Chapter XIV. And Jill Finds It Out

yinherboythoughwhenonecametolookatitcalmly,onesawthatitmighthavebeendoneinawiserway. “Now,please,don'tmakeafussaboutitthatwouldbemostasbadashavingeveryonedownonme.Icanstandyourpraisingme,butIwon'tbepattedontheheadbyanybodyelse”andJackassumedamanlyair,thoughhisfacewasfullofgenuineboyishpleasureatbeingsetrightintheeyesofthoseheloved. “I'llbediscreet,dear,butyouoweittoyourself,aswellasBob,tohavethetruthknown.Bothhavebehavedwell,andnoharmwillcometohim,Iamsure.I'llseetothatmyself,”saidMrs.Minot,inatonethatsetJack'smindatrestonthatpoint. “Nowdotellallaboutit,”criedJill,whowaspiningtoknowthewholestory,andfeltasifshehadearnedtherighttohearit. “Oh,itwasn'tmuch.WepromisedEdtostandbyBob,soIdidaswellasIknewhow”andJackseemedtothinkthatwasaboutalltherewastosay. “Ineversawsuchafellowforkeepingapromise!Yousticktoitthroughthickandthin,nomatterhowsillyorharditis.Youremember,mother,lastsummer,howyoutoldhimnottogoinaboatandhepromised,thedaywewentonthepicnic.Werodeup,butthehorseranoffhome,sowehadtocomebackbywayoftheriver,allbutJack,andhewalkedeverystepoffivemilesbecausehewouldn'tgonearaboat,thoughMr.Burtonwastheretotakecareofhim.Icallthatratheroverdoingthematter”andFranklookedasifhethoughtmoderationeveninvirtueagoodthing. “AndIcallitafinesampleofentireobedience.Heobeyedorders,andthatiswhatweallmustdo,withoutalwaysseeingwhy,ordaringtouseourownjudgment.ItisagreatsafeguardtoJack,andaverygreatcomforttomeforIknowthatifhepromiseshewillkeephisword,nomatterwhatitcostshim,”saidMammawarmly,asshetumbledupthequirlswithanirrepressiblecaress,rememberinghowtheboycamewearilyinafteralltheothers,withoutseemingforamomenttothinkthathecouldhavedoneanythingelse. “LikeCasabianca!”criedJill,muchimpressed,forobediencewasherhardesttrial. “Ithinkhewasafooltoburnup,”saidFrank,boundnottogivein. “Idon't.It'sasplendidpiece,andeveryonelikestospeakit,anditwastrue,anditwouldn'tbeinallthebooksifhewasafool.Grownpeopleknowwhatisgood,”declaredJill,wholikedheroicactions,andwasalwayshopingforachancetodistinguishherselfinthatway. “Youadmire'TheChargeoftheLightBrigade,'andglowalloverasyouthunderitout.Yettheywentgallantlytotheirdeathratherthandisobeyorders.Amistake,perhaps,butitmakesusthrilltohearofitandthesamespiritkeepsmyJacktrueassteelwhenoncehiswordispassed,orhethinksitishisduty.Don'tbelaughedoutofit,myson,forfaithfulnessinlittlethingsfitsoneforheroismwhenthegreattrialscome.One'sconsciencecanhardlybetootenderwhenhonorandhonestyareconcerned.” “Youareright,mother,andIamwrong.Ibegyourpardon,Jack,andyousha'n'tgetaheadofmenexttime.” Frankmadehismotheralittlebow,gavehisbrotherashakeofthehand,andnoddedtoJill,asifanxioustoshowthathewasnottooproudtoownupwhenhemadeamistake. “Pleasetellon,Jack.Thisisverynice,butIdowanttoknowallabouttheother,”saidJill,afterashortpause. “Letmesee.Oh,IsawBobatchurch,andhelookedratherblueso,afterSundaySchool,Iaskedwhatthematterwas.HesaidJerrybotheredhimforsomemoneyhelenthimatdifferenttimeswhentheywereloafingroundtogether,beforewetook