While Jack was hopping gayly about on his crutches,poor Jill was feeling the effects of her second fall,and instead of sitting up,as she hoped to do after six weeks of rest,she was ordered to lie on a board for two hours each day.Not an easy penance,by any means,for the board was very hard,and she could do nothing while she lay there,as it did not slope enough to permit her to read without great fatigue of both eyes and hands.So the little martyr spent her first hour of trial in sobbing,the second in singing,for just as her mother and Mrs.Minot were deciding in despair that neither she nor they could bear it,Jill suddenly broke out into a merry chorus she used to hear her father sing:
"Faut jouer le mirliton,Faut jouer le mirlitir,Faut jouer le mirliter,Mir--li--ton."The sound of the brave little voice was very comforting to the two mothers hovering about her,and Jack said,with a look of mingled pity and admiration,as he brandished his crutch over the imaginary foes,"That's right!Sing away,and we'll play you are an Indian captive being tormented by your enemies,and too proud to complain.I'll watch the clock,and the minute time is up I'll rush in and rescue you."Jill laughed,but the fancy pleased her,and she straightened herself out under the gay afghan,while she sang,in a plaintive voice,another little French song her father taught her:
"J'avais une colombe blanche,J'avais un blanc petit pigeon,Tous deu~volaient,do branche en branche,Jusqu'au falte de mon don geon:
Mais comme un coup do vent d'automne,S'est abattu Za,I'?per-vier,Ft ma colombe si mignonne Ne revient plus au colombier.""My poor Jean had a fine voice,and always hoped the child would take after him.It would break his heart to see her lying there trying to cheer her pain with the songs he used to sing her to sleep with,"said Mrs.Pecq,sadly.
"She really has a great deal of talent,and when she is able she shall have some lessons,for music is a comfort and a pleasure,sick or well,"answered Mrs.Minot,who had often admired the fresh voice,with its pretty accent.
Here Jill began the Canadian boat-song,with great vigor,as if bound to play her part of Indian victim with spirit,and not disgrace herself by any more crying.All knew the air,and joined in,especially Jack,who came out strong on the "Row,brothers,row,"but ended in a squeak on a high note,so drolly,that the rest broke down.So the hour that began with tears ended with music and laughter,and a new pleasure to think of for the future.
After that day Jill exerted all her fortitude,for she liked to have the boys call her brave and admire the cheerful way in which she endured two hours of discomfort.She found she could use her zither as it lay upon her breast,and every day the pretty music began at a certain hour,and all in the house soon learned to love and listen for it.Even the old cook set open her kitchen door,saying pitifully,"Poor darlint,hear how purty she's singin',wid the pain,on that crewel boord.It's a little saint,she is.May her bed above be aisy!"Frank would lift her gently on and off,with a kind word that comforted her immensely,and gentle Ed would come and teach her new bits of music,while the other fellows were frolicking below.Ralph added his share to her amusement,for he asked leave to model her head in clay,and set up his work in a corner,Corning to pat,scrape,and mould whenever he had a spare minute,amusing her by his lively chat,and showing her how to shape birds,rabbits,and queer faces in the soft clay,when the songs were all sung and her fingers tired of the zither.
The girls sympathized very heartily with her new trial,and brought all manner of gifts to cheer her captivity.Merry and Molly made a gay screen by pasting pictures on the black cambric which covered the folding frame that stood before her to keep the draughts from her as she lay on her board.Bright birds and flowers,figures and animals,covered one side,and on the other they put mottoes,bits of poetry,anecdotes,and short stories,so that Jill could lie and look or read without the trouble of holding a book.It was not all done at once,but grew slowly,and was a source of instruction as well as amusement to them all,as they read carefully,that they might make good Selections.
But the thing that pleased Jill most was something Jack did,for he gave up going to school,and stayed at home nearly a fortnight after he might have gone,all for her sake.The day the doctor said he might try it if he would be very careful,he was in great spirits,and limped about,looking up his books,and planning how he would astonish his mates by the rapidity of his recovery.When he sat down to rest he remembered Jill,who had been lying quietly behind the screen,while he talked with his mother,busy putting fresh covers on the books.
"She is so still,I guess she is asleep,"thought Jack,peeping round the corner.
No,not asleep,but lying with her eyes fixed on the sunny window,beyond which the bright winter world sparkled after a fresh snow-fall.The jingle of sleigh-bells could be heard,the laughter of boys and girls on their way to school,all the pleasant stir of a new day of happy work and play for the rest of the world,more lonely,quiet,and wearisome than ever to her since her friend and fellow-prisoner was set free and going to leave her.
Jack understood that patient,wistful look,and,without a word,went back to his seat,staring at the fire so soberly,that his mother presently asked:"What are you thinking of so busily,with that pucker in your forehead?""I've about made up my mind that I won't go to school just yet,"answered Jack,slowly lifting his head,for it cost him something to give up the long-expected pleasure.
