Chapter II. Two Penitents

ntedinthedarkestcolors. “Oh,don'tbegoodtome,MammyImadehimgo,andnowhe'shurtdreadfully,andmaydieanditisallmyfault,andeverybodyoughttohateme,”sobbedpoorJill,asaneighborlefttheroomafterreportinginaminutemannerhowJackscreamedwhenhislegwasset,andhowFrankwasfoundwhiteasasheet,withhisheadunderthepump,whileGusrestoredthetoneofhisfriend'snerves,bypumpingasifthehousewasonfire. “Whist,mylass,andgotosleep.TakeasupofthegoodwineMrs.Minotsent,foryouareascoldasaclod,anditbreaksmyhearttoseemyJaneyso.” “Ican'tgotosleepIdon'tseehowJack'smothercouldsendmeanythingwhenI'vehalfkilledhim.Iwanttobecoldandacheandhavehorridthingsdonetome.Oh,ifIevergetoutofthisbedI'llbethebestgirlintheworld,topayforthis.SeeifIain't!”andJillgavesuchadecidednodthathertearsflewallaboutthepillowlikeashower. “You'dbetterbeginatonce,foryouwon'tgetoutofthatbedforalongwhile,I'mafraid,mylamb,”sighedhermother,unabletoconcealtheanxietythatlaysoheavyonherheart. “AmIhurtbadly,Mammy?” “Ifearit,lass.” “I'mgladofitIoughttobeworsethanJack,andIhopeIam.I'llbearitwell,andbegoodrightaway.Sing,Mammy,andI'lltrytogotosleeptopleaseyou.” Jillshuthereyeswithsuddenandunusualmeekness,andbeforehermotherhadcroonedhalfadozenversesofanoldballad,thelittleblackheadlaystilluponthepillow,andrepentantJillwasfastasleepwitharedmitteninherhand. Mrs.PecqwasanEnglishwomanwhohadleftMontrealatthedeathofherhusband,aFrenchCanadian,andhadcometoliveinthetinycottagewhichstoodnearMrs.Minot'sbighouse,separatedonlybyanarbor-vitaehedge.Asad,silentperson,whohadseenbetterdays,butsaidnothingaboutthem,andearnedherbreadbysewing,nursing,workinthefactory,oranythingthatcameinherway,beinganxioustoeducateherlittlegirl.Now,asshesatbesidethebedinthesmall,poorroom,thathopealmostdiedwithinher,forherewasthechildlaidupformonths,probably,andtheon