Chapter III. Ward No. 1

nal,carelesslythrustbyJackunderthepillow,andreaditaloudbeforeanyoneknewwhathewasabout. “MyDear,—IwishIcouldsendyousomeofmygoodtimes.AsIcan't,Isendyoumuchlove,andIhopeyouwilltryandbepatientasIamgoingto,foritwasourfault,andwemustnotmakeafussnow.Ain'tmotherssweet?Mineiscomingoverto-morrowtoseeyouandtellmehowyouare.Thisroundthingisakissforgood-night. “YourJack” “Isn'tthatspoony?You'dbetterhideyourface,Ithink.He'sgettingtobearegularmollycoddle,isn'the?”jeeredJoe,astheboyslaughed,andthengrewsober,seeingJack'sheadburiedinthebedclothes,aftersendingapillowathistormentor. ItnearlyhitMrs.Minot,cominginwithherpatient'steaonatray,andatsightofhertheguestshurriedlytookleave,JoenearlytumblingdownstairstoescapefromFrank,whowouldhavefollowed,ifhismotherhadnotsaidquickly,“Stay,andtellmewhatisthematter.” “OnlyteasingJackabit.Don'tbemad,oldboy,Joedidn'tmeananyharm,anditwasrathersoft,nowwasn'tit?”askedFrank,tryingtoappeasethewoundedfeelingsofhisbrother. “Ichargedyounottoworryhim.Thoseboysweretoomuchforthepoordear,andIoughtnottohavelefthim,”saidMamma,asshevainlyendeavoredtofindandcaresstheyellowheadburrowedsofaroutofsightthatnothingbutoneredearwasvisible. “Helikedit,andwegotoncapitallytillJoeroughedhimaboutJill.Ah,Joe'sgettingitnow!IthoughtGusandEdwoulddothatlittlejobforme,”addedFrank,runningtothewindowasthesoundofstifledcriesandlaughterreachedhim. Theredearheardalso,andJackpoppeduphisheadtoask,withinterest,— “Whataretheydoingtohim?” “Rollinghiminthesnow,andhe'showlinglikefun.” “Serveshimright,”mutteredJack,withafrown.Then,asawailarosesuggestiveofanunpleasantmixtureofsnowinthemouthandthumpsontheback,heburstoutlaughing,andsaid,good-naturedly,“Goandstopthem,FrankIwon'tmind,onlytellhimitwasameantrick.Hurry!Gusissostronghedoesn'tknowhowhispoundinghurts.” OffranFrank,andJacktoldhiswrongstohismother.Shesympathizedheartily,andsawnoharmintheaffectionatelittlenote,whichwouldpleaseJill,andhelphertobearhertrialspatiently. “Itisn'tsillytobefondofher,isit?Sheissoniceandfunny,andtriestobegood,andlikesme,andIwon'tbeashamedofmyfriends,iffolksdolaugh,”protestedJack,witharapofhisteaspoon. “No,dear,itisquitekindandproper,andI'dratherhaveyouplaywithamerrylittlegirlthanwithroughboystillyouarebigenoughtoholdyourown,”answeredMamma,puttingthecuptohislipsthattherecliningladmighttakehisbromawithoutspilling. “Pooh!Idon'tmeanthatI'mstrongenoughnowtotakecareofmyself,”criedJack,stoutly.“IcanthrashJoeanyday,ifIlike.Justlookatmyarmthere'smuscleforyou!”andupwentasleeve,tothegreatdangerofoverturningthetray,astheboyproudlydisplayedhisbicepsandexpandedhischest,bothofwhichwereveryfineforaladofhisyears.“IfI'dbeenonmylegs,hewouldn'thavedaredtoinsultme,anditwascowardlytohitafellowwhenhewasdown.” Mrs.MinotwantedtolaughatJack'sindignation,butthebellrang,andshehadtogoandpullinthebasket,muchamusedatthenewgame. Burningtodistinguishherselfintheeyesofthebigboys,Jillhadsentoveratall,redflannelnight-cap,whichshehadbeenmakingforsomeproposedChristmasplays,andaddedthefollowingverse,forshewasconsideredagiftedrhymesteratthegameparties:— “Whenitcomesnight, Weputoutthelight. Someblowwithapuff, Someturndownandsnuff Butneatfolksprefer Aniceextinguisher. SohereIsendyouback OnetoputonMr.Jack.” “Now,Icallthatregularlysmartnotoneofuscoulddoit,andIjustwishJoewasheretoseeit.Iwanttosendoncemore,somethinggoodforteashehatesgruelso”andthelastdespatchwhichtheGreatInternationalTelegraphcarriedthatdaywasabakedappleandawarmmuffin,with“J.M.'sbestregards.”