Chapter XXIV. Down the River

Afortnightlater,theboyswerepickingapplesonegoldenOctoberafternoon,andthegirlswerehurryingtofinishtheirwork,thattheymightgoandhelptheharvesters.Itwassixweeksnowsincethenewschoolbegan,andtheyhadlearnedtolikeitverymuch,thoughtheyfoundthatitwasnotallplay,byanymeans.Butlessons,exercise,andvarioussortsofhouseworkmadeanagreeablechange,andtheyfeltthattheywerelearningthingswhichwouldbeusefultothemalltheirlives.Theyhadbeenmakingunderclothesforthemselves,andeachhadseveralneatlyfinishedgarmentscut,fitted,andsewedbyherself,andtrimmedwiththeprettytattingJillmadeinsuchquantitieswhileshelayonhersofa. Nowtheywerecompletingnewdressingsacks,andhadenjoyedthisjobverymuch,aseachchoseherownmaterial,andsuitedherowntasteinthemaking.Jill'swaswhite,withtinyscarletleavesalloverit,trimmedwithredbraidandbuttonssolikecheckerberriesshewastemptedtoeatthem.Molly'swasgay,withbouquetsofeverysortofflower,scallopedallround,andadornedwithsixbuttons,eachofadifferentcolor,whichshethoughtthelasttouchofelegance.Merry's,thoughthesimplest,wasthedaintiestofthethree,beingpaleblue,trimmedwithdelicateedging,andbeautifullymade. Mrs.MinothadbeenreadingfromMissStrickland's“QueensofEngland”whilethegirlsworked,andanillustratedShakspearelayopenonthetable,aswellasseveralfinephotographsofhistoricalplacesforthemtolookatastheywentalong.Thehourwasovernow,theteachergone,andthepupilssettingthelaststitchesastheytalkedoverthelesson,whichhadinterestedthemexceedingly. “IreallybelieveIhavegotHenry'ssixwivesintomyheadrightatlast.TwoAnnes,threeKatherines,andoneJane.NowI'veseenwheretheylivedandheardtheirstories,IquitefeelasifIknewthem,”saidMerry,shakingthethreadsoffherworkbeforeshefoldedituptocarryhome. “'KingHenrytheEighthtosixspouseswaswedded, Onedied,onesurvived,twodivorced,twobeheaded,' wasallIknewaboutthembefore.Poorthings,whatabadtimetheydidhave,”addedJill,pattingdowntheredbraid,whichwouldpuckerabitatthecorners. “KatherineParrhadthebestofit,becausesheoutlivedtheoldtyrantandsokeptherheadon,”saidMolly,windingthethreadroundherlastbutton,asifboundtofastenitonsofirmlythatnothingshoulddecapitatethat. “IusedtothinkI'dliketobeaqueenoragreatlady,andwearvelvetandjewels,andliveinapalace,butnowIdon'tcaremuchforthatsortofsplendor.Iliketomakethingsprettyathome,andknowthattheyalldependonme,andlovemeverymuch.Queensarenothappy,andIam,”saidMerry,pausingtolookatAnneHathaway'scottageassheputupthepicture,andtowonderifitwasverypleasanttohaveafamousmanforone'shusband. “Iguessyourmissionaryinghasdoneyougoodminehas,andI'mgettingtohavethingsmyownwaymoreandmoreeveryday.MissBatissoamiable,Ihardlyknowher,andfathertellshertoaskMissMollywhenshegoestohimfororders.Isn'tthatfun?”laughedMolly,inhighglee,attheagreeablechange.“Ilikeiteversomuch,butIdon'twanttostaysoallmydays.Imeantotravel,andjustassoonasIcanIshalltakeBooandgoallroundtheworld,andseeeverything,”sheadded,wavinghergaysack,asifitweretheflagshewasabouttonailtothemastheadofhership. “Well,Ishouldliketobefamousinsomeway,andhavepeopleadmiremeverymuch.I'dliketoact,ordance,orsing,orbewhatIheardtheladiesatPebblyBeachcalla'queenofsociety.'ButIdon'texpecttobeanything,andI'mnotgoingtoworryIshallnotbeaLucinda,soIoughttobecontentedandhappyallmylife,”saidJill,whowasveryambitiousinspiteofthenewlyacquiredmeekness,whichwasallthemorebecomingbecausehernaturallivelinessoftenbrokeoutlikesunshinethroughaveiloflightclouds. Ifthethreegirlscouldhavelookedforwardtenyearstheywouldhavebeensurprisedtoseehowdifferentafatewastheirsfromtheoneeachhadchosen,andhowhappyeachwasintheplaceshewascalledtofill.Merrywasnotmakingtheoldfarmhousepretty,butlivinginItaly,withayoungsculptorforherhusband,andbeautysuchassheneverdreamedofallabouther.Mollywasnottravellingroundtheworld,butcontentedlykeepinghouseforherfatherandstillwatchingoverBoo,whowasbecomingherprideandjoyaswellascare.NeitherwasJillafamouswoman,butaveryhappyandusefulon