Chapter X. The Dramatic Club

ightbirdsandflowers,figuresandanimals,coveredoneside,andontheothertheyputmottoes,bitsofpoetry,anecdotes,andshortstories,sothatJillcouldlieandlookorreadwithoutthetroubleofholdingabook.Itwasnotalldoneatonce,butgrewslowly,andwasasourceofinstructionaswellasamusementtothemall,astheyreadcarefully,thattheymightmakegoodselections. ButthethingthatpleasedJillmostwassomethingJackdid,forhegaveupgoingtoschool,andstayedathomenearlyafortnightafterhemighthavegone,allforhersake.Thedaythedoctorsaidhemighttryitifhewouldbeverycareful,hewasingreatspirits,andlimpedabout,lookinguphisbooks,andplanninghowhewouldastonishhismatesbytherapidityofhisrecovery.WhenhesatdowntorestherememberedJill,whohadbeenlyingquietlybehindthescreen,whilehetalkedwithhismother,busyputtingfreshcoversonthebooks. “Sheissostill,Iguesssheisasleep,”thoughtJack,peepingroundthecorner. No,notasleep,butlyingwithhereyesfixedonthesunnywindow,beyondwhichthebrightwinterworldsparkledafterafreshsnow-fall.Thejingleofsleigh-bellscouldbeheard,thelaughterofboysandgirlsontheirwaytoschool,allthepleasantstirofanewdayofhappyworkandplayfortherestoftheworld,morelonely,quiet,andwearisomethanevertohersinceherfriendandfellow-prisonerwassetfreeandgoingtoleaveher. Jackunderstoodthatpatient,wistfullook,and,withoutaword,wentbacktohisseat,staringatthefiresosoberly,thathismotherpresentlyasked:“Whatareyouthinkingofsobusily,withthatpuckerinyourforehead?” “I'veaboutmadeupmymindthatIwon'tgotoschooljustyet,”answeredJack,slowlyliftinghishead,foritcosthimsomethingtogiveupthelong-expectedpleasure. “Whynot?”andMrs.Minotlookedmuchsurprised,tillJackpointedtothescreen,and,makingasadfacetoexpressJill'sanguish,answeredinacheerfultone,“Well,I'mnotsurethatitisbest.Doctordidnotwantmetogo,butsaidImightbecauseIteased.Ishallbesuretocometogrief,andtheneveryonewillsay,'Itoldyouso,'andthatissoprovoking.I'dratherkeepstillaweeklonger.Hadn'tIbetter?” Hismothersmiledandnoddedasshesaid,sewingawayatmuch-abusedoldCaesar,asifshelovedhim,“Doasyouthinkbest,dear.Ialwayswantyouathome,butIdon'twonderyouarerathertiredofitafterthislongconfinement.” “Isay,Jill,shouldIbeinyourwayifIdidn'tgotoschooltillthefirstofFebruary?”calledJack,laughingtohimselfattheabsurdityofthequestion. “Notmuch!”answeredagladvoicefrombehindthescreen,andheknewthesorrowfuleyeswereshiningwithdelight,thoughhecouldnotseethem. “Well,IguessImayaswell,andgetquitefirmonmylegsbeforeIstart.AnotherweekorsowillbringmeupifIstudyhard,soIshallnotlosemytime.I'lltacklemyLatinassoonasit'sready,mother.” Jackgotaheartykisswiththeneatlycoveredbook,andMammalovedhimforthelittlesacrificemorethanifhehadwonaprizeatschool.Hedidgetareward,for,infiveminutesfromthetimehedecided,Jillwassinginglikeabobolink,andsuchamedleyofmerrymusiccamefrombehindthescreen,thatitwasaregularmorningconcert.Shedidnotknowthenthathestayedforhersake,butshefounditoutsoonafter,andwhenthetimecamedidasmuchforhim,asweshallsee. Itprovedawisedecision,forthelastpartofJanuarywassostormyJackcouldnothavegonehalfthetime.So,whilethesnowdrifted,andbitterwindsraged,hesatsnuglyathomeamusingJill,andgettingonbravelywithhislessons,forFranktookgreatpainswithhimtoshowhisapprobationofthelittlekindness,and,somehow,thememoryofitseemedtomakeeventhedetestedLatineasier. WithFebruaryfairweathersetin,andJackmarchedhappilyawaytoschoo