Chapter XIV. And Jill Finds It Out

Jillworriedaboutitmorethanhedid,forshewasafaithfullittlefriend,anditwasagreattrialtohaveJackevensuspectedofdoinganythingwrong.Schoolisachild'sworldwhileheisthere,anditssmallaffairsareveryimportanttohim,soJillfeltthattheonethingtobedonewastoclearawaythecloudaboutherdearboy,andrestorehimtopublicfavor. “EdwillbehereSaturdaynightandmaybehewillfindout,forJacktellshimeverything.Idohatetohavehimhectoredso,forIknowheis,thoughhe'stooproudtocomplain,”shesaid,onThursdayevening,whenFranktoldhersomejokeplayeduponhisbrotherthatday. “Ilethimalone,butIseethatheisn'tbadgeredtoomuch.That'sallIcando.IfEdhadonlycomehomelastSaturdayitmighthavedonesomegood,butnowitwillbetoolateforthereportsaregivenoutto-morrow,youknow,”answeredFrank,feelingalittlejealousofEd'sinfluenceoverJack,thoughhisownwouldhavebeenasgreatifhehadbeenasgentle. “HasJerrycomeback?”askedJill,whokeptallherquestionsforFrank,becausesheseldomalludedtothetendersubjectwhenwithJack. “No,he'soffforthesummer.Gotaplacesomewhere.Hopehe'llstaythereandletBobalone.” “WhereisBobnow?Idon'thearmuchabouthimlately,”saidJill,whowasconstantlyonthelookoutfor“theotherfellow,”sinceitwasnotJoe. “Oh,hewenttoCaptainSkinner'sthefirstofMarch,choresround,andgoestoschoolupthere.Captainisstrict,andwon'tletBobcometotown,exceptSundaysbuthedon'tminditmuch,forhelikeshorses,hasnicegrub,andtheHillfellowsaregoodchapsforhimtobewith.Sohe'sallright,ifheonlybehaves.” “HowfarisittoCaptainSkinner's?”askedJillsuddenly,havinglistened,withhersharpeyesonFrank,ashetinkeredawayathismodel,sincehewasforbiddenallotherindulgenceinhisbelovedpastime. “It'sfourmilestoHillDistrict,buttheCaptainlivesthissideoftheschool-house.Aboutthreefromhere,Ishouldsay.” “Howlongwouldittakeaboytowalkupthere?”wentonthequestioner,withanewideainherhead. “Dependsonhowmuchofawalkistheis.” “Supposehewaslameanditwassloshy,andhemadeacallandcameback.Howlongwouldthattake?”askedJillimpatiently. “Well,inthatcase,Ishouldsaytwoorthreehours.Butit'simpossibletotellexactly,unlessyouknowhowlamethefellowwas,andhowlongacallhemade,”saidFrank,wholikedtobeaccurate. “Jackcouldn'tdoitinless,couldhe?” “Heusedtorunupthathillyroadforabreather,andthinknothingofit.Itwouldbealongjobforhimnow,poorlittlechap,forhislegoftentroubleshim,thoughhehatestoownit.” Jilllaybackandlaughed,ahappylittlelaugh,asifshewaspleasedaboutsomething,andFranklookedoverhisshouldertoaskquestionsinhisturn. “Whatareyoulaughingat?” “Can'ttell.” “WhydoyouwanttoknowaboutHillDistrict?Areyougoingthere?” “WishIcould!I'dsoonhaveitoutofhim.” “Who?” “Nevermind.Pleasepushupmytable.Imustwritealetter,andIwantyoutopostitformeto-night,andneversayawordtillIgiveyouleave.” “Oh,nowyouaregoingtohavesecretsandbemysterious,andgetintoamess,areyou?”andFranklookeddownatherwithasuspiciousair,thoughhewasintenselycurioustoknowwhatshewasabout. “GoawaytillI'mdone.Youwillhavetoseetheoutside,butyoucan'tknowtheinsidetilltheanswercomes”andproppingherselfup,Jillwrotethefollowingnote