Chapter XVIII. May Baskets

wouldn'tletmeseeone,butIguesstheyhavehadgoodluck,theylooksojolly,”answeredJill,lookingatGus,Frank,andJack,whostoodlaughing,eachwithalargebasketinhishands. “Fairtomiddling.Justlookinandsee”withwhichcheerfulremarkGustippeduphisbasketanddisplayedafewbitsofgreenatthebottom. “Ididbetter.Now,don'tallscreamatonceoverthesebeauties”andFrankshookoutsomeevergreensprigs,halfadozensaxifrages,andtwoorthreeforlornvioletswithhardlyanystems. “Idon'tbrag,buthere'sthebestofallthethree,”chuckledJack,producingabunchoffeatherycarrot-tops,withafewhalf-shutdandelionstryingtolookbraveandgay. “Oh,boys,isthatall?” “Whatshallwedo?” “We'veonlyafewhouse-flowers,andallthosebasketstofill,”criedthegirls,indespairforMerry'scontributionhadbeensmall,andMollyhadonlyahandfulofartificialflowers“tofillup,”shesaid. “Itisn'tourfault:itisthelatespring.Wecan'tmakeflowers,canwe?”askedFrank,inatoneofcalmresignation. “Couldn'tyoubuysome,then?”saidMolly,smoothinghercrumpledmorning-glories,withasigh. “Whoeverheardofafellowhavinganymoneyleftthelastdayofthemonth?”demandedGus,severely. “Orgirlseither.Ispentallmineinribbonandpaperformybaskets,andnowtheyareofnouse.It'sashame!”lamentedJill,whileMerrybegantothinoutherfullbasketstofilltheemptyones. “Holdon!”criedFrank,relenting.“Now,Jack,maketheirmindseasybeforetheybegintoweepandwail.” “Lefttheboxoutside.YoutellwhileIgoforit”andJackbolted,asifafraidtheyoungladiesmightbetoodemonstrativewhenthetalewastold. “Tellaway,”saidFrank,modestlypassingthestoryalongtoGus,whomadeshortworkofit. “Werampagedalloverthecountry,andgotonlythatsmallmessofgreens.Knewyou'dbedisgusted,andsatdowntoseewhatwecoulddo.ThenJackpipedup,andsaidhe'dshowusaplacewherewecouldgetaplenty.'Comeon,'saidwe,andafterleadingusanicetramp,hebroughtusoutatMorse'sgreenhouse.Sowegotafewontick,aswehadbutfourcentsamongus,andthereyouare.Prettycleverofthelittlechap,wasn'tit?” AchorusofdelightgreetedJackashepoppedhisheadin,waspromptlyseizedbyhiseldersandwalkeduptothetable,wheretheboxwasopened,displayinggayposiesenoughtofillmostofthebasketsifdistributedwithgreateconomyandmuchgreen. “Youarethedearestboythateverwas!”beganJill,withhernoseluxuriouslyburiedinthebox,thoughtheflowersweremoreremarkableforcolorthanperfume. “No,I'mnotthere'samuchdeareronecomingupstairsnow,andhe'sgotsomethingthatwillmakeyouhowlforjoy,”saidJack,ignoringhisownprowessasEdcameinwithabiggerbox,lookingasifhehaddonenothingbutgoaMayingallhisdays. “Don'tbelieveit!”criedJill,huggingherowntreasurejealously.“It'sonlyanotherjoke.Iwon'tlook,”saidMolly,stillstrugglingtomakehercambricrosesbloomagain. “Iknowwhatitis!Oh,howsweet!”addedMerry,sniffing,asEdsettheboxbeforeher,sayingpleasantly,— “Youshallseefirst,becauseyouhadfaith.” Upwentthecover,andawhiffofthefreshestfragranceregaledtheseveneagernosesbenttoinhaleit,asageneralmurmurofpleasuregreetedthenestofgreat,rosymayflowersthatlaybeforethem. “Thedearthings,howlovelytheyare!”andMerrylookedasifgreetinghercousins,sobloomingandsweetwasherownface. Mollypushedherdingygarlandsaway,ashamedofsuchpoorattemptsbesidetheseperfectworksofnature,andJillstretchedoutherhandinvoluntarily,asshesaid,forgettingherexotics,“Givemejustonetosmellof,itissowoodsyanddelicious.” “Hereyouare,plentyforall.RealPilgrimFathers,rightfromPlymouth.Oneofourfellowslivesthere,andItoldhimtobringmeagoodlotsohedid,andyoucandowhatyoulikewiththem,”explainedEd,passingroundbunchesandshaking