Chapter X. The Dramatic Club

WhileJackwashoppinggaylyaboutonhiscrutches,poorJillwasfeelingtheeffectsofhersecondfall,andinsteadofsittingup,asshehopedtodoaftersixweeksofrest,shewasorderedtolieonaboardfortwohourseachday.Notaneasypenance,byanymeans,fortheboardwasveryhard,andshecoulddonothingwhileshelaythere,asitdidnotslopeenoughtopermithertoreadwithoutgreatfatigueofbotheyesandhands.Sothelittlemartyrspentherfirsthouroftrialinsobbing,thesecondinsinging,forjustashermotherandMrs.Minotweredecidingindespairthatneithershenortheycouldbearit,Jillsuddenlybrokeoutintoamerrychorussheusedtohearherfathersing:— “Fautjouerlemirliton, Fautjouerlemirlitir, Fautjouerlemirliter, Mir—li—ton.” Thesoundofthebravelittlevoicewasverycomfortingtothetwomothershoveringabouther,andJacksaid,withalookofmingledpityandadmiration,ashebrandishedhiscrutchovertheimaginaryfoes,— “That'sright!Singaway,andwe'llplayyouareanIndiancaptivebeingtormentedbyyourenemies,andtooproudtocomplain.I'llwatchtheclock,andtheminutetimeisupI'llrushinandrescueyou.” Jilllaughed,butthefancypleasedher,andshestraightenedherselfoutunderthegayafghan,whileshesang,inaplaintivevoice,anotherlittleFrenchsongherfathertaughther:— “J'avaisunecolombeblanche, J'avaisunblancpetitpigeon, Tousdeuxvolaient,debrancheenbranche, Jusqu'aufa?tedemondongeon: Maiscommeuncoupdeventd'automne, S'estabattulà,l'épervier, Etmacolombesimignonne Nerevientplusaucolombier.” “MypoorJeanhadafinevoice,andalwayshopedthechildwouldtakeafterhim.Itwouldbreakhishearttoseeherlyingtheretryingtocheerherpainwiththesongsheusedtosinghertosleepwith,”saidMrs.Pecq,sadly. “Shereallyhasagreatdealoftalent,andwhensheisablesheshallhavesomelessons,formusicisacomfortandapleasure,sickorwell,”answeredMrs.Minot,whohadoftenadmiredthefreshvoice,withitsprettyaccent. HereJillbegantheCanadianboat-song,withgreatvigor,asifboundtoplayherpartofIndianvictimwithspirit,andnotdisgraceherselfbyanymorecrying.Allknewtheair,andjoinedin,especiallyJack,whocameoutstrongonthe“Row,brothers,row,”butendedinasqueakonahighnote,sodrolly,thattherestbrokedown.Sothehourthatbeganwithtearsendedwithmusicandlaughter,andanewpleasuretothinkofforthefuture. AfterthatdayJillexertedallherfortitude,forshelikedtohavetheboyscallherbraveandadmirethecheerfulwayinwhichsheenduredtwohoursofdiscomfort.Shefoundshecoulduseherzitherasitlayuponherbreast,andeverydaytheprettymusicbeganatacertainhour,andallinthehousesoonlearnedtoloveandlistenforit.Eventheoldcooksetopenherkitchendoor,sayingpitifully,“Poordarlint,hearhowpurtyshe'ssingin',widthepain,onthatcrewelboord.It'salittlesaint,sheis.Mayherbedabovebeaisy!” Frankwouldlifthergentlyonandoff,withakindwordthatcomfortedherimmensely,andgentleEdwouldcomeandteachhernewbitsofmusic,whiletheotherfellowswerefrolickingbelow.Ralphaddedhissharetoheramusement,forheaskedleavetomodelherheadinclay,andsetuphisworkinacorner,comingtopat,scrape,andmouldwheneverhehadaspareminute,amusingherbyhislivelychat,andshowingherhowtoshapebirds,rabbits,andqueerfacesinthesoftclay,whenthesongswereallsungandherfingerstiredofthezither. Thegirlssympathizedveryheartilywithhernewtrial,andbroughtallmannerofgiftstocheerhercaptivity.MerryandMollymadeagayscreenbypastingpicturesontheblackcambricwhichcoveredthefoldingframethatstoodbeforehertokeepthedraughtsfromherasshelayonherboard.Br