Part 24 (1/2)
”Who talks about taking Jill away?”
”Lucy's mother thought she ought to go, and said so, but the queen told her how much good it did them all to have her there, and begged the dear woman to let her little cottage and come and be housekeeper in the palace, for the queen was getting lazy, and liked to sit and read, and talk and sew with Lucy, better than to look after things.”
”And she said she would?” cried Jill, clasping her hands in her anxiety, for she had learned to love her cage now.
”Yes.” Mrs. Minot had no time to say more, for one of the red slippers flew up in the air, and Jack had to clap both hands over his mouth to suppress the ”hurrah!” that nearly escaped. Frank said, ”That's good!”
and nodded with his most cordial smile at Jill who pulled herself up with cheeks now as rosy as the red carnation, and a little catch in her breath as she said to herself,--
”It's too lovely to be true.”
”That's a first-rate end to a very good story,” began Jack, with grave decision, as he put on his slipper and sat up to pat Jill's hand, wis.h.i.+ng it was not quite so like a little claw.
”That's not the end;” and Mamma's eyes laughed more than ever as three astonished faces turned to her, and three voices cried out,--
”Still more?”
”The very best of all. You must know that, while Lucy was busy for others, she was not forgotten, and when she was expecting to lie on her bed through the summer, plans were being made for all sorts of pleasant changes. First of all, she was to have a nice little brace to support the back which was growing better every day; then, as the warm weather came on, she was to go out, or lie on the piazza; and by and by, when school was done, she was to go with the queen and the princes for a month or two down to the sea-side, where fresh air and salt water were to build her up in the most delightful way. There, now! isn't that the best ending of all?” and Mamma paused to read her answer in the bright faces of two of the listeners, for Jill hid hers in the pillow, and lay quite still, as if it was too much for her.
”That will be regularly splendid! I'll row you all about--boating is so much easier than riding, and I like it on salt water,” said Frank, going to sit on the arm of the sofa, quite excited by the charms of the new plan.
”And I'll teach you to swim, and roll you over the beach, and get sea-weed and sh.e.l.ls, and no end of nice things, and we'll all come home as strong as lions,” added Jack, scrambling up as if about to set off at once.
”The doctor says you have been doing finely of late, and the brace will come to-morrow, and the first really mild day you are to have a breath of fresh air. Won't that be good?” asked Mrs. Minot, hoping her story had not been too interesting.
”Is she crying?” said Jack, much concerned as he patted the pillow in his most soothing way, while Frank lifted one curl after another to see what was hidden underneath.
Not tears, for two eyes sparkled behind the fingers, then the hands came down like clouds from before the sun, and Jill's face shone out so bright and happy it did one's heart good to see it.
”I'm not crying,” she said with a laugh which was fuller of blithe music than any song she sung. ”But it was so splendid, it sort of took my breath away for a minute. I thought I wasn't any better, and never should be, and I made up my mind I wouldn't ask, it would be so hard for any one to tell me so. Now I see why the doctor made me stand up, and told me to get my baskets ready to go a-Maying. I thought he was in fun; did he really mean I could go?” asked Jill, expecting too much, for a word of encouragement made her as hopeful as she had been despondent before.
”No, dear, not so soon as that. It will be months, probably, before you can walk and run, as you used to; but they will soon pa.s.s. You needn't mind about May-day; it is always too cold for flowers, and you will find more here among your own plants, than on the hills, to fill your baskets,” answered Mrs. Minot, hastening to suggest something pleasant to beguile the time of probation.
”I can wait. Months are not years, and if I'm truly getting well, everything will seem beautiful and easy to me,” said Jill, laying herself down again, with the patient look she had learned to wear, and gathering up the scattered carnations to enjoy their spicy breath, as if the fairies hidden there had taught her some of their sweet secrets.
”Dear little girl, it has been a long, hard trial for you, but it is coming to an end, and I think you will find that it has not been time wasted, I don't want you to be a saint quite yet, but I am sure a gentler Jill will rise up from that sofa than the one who lay down there in December.”
”How could I help growing better, when you were so good to me?” cried Jill, putting up both arms, as Mrs. Minot went to take Frank's place, and he retired to the fire, there to stand surveying the scene with calm approval.
”You have done quite as much for us; so we are even. I proved that to your mother, and she is going to let the little house and take care of the big one for me, while I borrow you to keep me happy and make the boys gentle and kind. That is the bargain, and we get the best of it,”
said Mrs. Minot, looking well pleased, while Jack added, ”That's so!”
and Frank observed with an air of conviction, ”We couldn't get on without Jill, possibly.”
”Can I do all that? I didn't know I was of any use. I only tried to be good and grateful, for there didn't seem to be anything else I could do,” said Jill, wondering why they were all so fond of her.
”No real trying is ever in vain. It is like the spring rain, and flowers are sure to follow in good time. The three gifts Patience gave Saint Lucy were courage, cheerfulness, and love, and with these one can work the sweetest miracles in the world, as you see,” and Mrs. Minot pointed to the pretty room and its happy inmates.
”Am I really the least bit like that good Lucinda? I tried to be, but I didn't think I was,” asked Jill softly.