Chapter IV. Ward No. 2.

ThingswerenotsogayinWardNo.2,forMrs.Pecqwasverybusy,andJillhadnothingtoamuseherbutflyingvisitsfromthegirls,andsuchlittleplaysasshecouldinventforherselfinbed.Fortunately,shehadalivelyfancy,andsogotonprettywell,tillkeepingstillgrewunbearable,andtheactivechildachedineverylimbtobeupandout.That,however,wasimpossible,fortheleastattempttositorstandbroughtonthepainthattookherbreathawayandmadehergladtolieflatagain.Thedoctorspokecheerfully,butlookedsober,andMrs.PecqbegantofearthatJaneywastobeacrippleforlife.Shesaidnothing,butJill'squickeyessawanaddedtroubleinthealwaysanxiousface,anditdepressedherspirits,thoughsheneverguessedhalfthemischiefthefallhaddone. Thetelegraphwasagreatcomfort,andthetwoinvalidskeptupalivelycorrespondence,nottosaytrafficinlightarticles,fortheGreatInternationalwastheonlyaerialexpressinexistence.Buteventhisamusementflaggedafteratimeneitherhadmuchtotell,andwhenthedailyhealthbulletinshadbeenexchanged,messagesgaveout,andthebasket'stravelsgrewmoreandmoreinfrequent.Neithercouldreadallthetime,gamesweresoonusedup,theirmateswereatschoolmostoftheday,andafteraweekortwothepoorchildrenbegantogetpaleandfractiouswiththeconfinement,alwayssoirksometoyoungpeople. “Idobelievethechildwillfretherselfintoafever,mem,andI'mcleandistraughttoknowwhattodoforher.Sheneverusedtomindtrifles,butnowshefretsabouttheoddestthings,andIcan'tchangethem.Thiswall-paperiswellenough,butshehastakenafancythatthespotsonitlooklikespiders,anditmakeshernervous.I'venootherwarmplacetoputher,andnomoneyforanewpaper.Poorlass!Therearehardtimesbeforeher,I'mfearing.” Mrs.PecqsaidthisinalowvoicetoMrs.Minot,whocameinasoftenasshecould,toseewhatherneighborneededforbothmotherswereanxious,andsympathydrewthemtooneanother.Whileonewomantalked,theotherlookedaboutthelittleroom,notwonderingintheleastthatJillfoundithardtobecontentedthere.Itwasveryneat,butsoplainthattherewasnotevenapictureonthewalls,noranornamentuponthemantel,exceptthenecessaryclock,lamp,andmatch-box.Thepaperwasugly,beingadeepbuffwithabrownfigurethatdidlookverylikespiderssprawlingoverit,andmightwellmakeonenervoustolookatdayafterday. JillwasasleepinthefoldingchairDr.Whitinghadsent,withamattresstomakeitsoft.Thebackcouldberaisedorloweredatwillbutonlyafewincheshadbeengainedasyet,andthethinhairpillowwasallshecouldbear.Shelookedveryprettyasshelay,withdarklashesagainstthefeverishcheeks,lipsapart,andacloudofcurlyblacklocksallaboutthefacepillowedononearm.Sheseemedlikeabrilliantlittleflowerinthatdullplace,—fortheFrenchbloodinherveinsgaveheracolor,warmth,andgracewhichwereverycharming.Hernaturalloveofbeautyshoweditselfinmanyways:aredribbonhadtiedupherhair,agaybutfadedshawlwasthrownoverthebed,andthegiftssentherwerearrangedwithcareuponthetablebyhersideamongherownfewtoysandtreasures.Therewassomethin