Chapter IV. Ward No. 2.

idprocessionofladiesinfullskirts,toweringhats,pointedslippers,powderedhair,simperingfaces,andimpossiblewaists. “Idothinkthisbrideisperfectlysplendid,thelongtrainandveilaresosweet,”saidJill,revellinginfineclothesassheturnedfromoneplatetoanother. “Iliketheelephantsbest,andI'dgiveanythingtogoonahuntlikethat!”criedMollyLoo,whorodecows,droveanyhorseshecouldget,hadninecats,andwasnotafraidofthebiggestdogthateverbarked. “Ifancy'TheDancingLesson'itissosortofsplendid,withthegreatwindows,goldchairs,andfinefolks.Oh,Iwouldliketoliveinacastlewithafatherandmotherlikethat,”saidMerry,whowasromantic,andfoundtheoldfarmhouseonthehillasadtrialtoherhigh-flownideasofelegance. “Now,thatship,settingoutforsomefar-awayplace,ismoretomymind.Iwearyforhomenowandthen,andmeantoseeitagainsomeday”andMrs.PecqlookedlonginglyattheEnglishship,thoughitwasevidentlyoutwardbound.Then,asifreproachingherselffordiscontent,sheadded:“ItlookslikethoseIusedtoseegoingofftoIndiawithaloadofmissionaries.Icameneargoingmyselfonce,withaladyboundforSiambutIwenttoCanadawithhersister,andhereIam.” “I'dliketobeamissionaryandgowherefolksthrowtheirbabiestothecrocodiles.I'dwatchandfishthemout,andhaveaschool,andbringthemup,andconvertallthepeopletilltheyknewbetter,”saidwarm-heartedMollyLoo,whobefriendedeveryabusedanimalandforlornchildshemet. “Weneedn'tgotoAfricatobemissionariestheyhave'emnearerhomeandneed'em,too.Inallthebigcitiesthereareamany,andtheyhavetheirhandsfullwiththepoor,thewicked,andthehelpless.Onecanfindthatsortofworkanywhere,ifonehasamind,”saidMrs.Pecq. “Iwishwehadsometodohere.I'dsoliketogoroundwithbasketsofteaandrice,andgiveouttractsandtalktopeople.Wouldn'tyou,girls?”askedMolly,muchtakenwiththenewidea. “Itwouldberathernicetohaveasocietyalltoourselves,andhavemeetingsandresolutionsandthings,”answeredMerry,whowasfondoflittleceremonies,andalwayswenttothesewingcirclewithhermother. “Wewouldn'tlettheboyscomein.We'dhaveitasecretsociety,astheydotheirtemperancelodge,andwe'dhavebadgesandpass-wordsandgrips.Itwouldbefunifwecanonlygetsomeheathentoworkat!”criedJill,readyforfreshenterprisesofeverysort. “Icantellyousomeonetobeginonrightaway,”saidhermother,noddingather.“AswildalittlesavageasI'dwishtosee.Takeherinhand,andmakeapretty-manneredladyofher.Beginathome,mylass,andyou'llfindmissionaryworkenoughforawhile.” “Now,Mammy,youmeanme!Well,IwillbeginandI'llbesogood,folkswon'tknowme.Beingsickmakesnaughtychildrenbehaveinstory-books,I'llseeifliveonescan't”andJillputonsuchasanctifiedfacethatthegirlslaughedandaskedfortheirmissionsalso,thinkingtheywouldbethesame. “You,Merry,mightdoadealathomehelpingmother,andsettingthebigbrothersagoodexample.Onelittlegirlinahousecandoprettymuchasshewill,especiallyifshehasamindtomakeplainthingsniceandcomfortable,and