Thegirlshadfitsoflaughteroverthequeercostumesofyearsgoneby,andputupasplendidprocessionofladiesinfullskirts,toweringhats,pointedslippers,powderedhair,simperingfaces,andimpossiblewaists。
　　"Idothinkthisbrideisperfectlysplendid,thelongtrainandvailaresosweet,"saidJill,revellinginfineclothesassheturnedfromoneplatetoanother。
　　"Iliketheelephantsbest,andI'dgiveanythingtogoonahuntlikethat！"criedMollyLoo,whorodecows,droveanyhorseshecouldget,hadninecats,andwasnotafraidofthebiggestdogthateverbarked。
　　"Ifancy'TheDancingLesson;itissosortofsplendid,withthegreatwindows,goldchairs,andfinefolks。Oh,Iwouldliketoliveinacastlewithafatherandmotherlikethat,"saidMerry,whowasromantic,andfoundtheoldfarmhouseonthebillasadtrialtoherhigh—flownideasofelegance。
　　"Now,thatship,settingoutforsomefar—awayplace,ismoretomymind。Iwearyforhomenowandthen,andmeantoseeitagainsomeday";andMrs。PecqlookedlonginglyattheEnglishship,thoughitwasevidentlyoutwardbound。Then,asifreproachingherselffordiscontent,sheadded:"ItlookslikethoseIusedtoseegoingofftoIndiawithaloadofmissionaries。Icameneargoingmyselfonce,withaladyboundforSiam;butIwenttoCanadawithhersister,andhereIam。"
　　"I'dliketobeamissionaryandgowherefolksthrowtheirbabiestothecrocodiles。I'dwatchandfishthemout,andhaveaschool,andbringthemup,andconvertallthepeopletilltheyknewbetter,"saidwarm—heartedMollyLoo,whobefriendedeveryabusedanimalandforlornchildshemet。
　　"Weneedn'tgotoAfricatobemissionaries;theyhave'emnearerhomeandneed'em,too。Inallthebigcitiesthereareamany,andtheyhavetheirhandsfullwiththepoor,thewicked,andthehelpless。Onecanfindthatsortofworkanywhere,ifonehasamind,"saidMrs。Pecq。
　　"Iwishwehadsometodohere。I'dsoliketogoroundwithbasketsofteaandrice,andgiveouttractsandtalktopeople。
　　Wouldn'tyou,girls？"askedMolly,muchtakenwiththenewidea。
　　"Itwouldberathernicetohaveasocietyalltoourselves,andhavemeetingsandresolutionsandthings,"answeredMerry,whowasfondoflittleceremonies,andalwayswenttothesewingcirclewithhermother。
　　"Wewouldn'tlettheboyscomein。Wedhaveitasecretsociety,asthey'dotheirtemperancelodge,andwedhavebadgesandpass—wordsandgrips。Itwouldbefunifwecanonlygetsomeheathentoworkat！"criedJill,readyforfreshenterprisesofeverysort。
　　"Icantellyousomeonetobeginonrightaway,"saidhermother,noddingather。"AswildalittlesavageasI'dwishtosee。Takeherinhand,andmakeapretty—manneredladyofher。Beginathome,mylass,andyou'llfindmissionaryworkenoughforawhile。"
　　"Now,Mammy,youmeanme！Well,Iwillbegin;andI'llbesogood,folkswon'tknowme。Beingsickmakesnaughtychildrenbehaveinstory—books,I'llseeifliveonescant";andJillputonsuchasanctifiedfacethatthegirlslaughedandaskedfortheirmissionsalso,thinkingtheywouldbethesame。
　　"You,Merry,mightdoadealathomehelpingmother,andsettingthebigbrothersagoodexample。Onelittlegirlinahousecandoprettymuchasshewill,especiallyifshehasamindtomakeplainthingsniceandcomfortable,andnotlongforcastlesbeforesheknowshowtodoherowntaskswell,"wasthefirstunexpectedreply。
　　Merrycolored,buttookthereproofsweetly,resolvingtodowhatshecould,andsurprisedtofindhowmanywaysseemedopentoherafterafewminutesthought。
　　"WhereshallIbegin？I'mnotafraidofadozencrocodilesafterMissBat";andMollyLoolookedaboutherwithafierceair,havinghadpracticeinbattleswiththeoldladywhokeptherfather'shouse。
　　"Well,dear,youhaven'tfartolookforasnicealittleheathenasyoudwish";andMrs。PecqglancedatBoo,whosatonthefloorstaringhardatthem,attractedbythedreadword"crocodile。"Hehadacoldandnohandkerchief,hislittlehandswereredwithchilblains,hisclothesshabby,hehaduntidydarnsinthekneesofhisstockings,andaheadoftightcurlsthatevidentlyhadnotbeencombedforsometime。
　　"Yes,Iknowheis,andItrytokeephimdecent,butIforget,andhehatestobefixed,andMissBatdoesn'tcare,andfatherlaughswhenItalkaboutit。"
　　PoorMollyLoolookedmuchashamedasshemadeexcuses,tryingatthesametimetomendmattersbyseizingBooanddustinghimalloverwithherhandkerchief,givingapullathishairasifringingbells,andthendumpinghimdownagainwiththedespairingexclamation:"Yes,wereapairofheathens,andthere'snoonetosaveusifIdon't。"
　　Thatwastrueenough;forMolly'sfatherwasabusyman,carelessofeverythingbuthismills,MissBatwasoldandlazy,andfeltasifshemighttakelifeeasyafterservingthemotherlesschildrenformanyyearsaswellassheknewhow。Mollywasbeginningtoseehowmuchamissthingswereathome,andoldenoughtofeelmortified,though,asyet,shehaddonenothingtomendthematterexceptbekindtothelittleboy。
　　"Youwill,mydear,"answeredMrs。Pecq,encouragingly,forsheknewallaboutit。"Nowyouveeachgotamission,letusseehowwellyouwillgeton。Keepitsecret,ifyoulike,andreportonceaweek。I'llbeamember,andwe'lldogreatthingsyet。"
　　"Wewon'tbegintillafterChristmas;thereissomuchtodo,wenevershallhavetimeforanymore。Don'ttell,andwe'llstartfairatNewYears,ifnotbefore,"saidJill,takingtheleadasusual。
　　Thentheywentonwiththegayladies,whocertainlywereheathenenoughindresstobeinsadneedofconversiontocommon—senseatleast。
　　"IfeelasifIwasataparty,"saidJill,afterapauseoccupiedinsurveyinghergallerywithgreatsatisfaction,fordresswasherdelight,andhereshehadeveryconceivablestyleandcolor。
　　"Talkingofparties,isn'tittoobadthatwemustgiveupourChristmasfun？Can'tgetonwithoutyouandJack,sowearenotgoingtodoathing,butjusthaveourpresents,"saidMerry,sadly,astheybegantofitdifferentheadsandbodiestogether,totrydrolleffects。
　　"Ishallbeallwellinafortnight,Iknow;butJackwont,foritwilltakemorethanamonthtomendhispoorleg。Maybe,theywillhaveadanceintheboysbigroom,andhecanlookon,"suggestedJill,withaglanceatthedancingdamselonthewall,forshedearlylovedit,andneverguessedhowlongitwouldbebeforeherlightfeetwouldkeeptimetomusicagain。
　　"YoudbettergiveJackahintabouttheparty。Sendoversomesmartladies,andsaytheyhavecometohisChristmasball,"
　　proposedaudaciousMollyLoo,alwaysreadyforfun。
　　Sotheyputapreposterousgreenbonnet,top—heavywithplumes,onalittleladyinyellow,whosatinacarriage;theladybesideher,inwintercostumeofvelvetpelisseandermineboa,wasfittedtoabride'sheadwithitsorangeflowersandveil,andtheseworksofartweresentovertoJack,labelled"MissLauraandLottyBurtongoingtotheMinots'ChristmasbalI"apieceofnaughtinessonJill'spart,forsheknewJacklikedtheprettysisters,whosegentlemannersmadeherownwildwaysseemallthemoreblamable。
　　Noanswercameforalongtime,andthegirlshadalmostforgottentheirjokeinagameofLetters,when"Tingle,tangle！"wentthebell,andthebasketcameinheavilyladen。Arollofcoloredpaperswastiedoutside,andwithinwasaboxthatrattled,agreenandsilverhorn,arollofnarrowribbons,aspoolofstrongthread,somelargeneedles,andanotefromMrs。Minot:
　　"DearJill—IthinkofhavingaChristmastreesothatourinvalidscanenjoyit,andallyourelegantfriendsarecordiallyinvited。
　　Knowingthatyouwouldliketohelp,Isendsomepaperforsugar—plumhornsandsomebeadsfornecklaces。Theywillbrightenthetreeandpleasethegirlsforthemselvesortheirdolls。
　　Jacksendsyouahornforapattern,andwillyoumakealadder—necklacetoshowhimhow？Letmeknowifyouneedanything。
　　Yoursinhaste,AnnaMinot"
　　"Sheknewwhatthechildwouldlike,blessherkindheart,"saidMrs。Pecqtoherself,andsomethingbrighterthanthemostsilverybeadshoneonJack'sshirt—sleeve,asshesawtheraptureofJilloverthenewworkandthepromisedpleasure。
　　Joyfulcriesgreetedtheopeningofthebox,forbunchesofsplendidlargebuglesappearedinallcolors,andalivelydiscussionwentonastothebestcontrasts。Jillcouldnotrefusetoletherfriendssharetheprettywork,andsoonthreenecklacesglitteredonthreenecks,aseachadmiredherownchoice。
　　"I'dbewillingtohurtmybackdreadfully,ifIcouldlieanddosuchlovelythingsallday,"saidMerry,asshereluctantlyputdownherneedleatlast,forhomedutieswaitedtobedone,andlookedmorethaneverdistastefulafterthisnewpleasure。
　　"SowouldI！Oh,doyouthinkMrs。Minotwillletyoufillthehornswhentheyaredone？I'dlovetohelpyouthen。Besureyousendforme！"criedMollyLoo,archinghernecklikeaproudpigeontowatchtheglitterofherpurpleandgoldnecklaceonherbrowngown。
　　"I'mafraidyoucouldn'tbetrusted,youlovesweetiesso,andImsureBoocouldn't。ButI'llseeaboutit,"repliedJill,witharesponsibleair。
　　Thementionoftheboyrecalledhimtotheirminds,andlookingroundtheyfoundhimpeacefullyabsorbedinpolishingupthefloorwithMolly'spocket—handkerchiefandoilfromthelittlemachine—can。Beingtornfromthiscongeniallabor,hewascarriedoffshiningwithgreaseandroaringlustily。
　　ButJilldidnotmindherlonelinessnow,andsanglikeahappycanarywhileshethreadedhersparklingbeads,orhungthegayhornstodry,readyfortheircargoesofsweets。SoMrs。Minot'srecipeforsunshineprovedsuccessful,andmother—witmadethewintrydayabrightandhappyoneforboththelittleprisoners。
　　Chapter5SecretsTherewereagreatmanyclubsinHarmonyVillage,butasweintendtointerestourselveswiththeaffairsoftheyoungfolksonly,weneednotdwellupontheintellectualamusementsoftheelders。
　　Insummer,theboysdevotedthemselvestobaseball,thegirlstoboating,andallgotrosy,stout,andstrong,inthesehealthfulexercises。Inwinter,theladshadtheirdebatingclub,thelassesadramaticditto。Attheformer,astonishingburstsoforatorywereheard;atthelatter,everythingwasboldlyattempted,fromRomeoandJuliettoMotherGoose'simmortalmelodies。Thetwoclubsfrequentlymetandmingledtheirattractionsinareallyentertainingmanner,forthespeakersmadegoodactors,andtheyoungactressesweremostappreciativelistenerstotheeloquenceofeachbuddingDemosthenes。
　　GreatplanshadbeenafootforChristmasorNewYear,butwhenthegrandcatastropheputanendtothecareerofoneofthebest"spouters,"andcausedtheretirementofthefavorite"singingchambermaid,"theaffairwaspostponedtillFebruary,whenWashington'sbirthdaywasalwayscelebratedbythepatriotictown,wherethefatherofhiscountryonceputonhisnightcap,ortookoffhisboots,asthatubiquitousheroappearstohavedoneineverypartoftheUnitedStates。
　　MeantimetheboyswerestudyingRevolutionarycharacters,andthegirlsrehearsingsuchdramaticscenesastheythoughtmostappropriateandeffectiveforthe22d。InbothoftheseattemptstheyweremuchhelpedbythesenseandspiritofRalphEvans,ayouthofnineteen,whowasagreatfavoritewiththeyoungfolks,notonlybecausehewasagood,industriousfellow,whosupportedhisgrandmother,butalsofulloftalent,fun,andingenuity。Itwasnowondereveryonewhoreallyknewhimlikedhim,forhecouldturnhishandtoanything,andlovedtodoit。Ifthegirlswereindespairaboutafire—placewhenacting"TheCricketontheHearth,"hepaintedone,andputagas—loginitthatmadethekettlereallyboil,totheirgreatdelight。Iftheboysfoundtheinterestoftheirclubflagging,Ralphwouldconvulsethembyimitationsofthe"MemberfromCranberryCentre,"orfirethemwithspeechesoffamousstatesmen。Charityfairscouldnotgetonwithouthim,andinthestorewhereheworkedhedidmanyaningeniousjob,whichmadehimvaluedforhismechanicalskill,aswellasforhisenergyandintegrity。
　　Mrs。Minotlikedtohavehimwithhersons,becausetheyalsoweretopaddletheirowncanoesbyandby,andshebelievedthat,richorpoor,boysmakebettermenforlearningtousethetalentstheypossess,notmerelyasornaments,buttoolswithwhichtocarvetheirownfortunes;andthebesthelptowardthisendisanexampleoffaithfulwork,highaims,andhonestliving。SoRalphcameoften,andintimesoftroublewasarealrainy—dayfriend。
　　Jackgrewveryfondofhimduringhisimprisonment,forthegoodyouthranineveryeveningtogetcommissions,amusetheboywithdrollaccountsoftheday'sadventures,orinventlifts,bed—tables,andfoot—restsfortheimpatientinvalid。Frankfoundhimasureguidethroughthemechanicalmysterieswhichheloved,andspentmanyausefulhalf—hourdiscussingcylinders,pistons,valves,andbalance—wheels。Jillalsocameinforhershareofcareandcomfort;
　　thepoorlittlebacklayalltheeasierfortheair—cushionRalphgother,andthewearyheadachesfoundrelieffromthesprayatomizer,whichsoftlydistilleditsscenteddewonthehotforeheadtillshefellasleep。
　　RoundthebedsofJackandJillmetandmingledtheschoolmatesofwhomourstorytreats。Never,probably,didinvalidshavegayertimesthanourtwo,afteraweekofsolitaryconfinement;forschoolgossipcreptin,gamescouldnotbeprevented,andChristmassecretswereconcoctedinthoseroomstilltheywereregularconspiratorsdens,whentheywerenotlittleBedlams。
　　Afterthehornandbeadlaborswereover,thestringingofpop—cornonred,andcranberriesonwhite,threads,camenext,andJackandJilloftenlookedlikeanewkindofspiderintheprettywebshungaboutthem,tillreeledofftobidetheirtimeintheChristmascloset。Paperflowersfollowed,andgaygarlandsandbouquetsblossomed,regardlessofthesnowandfrostwithout。Thentherewasagreatscribblingofnames,verses,andnotestoaccompanythesteadilyincreasingstoreofoddparcelswhichwerecollectedattheMinots',forgiftsfromeveryoneweretoornamentthetree,andcontributionspouredinasthedaydrewnear。
　　ButthesecretwhichmostexcitedtheyoungpeoplewasthedeepmysteryofcertainproceedingsattheMinothouse。NoonebutFrank,Ralph,andMammaknewwhatitwas,andthetwoboysnearlydrovetheothersdistractedbythetantalizingwayinwhichtheyhintedatjoystocome,talkedstrangelyaboutbirds,wentmeasuringroundwithfoot—rules,andshutthemselvesupintheBoysDen,asacertainlargeroomwascalled。Thisseemedtobethecentreofoperations,butbeyondthefactofthepromisedtreenorayoflightwaspermittedtopassthejealouslyguardeddoors,Strangemenwithpaste—potsandladderswentin,furniturewasdraggedabout,andallsortsofboyishlumberwassentupgarretanddowncellar。Mrs。Minotwasseenponderingoverheapsofgreenstuff,hammeringwasheard,singularbundlesweresmuggledupstairs,floweringplantsbetrayedtheirpresencebywhiffsoffragrancewhenthedoorwasopened,andMrs。Pecqwascaughtsmilingallbyherselfinabackbedroom,whichusuallywasshutupinwinter。
　　"Theyaregoingtohaveaplay,afterall,andthatgreenstuffwasthecurtain,"saidMollyLoo,asthegirlstalkeditoveroneday,whentheysatwiththeirbacksturnedtooneanother,puttinglaststitchesincertainbitsofworkwhichhadtobeconcealedfromalleyes,thoughitwasfoundconvenienttoaskoneanother'stasteastothecolor,materials,andsizesofthesemysteriousarticles。
　　"Ithinkitisgoingtobeadance。IheardtheboysdoingtheirstepswhenIwentinlasteveningtofindoutwhetherJacklikedblueoryellowbest,soIcouldputthebowonhispen—wiper,"declaredMerry,knittingbrisklyawayatthelastofthepairofprettywhitebed—socksshewasmakingforJillrightunderherinquisitivelittlenose。
　　"Theywouldn'thaveapartyofthatkindwithoutJackandme。Itisonlyanextranicetree,youseeifitisn't,"answeredJillfrombehindthepillowswhichmadeatemporaryscreentohidethetoiletmatsshewaspreparingforallherfriends。
　　"Everyoneofyouiswrong,andyoudbetterresteasy,foryouwon'tfindoutthebestpartofit,tryasyoumay。"AndMrs。Pecqactuallychuckledasshe,too,workedawayatsomebitsofmuslin,withherbackturnedtotheveryunsocial—lookinggroup。
　　"Well,Idon'tcare,wevegotasecretallourown,andwon'tevertell,willwe？"criedJill,fallingbackontheHomeMissionarySociety,thoughitwasnotyetbegun。
　　"Never！"answeredthegirls,andalltookgreatcomfortintheideathatonemysterywouldnotbeclearedup,evenatChristmas。
　　Jackgaveupguessing,indespair,afterhehadsuggestedanewdining—roomwherehecouldeatwiththefamily,aprivateschoolinwhichhislessonsmightgoonwithatutor,oratheatrefortheproductionofthefarcesinwhichhedelighted。
　　"Itisgoingtobeusedtokeepsomethinginthatyouareveryfondof,"saidMamma,takingpityonhimatlast。
　　"Ducks？"askedJack,withahalfpleased,halfpuzzledair,notquiteseeingwherethewaterwastocomefrom。
　　Frankexplodedattheidea,andaddedtothemystificationbysaying,"Therewillbeonelittleduckandonegreatdonkeyinit。"Then,fearinghehadtoldthesecret,heranoff,quackingandbrayingderisively。
　　"ItistobeusedforcreaturesthatI,too,amfondof,andyouknowneitherdonkeysnorducksarefavoritiesofmine,"saidMamma,withademureexpression,asshesatturningoveroldclothesforthebundlesthatalwayswenttopoorneighbors,withalittlestoreofgoodies,atthistimeoftheyear。
　　"Iknow！Iknow！Itistobeanewwardformoresickfolks,isn'tit,now？"criedJack,withwhathethoughtagreatproofofshrewdness。
　　"Idon'tseehowIcouldattendtomanymorepatientstillthisoneisoffmyhands,"answeredMamma,withaqueersmile,addingquickly,asifshetoowasafraidoflettingthecatoutofthebag:
　　"ThatremindsmeofaChristmasIoncespentamongthehospitalsandpoor—housesofagreatcitywithagoodladywho,forthirtyyears,hadmadeithermissiontoseethatthesepoorlittlesoulshadonemerryday。Wegaveawaytwohundreddolls,severalgreatboxesofcandyandtoys,besidesgaypictures,andnewclothestoorphanchildren,sickbabies,andhalf—growninnocents。Ah,myboy,thatwasadaytorememberallmylife,tomakemedoublygratefulformyblessings,andverygladtoservethehelplessandafflicted,asthatdearwomandid。"
　　ThelookandtonewithwhichthelastwordswereutteredeffectuallyturnedJack'sthoughtsfromthegreatsecret,andstartedanothersmallone,forhefelltoplanningwhathewouldbuywithhispocket—moneytosurprisethelittlePatsandBiddieswhoweretohavenoChristmastree。
　　Chapter6Surprises"Isitpleasant？"wasthequestionJillaskedbeforeshewasfairlyawakeonChristmasmorning。
　　"Yes,dear;asbrightasheartcouldwish。Noweatabit,andthenI'llmakeyounicefortheday'spleasure。Ionlyhopeitwon'tbetoomuchforyou,"answeredMrs。Pecq,bustlingabout,happy,yetanxious,forJillwastobecarriedovertoMrs。Minots,anditwasherfirstattemptatgoingoutsincetheaccident。
　　Itseemedasifnineoclockwouldnevercome,andJill,withwrapsallready,laywaitinginafeverofimpatienceforthedoctor'svisit,ashewishedtosuperintendthemoving。Atlasthecame,foundallpromising,andhavingbundleduphissmallpatient,carriedher,withFrank'shelp,inherchair—bedtotheox—sled,whichwasdrawntothenextdoor,andMissJilllandedintheBoysDenbeforeshehadtimetogeteithercoldortired。Mrs。
　　Minottookherthingsoffwithacordialwelcome,butJillneversaidaword,for,afteroneexclamation,shelaystaringabouther,dumbwithsurpriseanddelightatwhatshesaw。
　　Thegreatroomwasentirelychanged;fornowitlookedlikeagarden,oroneofthefairysceneschildrenlove,wherein—doorsandout—of—doorsarepleasantlycombined。Theceilingwaspaleblue,likethesky;thewallswerecoveredwithapaperlikearustictrellis,upwhichclimbedmorning—gloriessonaturallythatthemany—coloredbellsseemeddancinginthewind。Birdsandbutterfliesflewamongthem,andhereandthere,througharchesinthetrellis,oneseemedtolookintoasunnysummerworld,contrastingcuriouslywiththewintrylandscapelyingbeyondtherealwindows,festoonedwithevergreengarlands,andcurtainedonlybystandsoflivingflowers。Agreendruggetcoveredthefloorlikegrass,rusticchairsfromthegardenstoodabout,andinthemiddleoftheroomahandsomehemlockwaitedforitsprettyburden。AYule—logblazedonthewidehearth,andoverthechimney—piece,framedinholly,shonethewordsthatsetallheartstodancing,"MerryChristmas！"
　　"Doyoulikeit,dear？ThisisoursurpriseforyouandJack,andherewemeantohavegoodtimestogether,"saidMrs。Minot,whohadstoodquietlyenjoyingtheeffectofherwork。
　　"Oh,itissolovelyIdon'tknowwhattosay！"andJillputupbotharms,aswordsfailedher,andgratefulkisseswereallshehadtooffer。
　　"Canyousuggestanythingmoretoaddtothepleasantness？"askedthegentlelady,holdingthesmallhandsinherown,andfeelingwellrepaidbythechild'sdelight。
　　"OnlyJack";andJill'slaughwasgoodtohear,assheglancedupwithmerry,yetwistfuleyes。
　　"Youareright。We'llhavehiminatonce,orhewillcomehoppingononeleg";andawayhurriedhismother,laughing,too,forwhistles,shouts,thumps,andviolentdemonstrationsofallkindshadbeenheardfromtheroomwhereJackwasragingwithimpatience,whilehewaitedforhisshareofthesurprise。
　　Jillcouldhardlyliestillwhensheheardtherollofanotherchair—bedcomingdownthehail,itspassageenlivenedwithcriesof"Starboard！Port！Easynow！Pullaway！"fromRalphandFrank,astheysteeredtherecumbentColumbusonhisfirstvoyageofdiscovery。
　　"Well,Icallthathandsome！"wasJack'sexclamation,whenthefullbeautyofthesceneburstuponhisview。Thenheforgotallaboutitandgaveawhoopofpleasure,fortherebesidethefirewasaneagerface,twohandsbeckoning,andJill'svoicecrying,joyfully。
　　"I'mhere！I'mhere！Oh,docome,quick！"Downthelongroomrattledthechair,Jackcheeringalltheway,andbroughtupbesidetheotherone,asthelong—partedfriendsexclaimed,withoneaccord,"Isn'tthisjolly！"
　　Itcertainlydidlookso,forRalphandFrankdancedawildsortoffandangoroundthetree,Dr。Whitingstoodandlaughed,whilethetwomothersbeamedfromthedoor—way,andthechildren,notknowingwhethertolaughortocry,compromisedthematterbyclappingtheirhandsandshouting,"MerryChristmastoeverybody！"likeapairoflittlemaniacs。
　　Thentheyallsobereddown,andthebusyoneswentofftothevariousdutiesoftheday,leavingtheyounginvalidstoreposeandenjoythemselvestogether。
　　"Howniceyoulook,"saidJill,whentheyhaddulyadmiredtheprettyroom。
　　"Sodoyou,"gallantlyreturnedJack,ashesurveyedherwithunusualinterest。
　　Theydidlookverynice,thoughhappinesswastheprincipalbeautifier。Jillworearedwrapper,withthemostbrilliantofallthenecklacessparklingatherthroat,overanicelycrimpedfrillhermotherhadmadeinhonoroftheday。Allthecurlyblackhairwasgatheredintoarednet,andapairofsmartlittlemoccasinscoveredthefeetthathadnotsteppedformanyawearyday。Jackwasnotsogay,buthadmadehimselfasfineascircumstanceswouldpermit。Agraydressing—gown,withbluecuffsandcollar,wasverybecomingtotheblondeyouth;animmaculateshirt,beststuds,sleeve—buttons,bluetie,andhandkerchiefwetwithcolognestickingoutofthebreast—pocket,gaveanairofeleganceinspiteoftheafghanspreadoverthelowerportionsofhismanlyform。Theyellowhairwasbrushedtillitshone,andbeingpartedinthemiddle,tohidetheblackpatch,madetwoengaginglittle"quiris"
　　onhisforehead。Thesummertanhadfadedfromhischeeks,buthiseyeswereasblueasthewintrysky,andnearlyeverywhitetoothwasvisibleashesmiledonhispartnerinmisfortune,sayingcheerily。
　　"I'meversogladtoseeyouagain;guessweareovertheworstofitnow,andcanhavegoodtimes。Won'titbefuntostayhereallthewhile,andamuseoneanother？"
　　"Yes,indeed;butonedayissoshort！ItwillbestupiderthaneverwhenIgohometo—night,"answeredJill,lookingaboutherwithlongingeyes。
　　"Butyouarenotgoinghometo—night;youaretostayeversolong。
　　Didn'tMammatellyou？"
　　"No。Oh,howsplendid！AmIreally？WherewillIsleep？WhatwillMammydowithoutme？"andJillalmostsatup,shewassodelightedwiththenewsurprise。
　　"Thatroominthereisallfixedforyou。ImadeFranktellmesomuch。MammasaidImighttellyou,butI'didn'tthinkshewouldbeabletoholdinifshesawyoufirst。Yourmotheriscoming,too,andweareallgoingtohavelarkstogethertillweareThesplendorofthisarrangementtookJill'sbreathaway,andbeforeshegotitagain,incameFrankandRalphwithtwoclothes—basketsoftreasurestobehunguponthetree。Whiletheywiredonthecandlesthechildrenaskedquestions,andfoundoutalltheywantedtoknowaboutthenewplansandpleasures。
　　'Whofixedallthis？"
　　"Mammathoughtofit,andRalphandI'didit。He'sthemanforthissortofthing,youknow。Heproposedcuttingoutthearchesandstickingonbirdsandbutterfliesjustwheretheylookedbest。Iputthosecanariesoverthere,theylookedsowellagainsttheblue";
　　andFrankproudlypointedoutsomequeerorange—coloredfowls,lookingasiftheywerehavingfitsintheair,butveryeffective,nevertheless。
　　"YourmothersaidyoumightcallthistheBirdRoom。Wecaughtascarlet—tanagerforyoutobeginwith,didn'twe,Jack？"andRalphthrewahon—honatJill,wholookedverylikeabrightlittlebirdinawarmnest。
　　"Goodforyou！Yes,andwearegoingtokeepherinthisprettycagetillwecanbothflyofftogether。Isay,Jill,whereshallwebeinourclasseswhenwedogetback？"andJack'smerryfacefellatthethought。
　　"Atthefoot,ifwedon'tstudyandkeepup。DoctorsaidImightstudysometimes,ifI'dliestillaslongashethoughtbest,andMollybroughthomemybooks,andMerrysaysshewillcomeineverydayandtellmewherethelessonsare。Idon'tmeantofallbehind,ifmybackboneiscracked,"saidJill,withadecidednodthatmadeseveralblackringsflyoutofthenettodanceonherforehead。
　　"FranksaidhedpullmealonginmyLatin,butI'vebeenlazyandhaven'tdoneathing。Let'sgoatitandstartfairforNewYear,"
　　proposedJack,whodidnotlovestudyasthebrightgirldid,butwasashamedtofallbehindherinanything。
　　"Allright。Theyvebeenreviewing,sowecankeepupwhentheybegin,ifweworknextweek,whiletheresthaveaholiday。Oh,dear,Idomissschooldreadfully";andJillsighedfortheolddesk,everyblotandnotchofwhichwasdeartoher。
　　"Therecomeourthings,andprettynicetheylook,too,"saidJack;
　　andhismotherbegantodressthetree,hangingupthegayhorns,thegildednuts,redandyellowapplesandoranges,andfestooninglongstringsofpop—cornandscarletcranberriesfromboughtobough,withtheglitteringnecklaceshungwherethelightwouldshowtheircolorsbest。
　　"Ineversawsuchasplendidtreebefore。I'mgladwecouldhelp,thoughwewereill。Isitalldonenow？"askedJill,whenthelastparcelwastiedonandeverybodystoodbacktoadmiretheprettysight。
　　"Onethingmore。Handmethatbox,Frank,andbeverycarefulthatyoufastenthisupfirmly,Ralph,"answeredMrs。Minot,asshetookfromitswrappingsthewaxenfigureofalittlechild。Therosylimbswereverylife—like,sowasthesmilingfaceunderthelocksofshininghair。Bothplumparmswereoutspreadasiftoscatterblessingsoverall,anddownywingsseemedtoflutterfromthedimpledshoulders,makinganangelofthebaby。
　　"IsitSt。Nicholas？"askedJill,whohadneverseenthatfamouspersonage,andknewbutlittleofChristmasfestivities。
　　"ItistheChrist—child,whosebirthdaywearecelebrating。IgotthebestIcouldfind,forIliketheideabetterthanoldSantaClaus;
　　thoughwemayhavehim,too,"saidMamma,holdingthelittleimagesothatbothcouldseeitwell。
　　"Itlookslikearealbaby";andJacktouchedtherosyfootwiththetipofhisfinger,asifexpectingacrowfromthehalf—openlips。
　　"ItremindsmeofthesaintsinthechapeloftheSacredHeartinMontreal。OnelittleSt。Johnlookedlikethis,onlyhehadalambinsteadofwings,"saidJill,strokingtheflaxenhair,andwishingshedaredaskforittoplaywith。
　　"Heisthechildren'ssainttoprayto,love,andimitate,forheneverforgotthem,butblessedandhealedandtaughtthemallhislife。
　　Thisisonlyapoorimageoftheholiestbabyeverborn,butIhopeitwillkeephismemoryinyourmindsallday,becausethisisthedayforgoodresolutions,happythoughts,andhumbleprayers,aswellasplayandgiftsandfeasting。"
　　Whileshespoke,Mrs。Minot,touchingthelittlefigureastenderlyasifitwerealive,hadtiedabroadwhiteribbonroundit,and,handingittoRalph,badehimfastenittothehookabovethetree—top,whereitseemedtofloatasifthedownywingssupportedit。