Chapter XV. Saint Lucy

s,youdid,mydearanditwasnotaneasythingformydandiprattodo.Nowlisten,andI'lltellyouhowtheybothlearnedtobewiser.Theelderprincesoonfoundthatthebigdragonsweretoomuchforhim,andsetabouttraininghisownlittleone,whonowandthenranawaywithhim.ItsnamewasWill,agoodservant,butabadmastersohelearnedtocontrolit,andintimethisgavehimgreatpoweroverhimself,andfittedhimtobeakingoverothers.” “Thankyou,motherI'llremembermypartofthemoral.NowgiveJackhis,”saidFrank,wholikedthedragonepisode,ashehadbeenwrestlingwithhisownoflate,andfoundithardtomanage. “Hehadafineexamplebeforehiminafriend,andhefolloweditmorereasonablytillhegrewabletousewiselyoneofthebestandnoblestgiftsofGod—benevolence.” “Nowtellaboutthegirl.Wastheremoretothatpartofthestory?”askedJack,wellpleasedwithhismoral,asittookEdinlikewise. “Thatisthebestofall,butitseemsasifInevershouldgettoit.AfterPatiencemadeLucysweetandcheerful,shebegantohaveacuriouspoweroverthoseabouther,andtoworklittlemiraclesherself,thoughshedidnotknowit.Thequeenlearnedtolovehersodearlyshecouldnotlethergoshecheeredupallherfriendswhentheycamewiththeirsmalltroublestheprincesfoundbrighteyes,willinghands,andakindheartalwaysattheirservice,andfelt,withoutquiteknowingwhy,thatitwasgoodforthemtohaveagentlelittlecreaturetocareforsotheysoftenedtheirroughmanners,loudvoices,andcarelessways,forhersake,andwhenitwasproposedtotakeherawaytoherownhometheycouldnotgiveherup,butsaidshemuststaylonger,didn'tthey?” “I'dliketoseethemsayinganythingelse,”saidFrank,whileJacksatuptodemandfiercely,— “WhotalksabouttakingJillaway?” “Lucy'smotherthoughtsheoughttogo,andsaidso,butthequeentoldherhowmuchgooditdidthemalltohaveherthere,andbeggedthedearwomantoletherlittlecottageandcomeandbehousekeeperinthepalace,forthequeenwasgettinglazy,andlikedtositandread,andtalkandsewwithLucy,betterthantolookafterthings.” “Andshesaidshewould?”criedJill,claspingherhandsinheranxiety,forshehadlearnedtolovehercagenow. “Yes.”Mrs.Minothadnotimetosaymore,foroneoftheredslippersflewupintheair,andJackhadtoclapbothhandsoverhismouthtosuppressthe“hurrah!”thatnearlyescaped.Franksaid,“That'sgood!”andnoddedwithhismostcordialsmileatJillwhopulledherselfupwithcheeksnowasrosyastheredcarnation,andalittlecatchinherbreathasshesaidtoherself,— “It'stoolovelytobetrue.” “That'safirst-rateendtoaverygoodstory,”beganJack,withgravedecision,asheputonhisslipperandsatuptopatJill'shand,wishingitwasnotquitesolikealittleclaw. “That'snottheend”andMamma'seyeslaughedmorethaneverasthreeastonishedfacesturnedtoher,andthreevoicescriedout,— “Stillmore?” “Theverybestofall.Youmustknowthat,whileLucywasbusyforothers,shewasnotforgotten,andwhenshewasexpectingtolieonherbedthroughthesummer,planswerebeingmadeforallsortsofpleasantchanges.Firstofall,shewastohaveanicelittlebracetosupportthebackwhichwasgrowingbettereverydaythen,asthewarmweathercameon,shewastogoout,orlieonthepiazzaandbyandby,whenschoolwasdone,shewastogowiththequeenandtheprincesforamonthortwodowntothesea-side,wherefreshairandsaltwaterweretobuildherupinthemostdelightfulway.There,now!isn'tthatthebestendingofall?”andMammapausedtoreadheranswerinthebrightfacesoftwoofthelisteners,forJillhidhersinthepillow,andlayquitestill,asifitwastoomuchforher. “Thatwillberegularlysplendid!I'llrowyouallabout—boatingissomucheasierthanriding,andIlikeitonsaltwater,”saidFrank,goingtositonthearmofthesofa,quiteexcitedbythecharmsofthenewplan. “AndI'llteachyoutoswim,androllyouoverthebeach,andgetsea-weedandshells,andnoendofnicethings,andwe'llallcomehomeasstronga