Chapter VI. Surprises

ribbonroundit,and,handingittoRalph,badehimfastenittothehookabovethetree-top,whereitseemedtofloatasifthedownywingssupportedit. JackandJilllaysilentlywatching,withasweetsortofsobernessintheiryoungfaces,andforamomenttheroomwasverystillasalleyeslookedupattheBlessedChild.Thesunshineseemedtogrowmoregoldenasitflickeredonthelittlehead,theflamesglancedabouttheglitteringtreeasiftryingtoclimbandkissthebabyfeet,and,without,achimeofbellsrangsweetly,callingpeopletohearagainthelovelystoryofthelifebegunonChristmasDay. Onlyaminute,butitdidthemgood,andpresently,whenthepleasantworkwasover,andtheworkersgone,theboystochurch,andMammatoseeaboutlunchfortheinvalids,Jacksaid,gravely,toJill,— “Ithinkweoughttobeextragood,everyoneissokindtous,andwearegettingwell,andgoingtohavesuchcapitaltimes.Don'tseehowwecandoanythingelsetoshowwearegrateful.” “Itisn'teasytobegoodwhenoneissick,”saidJill,thoughtfully.“Ifretdreadfully,Igetsotiredofbeingstill.Iwanttoscreamsometimes,butIdon't,becauseitwouldscareMammy,soIcry.Doyoucry,Jack?” “Menneverdo.IwanttotramproundwhenthingsbothermebutIcan't,soIkickandsay,'Hangit!'andwhenIgetverybadIpitchintoFrank,andheletsme.Itellyou,Jill,he'sagoodbrother!”andJackprivatelyresolvedthenandtheretoinviteFranktotakeitoutofhiminanyformhepleasedassoonashealthwouldpermit. “Iratherthinkweshallgrowgoodinthisprettyplace,forIdon'tseehowwecanbebadifwewantto,itisallsoniceandsortofpioushere,”saidJill,withhereyesontheangeloverthetree. “Afellowcanbeawfullyhungry,Iknowthat.Ididn'thalfeatbreakfast,Iwasinsuchahurrytoseeyou,andknowallaboutthesecrets.FrankkeptsayingIcouldn'tguess,thatyouhadcome,andIneverwouldbeready,tillfinallyIgotmadandfiredaneggathim,andmadenoendofamess.” JackandJillwentoffintoagaleoflaughterattheideaofdignifiedFrankdodgingtheeggthatsmashedonthewall,leavinganindeliblemarkofJack'sbesettingsin,impatience. JustthenMrs.Minotcamein,wellpleasedtohearsuchpleasantsounds,andtoseetwomerryfaces,whereusuallyonelistlessonemetheranxiouseyes. “Thenewmedicineworkswell,neighbor,”shesaidtoMrs.Pecq,whofollowedwiththelunchtray. “Indeeditdoes,mem.IfeelasifI'dtakenasupmyself,I'mthateasyinmymind.” Andshelookedso,too,forsheseemedtohaveleftallhercaresinthelittlehousewhenshelockedthedoorbehindher,andnowstoodsmilingwithacleanapronon,sofreshandcheerful,thatJillhardlyknewherownmother. “Thingstastebetterwhenyouhavesomeonetoeatwithyou,”observedJack,astheydevouredsandwiches,anddrankmilkoutoflittlemugswithrosebudsonthem. “Don'teattoomuch,oryouwon'tbereadyforthenextsurprise,”saidhismother,whentheplateswereempty,andthelastdropgonedownthroatsdrywithmuchchatter. “Moresurprises!Oh,whatfun!”criedJill.Andalltherestofthemorning,intheintervalsoftalkandplay,theytriedtoguesswhatitcouldbe. Attwoo'clocktheyfoundout,fordinnerwasservedintheBirdRoom,andthechildrenrevelledinthesimplefeastpreparedforthem.Thetwomotherskeptthelittlebed-tableswellsupplied,andfedtheirnurslingslikematernalbirds,whileFrankpresidedoverthefeastwithgreatdignity,andateadinnerwhichwouldhaveastonishedMamma,ifshehadnotbeentoobusytoobservehowfastthemincepievanished. “ThegirlssaidChristmaswasspoiledbecauseofusbutIdon'tthinkso,andtheywon'teither,whentheyseethissplendidplaceandknowallaboutourniceplans,”saidJill,luxuriouslyeatingthenut-meatsJackpickedoutforher,astheylayinEasternstyleatthefestiveboard. “Icallthisbrokenbonesmadeeasy.IneverhadabetterChristmas.Havearaisin?Here'sagoodfatone.”AndJackmadealongarmtoJill'smouth,whichbegantosing“LittleJackHorner”asanappropriatereturn. “Itwouldhavebeenalonesomeonetoallofus,I'mthinking,butforyourmother,boys.Mydutyandheartythankstoyou,mem,”putingratefulMrs.Pecq,bowingoverhercoffee-cupasshehadseenladiesbowovertheirwine-glassesatdinnerpartiesinOldEngland. “Irisetoproposeahealth,OurMothers.”AndFrankstoodupwithagobletofwater,fornotevenatChristmastimewaswineseenonthattable. “Hip,hip,hurrah!”calledJack,baptizinghimselfwithagoodsprinkle,ashewavedhisglassanddrankthetoastwithalookthatmadehismother'seyesfillwithhappytears. Jillthrewhermotherakiss,feelingverygrownupandeleganttobediningoutinsuchstyle.Thentheydrankeveryone'shealthwithmuchmerriment,tillFrankdeclaredthatJackwouldfloatoffonthedelugeofwaterhesplashedaboutinhisenthusiasm,andMammaproposedarestafterthemerry-making. “Nowthebestfuniscoming,andwehavenotlongtowait,”saidtheboy,whennapsandridesabouttheroomhadwhiledawaythebriefintervalbetweendinneranddusk,for