Chapter XV. Saint Lucy

slions,”addedJack,scramblingupasifabouttosetoffatonce. “Thedoctorsaysyouhavebeendoingfinelyoflate,andthebracewillcometo-morrow,andthefirstreallymilddayyouaretohaveabreathoffreshair.Won'tthatbegood?”askedMrs.Minot,hopingherstoryhadnotbeentoointeresting. “Isshecrying?”saidJack,muchconcernedashepattedthepillowinhismostsoothingway,whileFrankliftedonecurlafteranothertoseewhatwashiddenunderneath. Nottears,fortwoeyessparkledbehindthefingers,thenthehandscamedownlikecloudsfrombeforethesun,andJill'sfaceshoneoutsobrightandhappyitdidone'sheartgoodtoseeit. “I'mnotcrying,”shesaidwithalaughwhichwasfullerofblithemusicthananysongshesung.“Butitwassosplendid,itsortoftookmybreathawayforaminute.IthoughtIwasn'tanybetter,andnevershouldbe,andImadeupmymindIwouldn'task,itwouldbesohardforanyonetotellmeso.NowIseewhythedoctormademestandup,andtoldmetogetmybasketsreadytogoa-Maying.IthoughthewasinfundidhereallymeanIcouldgo?”askedJill,expectingtoomuch,forawordofencouragementmadeherashopefulasshehadbeendespondentbefore. “No,dear,notsosoonasthat.Itwillbemonths,probably,beforeyoucanwalkandrun,asyouusedtobuttheywillsoonpass.Youneedn'tmindaboutMay-dayitisalwaystoocoldforflowers,andyouwillfindmorehereamongyourownplants,thanonthehills,tofillyourbaskets,”answeredMrs.Minot,hasteningtosuggestsomethingpleasanttobeguilethetimeofprobation. “Icanwait.Monthsarenotyears,andifI'mtrulygettingwell,everythingwillseembeautifulandeasytome,”saidJill,layingherselfdownagain,withthepatientlookshehadlearnedtowear,andgatheringupthescatteredcarnationstoenjoytheirspicybreath,asifthefairieshiddentherehadtaughthersomeoftheirsweetsecrets. “Dearlittlegirl,ithasbeenalong,hardtrialforyou,butitiscomingtoanend,andIthinkyouwillfindthatithasnotbeentimewasted,Idon'twantyoutobeasaintquiteyet,butIamsureagentlerJillwillriseupfromthatsofathantheonewholaydownthereinDecember.” “HowcouldIhelpgrowingbetter,whenyouweresogoodtome?”criedJill,puttingupbotharms,asMrs.MinotwenttotakeFrank'splace,andheretiredtothefire,theretostandsurveyingthescenewithcalmapproval. “Youhavedonequiteasmuchforussoweareeven.Iprovedthattoyourmother,andsheisgoingtoletthelittlehouseandtakecareofthebigoneforme,whileIborrowyoutokeepmehappyandmaketheboysgentleandkind.Thatisthebargain,andwegetthebestofit,”saidMrs.Minot,lookingwellpleased,whileJackadded,“That'sso!”andFrankobservedwithanairofconviction,“Wecouldn'tgetonwithoutJill,possibly.” “CanIdoallthat?Ididn'tknowIwasofanyuse.Ionlytriedtobegoodandgrateful,fortheredidn'tseemtobeanythingelseIcoulddo,”saidJill,wonderingwhytheywereallsofondofher. “Norealtryingiseverinvain.Itislikethespringrain,andflowersaresuretofollowingoodtime.ThethreegiftsPatiencegaveSaintLucywerecourage,cheerfulness,andlove,andwiththeseonecanworkthesweetestmiraclesintheworld,asyousee,”andMrs.Minotpointedtotheprettyroomanditshappyinmates. “AmIreallytheleastbitlikethatgoodLucinda?Itriedtobe,butIdidn'tthinkIwas,”askedJillsoftly. “Youareverylikeherinallwaysbutone.Shedidnotgetwell,andyouwill.” Ashortanswer,butitsatisfiedJilltoherheart'score,andthatnight,whenshelayinbed,shethoughttoherself:“HowcuriousitisthatI'vebeenasortofmissionarywithoutknowingit!Theyallloveandthankme,andwon'tletmego,soIsupposeImusthavedonesomething,butIdon'tknowwhat,excepttryingtobegoodandpleasant.” Thatwasthesecret,andJillfounditoutjustwhenitwasmostgratefulasarewardforpastefforts,mosthelpfulasanencouragementtowardtheconstantwell-doingwhichcanmakeevenalittlegirlajoyandcomforttoallwhoknowandloveher.