Chapter III. Ward No. 1

Forsomedays,nothingwasseenandlittlewasheardofthe“dearsufferers,”astheoldladiescalledthem.Buttheywerenotforgottenthefirstwordsutteredwhenanyoftheyoungpeoplemetwere:“HowisJack?”“SeenJillyet?”andallwaitedwithimpatienceforthemomentwhentheycouldbeadmittedtotheirfavoritemates,morethaneverobjectsofinterestnow. Meantime,thecaptivesspentthefirstfewdaysinsleep,pain,andtryingtoacceptthehardfactthatschoolandplayweredonewithformonthsperhaps.Butyoungspiritsarewonderfullyelasticandsooncheerup,andhealthyyoungbodieshealfast,oreasilyadaptthemselvestonewconditions.Soourinvalidsbegantomendonthefourthday,andtodrivetheirnursesdistractedwitheffortstoamusethem,beforethefirstweekwasover. ThemostsuccessfulattemptoriginatedinWardNo.1,asMrs.MinotcalledJack'sapartment,andwewillgiveoursympathizingreaderssomeideaofthisplace,whichbecamethestagewhereonwereenactedmanyvariedandremarkablescenes. EachoftheMinotboyshadhisownroom,andtherecollectedhisowntreasuresandtrophies,arrangedtosuithisconvenienceandtaste.Frank'swasfullofbooks,maps,machinery,chemicalmesses,andgeometricaldrawings,whichadornedthewallslikeintricatecobwebs.Abigchair,wherehereadandstudiedwithhisheelshigherthanhishead,abasketofapplesforrefreshmentatallhoursofthedayornight,andanimmenseinkstand,inwhichseveralpenswerealwaysapparentlybathingtheirfeet,weretheprincipalornamentsofhisscholasticretreat. Jack'shobbywasathleticsports,forhewasbentonhavingastrongandactivebodyforhishappylittlesoultoliveandenjoyitselfin.Soaseveresimplicityreignedinhisapartmentinsummer,especially,forthenhisfloorwasbare,hiswindowswereuncurtained,andthechairsuncushioned,thebedbeingasnarrowandhardasNapoleon's.Theonlyornamentsweredumbbells,whips,bats,rods,skates,boxing-gloves,abigbath-panandasmalllibrary,consistingchieflyofbooksongames,horses,health,hunting,andtravels.Inwinterhismothermadethingsmorecomfortablebyintroducingrugs,curtains,andafire.Jack,also,relentedslightlyintheseverityofhistraining,occasionallyindulginginthenationalbuckwheatcake,insteadoftheprescribedoatmealporridge,forbreakfast,omittinghiscoldbathwhenthethermometerwasbelowzero,anddancingatnight,insteadofrunningagivendistancebyday. Now,however,hewasahelplesscaptive,givenovertoallsortsofcoddling,laziness,andluxury,andtherewasadrollmixtureofmirthandmelancholyinhisface,ashelaytrussedupinbed,watchingthecomfortswhichhadsuddenlyrobbedhisroomofitsSpartansimplicity.Adeliciouscouchwasthere,withFrankreposinginitsdepths,halfhiddenunderseveralfolioswhichhewasconsultingforahistoryofthesteam-engine,thesubjectofhisnextcomposition. Awhite-coveredtablestoodnear,withallmannerofdaintiessetforthinawaytotemptthesternestprinciples.Vasesofflowersbloomedonthechimney-piece,—giftsfromanxiousyoungladies,leftwiththeirlove.Frivolousstory-booksandpicture-papersstrewedthebed,nowshroudedineffeminatechintzcurtains,beneathwhichJacklaylikeawoundedwarriorinhistent.Butthesaddestsightforourcrippledathletewasaglimpse,throughahalf-openeddoor,atthebeloveddumb-bells,bats,balls,boxing-gloves,andsnow-shoes,allpiledignominiouslyawayinthebath-pan,mournfullyrecallingthefactthattheirdaywasover,now,atleastforsometime. Hewasabouttogroandismally,whenhiseyefellonasightwhichmadehimswallowthegroan,andcoughinstead,asifitchokedhimalittle.Thesightwashismother'sface,asshesatinalowchairrollingbandages,withabasketbesideherinwhichwerepilesofoldlinen,lint,plaster,andothermatters,neededforthedressingofwounds.Ashelooked,Jackrememberedhowsteadilyandtenderlyshehadstoodbyhimallthroughthehardtimesjustpast,andhowcarefullyshehadbathedanddresse