"You will,my dear,"answered Mrs.Pecq,encouragingly,for she knew all about it."Now you ve each got a mission,let us see how well you will get on.Keep it secret,if you like,and report once a week.I'll be a member,and we'll do great things yet.""We won't begin till after Christmas;there is so much to do,we never shall have time for any more.Don't tell,and we'll start fair at New Year s,if not before,"said Jill,taking the lead as usual.
Then they went on with the gay ladies,who certainly were heathen enough in dress to be in sad need of conversion to common-sense at least.
"I feel as if I was at a party,"said Jill,after a pause occupied in surveying her gallery with great satisfaction,for dress was her delight,and here she had every conceivable style and color.
"Talking of parties,isn't it too bad that we must give up our Christmas fun?Can't get on without you and Jack,so we are not going to do a thing,but just have our presents,"said Merry,sadly,as they began to fit different heads and bodies together,to try droll effects.
"I shall be all well in a fortnight,I know;but Jack won t,for it will take more than a month to mend his poor leg.Maybe,they will have a dance in the boys big room,and he can look on,"suggested Jill,with a glance at the dancing damsel on the wall,for she dearly loved it,and never guessed how long it would be before her light feet would keep time to music again.
"You d better give Jack a hint about the party.Send over some smart ladies,and say they have come to his Christmas ball,"proposed audacious Molly Loo,always ready for fun.
So they put a preposterous green bonnet,top-heavy with plumes,on a little lady in yellow,who sat in a carriage;the lady beside her,in winter costume of velvet pelisse and ermine boa,was fitted to a bride's head with its orange flowers and veil,and these works of art were sent over to Jack,labelled "Miss Laura and Lotty Burton going to the Minots'Christmas balI"a piece of naughtiness on Jill's part,for she knew Jack liked the pretty sisters,whose gentle manners made her own wild ways seem all the more blamable.
No answer came for a long time,and the girls had almost forgotten their joke in a game of Letters,when "Tingle,tangle!"went the bell,and the basket came in heavily laden.A roll of colored papers was tied outside,and within was a box that rattled,a green and silver horn,a roll of narrow ribbons,a spool of strong thread,some large needles,and a note from Mrs.Minot:
"Dear Jill-I think of having a Christmas tree so that our invalids can enjoy it,and all your elegant friends are cordially invited.
Knowing that you would like to help,I send some paper for sugar-plum horns and some beads for necklaces.They will brighten the tree and please the girls for themselves or their dolls.
Jack sends you a horn for a pattern,and will you make a ladder-necklace to show him how?Let me know if you need anything.Yours in haste,Anna Minot."
"She knew what the child would like,bless her kind heart,"said Mrs.Pecq to herself,and something brighter than the most silvery bead shone on Jack's shirt-sleeve,as she saw the rapture of Jill over the new work and the promised pleasure.
Joyful cries greeted the opening of the box,for bunches of splendid large bugles appeared in all colors,and a lively discussion went on as to the best contrasts.Jill could not refuse to let her friends share the pretty work,and soon three necklaces glittered on three necks,as each admired her own choice.
"I'd be willing to hurt my back dreadfully,if I could lie and do such lovely things all day,"said Merry,as she reluctantly put down her needle at last,for home duties waited to be done,and looked more than ever distasteful after this new pleasure.
"So would I!Oh,do you think Mrs.Minot will let you fill the horns when they are done?I'd love to help you then.Be sure you send for me!"cried Molly Loo,arching her neck like a proud pigeon to watch the glitter of her purple and gold necklace on her brown gown.
"I'm afraid you couldn't be trusted,you love sweeties so,and I m sure Boo couldn't.But I'll see about it,"replied Jill,with a responsible air.
The mention of the boy recalled him to their minds,and looking round they found him peacefully absorbed in polishing up the floor with Molly's pocket-handkerchief and oil from the little machine-can.Being torn from this congenial labor,he was carried off shining with grease and roaring lustily.
But Jill did not mind her loneliness now,and sang like a happy canary while she threaded her sparkling beads,or hung the gay horns to dry,ready f or their cargoes of sweets.So Mrs.Minot's recipe for sunshine proved successful,and mother-wit made the wintry day a bright and happy one for both the little prisoners.