Chapter IV. Ward No. 2.

gpatheticinthischildishattempttobeautifythepoorplace,andMrs.Minot'seyeswerefullasshelookedatthetiredwoman,whoseonejoyandcomfortlaythereinsuchsadplight. “Mydearsoul,cheerup,andwewillhelponeanotherthroughthehardtimes,”shesaid,withasofthandontheroughone,andalookthatpromisedmuch. “PleaseGod,wewill,mem!Withsuchgoodfriends,Inevershouldcomplain.Itrynottodoit,butitbreaksmyhearttoseemylittlelassspoiledforlife,mostlike”andMrs.Pecqpressedthekindhandwithadespondentsigh. “Wewon'tsay,oreventhink,that,yet.EverythingispossibletoyouthandhealthlikeJaney's.Wemustkeepherhappy,andtimewilldotherest,I'msure.Letusbeginatonce,andhaveasurpriseforherwhenshewakes.” Asshespoke,Mrs.Minotmovedquietlyabouttheroom,pinningthepagesofseveralillustratedpapersagainstthewallatthefootofthebed,andplacingtothebestadvantagetheothercomfortsshehadbrought. “Keepupyourheart,neighbor.IhaveanideainmyheadwhichIthinkwillhelpusall,ifIcancarryitout,”shesaid,cheerily,asshewent,leavingMrs.PecqtosewonJack'snewnight-gowns,withswiftfingers,andthegratefulwishthatshemightworkforthesegoodfriendsforever. Asifthewhisperingandrustlinghaddisturbedher,Jillsoonbegantostir,andslowlyopenedtheeyeswhichhadclosedsowearilyonthedullDecemberafternoon.Thebarewallwithitsbrownspidersnolongerconfrontedher,butthecoloredprintofalittlegirldancingtothetuneherfatherwasplayingonaguitar,whileastatelylady,withsatindress,ruff,andpowder,stoodlookingon,wellpleased.Thequaintfigure,initsbelacedfrock,quiltedpetticoat,andred-heeledshoes,seemedtocometrippingtowardherinsuchalife-likeway,thatshealmostsawthecurlsblowback,heardtherustleoftherichbrocade,andcaughtthesparkleofthelittlemaid'sbrighteyes. “Oh,howpretty!Whosentthem?”askedJill,eagerly,ashereyeglancedalongthewall,seeingothernewandinterestingthingsbeyond:anelephant-hunt,ashipinfullsail,ahorse-race,andaball-room. “Thegoodfairywhonevercomesempty-handed.Lookroundabitandyouwillseemoreprettiesallforyou,mydearie”andhermotherpointedtoabunchofpurplegrapesinagreenleafplate,aknotofbrightflowerspinnedonthewhitecurtain,andagaylittledoublegownacrossthefootofthebed. Jillclappedherhands,andwasenjoyinghernewpleasures,whenincameMerryandMollyLoo,withBoo,ofcourse,trottingafterherlikeafatandamiablepuppy.Thenthegoodtimesbeganthegownwasputon,thefruittasted,andthepictureswerestudiedlikefamousworksofart. “It'sasplendidplantocoverupthathatefulwall.I'dstickpicturesallroundandhaveagallery.Thatremindsme!Upinthegarretatourhouseisaboxfullofoldfashion-booksmyauntleft.Ioftenlookatthemonrainydays,andtheyareveryfunny.I'llgothisminuteandgeteveryone.Wecanpinthemup,ormakepaperdolls”andawayrushedMollyLoo,withthesmallbrotherwaddlingbehind,for,whenhelostsightofher,hewasdesolateindeed. Thegirlshadfitsoflaughteroverthequeercostumesofyearsgoneby,andputupasplend