Chapter X. The Dramatic Club
While Jack was hopping gayly about on his crutches, poor Jill wasfeeling the effects of her second fall, and instead of sitting up, asshe hoped to do after six weeks of rest, she was ordered to lie on aboard for two hours each day. Not an easy penance, by any means, for theboard was very hard, and she could do nothing while she lay there, as itdid not slope enough to permit her to read without great fatigue of botheyes and hands. So the little martyr spent her first hour of trial insobbing, the second in singing, for just as her mother and Mrs. Minotwere deciding in despair that neither she nor they could bear it, Jillsuddenly broke out into a merry chorus she used to hear her fathersing:--
"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 twomothers hovering about her, and Jack said, with a look of mingled pityand admiration, as he brandished his crutch over the imaginary foes,--
"That's right! Sing away, and we'll play you are an Indian captive beingtormented by your enemies, and too proud to complain. I'll watch theclock, and the minute time is up I'll rush in and rescue you."
Jill laughed, but the fancy pleased her, and she straightened herselfout under the gay afghan, while she sang, in a plaintive voice, anotherlittle French song her father taught her:--
"J'avais une colombe blanche, J'avais un blanc petit pigeon, Tous deux volaient, de branche en branche, Jusqu'au faite de mon dongeon: Mais comme un coup de vent d'automne, S'est abattu la, l'epervier, Et ma colombe si mignonne Ne revient plus au colombier."
"My poor Jean had a fine voice, and always hoped the child would takeafter him. It would break his heart to see her lying there trying tocheer her pain with the songs he used to sing her to sleep with," saidMrs. Pecq, sadly.
"She really has a great deal of talent, and when she is able she shallhave some lessons, for music is a comfort and a pleasure, sick or well,"answered Mrs. Minot, who had often admired the fresh voice, with itspretty accent.
Here Jill began the Canadian boat-song, with great vigor, as if bound toplay her part of Indian victim with spirit, and not disgrace herself byany more crying. All knew the air, and joined in, especially Jack, whocame out strong on the "Row, brothers, row," but ended in a squeak on ahigh note, so drolly, that the rest broke down. So the hour that beganwith tears ended with music and laughter, and a new pleasure to think offor the future.
After that day Jill exerted all her fortitude, for she liked to have theboys call her brave and admire the cheerful way in which she endured twohours of discomfort. She found she could use her zither as it lay uponher breast, and every day the pretty music began at a certain hour, andall in the house soon learned to love and listen for it. Even the oldcook set open her kitchen door, saying pitifully, "Poor darlint, hearhow purty she's singin', wid the pain, on that crewel boord. It's alittle saint, she is. May her bed above be aisy!"
Frank would lift her gently on and off, with a kind word that comfortedher immensely, and gentle Ed would come and teach her new bits of music,while the other fellows were frolicking below. Ralph added his share toher amusement, for he asked leave to model her head in clay, and set uphis work in a corner, coming to pat, scrape, and mould whenever he hada spare minute, amusing her by his lively chat, and showing her how toshape birds, rabbits, and queer faces in the soft clay, when the songswere all sung and her fingers tired of the zither.
The girls sympathized very heartily with her new trial, and broughtall manner of gifts to cheer her captivity. Merry and Molly made agay screen by pasting pictures on the black cambric which covered thefolding frame that stood before her to keep the draughts from her as shelay on her board. Bright birds and flowers, figures and animals, coveredone 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 thetrouble 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, asthey read carefully, that they might make good selections.
But the thing that pleased Jill most was something Jack did, for he gaveup going to school, and stayed at home nearly a fortnight after he mighthave gone, all for her sake. The day the doctor said he might try itif 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 bythe rapidity of his recovery. When he sat down to rest he rememberedJill, who had been lying quietly behind the screen, while he talked withhis mother, busy putting fresh covers on the books.
"She is so still, I guess she is asleep," thought Jack, peeping roundthe 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 andgirls on their way to school, all the pleasant stir of a new day ofhappy work and play for the rest of the world, more lonely, quiet, andwearisome than ever to her since her friend and fellow-prisoner was setfree and going to leave her.
Jack understood that patient, wistful look, and, without a word, wentback to his seat, staring at the fire so soberly, that his motherpresently asked: "What are you thinking of so busily, with that puckerin 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 togive up the long-expected pleasure.
"Why not?" and Mrs. Minot looked much surprised, till Jack pointed tothe screen, and, making a sad face to express Jill's anguish, answeredin a cheerful tone, "Well, I'm not sure that it is best. Doctor did notwant me to go, but said I might because I teased. I shall be sure tocome to grief, and then every one will say, 'I told you so,' and that isso 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 oldCaesar, as if she loved him, "Do as you think best, dear. I always wantyou at home, but I don't wonder you are rather tired of it after thislong confinement."
"I say, Jill, should I be in your way if I didn't go to school till thefirst of February?" called Jack, laughing to himself at the absurdity ofthe question.
"Not much!" answered a glad voice from behind the screen, and he knewthe sorrowful eyes were shining with delight, though he could not seethem.
"Well, I guess I may as well, and get quite firm on my legs before Istart. Another week or so will bring me up if I study hard, so I shallnot 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 himfor the little sacrifice more than if he had won a prize at school. Hedid get a reward, for, in five minutes from the time he decided, Jillwas singing like a bobolink, and such a medley of merry music came frombehind the screen, that it was a regular morning concert. She did notknow 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 stormyJack could not have gone half the time. So, while the snow drifted, andbitter winds raged, he sat snugly at home amusing Jill, and getting onbravely with his lessons, for Frank took great pains with him to showhis approbation of the little kindness, and, somehow, the memory of itseemed to make even the detested Latin easier.
With February fair weather set in, and Jack marched happily away toschool, with Jill's new mittens on his hands, Mamma nodding from thedoor-step, and Frank ready to give him a lift on the new sled, if theway proved too long or too rough.
"I shall not have time to miss him now, for we are to be very busygetting 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, asMrs. 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 clubwhen I was rummaging out bits of silk for y
our blue quilt," answeredthe good lady, who had set up a new employment to beguile the hours ofJack's absence.
When the girls arrived, that evening, they found Mrs. Chairwomansurrounded by a strew of theatrical properties, enjoying herself verymuch. All brought such contributions as they could muster, and all wereeager about a certain tableau which was to be the gem of the whole, theythought. Jill, of course, was not expected to take any part, but hertaste was good, so all consulted her as they showed their old silks,laces, and flowers, asking who should be this, and who that. All wantedto be the "Sleeping Beauty," for that was the chosen scene, with theslumbering court about the princess, and the prince in the act ofawakening her. Jack was to be the hero, brave in his mother's velvetcape, red boots, and a real sword, while the other boys were to haveparts of more or less splendor.
"Mabel should be the Beauty, because her hair is so lovely," saidJuliet, who was quite satisfied with her own part of the Queen.
"No, Merry ought to have it, as she is the prettiest, and has thatsplendid 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, andI don't know as Emma would like to have me lend it to any one else,"said Annette, waving a long white plume over her head, with girlishdelight in its grace.
"I should think the white silk dress, the veil, and the feather ought togo together, with the scarlet crape shawl and these pearls. That wouldbe sweet, and just what princesses really wear," advised Jill, who wasstringing a quantity of old Roman pearls.
"We all want to wear the nice things, so let us draw lots. Wouldn'tthat 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 tochoose the girl who will look best, as it is a picture. I heard MissDelano say so, when the ladies got up the tableaux, last winter, andevery one wanted to be Cleopatra," said Jill decidedly.
"You choose, and then if we can't agree we will draw lots," proposedSusy, who, being plain, knew there was little hope of her getting achance in any other way.
So all stood in a row, and Jill, from her sofa, surveyed themcritically, feeling that the one Jack would really prefer was not amongthe number.
"I choose that one, for Juliet wants to be Queen, Molly would makefaces, and the others are too big or too light," pronounced Jill,pointing to Merry, who looked pleased, while Mabel's face darkened, andSusy gave a disdainful sniff.
"You'd better draw lots, and then there will be no fuss. Ju and Iare out of the fight, but you three can try, and let this settle thematter," 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 whenshe showed the longest paper.
"Go and dress, then come back, and we'll plan how we are to be placedbefore we call up the boys," commanded Jill, who was manager, since shecould be nothing else.
The girls retired to the bedroom and began to "rig up," as they calledit; but discontent still lurked among them, and showed itself in sharpwords, envious looks, and disobliging acts.
"Am I to have the white silk and the feather?" asked Merry, delightedwith the silvery shimmer of the one and the graceful droop of the other,though both were rather shabby.
"You can use your own dress. I don't see why you should haveeverything," answered Susy, who was at the mirror, putting a wreath ofscarlet flowers on her red head, bound to be gay since she could not bepretty.
"I think I'd better keep the plume, as I haven't anything else that isnice, and I'm afraid Emma wouldn't like me to lend it," added Annette,who was disappointed that Mabel was not to be the Beauty.
"_I_ don't intend to act at all!" declared Mabel, beginning to braid upher hair with a jerk, out of humor with the whole affair.
"_I_ think you are a set of cross, selfish girls to back out and keepyour nice things just because you can't _all_ have the best part.I'm ashamed of you!" scolded Molly, standing by Merry, who was sadlysurveying her mother's old purple silk, which looked like brown in theevening.
"I'm going to have Miss Delano's red brocade for the Queen, and I shallask her for the yellow-satin dress for Merry when I go to get mine, andtell her how mean you are," said Juliet, frowning under her gilt-papercrown as she swept about in a red table-cloth for train till the brocadearrived.
"Perhaps you'd like to have Mabel cut her hair off, so Merry can havethat, too?" cried Susy, with whom hair was a tender point.
"Light hair isn't wanted, so Ju will have to give hers, or you'd betterborrow Miss Bat's frisette," added Mabel, with a scornful laugh.
"I just wish Miss Bat was here to give you girls a good shaking. Do letsomeone else have a chance at the glass, you peacock!" exclaimed MollyLoo, pushing Susy aside to arrange her own blue turban, out of which sheplucked the pink pompon to give Merry.
"Don't quarrel about me. I shall do well enough, and the scarlet shawlwill hide my ugly dress," said Merry, from the corner, where she satwaiting for her turn at the mirror.
As she spoke of the shawl her eye went in search of it, and somethingthat she saw in the other room put her own disappointment out of herhead. Jill lay there all alone, rather tired with the lively chatter,and the effort it cost her not to repine at being shut out from thegreat delight of dressing up and acting.
Her eyes were closed, her net was off, and all the pretty black curlslay about her shoulders as one hand idly pulled them out, while theother rested on the red shawl, as if she loved its glowing color andsoft texture. She was humming to herself the little song of the dove andthe donjon, and something in the plaintive voice, the solitary figure,went straight to Merry's gentle heart.
"Poor Jilly can't have any of the fun," was the first thought; then camea second, that made Merry start and smile, and in a minute whisperso that all but Jill could hear her, "Girls, I'm not going to be thePrincess. But I've thought of a splendid one!"
"Who?" asked the rest, staring at one another, much surprised by thissudden announcement.
"Hush! Speak low, or you will spoil it all. Look in the Bird Room, andtell me if that isn't a prettier Princess than I could make?"
They all looked, but no one spoke, and Merry added, with sweeteagerness, "It is the only thing poor Jill can be, and it would makeher so happy; Jack would like it, and it would please every one, I know.Perhaps she will never walk again, so we ought to be very good to her,poor dear."
The last words, whispered with a little quiver in the voice, settledthe matter better than hours of talking, for girls are tender-heartedcreatures, and not one of these but would have gladly given all thepretty things she owned to see Jill dancing about well and strong again.Like a ray of sunshine the kind thought touched and brightened everyface; envy, impatience, vanity, and discontent flew away like imps atthe coming of the good fairy, and with one accord they all cried,--
"It will be lovely; let us go and tell her!"
Forgetting their own adornment, out they trooped after Merry, who ranto the sofa, saying, with a smile which was reflected in all the otherfaces, "Jill, dear, we have chosen another Princess, and I know you'lllike her."
"Who is it?" asked Jill, languidly, opening her eyes without the leastsuspicion of the truth.
"I'll show you;" and taking the cherished veil from her own head, Merrydropped it like a soft cloud over Jill; Annette added the long plume,Susy laid the white silk dress about her, while Juliet and Mabel liftedthe scarlet shawl to spread it over the foot of the sofa, and Molly torethe last ornament from her turban, a silver star, to shine on Jill'sbreast. Then they all took hands and danced round the couch, singing, asthey laughed at her astonishment, "There she is! There she is! PrincessJill as fine as you please!
"Do you really mean it? But can I? Is it fair? How sweet of you! Comehere and let me hug you all!" cried Jill, in a rapture at the surprise,a
nd the pretty way in which it was done.
The grand scene on the Twenty-second was very fine, indeed; but thelittle tableau of that minute was infinitely better, though no one sawit, as Jill tried to gather them all in her arms, for that nosegay ofgirlish faces was the sweeter, because each one had sacrificed her ownlittle vanity to please a friend, and her joy was reflected in the eyesthat sparkled round the happy Princess.
"Oh, you dear, kind things, to think of me and give me all your bestclothes! I never shall forget it, and I'll do anything for you. Yes!I'll write and ask Mrs. Piper to lend us her ermine cloak for the king.See if I don't!"
Shrieks of delight hailed this noble offer, for no one had dared toborrow the much-coveted mantle, but all agreed that the old lady wouldnot refuse Jill. It was astonishing how smoothly everything wentafter this, for each was eager to help, admire, and suggest, in thefriendliest way; and when all were dressed, the boys found a partyof very gay ladies waiting for them round the couch, where lay thebrightest little Princess ever seen.
"Oh, Jack, I'm to act! Wasn't it dear of the girls to choose me? Don'tthey look lovely? Aren't you glad?" cried Jill, as the lads stared andthe lasses blushed and smiled, well pleased at the frank admiration theboyish faces showed.
"I guess I am! You are a set of trumps, and we'll give you a first-classspread after the play to pay for it. Won't we, fellows?" answeredJack, much gratified, and feeling that now he could act his own partcapitally.
"We will. It was a handsome thing to do, and we think well of you forit. Hey, Gus?" and Frank nodded approvingly at all, though he lookedonly at Annette.
"As king of this crowd, I call it to order," said Gus, retiring to thethrone, where Juliet sat laughing in her red table-cloth.
"We'll have 'The Fair One with Golden Locks' next time; I promise youthat," whispered Ed to Mabel, whose shining hair streamed over her bluedress like a mantle of gold-colored silk.
"Girls are pretty nice things, aren't they? Kind of 'em to take Jillin. Don't Molly look fine, though?" and Grif's black eyes twinkled as heplanned to pin her skirts to Merry's at the first opportunity.
"Susy looks as gay as a feather-duster. I like her. She never snubs afellow," said Joe, much impressed with the splendor of the court ladies.
The boys' costumes were not yet ready, but they posed well, and all hada merry time, ending with a game of blind-man's-buff, in which every onecaught the right person in the most singular way, and all agreed as theywent home in the moonlight that it had been an unusually jolly meeting.
So the fairy play woke the sleeping beauty that lies in all of us, andmakes us lovely when we rouse it with a kiss of unselfish good-will,for, though the girls did not know it then, they had adorned themselveswith pearls more precious than the waxen ones they decked their Princessin.