Chapter II. Two Penitents

eambitionandpleasureofthesolitarywoman'slifewastoseeJaneyPecq'snameoverallthehighmarksintheschool-reportssheproudlybroughthome. “She'llwinthrough,pleaseHeaven,andI'llseemylassagentlewomanyet,thankstothegoodfriendinyonder,whowillneverletherwantforcare,”thoughtthepoorsoul,lookingoutintothegloomwherealongrayoflightstreamedfromthegreathousewarmandcomfortableuponthecottage,likethespiritofkindnesswhichmadetheinmatesfriendsandneighbors. Meantime,thatothermothersatbyherboy'sbedasanxiousbutwithbetterhope,forMrs.Minotmadetroublesweetandhelpfulbythewayinwhichsheboreitandherboyswerelearningofherhowtofindsilverliningstothecloudsthatmustcomeintothebluestskies. Jacklaywideawake,withhotcheeks,andthrobbinghead,andallsortsofqueersensationsinthebrokenleg.Thesoothingpotionhehadtakendidnotaffecthimyet,andhetriedtobeguilethewearytimebywonderingwhocameandwentbelow.Gentleringsatthefrontdoor,andmysterioustappingsattheback,hadbeengoingonalltheeveningforthereportoftheaccidenthadgrownastonishinglyinitstravels,andateighto'clockthegeneralbeliefwasthatJackhadbrokenbothlegs,fracturedhisskull,andlayatthepointofdeath,whileJillhaddislocatedoneshoulder,andwasbruisedblackandbluefromtoptotoe.Suchbeingthecase,itisnowonderthatanxiousplaymatesandneighborshauntedthedoorstepsofthetwohouses,andthatoffersofhelppouredin. Frank,havingtiedupthebellandputanoticeinthelightedside-window,saying,“Gotothebackdoor,”satintheparlor,supportedbyhischum,Gus,whileEdplayedsoftlyonthepiano,hopingtolullJacktosleep.Itdidsoothehim,foraverysweetfriendshipexistedbetweenthetallyouthandtheladofthirteen.Edwentwiththebigfellows,butalwayshadakindwordforthesmallerboysandaffectionateJack,neverashamedtoshowhislove,wasoftenseenwithhisarmroundEd'sshoulder,astheysattogetherinthepleasantredparlors,wherealltheyoungpeoplewerewelcomea