Chapter XX. A Sweet Memory

der. “Mindwhatyouareabout,anddon'tgabble,”commandedCaptainFrank,asthecrewbenttotheiroarsandtheslenderboatcutthroughthewaterleavingalongfurrowtremblingbehind. “Oh,ah!Isee!Thereisabluejacketaswellasaredone,soit'sallright. “LadyQueenAnne,shesitsinthesun, Aswhiteasalily,asbrownasabun,” sungJack,recoveringhisspirits,andwishingJillwastheretoo. “Doyouwantaducking?”sternlydemandedGus,anxioustopreservediscipline. “Shouldn'tmind,itssowarm.” ButJacksaidnomore,andsoonthe“Rhodora”wasalongsidethe“WaterWitch,”exchanginggreetingsinthemostamiablemanner. “Pitythisboatwon'tholdfour.We'dputJackinyours,andtakeyougirlsanicespinuptotheHemlocks,”saidFrank,whoseideaofblisswasfloatingdowntheriverwithAnnetteascoxswain. “You'dbettercomeinhere,thiswillholdfour,andwearetiredofrowing,”returnedthe“WaterWitch,”soinvitinglythatGuscouldnotresist. “Idon'tthinkitissafetoputfourinthere.You'dbetterchangeplaceswithAnnette,Gus,andthenweshallbeship-shape,”saidFrank,answeringatelegramfromtheeyesthatmatchedthebluejacket. “Wouldn'titbemoreship-shapestillifyouputmeashoreatGrif'slanding?Icantakehisboat,orwaittillyoucomeback.Don'tcarewhatIdo,”saidJack,feelinghimselfsadlyintheway. Thegood-naturedofferbeingacceptedwiththanks,thechangesweremade,and,leavinghimbehind,thetwoboatswentgaylyuptheriver.Hereallydidnotcarewhathedid,sosatinGrif'sboatawhilewatchingtheredsky,theshiningstream,andthelowgreenmeadows,wheretheblackbirdsweresingingasiftheytoohadmettheirlittlesweetheartsandwerehappy. Jackrememberedthatquiethalf-hourlongafterward,becausewhatfollowedseemedtoimpressitonhismemory.Ashesatenjoyingthescene,heverynaturallythoughtaboutEdforthefaceofthesisterwhomhesawwasveryanxious,andtheword“fever”recalledthehardtimeswhenFrankwasill,particularlythenightitwasthoughttheboywouldnotlivetilldawn,andJackcriedhimselftosleep,wonderinghowheevercouldgetonwithouthisbrother.Edwasalmostasdeartohim,andthethoughtthathewassufferingdestroyedJack'spleasureforalittlewhile.But,fortunately,youngpeopledonotknowhowtobeanxiousverylong,soourboysooncheeredup,thinkingaboutthelatematchbetweentheStarsandtheLincolns,andafteragoodrestwentwhistlinghome,withahandfulofmintforMrs.Pecq,andplayedgameswithJillasmerrilyasiftherewasnosuchthingascareintheworld. NextdayEdwasworse,andforaweektheanswerwasthesame,whenJackcrepttothebackdoorwithhiseagerquestion. Otherscamealso,forthedearboylyingupstairshadfriendseverywhere,andolderneighborsthoughtofhimevenmoreanxiouslyandtenderlythanhismates.Itwasnotfever,butsomeswiftertrouble,forwhenSaturdaynightcame,EdhadgonehometoalongerandmorepeacefulSabbaththananyhehadeverknowninthisworld. Jackhadbeenthereintheafternoon,andakindmessagehadcomedowntohimthathisfriendwasnotsufferingsomuch,andhehadgoneaway,hoping,inhisboyishignorance,thatalldangerwasover.Anhourlaterhewasreadingintheparlor,havingnoheartforplay,whenFrankcameinwithalookuponhisfacewhichwouldhavepreparedJackforthenewsifhehadseenit.Buthedidnotlookup,andFrankfounditsohardtospeak,thathelingeredamomentatthepiano,asheoftendidwhenhecamehome.Itstoodopen,andontherackwasthe“JollyBrothers'Galop,”whichhehadbeenlearningtoplaywithEd.Bigboyashewas,thesuddenthoughtthatneveragainwouldtheysitshouldertoshoulder,thunderingthemarchesorsingingthesongsb