Chapter VII. Jill's Mission

kedon,halfglad,halfsorrythathersavageshowedsuchsignsofunconvertedferocity,andMrs.Minotwentonwritingletters,wearingthegravelookhersonsfoundhardertobearthananotherperson'sscolding.Noonespokeforamoment,andthesilencewasbecomingawkwardwhenGusappearedinarubbersuit,bringingabooktoJackfromLauraandanotetoJillfromLotty. “Lookhere,youjusttrundlemeintomyden,please,I'mgoingtohaveanap,it'ssodullto-dayIdon'tfeellikedoingmuch,”saidJack,whenGushaddonehiserrands,tryingtolookasifheknewnothingaboutthefracas. Jackfoldedhisarmsanddepartedlikeawarriorbornefromthebattle-field,tobechaffedunmercifullyfora“pepper-pot,”whileGusmadehimcomfortableinhisownroom. “Iheardonceofaboywhothrewaforkathisbrotherandputhiseyeout.Buthedidn'tmeanto,andthebrotherforgavehim,andheneverdidsoanymore,”observedJill,inapensivetone,wishingtoshowthatshefeltallthedangersofimpatience,butwassorryfortheculprit. “Didtheboyeverforgivehimself?”askedMrs.Minot. “No,'mIsupposenot.ButJackdidn'thitFrank,andfeelsrealsorry,Iknow.” “Hemighthave,andhurthimverymuch.Ouractionsareinourownhands,buttheconsequencesofthemarenot.Rememberthat,mydear,andthinktwicebeforeyoudoanything.” “Yes,'m,Iwill”andJillcomposedherselftoconsiderwhatmissionariesusuallydidwhenthenativeshurledtomahawksandboomerangsatoneanother,anddefiedtherulersoftheland. Mrs.Minotwroteonepageofanewletter,thenstopped,pushedherpapersabout,thoughtalittle,andfinallygotup,saying,asifshefounditimpossibletoresisttheyearningofherheartforthenaughtyboy,— “IamgoingtoseeifJackiscoveredup,heissohelpless,andliabletotakecold.Don'tstirtillIcomeback.” “No,'m,Iwon't.” AwaywentthetenderparenttofindhersonstudyingCaesarfordearlife,andallthemoreamiableforthelittlegustwhichhadblownawaythetemporaryirritability.Thebrotherswereoftencalled“ThunderandLightning,”becauseFrankloweredandgrowledandwasagoodwhileclearingup,whileJack'stempercameandwentlikeaflash,andtheairwasalltheclearerfortheescapeofdangerouselectricity.OfcourseMammahadtostopanddeliveralittlelecture,illustratedbysadtalesofpetulantboys,andpunctuatedwithkisseswhichtookofftheedgeoftheseafflictingnarratives. Jillmeantimemeditatedmorallyonthesuperiorityofherowngoodtemperoverthehastyoneofherdearplaymate,andjustwhenshewasfeelingunusuallyupliftedandsecure,alas!likesomanyofus,shefell,inthemostdeplorablemanner. Glancingabouttheroomforsomethingtodo,shesawasheetofpaperlyingexactlyoutofreach,whereithadflutteredfromthetableunperceived.AtfirsthereyerestedonitascarelesslyasitdidonthestraystampFrankhaddroppedthen,asifonethingsuggestedtheother,shetookitintoherheadthatthepaperwasFrank'scomposition,or,betterstill,anotetoAnnette,forthetwocorrespondedwhenabsenceorweatherpreventedthedailymeetingatschool. “Wouldn'titbefuntokeepittillhegivesbackJack'sstamps?Itwouldplaguehimsoifitwasanote,andIdobelieveitis,forcompo'sdon'tbeginwithtwowordsononeside.I'llgetit,andJackandIwillplansomewaytopayhimoff,crossthing!” Forgettingherpromisenottostir,alsohowdishonorableitwastoreadotherpeople'sletters,Jillcaughtupthelong-handledhook,ofteninusenow,andtriedtopullthepapernearer.Itwouldnotcomeatonce,foraseaminthecarpetheldit,andJillfearedtotearorcrumpleitifshewasnotverycareful.Thehookwasratherheavyandlongforhertomanage,andJackusuallydidthefishing,soshewasnotveryskilfulandjustasshewasgivingaparticularlyquickjerk,shelostherbalance,felloffthesofa,anddroppedthepolewithabang. “Oh,myback!”wasallshecouldthinkorsayasshefeltthejarallthroughherlittlebody,andacorrespondingfearinherguiltylittlemindthatsomeonewouldcomeandfindoutthedoublemischiefshehadbeenat.Foramomentshelayquitestilltorecoverfromtheshock,thenasthepainpassedshebegantowonderhowsheshouldgetback,andlookedabouthertoseeifshecoulddoitalone.Shethoughtshecould,asthesofawasnearandshehadimprovedsomuchthatshecouldsitupalittleifthedoctorwouldhavelether.Shewasgatheringherselftogetherfortheeffort,when,withinarm'sreachnow,shes