Chapter IV. Ward No. 2.

notlongforcastlesbeforesheknowshowtodoherowntaskswell,”wasthefirstunexpectedreply. Merrycolored,buttookthereproofsweetly,resolvingtodowhatshecould,andsurprisedtofindhowmanywaysseemedopentoherafterafewminutes'thought. “WhereshallIbegin?I'mnotafraidofadozencrocodilesafterMissBat”andMollyLoolookedaboutherwithafierceair,havinghadpracticeinbattleswiththeoldladywhokeptherfather'shouse. “Well,dear,youhaven'tfartolookforasnicealittleheathenasyou'dwish”andMrs.PecqglancedatBoo,whosatonthefloorstaringhardatthem,attractedbythedreadword“crocodile.”Hehadacoldandnohandkerchief,hislittlehandswereredwithchilblains,hisclothesshabby,hehaduntidydarnsinthekneesofhisstockings,andaheadoftightcurlsthatevidentlyhadnotbeencombedforsometime. “Yes,Iknowheis,andItrytokeephimdecent,butIforget,andhehatestobefixed,andMissBatdoesn'tcare,andfatherlaughswhenItalkaboutit.” PoorMollyLoolookedmuchashamedasshemadeexcuses,tryingatthesametimetomendmattersbyseizingBooanddustinghimalloverwithherhandkerchief,givingapullathishairasifringingbells,andthendumpinghimdownagainwiththedespairingexclamation:“Yes,we'reapairofheathens,andthere'snoonetosaveusifIdon't.” ThatwastrueenoughforMolly'sfatherwasabusyman,carelessofeverythingbuthismills,MissBatwasoldandlazy,andfeltasifshemighttakelifeeasyafterservingthemotherlesschildrenformanyyearsaswellassheknewhow.Mollywasbeginningtoseehowmuchamissthingswereathome,andoldenoughtofeelmortified,though,asyet,shehaddonenothingtomendthematterexceptbekindtothelittleboy. “Youwill,mydear,”answeredMrs.Pecq,encouragingly,forsheknewallaboutit.“Nowyou'veeachgotamission,letusseehowwellyouwillgeton.Keepitsecret,ifyoulike,andreportonceaweek.I'llbeamember,andwe'lldogreatthingsyet.” “Wewon'tbegintillafterChristmasthereissomuchtodo,wenevershallhavetimeforanymore.Don'ttell,andwe'llstartfairatNewYear's,ifnotbefore,”saidJill,takingtheleadasusual.Thentheywentonwiththegayladies,whocertainlywereheathenenoughindresstobeinsadneedofconversion,—tocommon-senseatleast. “IfeelasifIwasataparty,”saidJill,afterapauseoccupiedinsurveyinghergallerywithgreatsatisfaction,fordresswasherdelight,andhereshehadeveryconceivablestyleandcolor. “Talkingofparties,isn'tittoobadthatwemustgiveupourChristmasfun?Can'tgetonwithoutyouandJack,sowearenotgoingtodoathing,butjusthaveourpresents,”saidMerry,sadly,astheybegantofitdifferentheadsandbodiestogether,totrydrolleffects. “Ishallbeallwellinafortnight,IknowbutJackwon't,foritwilltakemorethanamonthtomendhispoorleg.Maybetheywillhaveadanceintheboys'bigroom,andhecanlookon,”suggestedJill,withaglanceatthedancingdamselonthewall,forshedearlylovedit,andneverguessedhowlongitwouldbebeforeherlightfeetwouldkeeptimetomusicagain. “You'dbettergiveJackahintabouttheparty.Sendoversomesmartladies,andsaytheyhavecom