"Hemighthave,andhurthimverymuch。Ouractionsareinourownhands,buttheconsequencesofthemarenot。Rememberthat,mydear,andthinktwicebeforeyoudoanything。"
　　"Yes,'m,Iwill";andJillcomposedherselftoconsiderwhatmissionariesusuallydidwhenthenativeshurledtomahawksandboomerangsatoneanother,anddefiedtherulersoftheland。
　　Mrs。Minotwroteonepageofanewletter,thenstopped,pushedherpapersabout,thoughtalittle,andfinallygotup,saying,asifshefounditimpossibletoresisttheyearningofherheartforthenaughtyboy,"IamgoingtoseeifJackiscoveredup,heissohelpless,andliabletotakecold。Don'tstirtillIcomeback。"
　　"No,'m,Iwon't。"
　　AwaywentthetenderparenttofindhersonstudyingCaesarfordearlife,andallthemoreamiableforthelittlegustwhichhadblownawaythetemporaryirritability。Thebrotherswereoftencalled"ThunderandLightning,"becauseFrankloweredandgrowledandwasagoodwhileclearingup,whileJack'stempercameandwentlikeaflash,andtheairwasalltheclearerfortheescapeofdangerouselectricity。OfcourseMammahadtostopanddeliveralittlelecture,illustratedbysadtalesofpetulantboys,andpunctuatedwithkisseswhichtookofftheedgeoftheseafflictingnarratives。
　　Jillmeantimemeditatedmorallyonthesuperiorityofherowngoodtemperoverthehastyoneofherdearplaymate,andjustwhenshewasfeelingunusuallyupliftedandsecure,alas！likesomanyofus,shefell,inthemostdeplorablemanner。
　　Glancingabouttheroomforsomethingtodo,shesawasheetofpaperlyingexactlyoutofreach,whereithadflutteredfromthetableunperceived。AtfirsthereyerestedonitascarelesslyasitdidonthestraystampFrankhaddropped;then,asifonethingsuggestedtheother,shetookitintoherheadthatthepaperwasFrank'scomposition,or,betterstill,anotetoAnnette,forthetwocorrespondedwhenabsenceorweatherpreventedthedailymeetingatschool。
　　"Wouldn'titbefuntokeepittillhegivesbackJack'sstamps？Itwouldplaguehimsoifitwasanote,andIdobelieveitis,forcompo'sdon'tbeginwithtwowordsononeside。I'llgetit,andJackandIwillplansomewaytopayhimoff,crossthing！"
　　Forgettingherpromisenottostir,alsohowdishonorableitwastoreadotherpeople'sletters,Jillcaughtupthelong—handledhook,ofteninusenow,andtriedtopullthepapernearer。Itwouldnotcomeatonce,foraseaminthecarpetheldit,andJillfearedtotearorcrumpleitifshewasnotverycareful。Thehookwasratherheavyandlongforhertomanage,andJackusuallydidthefishing,soshewasnotveryskilful;andjustasshewasgivingaparticularlyquickjerk,shelostherbalance,felloffthesofa,anddroppedthepolewithabang。
　　"Oh,myback！"wasallshecouldthinkorsayasshefeltthejarallthroughherlittlebody,andacorrespondingfearinherguiltylittlemindthatsomeonewouldcomeandfindoutthedoublemischiefshehadbeenat。Foramomentshelayquitestilltorecoverfromtheshock,thenasthepainpassedshebegantowonderhowsheshouldgetback,andlookedabouthertoseeifshecoulddoitalone。Shethoughtshecould,asthesofawasnearandshehadimprovedsomuchthatshecouldsitupalittleifthedoctorwouldhavelether。Shewasgatheringherselftogetherfortheeffort,when,withinarm'sreachnow,shesawthetemptingpaper,andseizeditwithglee,forinspiteofherpredicamentshedidwanttoteaseFrank。Aglanceshowedthatitwasnotthecompositionnoranote,butthebeginningofaletterfromMrs。Minottohersister,andJillwasabouttolayitdownwhenherownnamecaughthereye,andshecouldnotresistreadingit。Hardwordstowriteofonesoyoung,doublyhardtoread,andimpossibletoforget。
　　"DearLizzie,Jackcontinuestodoverywell,andwillsoonbeupagain。Butwebegintofearthatthelittlegirlispermanentlyinjuredintheback。Sheishere,andwedoourbestforher;butI
　　neverlookatherwithoutthinkingofLucindaSnow,who,youremember,wasbedriddenfortwentyyears,owingtoafallatfifteen。PoorlittleJaneydoesnotknowyet,andIhope"——Thereitended,and"poorlittleJaney's"punishmentfordisobediencebeganthatinstant。Shethoughtshewasgettingwellbecauseshedidnotsufferallthetime,andeveryonespokecheerfullyabout"byandby。"Nowsheknewthetruth,andshuthereyeswithashiverasshesaid,low,toherself,"Twentyyears！Icouldn'tbearit;oh,Icouldn'tbearit！"
　　AverymiserableJilllayonthefloor,andforawhiledidnotcarewhocameandfoundher;thenthelastwordsoftheletter——"I
　　hope"——seemedtoshineacrosstheblacknessofthedreadful"twentyyears"andcheerherupabit,fordespairneverliveslonginyounghearts,andJillwasabravechild。
　　"ThatiswhyMammysighssowhenshedressesme,andeveryoneissogoodtome。PerhapsMrs。Minotdoesn'treallyknow,afterall。
　　ShewasdreadfullyscaredaboutJack,andheisgettingwell。I'dliketoaskDoctor,buthemightfindOutabouttheletter。Oh,dear,whydidn'tIkeepstillandletthehorridthingalone！"
　　Asshethoughtthat,Jillpushedthepaperaway,pulledherselfup,andwithmuchpainfuleffortmanagedtogetbacktohersofa,whereshelaidherselfdownwithagroan,feelingasifthetwentyyearshadalreadypassedoverhersinceshetumbledoff。
　　"I'vetoldalie,forIsaidIwouldn'tstir。I'vehurtmyback,I'vedoneameanthing,andI'vegotpaidforit。AnicemissionaryIam;I'dbetterbeginathome,asMammytoldmeto";andJillgroanedagain,rememberinghermother'swords。"NowI'vegotanothersecrettokeepallalone,forI'dbeashamedtotellthegirls。IguessI'llturnroundandstudymyspelling;thennoonewillseemyface。"
　　Jilllookedthepictureofagood,industriouschildasshelaywithherbacktothelargetable,herbookheldsothatnothingwastobeseenbutonecheekandapairoflipsmovingbusily。Fortunately,itisdifficultforlittlesinnerstoactapart,and,evenifthefaceishidden,somethinginthebodyseemstobetraytheinternalremorseandshame。Usually,Jilllayflatandstill;nowherbackwasbentinapeculiarwayassheleanedoverherbook,andonefootwaggednervously,whileonthevisiblecheekwasaSpanishstampwithawoman'sfacelookingthroughtheblackbars,verysuggestively,ifshehadknownit。Howlongtheminutesseemedtillsomeonecame,andwhataqueerlittlejumpherheartgavewhenMrs。
　　Minot'svoicesaid,cheerfully,"Jackisallright,and,Ideclare,soisJill。Ireallybelievethereisatelegraphstillworkingsomewherebetweenyoutwo,andeachknowswhattheotherisaboutwithoutwords。"
　　"Ididn'thaveanyotherbookhandy,soIthoughtI'dstudyawhile,"
　　answeredJill,feelingthatshedeservednopraiseforherseemingindustry。
　　Shecastasidelongglanceasshespoke,andseeingthatMrs。
　　Minotwaslookingfortheletter,hidherfaceandlaysostillshecouldheartherustleofthepaperasitwastakenfromthefloor。Itwaswellshedidnotalsoseethequicklooktheladygaveherassheturnedtheletterandfoundaredstampstickingtotheunderside,forthisunluckylittlewitnesstoldthestory。
　　Mrs。Minotrememberedhavingseenthestamplyingclosetothesofawhenshelefttheroom,forshehadhadhalfamindtotakeittoJack,butdidnot,thinkingFrank'splanhadsomeadvantages。
　　Shealsorecollectedthatapaperflewoffthetable,butbeinginhasteshehadnotstoppedtoseewhatitwas。Now,thestampandthelettercouldhardlyhavecometogetherwithouthands,fortheylayayardapart,andhere,also,ontheunwrittenportionofthepage,wasthemarkofasmallgreenthumb。Jillhadbeenwindingwoolforastripeinhernewafghan,andthegreenballlayonhersofa。ThesesignssuggestedandconfirmedwhatMrs。Minotdidnotwanttobelieve;sodidthevoice,attitude,andairofJill,allveryunlikeherusualopen,alertways。
　　Thekindladycouldeasilyforgivethereadingofherlettersincethegirlhadfoundsuchsadnewsthere,butthedangersofdisobediencewereseriousinhercase,andaglanceshowedthatshewassufferingeitherinmindorbody——perhapsboth。
　　"Iwillwaitforhertotellme。Sheisanhonestchild,andthetruthwillsooncomeout,"thoughtMrs。Minot,asshetookacleansheet,andJilltriedtostudy。
　　"ShallIhearyourlesson,dear？Jackmeanstorecitehislikeagoodboy,sosupposeyoufollowhisexample,"shesaid,presently。
　　"Idon'tknowasIcansayit,butI'lltry。"
　　Jilldidtry,andgotonbravelytillshecametotheword"permanent";thereshehesitated,rememberingwhereshesawitlast。
　　"Doyouknowwhatthatmeans？"askedherteacher,thinkingtohelpheronbydefiningtheword。
　　"Always——foragreatwhile——orsomethinglikethat;doesn'tit？"
　　falteredJill,withatightfeelinginherthroat,andthecolorcomingup,asshetriedtospeakeasily,yetfeltsoshame—strickenshecouldnot。
　　"Areyouinpain,mychild？Nevermindthelesson;tellme,andI'lldosomethingforyou。"
　　Thekindwords,thesofthandonherhotcheek,andthepityintheeyesthatlookedather,weretoomuchforJill。Asobcamefirst,andthenthetruth,toldwithhiddenfaceandtearsthatwashedtheblushaway,andsetfreethehonestlittlesoulthatcouldnothideitsfaultfromsuchafriend。
　　"Iknewitallbefore,andwassureyouwouldtellme,elseyouwouldnotbethechildIloveandliketohelpsowell。"
　　Then,whileshesoothedJill'strouble,Mrs。Minottoldherstoryandshowedtheletter,wishingtolessen,ifpossible,somepartofthepainithadgiven。
　　"Slyoldstamp！TogoandtellonmewhenImeanttoownup,antigetsomecreditifIcould,afterbeingsomeanandbad,"saidJill,smilingthroughhertearswhenshesawthetell—talewitnessesagainsther。
　　"Youhadbetterstickitinyourbooktoremindyouofthebadconsequencesofdisobedience,thenperhapsthislessonwillleaveapermanentimpressiononyourmindandmemory,answeredMrs。
　　Minot,gladtoseehernaturalgayetycomingback,andhopingthatshehadforgottenthecontentsoftheunfortunateletter。Butshehadnot;andpresently,whenthesadaffairhadbeentalkedoverandforgiven,Jillasked,slowly,asshetriedtoputonabravelook,"PleasetellmeaboutLucindaSnow。IfIamtobelikeher,Imightaswellknowhowshemanagedtobearitsolong。"
　　"I'msorryyoueverheardofher,andyetperhapsitmayhelpyoutobearyourtrial,dear,whichIhopewillneverbeasheavyaoneashers,ThisLucindaIknewforyears,andthoughatfirstIthoughtherfatethesaddestthatcouldbe,Icameatlasttoseehowhappyshewasinspiteofheraffliction,howgoodandusefulandbeloved。"
　　"Why,howcouldshebe？Whatdidshedo？"criedJill,forgettingherowntroublestolookupwithanopen,eagerfaceagain。
　　"Shewassopatient,otherpeoplewereashamedtocomplainoftheirsmallworries;socheerful,thatherowngreatonegrewlighter;soindustrious,thatshemadebothmoneyandfriendsbyprettythingssheworkedandsoldtohermanyvisitors。And,bestofall,sowiseandsweetthatsheseemedtogetgoodoutofeverything,andmakeherpoorroomasortofchapelwherepeoplewentforcomfort,counsel,andanexampleofapiouslife。So,yousee,Lucindawasnotsoverymiserableafterall。"
　　"Well,ifIcouldnotbeasIwas,I'dliketobeawomanlikethat。
　　Only,IhopeIshallnot！"answeredJill,thoughtfullyatfirst,thencomingoutsodecidedlywiththelastwordsthatitwasevidentthelifeofabedriddensaintwasnotatalltohermind。
　　"SodoI;andImeantobelievethatyouwillnot。Meantime,wecantrytomakethewaitingasusefulandpleasantaspossible。Thispainfullittlebackwillbeasortofconsciencetoremindyouofwhatyououghttodoandleaveundone,andsoyoucanbelearningobedience。Then,whenthebodyisstrong,itwillhaveformedagoodhabittomakedutyeasier;andmyLucindacanbeasweetexample,evenwhilelyinghere,ifshechooses。"
　　"CanI？"andJill'seyeswerefullofsoftertearsasthecomfortable,cheeringwordssankintoherheart,toblossomslowlybyandbyintoherlife,forthiswastobealonglesson,hardtolearn,butveryusefulintheyearstocome。
　　Whentheboysreturned,aftertheLatinwasrecitedandpeacerestored,JackshowedherarecoveredstamppromptlypaidbyFrank,whowasasjustashewassevere,andJillaskedfortheoldredone,thoughshedidnottellwhyshewantedit,norshowitputawayinthespelling—book,alittlesealuponapromisemadetobekept。
　　MerryandMollyNowletusseehowtheothermissionariesgotonwiththeirtasks。
　　FarmerGrantwasathrifty,well—to—doman,anxioustogivehischildrengreateradvantagesthanhehadenjoyed,andtoimprovethefineplaceofwhichhewasjustlyproud。Mrs。Grantwasanotablehousewife,asambitiousandindustriousasherhusband,buttoobusytospendanytimeontheelegancicsoflife,thoughalwaysreadytohelpthepoorandsicklikeagoodneighborandChristianwoman。Thethreesons——Tom,Dick,andHarry——werebigfellowsofseventeen,nineteen,andtwenty—one;thefirsttwoonthefarm,andtheelderinastorejustsettingupforhimself。
　　Kind—heartedbutrough—manneredyouths,wholovedMerryverymuch,butteasedhersadlyabouther"fineladyairs,"astheycalledherdaintywaysandloveofbeauty。
　　Merrywasathoughtfulgirl,fullofinnocentfancies,refinedtastes,andromanticdreams,inwhichnoonesympathizedathome,thoughshewasthepetofthefamily。Itdidseem,toanoutsider,asifthedelicatelittlecreaturehadgottherebymistake,forshelookedverylikeatea—roseinafieldofcloveranddandelions,whosehighestaiminlifewastofeedcowsandhelpmakerootbeer。
　　Whenthegirlstalkedoverthenewsociety,itpleasedMerryverymuch,andshedecidednotonlytotryandloveworkbetter,buttoconvertherfamilytoalikingforprettythings,asshecalledherownmorecultivatedtastes。
　　"Iwillbeginatonce,andshowthemthatIdon'tmeantoshirkmyduty,thoughIdowanttobenice,"thoughtshe,asshesatatsupperonenightandlookedabouther,planningherfirstmove。
　　Notaverycheeringprospectforaloverofthebeautiful,certainly,forthebigkitchen,thoughasneataswax,hadnothinglovelyinit,exceptaredgeraniumbloomingatthewindow。Norwerethepeopleallthatcouldbedesired,insomerespects,astheysataboutthetableshovellinginporkandbeanswiththeirknives,drinkingteafromtheirsaucers,andlaughingoutwithahearty"Haw,haw,"
　　whenanythingamusedthem。Yettheboyswerehandsome,strongspecimens,thefarmerahale,benevolent—lookingman,thehousewifeapleasant,sharp—eyedmatron,whoseemedtofindcomfortinlookingoftenatthebrightfaceatherelbow,withthebroadforehead,cleareyes,sweetmouth,andquietvoicethatcamelikemusicinamongtheloudmasculineones,orthequick,nervoustonesofawomanalwaysinahurry。
　　Merry'sfacewassothoughtfulthateveningthatherfatherobservedit,for,whenathome,hewatchedherasonewatchesakitten,gladtoseeanythingsopretty,young,andhappy,atitsplay。
　　"Littledaughterhasgotsomethingonhermind,Imistrust。Comeandtellfatherallaboutit,"hesaid,withasoundingslaponhisbroadkneeasheturnedhischairfromthetabletotheuglystove,wherethreepairsofwetbootssteamedunderneath,andagreatkettleofciderapple—saucesimmeredabove。
　　"WhenI'vehelpedclearup,I'llcomeandtalk。Now,mother,yousitdownandrest;RoxyandIcandoeverything,"answeredMerry,pattingtheoldrocking—chairsoinvitinglythatthetiredwomancouldnotresist,especiallyaswatchingthekettlegaveheranexcuseforobeying。
　　"Well,Idon'tcareifI'do,forI'vebeenonmyfeetsincefiveo'clock。Besureyoucoverthingsup,andshutthebutterydoor,andputthecatdowncellar,andsiftyourmeal。I'llseetothebuckwheatslastthingbeforeIgotobed。"
　　Mrs。Grantsubsidedwithherknitting,forherhandswereneveridle;Tomtiltedhischairbackagainstthewallandpickedhisteethwithhispen—knife;Dickgotoutalittlepotofgrease,tomakethebootswater—tight;andHarrysatdownatthesmalltabletolookoverhisaccounts,withanimportantair——foreveryoneoccupiedthisroom,andtheworkwasdoneintheout—kitchenbehind。
　　Merryhatedclearingup,butdutifullydideverydistastefultask,andkepthereyeoncarelessRoxytillallwasinorder;thenshegladlywenttoperchonherfather'sknee,seeinginallthefacesaboutherthesilentwelcometheyalwaysworeforthe"littleone。
　　"Yes,Idowantsomething,butIknowyouwillsayitissilly,"shebegan,asherfatherpinchedherbloomingcheek,withthewishthathispeacheswouldeverlookhalfaswell。
　　"Shouldn'twonderifitwasadollnow";andMr。Grantstrokedherheadwithanindulgentsmile,asifshewasaboutsixinsteadoffifteen。
　　"Why,father,youknowIdon't！Ihaven'tplayedwithdolliesforyearsandyears。No;Iwanttofixupmyroompretty,likeJill's。I'lldoitallmyself,andonlywantafewthings,forIdon'texpectittolookasniceashers。"
　　IndignationgaveMerrycouragetostateherwishesboldly,thoughsheknewtheboyswouldlaugh。Theydid,andhermothersaidinatoneofsurprise,"Why,child,whatmorecanyouwant？I'msureyourroomisalwaysasneatasanewpin,thankstoyourbringingup,andItoldyoutohaveafiretherewheneveryouwantedto。"
　　"Letmehavesomeoldthingsoutofthegarret,andI'llshowyouwhatIwant。Itisneat,butsobareanduglyIhatetobethere。Idosolovesomethingprettytolookat！"andMerrygavealittleshiverofdisgustassheturnedhereyesawayfromthelargegreasybootDickwasholdinguptobesureitwaswelllubricatedallround。
　　"SodoI,andthat'safact。Icouldn'tgetonwithoutmyprettygirlhere,anyway。Why,shetouchesuptheoldplacebetterthanadozenflower—potsinfullblow,"saidthefarmer,ashiseyewentfromthescarletgeraniumtothebrightyoungfacesonearhisown。
　　"IwishIhadadozeninthesitting—roomwindow。Mothersaystheyarenottidy,butI'dkeepthemneat,andIknowyou'dlikeit,"
　　brokeinMerrry,gladofthechancetogetoneofthelong—desiredwishesofherheartfulfilled。
　　"I'llfetchyousomenexttimeIgoovertoBallad's。Tellmewhatyouwant,andwe'llhaveaposybedsomewhereround,seeifwedon't,"saidherfather,dimlyunderstandingwhatshewanted。
　　"Now,ifmothersaysImayfixmyroom,Ishallbesatisfied,andI'lldomychoreswithoutabitoffuss,toshowhowgratefulIam,"
　　saidthegirl,thankingherfatherwithakiss,andsmilingathermothersowistfullythatthegoodwomancouldnotrefuse。
　　"Youmayhaveanythingyoulikeoutofthebluechest。There'salotofthingstherethatthemothsgotatafterGrandmadied,andI
　　couldn'tbeartothroworgive'emaway。Trimupyourroomasyoulike,andmindyoudon'tforgetyourpartofthebargain,"answeredMrs。Grant,seeingprofitintheplan。
　　"Iwon't;I'llworkallthemorningto—morrow,andintheafternoonI'llgetreadytoshowyouwhatIcallanice,prettyroom,"
　　answeredMerry,lookingsopleaseditseemedasifanotherflowerhadblossomedinthelargebarekitchen。
　　Shekeptherword,andtheverystormyafternoonwhenJillgotintotrouble,Merrywasworkingbusilyatherlittlebower。Inthebluechestshefoundavarietyoftreasures,andignoringthemothholes,usedthemtothebestadvantage,tryingtoimitatethesimplecomfortwithatouchofelegancewhichprevailedinMrs。Minot'sbackbedroom。
　　Threefadedred—moreencurtainswentupatthewindowsoverthechillypapershades,givingapleasantglowtothebarewalls。Aredquiltwithwhitestars,rathertheworseformanywashings,coveredthebed,andagaycloththetable,whereajudiciousarrangementofbooksandbasketsconcealedthespots。Thelittleair—tightstovewasbanished,andapairofancientandironsshoneinthefire—light。
　　Grandma'slastandlargestbraidedruglayonthehearth,andherbrasscandlesticksadornedthebureau,overthemirrorofwhichwasfestoonedawhitemuslinskirt,tiedupwithMerry'sredsash。
　　Thispieceofelegancegavethelasttouchtoherroom,shethought,andshewasveryproudofit,settingforthallhersmallstoreoftrinketsinalargeshell,withanemptyscentbottle,andacleantidyoverthepincushion。Onthewallsshehungthreeold—fashionedpictures,whichsheventuredtoborrowfromthegarrettillbettercouldbefound。Oneamourningpiece,withaverytallladyweepingonanurninagroveofwillows,andtwosmallboysinkneebreechesandfunnylittlesquaretailstotheircoats,lookinglikecherubsinlargefrills。Theotherwasasgoodasabonfire,beinganeruptionofVesuvius,andveryluridindeed,fortheBayofNapleswasboilinglikeapot,theredskyrainingrocks,andafewdistractedpeoplelyingflatupontheshore。ThethirdwasareallyprettysceneofchildrendancingroundaMay—pole,forthoughnearlyahundredyearsold,thelittlemaidssmiledandtheboysprancedasgaylyasiftheflowerstheycarriedwerestillaliveandsweet。
　　"NowI'llcallthemalltosee,andsaythatitispretty。ThenI'llenjoyit,andcomeherewhenthingslookdismalandbareeverywhereelse,"saidMerry,whenatlastitwasdone。Shehadworkedalltheafternoon,andonlyfinishedatsuppertime,sothecandleshadtobelightedthatthetoilettemightlookitsbest,andimpressthebeholderswithanideaoftrueelegance。Unfortunately,thefiresmokedalittle,andawindowwassetajartocleartheroom;anevildisposedgustblewin,waftingthethindraperywithinreachofthelight,andwhenMerrythrewopenthedoorproudlythinkingtodisplayhersuccess,shewashorrifiedtofindtheroominablaze,andhalfherlaborallinvain。
　　Theconflagrationwasoverinaminute,however,fortheboystoredownthemuslinandstampedoutthefirewithmuchlaughter,whileMrs。Grantbewailedthedamagetohercarpet,andpoorMerrytookrefugeinherfather'sarms,refusingtobecomfortedinspiteofhiskindcommendationof"Grandma'sfixins。"
　　Thethirdlittlemissionaryhadthehardesttimeofall,andherfirsteffortswerenotmuchmoresatisfactorynorsuccessfulthantheothers。Herfatherwasawayfrommorningtillnight,andthenhadhispapertoread,bookstokeep,or"amantoseedowntown,"sothat,afterahastywordattea,hesawnomoreofthechildrentillanotherevening,astheywereseldomupathisearlybreakfast。Hethoughttheywerewelltakencareof,forMissBathshebaDaweswasanenergetic,middle—agedspinsterwhenshecameintothefamily,andhadbeentherefifteenyears,sohedidnotobserve,whatawomanwouldhaveseenatonce,thatMissBatwasgettingoldandcareless,andeverythingaboutthehousewasatsixesandsevens。Shetookgoodcareofhim,andthoughtshehaddoneherdutyifshegotthreecomfortablemeals,nursedthechildrenwhentheywereill,andsawthatthehousedidnotburnup。SoMariaLouisaandNapoleonBonapartegotonastheycould,withoutthetendercaresofamother。Mollyhadbeenahappy—go—luckychild,contentedwithherpets,herfreedom,andlittleBootolove;butnowshewasjustbeginningtoseethattheywerenotlikeotherchildren,andtofeelashamedofit。
　　"Papaisbusy,butMissBatoughttoseetous;sheispaidforit,andgoodnessknowsshehasaneasytimenow,forifIaskhertodoanything,shegroansoverherbones,andtellsmeyoungfolksshouldwaitonthemselves。ItakeallthecareofBoooffherhands,butIcan'twashmyownthings,andhehasn'tadecenttrousertohisblessedlittlelegs。I'dtellpapa,butitwouldn'tdoanygood;
　　he'donlysay,'Yes,child,yes,I'llattendtoit,'andneverdoathing。"
　　ThisusedtobeMolly'slament,whensomeespeciallytryingeventoccurred,andifthegirlswerenottheretocondolewithher,shewouldretiretotheshed—chamber,callherninecatsabouther,and,sittingintheoldbushelbasket,pullherhairaboutherears,andscoldallalone。Thecatslearnedtounderstandthishabit,andnoblydidtheirbesttodispelthegloomwhichnowandthenobscuredthesunshineoftheirlittlemistress。Someofthemwouldcreepintoherlapandpurrtillthecomfortablesoundsoothedherirritation;thesedateelderssatatherfeetblinkingwithsuchwiseandsympatheticfaces,thatshefeltasifhalfadozenSolomonsweregivingherthesagestadvice;whilethekittensfriskedabout,cuttinguptheirdrollestcaperstillshelaughedinspiteofherself。
　　Whenthelaughcame,theworstofthefitwasover,andshesooncheeredup,dismissingtheconsolerswithapatallround,afeastofgoodthingsfromMissBat'slarder,andtheusualspeech:
　　"Well,dears,it'sofnousetoworry。Iguessweshallgetalongsomehow,ifwedon'tfret。"
　　Withwhichwiseresolution,MollywouldleaveherretreatandfreshenupherspiritsbyarowontheriverorarompwithBoo,whichalwaysfinishedthecase。Now,however,shewasboundtotrythenewplananddosomethingtowardreformingnotonlytheboy'scondition,butthedisorderanddiscomfortofhome。
　　"I'llplayitisSiam,andthisthehouseofanative,andI'mcometoshowthefolkshowtolivenicely。MissBatwon'tknowwhattomakeofit,andIcan'ttellher,soIshallgetsomefunoutofit,anyway,"thoughtMolly,asshesurveyedthedining—roomthedayhermissionbegan。
　　Theprospectwasnotcheering;and,ifthenativesofSiamliveinsuchconfusion,itishightimetheywereattendedto。Thebreakfast—tablestillstoodasitwasleft,withslopsofcoffeeonthecloth;bitsofbread,egg—shells,andpotato—skinslayabout,andonelonelysausagewascastawayinthemiddleofalargeplatter。Thefurniturewasdusty,stoveuntidy,andthecarpetlookedasifcrumbshadbeenscatteredtochickenswhodeclinedtheirbreakfast。Boowassittingonthesofa,withhisarmthroughaholeinthecover,huntingforsomelosttreasureputawaythereforsafekeeping,likealittlemagpieashewas。Mollyfanciedshewashedanddressedhimwellenough;butto—daysheseemedtoseemoredearly,andsighedasshethoughtofthehardjobinstoreforherifshegavehimthethoroughwashingheneeded,andcombedoutthatcurlymopofhair。
　　"I'llclearupfirstanddothatbyandby。Ioughttohaveanicelittletubandgoodtowels,likeMrs。Minot,andIwill,too,ifIbuythemmyself,"shesaid,pilingupcupswithanenergythatthreateneddestructiontohandles。
　　MissBat,whowastrailingaboutthekitchen,withherheadpinnedupinalittleplaidshawl,wassosurprisedbythedemandforapanofhotwaterandfourcleantowels,thatshenearlydroppedhersnuff—box,chiefcomfortofherlazysoul。
　　"Whatnewwhimseynow？Generally,thedishesstandroundtillI
　　havetimetopick'emup,andyouareoffcoastingorcareeringsomewhere。Well,thistidyfitwon'tlastlong,soImayaswellmakethemostofit,"saidMissBat,asshehandedouttherequiredarticles,andthenpushedherspectaclesfromthetipofhersharpnosetohersharperblackeyesforagoodlookatthegirlwhostoodprimlybeforeher,withacleanaprononandherhairbraidedupinsteadofflyingwildlyabouthershoulders。
　　"Umph！"wasallthecommentthatMissBatmadeonthisunusualneatness,andshewentonscrapinghersaucepans,whileMollyreturnedtoherwork,verywellpleasedwiththeeffectofherfirststep,forshefeltthatthebewildermentofMissBatwouldbeaconstantinspirationtofreshefforts。
　　Anhourofhardworkproducedanagreeablechangeintheabodeofthenative,forthetablewascleared,roomsweptanddusted,firebrightened,andtheholesinthesofa—coveringwerepinneduptilltimecouldbefoundtomendthem。Tobesure,rollsoflintlayincorners,smearsofasheswereonthestovehearth,andduststilllurkedonchairroundsandtablelegs。Buttoomuchmustnotbeexpectedofanewconvert,sotheyoungmissionarysatdowntorest,wellpleasedandreadyforanotherattemptassoonasshecoulddecideinwhatdirectionitshouldbemade。ShequailedbeforeBooasshelookedattheunconsciousinnocentpeacefullyplayingwiththespotteddog,nowbereftofhistail,andthelonesausagewithwhichhewasattemptingtofeedthehungryanimal,whoseredmouthalwaysgapedformore。
　　"Itwillbeanawfuljob,andheissohappyIwon'tplaguehimyet。
　　GuessI'llgoandputmyroomtorightsfirst,andpickupsomecleanclothestoputonhim,ifheisaliveafterIgetthroughwithhim,"thoughtMolly,foreseeingastormypassagefortheboy,whohatedabathasmuchassomepeoplehateatripacrosstheAtlantic。
　　Upshewent,andfindingthefireoutfeltdiscouraged,thoughtshewouldrestalittlemore,soretiredundertheblanketstoreadoneoftheChristmasbooks。Thedinner—bellrangwhileshewasstillwanderinghappilyin"Nelly'sSilverMine,"andsherandowntofindthatBoohadlaidoutarailroadallacrossherneatroom,usingbitsofcoalforsleepersandbooksforrails,overwhichhewasdraggingtheyellowsledladenwithadismayedkitten,thetaillessdog,andtheremainsofthesausage,evidentlyonitswaytothetomb,forBootookbitesatitnowandthen,nootherlunchbeingofferedhim。
　　"Ohdear！whycan'tboysplaywithoutmakingsuchamess,"
　　sighedMolly,pickingupthefeathersfromthedusterwithwhichBoohadbeentryingtomakea"cocky—doo"ofthehaplessdog。"I'llwashhimrightafterdinner,andthatwillkeephimoutofmischiefforawhile,"shethought,astheyoungengineerunsuspiciouslyproceededtoornamenthisalreadycrockycountenancewithsquash,cranberrysauce,andgravy,tillhelookedmorelikeaFijichiefinfullwar—paintthanaChristianboy。
　　"Iwanttwopailsofhotwater,please,MissBat,andthebigtub,"