Chapter XXI. Pebbly Beach

“Now,Mr.Jack,itisamoralimpossibilitytogetallthosethingsintoonetrunk,andyoumustn'taskitofme,”saidMrs.Pecq,inatoneofdespair,asshesurveyedtheheapoftreasuresshewasexpectedtopackfortheboys. “Nevermindtheclothes,weonlywantaboating-suitapiece.Mammacanputafewcollarsinhertrunkforusbutthesenecessarythingsmustgo,”answeredJack,addinghistargetandair-pistoltothepileofbats,fishing-tackle,games,andachoicecollectionofshabbyballs. “Thosearethenecessariesandclothestheluxuries,arethey?Whydon'tyouaddavelocipede,wheelbarrow,andprinting-press,mydear?”askedMrs.Pecq,whileJillturneduphernoseat“boys'rubbish.” “WishIcould.Daresayweshallwantthem.Womendon'tknowwhatfellowsneed,andalwaysmustputinalotofstiffshirtsandcleanhandkerchiefsandclothes-brushesandpotsofcoldcream.Wearegoingtoroughit,anddon'twantanyfussandfeathers,”saidJack,beginningtopackthepreciousballsinhisrubberboots,andstrapthemupwiththeumbrellas,rods,andbats,seeingthattherewasnohopeofaplaceinthetrunk. HereFrankcameinwithtwobigbooks,sayingcalmly,“Justsliptheseinsomewhere,weshallneedthem.” “Butyouarenottostudyatall,soyouwon'twantthosegreatdictionaries,”criedJill,busilypackinghernewtravelling-basketwithallsortsoflittlerolls,bags,andboxes. “Theyarenotdics,butmyEncyclopedia.Weshallwanttoknowheapsofthings,andthistellsabouteverything.Withthosebooks,andamicroscopeandatelescope,youcouldtravelroundtheworld,andlearnallyouwantedto.Can'tpossiblygetonwithoutthem,”saidFrank,fondlypattinghisfavoritework. “Mypatience!Whatqueercattleboysare!”exclaimedMrs.Pecq,whiletheyalllaughed.“Itcan'tbedone,Mr.Frankalltheboxesarebrimfull,andyou'llhavetoleavethosefatbooksbehind,forthere'snoplaceanywhere.” “ThenI'llcarrythemmyself”andFranktuckedoneundereacharm,withadeterminedair,whichsettledthematter. “Isupposeyou'llstudycockleologyinsteadofboating,andreaduponpolywogswhileweplaytennis,orgopokingroundwithyouroldspy-glassinsteadofhavingajollygoodtime,”saidJack,haulingawayonthestraptillallwastautandship-shapewiththebundle. “Tadpolesdon'tliveinsaltwater,myson,andifyoumeanconchology,you'dbettersayso.IshallplayasmuchasIwish,andwhenIwanttoknowaboutanyneworcuriousthing,IshallconsultmyCyclo,insteadofbotheringotherpeoplewithquestions,orgivingituplikeadunce”withwhichcrushingreplyFrankdeparted,leavingJilltopackandunpackhertreasuresadozentimes,andJacktodancejigsonthelidsofthetrunkstilltheywouldshut. Averyhappypartysetoffthenextday,leavingMrs.Pecqwavingheraprononthesteps.Mrs.Minotcarriedthelunch,Jackhispreciousbundlewithtriflesdroppingoutbytheway,andJillfeltveryelegantbearinghernewbasketwithredworstedcherriesbobbingontheoutside.FrankactuallydidtaketheEncyclopedia,doneupintherollofshawls,andwhenevertheotherswonderedaboutanything—tides,lighthouses,towns,ornaturalproductions—hebroughtforthoneofthebooksandtriumphantlyreadtherefrom,tothegreatmerriment,ifnotedification,ofhisparty. Averyshorttripbyrailandtherestofthejourneybyboat,toJill'sgreatcontentment,forshehatedtobeshutupandwhiletheladsrovedhereandthereshesatundertheawning,toohappytotalk.ButMrs.Minotwatchedwithrealsatisfactionhowthefreshwindblewthecolorbackintothepalecheeks,howtheeyesshoneandtheheartfilledwithdelightatseeingthelovelyworldagain,andbeingabletotakeashareinitsactivepleasures. TheWillowswasalong,lowhouseclosetothebeach,andasfullasabeehiveofpleasantpeople,allintentonhavingagoodtime.Agreatmanychildrenwereswarmingabout,andJillfounditimpossibletosleepafterherjourney,therewassuchalivelyclatteroftonguesonthepiazzas,andsomanyfeetgoingtoandfrointhehalls.ShelaydownobedientlywhileMrs.Minotsettledmattersinthetwoairyroomsandgavehersomedinner,butshekeptpoppingupherheadtolookoutofthewindowtoseewhatshecouldsee.Justoppositestoodanartist'scottageandstudio,withallmannerofcharminggalleries,towers,steps,andevenasortofdrawbridgetopullupwhenthepainterwishedtobeleftinpeace.Hewasabsentnow,andthevisitorstookpossessionofthisfineplay-place.Childrenwereracingupanddownthegalleries,ladiessittinginthetower,boysdisportingthemselvesontheroof,andyounggentlemenpreparingfortheatricalsinthelargestudio. “WhatfunI'llhaveoverthere,”thoughtJill,watchingthemerryscenewithintenseinterest,andwonderingifthelittlegirlsshesawwereasniceasMollyandMerry. Thentherewereglimpsesoftheseabeyondthegreenbankwhereapathwoundalongtothebeach,whencecamethecooldashofwaves,andnowandthentheglimmerofapassingsail. “Oh,whencanIgoout?Itlookssolovely,Ican'twaitlong,”shesaid,lookingaseagerasalittlegullshutupinacageandpiningforitshomeonthewideocean. “Assoonasitisalittlecooler,dear,I'mgettingreadyforourtrip,butwemustbecarefulandnotdotoomuchatonce.'Slowandsure'isourmotto,”answeredMrs.Minot,busilycollectingthecamp-stools,theshawls,theair-cushions,andthebigparasols. “I'llbegood,onlydoletmehavemysailor-hattowear,andmynewsuit.I'mnotabittired,andIdowanttobelikeotherfolksrightoff,”saidJill,whohadbeenimprovingrapidlyoflate,andfeltmuchelatedatbeingabletodriveoutnearlyeveryday,towalkalittle,andsitupsomehourswithoutanypainorfatigue. Togratifyhe