsuchinspiringmusicthat,asthebicycleboysaid,"Everyonewhohadalegcouldn'thelpshakingit。"Mollywastwirledabouttoherheart'scontent,andflewhitherandthitherlikeabluebutterfly;foralltheladslikedher,andshekeptrunninguptotellJillthefunnythingstheysaidanddid。
　　Asnightdarkenedfromallthehousesinthevalley,onthecliffsandalongtheshorelightsshoneandsparkled;foreveryonedecoratedwithgaylanterns,andseveralyachtsinthebaystrungcoloredlampsaboutthelittlevessels,makingaprettypictureonthequietsea。Jillthoughtshehadneverseenanythingsolikefairy—land,andfeltverylikeoneinadreamasshedroveslowlyupanddownwithMamie,Gerty,Molly,andMrs。Coxinthecarriage,sothatshemightseeitallwithouttoomuchfatigue。Itwasverylovely;andwhenrocketsbegantowhizz,fillingtheairwithgoldenrain,ashowerofcoloredstars,fierydragons,orglitteringwheels,thegirlscouldonlyshriekwithdelight,andbegtostayalittlelongereachtimetheprudentladyproposedgoinghome。
　　Ithadtobeatlast;butMollyandJillcomfortedthemselvesbyalongtalkinbed,foritwasimpossibletosleepwithglaresoflightcomingeveryfewminutes,flocksofpeopletalkingandtrampingbyintheroad,andburstsofmusicfloatingdowntothem~sthcoldcrbutnotwiserrevellerskeptupthemerrimenttillalatehour。
　　They'droppedoffatlast;butJillhadthenightmare,andMollywaswakedupbyaviolentjerkingofherbraidasJilltriedtotowheralong,dreamingshewasaboat。
　　Theyweretoosleepytolaughmuchthen,butnextmorningtheymademerryoverit,andwenttobreakfastwithsuchhappyfacesthatalltheyoungfolkspronouncedJill'sfriendamostdelightfulgirl。WhatagoodtimeMollydidhavethatweek！Otherpeopleweregoingtoleavealso,andthereforemuchpicnicking,boating,anddrivingwascrowdedintothelastdays。Clambakesontheshore,charadesinthestudio,sewing—partiesattheboat,eveningfrolicsinthebigdining—room,farewellcalls,gifts,andInvitations,allSortsofplansfornextsummer,andvowsofeternalfriendshipexchangedbetweenpeoplewhowouldsoonforgeteachother。Itwasverypleasant,tillpoorBooinnocentlyaddedtotheexcitementbypoisoningafewofhisneighborswithabadlobster。
　　Theambitiouslittlesoulpinedtocatchoneofthesemysteriousbutlovelyredcreatures,andspentdaysfishingonthebeach,investigatingholesandcorners,andtaggingaftertheoldmanwhosuppliedthehouse。Onedayafterahighwindhefoundseveral"lobs"washeduponthebeach,and,thoughdisappointedattheircolor,hepickedoutabigone,andsetofftoshowhisprizetoMolly。Half—wayhomehemettheoldmanonhiswaywithabasketoffish,andbeingtiredoflugginghiscontributionlaiditwiththeothers,meaningtoexplainlater。Noonesawhimdoit,astheoldmanwasbusywithhispipe;andBooranbacktogetmoredearlobs,leavinghistreasuretogointothekettleandappearatsupper,bywhichtimehehadforgottenallaboutit。
　　Fortunatelynoneofthechildrenateany,butseveralolderpeopleweremadeill,andquiteapanicprevailedthatnightasoneaftertheothercalledupthedoctor,whowasboardingcloseby;andgoodMrs。Grey,thehostess,ranaboutwithhotflannels,bottlesofmedicine,anddistractedmessagesfromroomtoroom。Allwerecomfortablebymorning,butthefriendsofthesuffererslayinwaitfortheoldfisherman,andgavehimagoodscoldingforhiscarelessness。ThepoormanwasprotestinghisinnocencewhenBoo,whowaspassingby,lookedintothebasket,andaskedwhathadbecomeofhislob。Afewquestionsbroughtthetruthtolight,andagenerallaughputeveryoneingoodhumor,whenpoorBoomildlysaid,bywayofexplanation,"IfoughtIwashelpin'Mrs。Dray,andI'didwanttoseethedreenlobcomeoutallredwhensheboiledhim。ButIfordot,andIdon'tfinkI'lleverfindsuchanicebigoneanymore。"
　　"Foroursakes,Ihopeyouwon't,mydear,"saidMrs。Hammond,whohadbeennursingoneofthesufferers。
　　"It'sluckywearegoinghometo—morrow,orthatchildwouldbethedeathofhimselfandeverybodyelse。Heisperfectlycrazyaboutfish,andI'vepulledhimoutofthatoldlobster—potonthebeachadozentimes,"groanedMolly,muchafflictedbythemishapsofheryoungcharge。
　　Therewasagreatbreakingupnextday,andtheoldomnibuswentofftothestationwithBaconhangingonbehind,thebicycleboyandhisironwhirligigatop,andheadspoppingoutofallthewindowsforlastgood—byes。OurpartyandtheHammondsweregoingbyboat,andwereallreadytostartforthepierwhenBooandlittleHarryweremissing。Molly,themaid,andbothboysrandifferentwaystofindthem;andallsortsofdreadfulsuggestionswerebeingmadewhenshoutsoflaughterwereheardfromthebeach,andthetruantsappeared,proudlydragginginHarry'slittlewagonadeaddevil—fish,asthenativescallthatuglythingwhichlookslikeamagnifiedtadpole——allheadandnobody。
　　"We'vedothim！"calledtheinnocents,tugginguptheirprizewithsuchsolemnsatisfactionitwasimpossibletohelplaughing。
　　"Ialwayswantedtotatchawhale,andthisisababyone,Ifink。A
　　boysaid,whentheywantedtodietheycornedonthesandanddidit,andwesawthisonegodeadjustnow。Ain'tliepretty？"askedBoo,displayingtheimmensemouthwithfondpride,whilehisfriendflappedthetail。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodowithhim？"saidMrs。Hammond,regardingherinfantasifsheoftenaskedherselfthesamequestionaboutherboy。
　　"Waphimupinapaperandtatehimhometopaywid,"answeredHarry,withsuchconfidenceinhisbigblueeyesthatitwasveryhardtodisappointhishopesandtellhimthetreasuremustbeleftbehind。
　　Wailsofdespairburstfrombothchildrenasthehard—heartedboystippedoutthelittlewhale,andhustledtheindignantfishermenonboardtheboat,whichhadbeenwhistlingforthemimpatiently。
　　Boorecoveredhisspiritsfirst,andgulpingdownasobthatnearlyshookhishatoff,consoledhiscompanioninafflictionandconvulsedhisfriendsbytakingfromhispocketseverallittlecrabs,theremainsofajelly—fish,andsuchacollectionofpebblesthatFrankunderstoodwhyhefoundthefatboysuchaburdenwhenheshoulderedhim,kickingandhowling,inthelateruntotheboat。
　　ThesedelicatetoyshealedthewoundsofBooandHarry,andtheyweresoonhappilywalkingthelittle"trabs"aboutinsideastonewalloftheirownbuilding,whiletheothersrestedaftertheirexertions,andlaidplansforcomingtotheWillowsanotheryear,aspeopleusuallydidwhohadoncetastedthewholesomedelightsandcordialhospitalityofthischarmingplace。
　　Chapter23CattleShowThechildrenwerenottheoniyoneswhohadlearnedsomethingatPebblyBeach。Mrs。Minotbadtalkedagooddealwithsomeverysuperiorpersons,andreceivedlightuponvarioussubjectswhichhadmuchinterestedorperplexedher。Whiletheladiesworkedorwalkedtogether,theynaturallyspokeoftenestandmostearnestlyabouttheirchildren,andeachcontributedherexperience。Mrs。
　　Hammond,whohadbeenaphysicianformanyyears,waswiseinthecareofhealthylittlebodies,andthecureofsickones。Mrs。
　　Channing,whohadread,travelled,andobservedmuchinthecauseofeducation,hadmanyusefulhintsaboutthetrainingofyoungmindsandhearts。Severalteachersreportedtheirtrials,andallthemotherswereeagertoknowhowtobringuptheirboysandgirlstobehealthy,happy,usefulmenandwomen。
　　Asyoungpeopledonotcareforsuchdiscussions,wewillnotdescribethem,butastheimpressiontheymadeupononeofthemammasaffectedourheroandheroine,wemustmentionthechangeswhichtookplaceintheirlifewhentheyallgothomeagain。
　　"Schoolbeginsto—morrow。Oh,dear！"sighedJack,ashelookeduphisbooksintheBirdRoom,adayortwoaftertheirreturn。
　　"Don'tyouwanttogo？Ilongto,butdon'tbelieveIshall。Isawourmotherstalkingtothedoctorlastnight,butIhaven'tdaredtoaskwhatthey'decided,"saidJill,affectionatelyeyingthelong—unusedbooksinherlittlelibrary。
　　"I'vehadsuchajollygoodtime,thatIhatetobeshutupalldayworsethanever,Don'tyou,Frank？"askedJack,withavengefulslapatthearithmeticwhichwasthetormentofhislife。
　　"Well,IconfessIdon'thankerforschoolasmuchasIexpected。
　　I'drathertakeaspinontheoldbicycle。Ourroadsaresogood,itisagreattemptationtohireamachine,andastonishthenatives。
　　That'swhatcomesofidleness。Sobraceup,myboy,andgotowork,forvacationisover,"answeredFrank,gravelyregardingthetallpileofbooksbeforehim,asiftryingtowelcomehisoldfriends,ortyrants,rather,fortheyruledhimwitharodofironwhenheoncegavehimselfuptothem。
　　"Ah,butvacationisnotover,mydears,"saidMrs。Minot,hearingthelastwordsasshecameinpreparedtosurpriseherfamily。
　　"Gladofit。Howmuchlongerisittobe？"askedJack,hopingforaweekatleast。
　　"Twoorthreeyearsforsomeofyou。"
　　"What？"criedallthree,inutterastonishment,astheystaredatMamma,whocouldnothelpsmiling,thoughshewasverymuchinearnest。
　　"ForthenexttwoorthreeyearsIintendtocultivatemyboys'
　　bodies,andlettheirmindsrestagooddeal,frombooksatleast。
　　Thereisplentytolearnoutsideofschool—houses,andIdon'tmeantoshutyouupjustwhenyoumostneedalltheairandexerciseyoucanget。Goodhealth,goodprinciples,andagoodeducationarethethreeblessingsIaskforyou,andIamgoingtomakesureofthefirst,asafirmfoundationfortheothertwo。"
　　"But,mother,whatbecomesofcollege？"askedFrank,ratherdisturbedatthischangeofbase。
　　"Putitoffforayear,andseeifyouarenotbetterfittedforitthenthannow。"
　　"ButIamalreadyfitted:I'veworkedlikeatigerallthisyear,andI'msureIshallpass。"
　　"Readyinoneway,butnotinanother。Thathardworkisnopreparationforfouryearsofstillharderstudy。Ithascostyoutheseroundshoulders,manyaheadache,andconsumedhourswhenyouhadfarbetterhavebeenontheriverorinthefields。Icannothaveyoubreakdown,assomanyboysdo,orpullthroughatthecostofill—healthafterward。Eighteenisyoungenoughtobeginthesteadygrind,ifyouhaveastrongconstitutiontokeeppacewiththeeagermind。Sixteenistooyoungtosendevenmygoodboyoutintotheworld,justwhenhemostneedshismother'scaretohelphimbethemanshehopestoseehim。"
　　Mrs。Minotlaidherhandonhisshoulderasshespoke,lookingsofondandproudthatitwasimpossibletorebel,thoughsomeofhismostcherishedplanswerespoilt。
　　"Otherfellowsgoatmyage,andIwasratherpleasedtobereadyatsixteen,"hebegan。Butsheadded,quickly,"Theygo,buthowdotheycomeout？Manylosehealthofbody,andmanywhatismorepreciousstill,moralstrength,becausetooyoungandignoranttowithstandtemptationsofallsorts。Thebestpartofeducationdoesnotcomefrombooks,andthegoodprinciplesIvaluemorethaneitheroftheotherthingsaretobecarefullywatchedovertillfirmlyfixed;thenyoumayfacetheworld,andcometonorealharm。Trustme,dear,Idoitforyoursake;sobearthedisappointmentbravely,andintheendIthinkyouwillsayI'mright。"
　　"I'lldomybest;butIdon'tseewhatistobecomeofusifwedon'tgotoschool。Youwillgettiredofitfirst,"saidFrank,tryingtosetagoodexampletotheothers,whowerelookingmuchimpressedandinterested。
　　"Nodangerofthat,forIneversentmychildrentoschooltogetridofthem,andnowthattheyareoldenoughtobecompanions,I
　　wantthemathomemorethanever。Therearetobesomelessons,however,forbusymindsmustbefed,butnotcrammed;soyouboyswillgoandreciteatcertainhourssuchthingsasseemmostimportant。Butthereistobenostudyingatnight,noshuttingupallthebesthoursoftheday,nohurryandfretofgettingonfast,orskimmingoverthesurfaceofmanystudieswithoutlearninganythoroughly。"
　　"SoIsay！"criedJack,pleasedwiththenewidea,forheneverdidlovebooks。"IdohatetobedrivensoIdon'thalfunderstand,becausethereisnotimetohavethingsexplained。Schoolisgoodfunasfarasplaygoes;butIdon'tseethesenseofmakingafellowlearneightyquestionsingeographyoneday,andforgetthemthenext。
　　"Whatistobecomeofme,please？"askedJill,meekly。
　　"YouandMollyaretohavelessonshere。IwasateacherwhenI
　　wasyoung,youknow,andlikedit,soIshallbeschool—ma'am,andleavemyhouse—keepinginbetterhandsthanmine。Ialwaysthoughtthatmothersshouldteachtheirgirlsduringtheseyears,andvarytheirstudiestosuitthegrowingcreaturesasonlymotherscan。
　　"Thatwillbesplendid！WillMolly'sfatherlethercome？"criedJill,feelingquitereconciledtostayingathome,ifherfriendwastobewithher。
　　"Helikestheplanverymuch,forMollyisgrowingfast,andneedsasortofcarethatMissDawescannotgiveher。Iamnotahardmistress,andIhopeyouwillfindmyschoolapleasantone。"
　　"IknowIshall;andI'mnotdisappointed,becauseIwasprettysureIcouldn'tgototheoldschoolagain,whenIheardthedoctorsayI
　　mustbeverycarefulforalongtime。Ithoughthemeantmonths;
　　butifitmustheyears,Icanbearit,forI'vebeenhappythislastonethoughIwassick,"saidJill,gladtoshowthatithadnotbeenwastedtimebybeingcheerfulandpatientnow。
　　"That'smygoodgirl！"andMrs。Minotstrokedthecurlyblackheadasifitwasherownlittledaughter's。"Youhavedonesowell,I
　　wantyoutogoonimproving,forcarenowwillsaveyoupainanddisappointmentbyandby。Youallhavegotacapitalstartduringthesesixweeks,soitisagoodtimetobeginmyexperiment。Ifitdoesnotworkwell,wewillgobacktoschoolandcollegenextspring。"
　　"HurrahforMammaandthelongvacation！"criedJack,catchinguptwobigbooksandwhirlingthemroundlikeclubs,asiftogethismusclesinorderatonce。
　　"NowIshallhavetimetogototheGymnasiumandstraightenoutmyback,"saidFrank,whowasgrowingsotallheneededmorebreadthtomakehisheightsymmetrical。
　　"Andtoridehorscback。IamgoingtohireoldJaneandgetoutthelittlephaeton,sowecanallenjoythefineweatherwhileitlasts。
　　MollyandIcandriveJill,andyoucantaketurnsinthesaddlewhenyouaretiredofballandboating。Exerciseofallsortsisoneofthelessonswearetolearn,"saidMrs。Minot,suggestingallthepleasantthingsshecouldtosweetenthepillforherpupils,twoofwhomdidlovetheirbooks,notbeingoldenoughtoknowthatevenanexcellentthingmaybeoverdone。
　　"Won'tthatbegay？I'llgetdownthesaddleto—day,sowecanbeginrightoff。Lemrides,andwecangotogether。HopeoldJanewilllikeitaswellasIshall,"saidJack,whohadfoundanewfriendinapleasantladlatelycometotown。
　　"Youmustseethatshedoes,foryouboysaretotakecareofher。
　　Wewillputthebarninorder,andyoucandecidewhichshallbehostlerandwhichgardener,forIdon'tintendtohirelaborontheplaceanymore。Ourestateisnotalargeone,anditwillbeexcellentworkforyou,mymen。"
　　"Allright！I'llseetoJane。Ilovehorses,"saidJack,wellpleasedwiththeprospect。
　　"Myhorsewon'tneedmuchcare。Ipreferabicycletoabeast,soI'llgetinthesquashes,picktheapples,andcoverthestrawberrybedwhenitistime,"addedFrank,whohadenjoyedthefreelifeatPebblyBeachsomuchthathewaswillingtoprolongit。
　　"Youmayputmeinahen—coop,andkeepmethereayear,ifyoulike。Iwon'tfret,forI'msureyouknowwhatisbestforme,"saidJill,gayly,asshelookedupatthegoodfriendwhohaddonesomuchforher。
　　"I'mnotsurethatIwon'tputyouinaprettycageandsendyoutoCattleShow,asasampleofwhatwecandointhewayoftamingawildbirdtillitisnearlyasmeekasadove,"answeredMrs。Minot,muchgratifiedattheamiabilityofherflock。
　　"Idon'tseewhythereshouldnotbeanexhibitionofchildren,andprizesforthegoodandprettyones,aswellasforfatpigs,finehorses,orhandsomefruitandflowers——Idon'tmeanababyshow,butboysandgirls,sopeoplecanseewhattheprospectisofagoodcropforthenextgeneration,"saidFrank,glancingtowardthetowerofthebuildingwheretheyearlyAgriculturalFairwassoontobeheld。
　　"Yearsago,therewasaprettycustomhereofcollectingalltheschoolstogetherinthespring,andhavingafestivalattheTownHall。Eachschoolshoweditsbestpupils,andtheparentslookedonatthebloomingflowershow。Itwasapityitwasevergivenup,fortheschoolshaveneverbeensogoodasthen,northeinterestinthemsogreat";andMrs。Minotwondered,asmanypeopledo,whyfarmersseemtocaremorefortheircattleandcropsthanfortheirchildren,willinglyspendinglargesumsonbigbarnsandcostlyexperiments,whiletheschool—housesareshabbyandinconvenient,andthecheapestteacherspreferred。
　　"Ralphisgoingtosendmybust。Heaskedifhemight,andmothersaidYes。Mr。Germanthinksitverygood,andIhopeotherpeoplewill,"saidJill,noddingtowardthelittleplasterheadthatsmileddownfromitsbracketwithherownmerrylook。
　　"Icouldsendmymodel;itisnearlydone。Ralphtoldmeitwasacleverpieceofwork,andheknows,"addedFrank,quitetakenwiththeideaofexhibitinghisskillinmechanics。
　　"AndIcouldsendmystarbedquilt！TheyalwayshavethingsofthatkindatCattleShow";andJillbegantorummageintheclosetfortheprideofherheart,burningtodisplayittoanadmiringworld。