"I rather think we shall grow good in this pretty place,for I don't see how we can be bad if we want to,it is all so nice and sort of pious here,"said Jill,with her eyes on the angel over the tree.
"A fellow can be awfully hungry,I know that.I didn't half eat breakfast,I was in such a hurry to see you,and know all about the secrets.Frank kept saying I couldn't guess,that you had come,Jack and Jill lay silently watching,with a sweet sort of soberness in their young faces,and for a moment the room was very still as all eyes looked up at the Blessed Child.The sunshine seemed to grow more golden as it flickered on the little head,the flames glanced about the glittering tree as if trying to climb and kiss the baby feet,and,without,a chime of bells rang sweetly,calling people to hear again the lovely story of the life begun on Christmas Day.
Only a minute,but it did them good,and presently,when the pleasant work was over,and the workers gone,the boys to church,and Mamma to see about lunch for the invalids,Jack said,gravely,to Jill.
"I think we ought to be extra good,everyone is so kind to us,and we are getting well,and going to have such capital times.Don't see how we can do anything else to show we are grateful.""It isn't easy to be good when one is sick,"said Jill,thoughtfully."Ifret dreadfully,I get so tired of being still.I want to scream sometimes,but I don't,because it would scare Mammy,so I cry.
Do you cry,Jack?"
"Men never do.I want to tramp round when things bother me;but Ican t,so I kick and say,'Hang it!and when I get very bad I pitch into Frank,and he lets me.I tell you,Jill,he's a good brother!"and Jack privately resolved then and there to invite Frank to take it out of him in any form he pleased as soon as health would permit.
"I rather think we shall grow good in this pretty place,for I don't see how we can be bad if we want to,it is all so nice and sort of pious here,"said Jill,with her eyes on the angel over the tree.
"A fellow can be awfully hungry,I know that.I'd idn't half eat breakfast,I was in such a hurry to see you,and know all about the secrets.Frank kept saying I couldn't guess,that you had come,and I never would be ready,till finally I got mad and fired an egg at him,and made no end of a mess."Jack and Jill went off into a gale of laughter at the idea of dignified Frank dodging the egg that smashed on the wall,leaving an indelible mark of Jack's besetting sin,impatience.
Just then Mrs.Minot came in,well pleased to hear such pleasant sounds,and to see two merry faces,where usually one listless one met her anxious eyes.
"The new medicine works well,neighbor,"she said to Mrs.Pecq,who followed with the lunch tray.
"Indeed it does,mem.I feel as if I'd taken a sup myself,I'm that easy in my mind."And she looked so,too,for she seemed to have left all her cares in the little house when she locked the door behind her,and now stood smiling with a clean apron on,so fresh and cheerful,that Jill hardly knew her own mother.
"Things taste better when you have someone to eat with you,"observed Jack,as they'd evoured sandwiches,and drank milk out of little mugs with rosebuds on them.
"Don't eat too much,or you won't be ready for the next surprise,"said his mother,when the plates were empty,and the last drop gone down throats dry with much chatter.
"More surprises!Oh,what fun!"cried Jill.And all the rest of the morning,in the intervals of talk and play,they tried to guess what it could be.
At two o clock they found out,for dinner was served in the Bird Room,and the children revelled in the simple feast prepared for them.The two mothers kept the little bed-tables well supplied,and fed their nurslings like maternal birds,while Frank presided over the feast with great dignity,and ate a dinner which would have astonished Mamma,if she had not been too busy to observe how fast the mince pie vanished.
"The girls said Christmas was spoiled because of us;but I don't think so,and they won't either,when they see this splendid place and know all about our nice plans,"said Jill,luxuriously eating the nut-meats Jack picked out f or her,as they lay in Eastern style at the festive board.
"I call this broken bones made easy.I never had a better Christmas.
Have a raisin?Here's a good fat one."And Jack made a long arm to Jill's mouth,which began to sing "Little Jack Homer"as an appropriate return.
"It would have been a lonesome one to all of us,I'm thinking,but for your mother,boys.My duty and hearty thanks to you,mem,"put in grateful Mrs.Pecq,bowing over her coffee-cup as she had seen ladies bow over their wine-glasses at dinner parties in Old England.
"I rise to propose a health,Our Mothers."And Frank stood up with a goblet of water,for not even at Christmas time was wine seen on that table.
"Hip,hip,hurrah!"called Jack,baptizing himself with a good sprinkle,as he waved his glass and drank the toast with a look that made his mother's eyes fill with happy tears.
Jill threw her mother a kiss,feeling very grown up and elegant to be dining out in such style.Then they'd rank everyone's health with much merriment,till Frank declared that Jack would float off on the deluge of water he splashed about in his enthusiasm,and Mamma proposed a rest after the merry-making.
"Now the best fun is coming,and we have not long to wait,"said the boy,when naps and rides about the room had whiled away the brief interval between dinner and dusk,for the evening entertainment was to be an early one,to suit the invalids bedtime.
"I hope the girls will like their things.I helped to choose them,and each has a nice present.I don't know mine,though,and I'm in a twitter to see it,"said Jill,as they lay waiting for the fun to begin.
"I do;I chose it,so I know you will like one of them,anyway.""Have I got more than one?"
"I guess you'll think so when they are handed down.The bell was going all day yesterday,and the girls kept bringing in bundles for you;I see seven now,"and Jack rolled his eyes from one mysterious parcel to another hanging on the laden boughs.