"Why not?"and Mrs.Minot looked much surprised,till Jack pointed to the screen,and,making a sad face to express Jill's anguish,answered in a cheerful tone,'Well,I'm not sure that it is best.Doctor did not want me to go,but said I might because Iteased.I shall be sure to come to grief,and then everyone will say,'I told you so,'and that is so provoking.I'd rather keep still a week longer.Hadn't I better?"His mother smiled and nodded as she said,sewing away at much-abused old Caesar,as if she loved him,"Do as you think best,dear.I always want you at home,but I don't wonder you are rather tired of it after this long confinement.""I say,Jill,should I be in your way if I didn't go to school till the first of February?"called Jack,laughing to himself at the absurdity of the question.
"Not much!"answered a glad voice from behind the screen,and he knew the sorrowful eyes were shining with delight,though he could not see them.
"Well,I guess I may as well,and get quite firm on my legs before I start.Another week or so will bring me up if I study hard,so I shall not lose my time.I'll tackle my Latin as soon as it's ready,mother."Jack got a hearty kiss with the neatly covered book,and Mamma loved him for the little sacrifice more than if he had won a prize at school.He did get a reward,for,in five minutes from the time he decided,Jill was singing like a bobolink,and such a medley of merry music came from behind the screen,that it was a regular morning concert.She did not know then that he stayed for her sake,but she found it out soon after,and when the time came did as much for him,as we shall see.
It proved a wise decision,for the last part of January was so stormy Jack could not have gone half the time.So,while the snow drifted,and bitter winds raged,he sat snugly at home amusing Jill,and getting on bravely with his lessons,for Frank took great pains with him to show his approbation of the little kindness,and,somehow,the memory of it seemed to make even the detested Latin easier.
With February fair weather set in,and Jack marched happily away to school,with Jill's new mittens on his hands,Mamma nodding from the door-step,and Frank ready to give him a lift on the new sled,if the way proved too long or too rough.
"I shall not have time to miss him now,for we are to be very busy getting ready for the Twenty-second.The Dramatic Club meets to-night,and would like to come here,if they may,so I can help?"said Jill,as Mrs.Minot came up,expecting to find her rather low in her mind.
"Certainly;and I have a basket of old finery I looked up for the club when I was rummaging out bits of silk for your blue quilt,"answered the good lady,who had set up a new employment to beguile the hours of Jack's absence.
When the girls arrived,that evening,they found Mrs.Chairwoman surrounded by a strew of theatrical properties,enjoying herself very much.All brought such contributions as they could muster,and all were eager about a certain tableau which was to be the gem of the whole,they thought.Jill,of course,was not expected to take any part,but her taste was good,so all consulted her as they showed their old silks,laces,and flowers,asking who should be this,and who that.All wanted to be the "Sleeping Beauty,"for that was the chosen scene,with the slumbering court about the princess,and the prince in the act of awakening her.Jack was to be the hero,brave in his mother's velvet cape,red boots,and a real sword,while the other boys were to have parts of more or less splendor.
"Mabel should be the Beauty,because her hair is so lovely,"said Juliet,who was quite satisfied with her own part of the Queen.
"No,Merry ought to have it,as she is the prettiest,and has that splendid veil to wear,"answered Molly,who was to be the maid of honor,cuffing the little page,Boo.
"I don't care a bit,but my feather would be fine for the Princess,and I don't know as Emma would like to have me lend it to anyone else,"said Annette,waving a long white plume over her head,with girlish delight in its grace.
"I should think the white silk dress,the veil,and the feather ought to go together,with the scarlet crape shawl and these pearls.That would be sweet,and just what princesses really wear,"advised Jill,who was stringing a quantity of old Roman pearls.
"We all want to wear the nice things,so let us draw lots.Wouldn't that be the fairest way?"asked Merry,looking like a rosy little bride,under a great piece of illusion,which had done duty in many plays.
"The Prince is light,so the Princess must be darkish.We ought to choose the girl who will look best,as it is a picture.I heard Miss Delano say so,when the ladies got up the tableaux,last winter,and everyone wanted to be Cleopatra,"said Jill decidedly.
"You choose,and then if we can't agree we will draw lots,"proposed Susy,who,being plain,knew there was little hope of her getting a chance in any other way.
So all stood in a row,and Jill,from her sofa,surveyed them critically,feeling that the one Jack would really prefer was not among the number.
"I choose that one,for Juliet wants to be Queen,Molly would make faces,and the others are too big or too light,"pronounced Jill,pointing to Merry,who looked pleased,while Mabel's face darkened,and Susy gave a disdainful sniff.
"You'd better draw lots,and then there will be no fuss.Ju and I are out of the fight,but you three can try,and let this settle the matter,"said Molly,handing Jill a long strip of paper.
All agreed to let it be so,and when the bits were ready drew in turn.This time fate was evidently on Merry's side,and no one grumbled when she showed the longest paper.
"Go and dress,then come back,and we'll plan how we are to be placed before we call up the boys,"commanded Jill,who was manager,since she could be nothing else.
The girls retired to the bedroom and began to "rig up,"as they called it;but discontent still lurked among them,and showed itself in sharp words,envious looks,and disobliging acts.