Chapter XV. Saint Lucy

SaturdaywasabusyandahappytimetoJack,forinthemorningMr.Actoncametoseehim,havingheardthestoryovernight,andpromisedtokeepBob'ssecretwhilegivingJackanacquittalaspublicasthereprimandhadbeen.ThenheaskedforthereportwhichJackhadbravelyreceivedthedaybeforeandputawaywithoutshowingtoanybody. “Thereisonemistakeherewhichwemustrectify,”saidMr.Acton,ashecrossedoutthelowfiguresundertheword“Behavior,”andputthemuch-desired100there. “ButIdidbreaktherule,sir,”saidJack,thoughhisfaceglowedwithpleasure,forMammawaslookingon. “IoverlookthatasIshouldyourbreakingintomyhouseifyousawitwasonfire.Yourantosaveafriend,andIwishIcouldtellthosefellowswhyyouwerethere.Itwoulddothemgood.Iamnotgoingtopraiseyou,John,butIdidbelieveyouinspiteofappearances,andIamgladtohaveforapupilaboywholoveshisneighborbetterthanhimself.” Then,havingshakenhandsheartily,Mr.Actonwentaway,andJackflewofftohaverejoicingswithJill,whosatuponhersofa,withoutknowingit,soeagerwasshetohearallaboutthecall. IntheafternoonJackdrovehismothertotheCaptain's,confidingtoheronthewaywhatahardtimehehadwhenhewentbefore,andhownothingbutthethoughtofcheeringBobkepthimupwhenheslippedandhurthisknee,andhisbootsprungaleak,andthewindcameupverycold,andthehillseemedanendlessmountainofmudandsnow. Mrs.MinothadsuchagentlewayofputtingthingsthatshewouldhavewonoveramuchhardermanthanthestrictoldCaptain,whoheardthestorywithinterest,andwasmuchpleasedwiththeboys'effortstokeepBobstraight.ThatyoungpersondodgedawayintothebarnwithJack,andonlyappearedatthelastminutetoshoveabagofchestnutsintothechaise.Buthegotafewkindwordsthatdidhimgood,fromMrs.MinotandtheCaptain,andfromthatdayfelthimselfunderbondstobehavewellifhewouldkeeptheirconfidence. “IshallgiveJillthenutsandIwishIhadsomethingshewantedvery,verymuch,forIdothinksheoughttoberewardedforgettingmeoutofthemess,”saidJack,astheydrovehappilyhomeagain. “Ihopetohavesomethinginadayortwothatwilldelightherverymuch.Iwillsaynomorenow,butkeepmylittlesecretandletitbeasurprisetoallbyandby,”answeredhismother,lookingasifshehadnotmuchdoubtaboutthematter. “Thatwillbejolly.Youarewelcometoyoursecret,Mamma.I'vehadenoughofthemforonewhile”andJackshruggedhisbroadshouldersasifaburdenhadbeentakenoff. IntheeveningEdcame,andJackwasquitesatisfiedwhenhesawhowpleasedhisfriendwasatwhathehaddone. “Inevermeantyoushouldtakesomuchtrouble,onlybekindtoBob,”saidEd,whodidnotknowhowstronghisinfluencewas,norwhatasweetexampleofquietwell-doinghisownlifewastoallhismates. “Iwishedtobereallyusefulnotjusttotalkaboutitanddonothing.Thatisn'tyourway,andIwanttobelikeyou,”answeredJack,withsuchaffectionatesinceritythatEdcouldnothelpbelievinghim,thoughhemodestlydeclinedthecomplimentbysaying,ashebegantoplaysoftly,“BetterthanIam,Ihope.Idon'tamounttomuch.” “Yes,youdo!andifanyonesaysyoudon'tI'llshakehim.Ican'ttellwhatitis,onlyyoualwayslooksohappyandcontented—sortofsweetandshiny,”saidJack,ashestrokedthesmoothbrownhead,ratheratalosstodescribetheunusuallyfreshandsunnyexpressionofEd'sface,whichwasalwayscheerful,yethadacertainthoughtfulnessthatmadeitveryattractivetobothyoungandold. “SoapmakeshimshinyIneversawsuchafellowtowashandbrush,”putinFrank,ashecameupwithoneofthepiecesofmusicheandEdwerefondofpractisingtogether. “Idon'tmeanthat!”saidJackindignantly.“Iwashandbrushtillyoucallmeadandy,butIdon'thavethesamelook—itseemstocomefromtheinside,somehow,asifhewasalwaysjollyandcleanandgoodinhismind,youknow.” “Bornso,”saidFrank,rumblingawayinthebasswithapairofhandsthatwouldhavebeenthebetterforsomeoftheabove-