"That will be splendid!Will Molly's father let her come?"cried Jill,feeling quite reconciled to staying at home,if her friend was to be with her.
"He likes the plan very much,for Molly is growing fast,and needs a sort of care that Miss Dawes cannot give her.I am not a hard mistress,and I hope you will find my school a pleasant one.""I know I shall;and I'm not disappointed,because I was pretty sure I couldn't go to the old school again,when I heard the doctor say I must be very careful for a long time.I thought he meant months;but if it must he years,I can bear it,for I've been happy this last one though I was sick,"said Jill,glad to show that it had not been wasted time by being cheerful and patient now.
"That's my good girl!"and Mrs.Minot stroked the curly black head as if it was her own little daughter's."You have done so well,I want you to go on improving,for care now will save you pain and disappointment by and by.You all have got a capital start during these six weeks,so it is a good time to begin my experiment.If it does not work well,we will go back to school and college next spring.""Hurrah for Mamma and the long vacation!"cried Jack,catching up two big books and whirling them round like clubs,as if to get his muscles in order at once.
"Now I shall have time to go to the Gymnasium and straighten out my back,"said Frank,who was growing so tall he needed more breadth to make his height symmetrical.
"And to ride horscback.I am going to hire old Jane and get out the little phaeton,so we can all enjoy the fine weather while it lasts.
Molly and I can drive Jill,and you can take turns in the saddle when you are tired of ball and boating.Exercise of all sorts is one of the lessons we are to learn,"said Mrs.Minot,suggesting all the pleasant things she could to sweeten the pill for her pupils,two of whom did love their books,not being old enough to know that even an excellent thing may be overdone.
"Won't that be gay?I'll get down the saddle to-day,so we can begin right off.Lem rides,and we can go together.Hope old Jane will like it as well as I shall,"said Jack,who had found a new friend in a pleasant lad lately come to town.
"You must see that she does,for you boys are to take care of her.
We will put the barn in order,and you can decide which shall be hostler and which gardener,for I don't intend to hire labor on the place any more.Our estate is not a large one,and it will be excellent work for you,my men.""All right!I'll see to Jane.I love horses,"said Jack,well pleased with the prospect.
"My horse won't need much care.I prefer a bicycle to a beast,so I'll get in the squashes,pick the apples,and cover the strawberry bed when it is time,"added Frank,who had enjoyed the free life at Pebbly Beach so much that he was willing to prolong it.
"You may put me in a hen-coop,and keep me there a year,if you like.I won't fret,for I'm sure you know what is best for me,"said Jill,gayly,as she looked up at the good friend who had done so much for her.
"I'm not sure that I won't put you in a pretty cage and send you to Cattle Show,as a sample of what we can do in the way of taming a wild bird till it is nearly as meek as a dove,"answered Mrs.Minot,much gratified at the amiability of her flock.
"I don't see why there should not be an exhibition of children,and prizes for the good and pretty ones,as well as for fat pigs,fine horses,or handsome fruit and flowers--I don't mean a baby show,but boys and girls,so people can see what the prospect is of a good crop for the next generation,"said Frank,glancing toward the tower of the building where the yearly Agricultural Fair was soon to be held.
"Years ago,there was a pretty custom here of collecting all the schools together in the spring,and having a festival at the Town Hall.Each school showed its best pupils,and the parents looked on at the blooming flower show.It was a pity it was ever given up,for the schools have never been so good as then,nor the interest in them so great";and Mrs.Minot wondered,as many people do,why farmers seem to care more for their cattle and crops than for their children,willingly spending large sums on big barns and costly experiments,while the school-houses are shabby and inconvenient,and the cheapest teachers preferred.
"Ralph is going to send my bust.He asked if he might,and mother said Yes.Mr.German thinks it very good,and I hope other people will,"said Jill,nodding toward the little plaster head that smiled down from its bracket with her own merry look.
"I could send my model;it is nearly done.Ralph told me it was a clever piece of work,and he knows,"added Frank,quite taken with the idea of exhibiting his skill in mechanics.
"And I could send my star bedquilt!They always have things of that kind at Cattle Show";and Jill began to rummage in the closet for the pride of her heart,burning to display it to an admiring world.
"I haven't got anything.Can't sew rags together;or make baby engines,and I have no live-stock--yes,I have too!There's old Bun.
I'll send him,for the fun of it;he really is a curiosity,for he is the biggest one I ever saw,and hopping into the lime has made his fur such a queer color,he looks like a new sort of rabbit.I'll catch and shut him up before he gets wild again";and off rushed Jack to lure unsus Fectins old Bun,who had grown tame during their absence,into the cage which he detested.
They all laughed at his ardor,but the fancy pleased them;and as Mamma saw no reason why their little works of art should not be sent,Frank fell to work on his model,and Jill resolved to finish her quilt at once,while Mrs.Minot went off to see Mr.Acton about the hours and studies for the boys.
