Chapter XIV. And Jill Finds It Out

e. “R.O.W.” “Hurrah!”criedJill,wavingtheletteroverherheadingreattriumph.“Calleverybodyandreaditout,”sheadded,asFranksnatchedit,andranforhismother,seeingataglancethatthenewswasgood.Jillwassoafraidsheshouldtellbeforetheotherscamethatsheburstoutsinging“PrettyBobbyShafto”atthetopofhervoice,toJack'sgreatdisgust,forheconsideredthesongverypersonal,ashewasratherfondof“combingdownhisyellowhair,”andJilloftenplaguedhimbysingingitwhenhecameinwiththegoldenquirlsverysmoothandnicetohidethescaronhisforehead. InaboutfiveminutesthedoorflewopenandincameMamma,makingstraightforbewilderedJack,whothoughtthefamilyhadgonecrazywhenhisparentcaughthiminherarms,sayingtenderly,— “Mygood,generousboy!Iknewhewasrightallthetime!”whileFrankworkedhishandupanddownlikeapump-handle,exclaimingheartily,— “You'reatrump,sir,andI'mproudofyou!”Jillmeantimecallingout,inwilddelight,— “Itoldyouso!Itoldyouso!Ididfindoutha,ha,Idid!” “Come,Isay!What'sthematter?I'mallright.Don'tsqueezethebreathoutofme,please,”expostulatedJack,lookingsostartledandinnocent,ashestruggledfeebly,thattheyalllaughed,andthisplaintiveprotestcausedhimtobereleased.Butthenextproceedingdidnotenlightenhimmuch,forFrankkeptwavingaveryinkypaperbeforehimandorderinghimtoreadit,whileMammamadeachargeatJill,asifitwasabsolutelynecessarytohugsomebody. “Hullo!”saidJack,whenhegottheletterintohisownhandandreadit.“NowwhoputBobuptothis?Nobodyhadanybusinesstointerfere—butit'smightygoodofhim,anyway,”headded,astheanxiouslinesinhisroundfacesmoothedthemselvesaway,whileasmileofrelieftoldhowhardithadbeenforhimtokeephisword. “Idid!”criedJill,clappingherhands,andlookingsohappythathecouldnothavescoldedherifhehadwantedto. “Whotoldyouhewasinthescrape?”demandedJack,inahurrytoknowallaboutitnowthesealwastakenoffhisownlips. “Youdid”andJill'sfacetwinkledwithnaughtysatisfaction,forthiswasthebestfunofall. “Ididn't!When?Where?It'sajoke!” “Youdid,”criedJill,pointingtotherug.“Youwenttosleepthereafterthelongwalk,andtalkedinyoursleepabout'Bob'and'Allright,oldboy,'andeversomuchgibberish.Ididn'tthinkaboutitthen,butwhenIheardthatBobwasupthereIthoughtmaybeheknewsomethingaboutit,andlastnightIwroteandaskedhim,andthat'stheanswer,andnowitisallright,andyouarethebestboythateverwas,andI'msoglad!” HereJillpaused,alloutofbreath,andFranksaid,withanapprovingpatonthehead,— “Itwon'tdotohavesuchasharpyoungpersonroundifwearegoingtohavesecrets.You'dmakeagooddetective,miss.” “Catchmetakingnapsbeforepeopleagain”andJacklookedrathercrestfallenthathisownwordshadset“FineEar”onthetrack.“Nevermind,Ididn'tmeantotell,thoughIjustachedtodoitallthetime,soIhaven'tbrokenmyword.I'mgladyouallknow,butyouneedn'tletitgetout,forBobisagoodfellow,anditmightmaketroubleforhim,”addedJack,anxiouslesthisgainshouldbetheother'sloss. “IshalltellMr.Actonmyself,andtheCaptain,also,forI'mnotgoingtohavemysonsuspectedofwrong-doingwhenhehasonlytriedtohelpafriend,andborneenoughforhissake,”saidMamma,muchexcitedbythisdiscoveryofgenerousfidelit