Chapter XXII. A Happy Day
"Oh dear! Only a week more, and then we must go back. Don't you hate thethoughts of it?" said Jack, as he was giving Jill her early walk on thebeach one August morning.
"Yes, it will be dreadful to leave Gerty and Mamie and all the nicepeople. But I'm so much better I won't have to be shut up again, even ifI don't go to school. How I long to see Merry and Molly. Dear things, ifit wasn't for them I should hate going home more than you do," answeredJill, stepping along quite briskly, and finding it very hard to resistbreaking into a skip or a run, she felt so well and gay.
"Wish they could be here to-day to see the fun," said Jack, for it wasthe anniversary of the founding of the place, and the people celebratedit by all sorts of festivity.
"I did want to ask Molly, but your mother is so good to me I couldn'tfind courage to do it. Mammy told me not to ask for a thing, and I'msure I don't get a chance. I feel just as if I was your truly bornsister, Jack."
"That's all right, I'm glad you do," answered Jack, comfortably, thoughhis mind seemed a little absent and his eyes twinkled when she spoke ofMolly. "Now, you sit in the cubby-house, and keep quiet till the boatcomes in. Then the fun will begin, and you must be fresh and ready toenjoy it. Don't run off, now, I shall want to know where to find you byand by."
"No more running off, thank you. I'll stay here till you come, andfinish this box for Molly; she has a birthday this week, and I'vewritten to ask what day, so I can send it right up and surprise her."
Jack's eyes twinkled more than ever as he helped Jill settle herself inthe boat, and then with a whoop he tore over the beach, as if practisingfor the race which was to come off in the afternoon.
Jill was so busy with her work that time went quickly, and the earlyboat came in just as the last pink shell was stuck in its place. Puttingthe box in the sun to dry, she leaned out of her nook to watch the gayparties land, and go streaming up the pier along the road that wentbehind the bank that sheltered her. Flocks of children were runningabout on the sand, and presently strangers appeared, eager to see andenjoy all the delights of this gala-day.
"There's a fat little boy who looks ever so much like Boo," said Jillto herself, watching the people and hoping they would not come and findher, since she had promised to stay till Jack returned.
The fat little boy was staring about him in a blissful sort of maze,holding a wooden shovel in one hand and the skirts of a young girl withthe other. Her back was turned to Jill, but something in the longbrown braid with a fly-away blue bow hanging down her back looked veryfamiliar to Jill. So did the gray suit and the Japanese umbrella; butthe hat was strange, and while she was thinking how natural the bootslooked, the girl turned round.
"Why, how much she looks like Molly! It can't be--yes, it might, I dobelieve it _is_!" cried Jill, starting up and hardly daring to trust herown eyes.
As she came out of her nest and showed herself, there could be no doubtabout the other girl, for she gave one shout and came racing over thebeach with both arms out, while her hat blew off unheeded, and the gayumbrella flew away, to the great delight of all the little people exceptBoo, who was upset by his sister's impetuous rush, and lay upon hisback howling. Molly did not do all the running, though, and Jill got herwish, for, never stopping to think of herself, she was off at once, andmet her friend half-way with an answering cry. It was a pretty sight tosee them run into one another's arms and hug and kiss and talk and skipin such a state of girlish joy they never cared who saw or laughed attheir innocent raptures.
"You darling dear! where did you come from?" cried Jill, holding Mollyby both shoulders, and shaking her a little to be sure she was real.
"Mrs. Minot sent for us to spend a week. You look so well, I can'tbelieve my eyes!" answered Molly, patting Jill's cheeks and kissing themover and over, as if to make sure the bright color would not come off.
"A week? How splendid! Oh, I've such heaps to tell and show you; comeright over to my cubby and see how lovely it is," said Jill, forgettingeverybody else in her delight at getting Molly.
"I must get poor Boo, and my hat and umbrella, I left them all behind mewhen I saw you," laughed Molly, looking back.
But Mrs. Minot and Jack had consoled Boo and collected the scatteredproperty, so the girls went on arm in arm, and had a fine time beforeany one had the heart to disturb them. Molly was charmed with the boat,and Jill very glad the box was done in season. Both had so much totell and hear and plan, that they would have sat there for ever ifbathing-time had not come, and the beach suddenly looked like a bed ofred and yellow tulips, for every one took a dip, and the strangers addedmuch to the fun.
Molly could swim like a duck, and quite covered herself with glory bydiving off the pier. Jack undertook to teach Boo, who was a promisingpupil, being so plump that he could not sink if he tried. Jill was soonthrough, and lay on the sand enjoying the antics of the bathers till shewas so faint with laughter she was glad to hear the dinner-horn and dothe honors of the Willows to Molly, whose room was next hers.
Boat-races came first in the afternoon, and the girls watched them,sitting luxuriously in the nest, with the ladies and children close by.The sailing-matches were very pretty to see; but Molly and Jill weremore interested in the rowing, for Frank and the bicycle boy pulled oneboat, and the friends felt that this one must win. It did, though therace was not very exciting nor the prize of great worth; but the boysand girls were satisfied, and Jack was much exalted, for he always toldFrank he could do great things if he would only drop books and "go in onhis muscle."
Foot-races followed, and, burning to distinguish himself also, Jackinsisted on trying, though his mother warned him that the weak leg mightbe harmed, and he had his own doubts about it, as he was all out ofpractice. However, he took his place with a handkerchief tied round hishead, red shirt and stockings, and his sleeves rolled up as if he meantbusiness. Jill and Molly could not sit still during this race, and stoodon the bank quite trembling with excitement as the half-dozen runnersstood in a line at the starting-post waiting for the word "Go!"
Off they went at last over the smooth beach to the pole with the flagat the further end, and every one watched them with mingled interestand merriment, for they were a droll set, and the running not at allscientific with most of them. One young fisherman with big boots overhis trousers started off at a great pace, pounding along in the mostdogged way, while a little chap in a tight bathing-suit with very thinlegs skimmed by him, looking so like a sand-piper it was impossible tohelp laughing at both. Jack's former training stood him in good steadnow; for he went to work in professional style, and kept a steady trottill the flagpole had been passed, then he put on his speed and shotahead of all the rest, several of whom broke down and gave up. But Coxand Bacon held on gallantly; and soon it was evident that the sturdylegs in the knickerbockers were gaining fast, for Jack gave his ankle anugly wrench on a round pebble, and the weak knee began to fail. Hedid his best, however, and quite a breeze of enthusiasm stirred thespectators as the three boys came down the course like mettlesomehorses, panting, pale, or purple, but each bound to win at any cost.
"Now, Bacon!" "Go it, Minot!" "Hit him up, Cox!" "Jack's ahead!" "No, heisn't!" "Here they come!" "Bacon's done it!" shouted the other boys, andthey were right; Bacon had won, for the gray legs came in just half ayard ahead of the red ones, and Minot tumbled into his brother's armswith hardly breath enough left to gasp out, good-humoredly, "All right,I'm glad he beat!"
Then the victor was congratulated and borne off by his friends torefresh himself, while the lookers-on scattered to see a game of tennisand the shooting of the Archery Club up at the hotel. Jack was soonrested, and, making light of his defeat, insisted on taking the girls tosee the fun. So they drove up in the old omnibus, and enjoyed the prettysight very much; for the young ladies were in uniform, and the broadgreen ribbons over the white dresses, the gay quivers, long bows, andbig targets, made a lively scene. The shooting was good; a handsomedamsel got the prize of a dozen arrows, an
d every one clapped in themost enthusiastic manner.
Molly and Jill did not care about tennis, so they went home to restand dress for the evening, because to their minds the dancing, theillumination, and the fireworks were the best fun of all. Jill's whitebunting with cherry ribbons was very becoming, and the lively feet inthe new slippers patted the floor impatiently as the sound of dancemusic came down to the Willows after tea, and the other girls waltzed onthe wide piazza because they could not keep still.
"No dancing for me, but Molly must have a good time. You'll see that shedoes, won't you, boys?" said Jill, who knew that her share of the funwould be lying on a settee and watching the rest enjoy her favoritepastime.
Frank and Jack promised, and kept their word handsomely; for there wasplenty of room in the great dancing-hall at the hotel, and the band inthe pavilion played such inspiring music that, as the bicycle boy said,"Every one who had a leg couldn't help shaking it." Molly was twirledabout to her heart's content, and flew hither and thither like a bluebutterfly; for all the lads liked her, and she kept running up to tellJill the funny things they said and did.
As night darkened from all the houses in the valley, on the cliffs andalong the shore lights shone and sparkled; for every one decorated withgay lanterns, and several yachts in the bay strung colored lamps aboutthe little vessels, making a pretty picture on the quiet sea. Jillthought she had never seen anything so like fairy-land, and felt verylike one in a dream as she drove slowly up and down with Mamie, Gerty,Molly, and Mrs. Cox in the carriage, so that she might see it allwithout too much fatigue. It was very lovely; and when rockets beganto whizz, filling the air with golden rain, a shower of colored stars,fiery dragons, or glittering wheels, the girls could only shriek withdelight, and beg to stay a little longer each time the prudent ladyproposed going home.
It had to be at last; but Molly and Jill comforted themselves by a longtalk in bed, for it was impossible to sleep with glares of light comingevery few minutes, flocks of people talking and tramping by in the road,and bursts of music floating down to them as the older but not wiserrevellers kept up the merriment till a late hour. They dropped off atlast; but Jill had the nightmare, and Molly was waked up by a violentjerking of her braid as Jill tried to tow her along, dreaming she was aboat.
They were too sleepy to laugh much then, but next morning they mademerry over it, and went to breakfast with such happy faces that all theyoung folks pronounced Jill's friend a most delightful girl. What a goodtime Molly did have that week! Other people were going to leave also,and therefore much picnicking, boating, and driving was crowded intothe last days. Clambakes on the shore, charades in the studio,sewing-parties at the boat, evening frolics in the big dining-room,farewell calls, gifts, and invitations, all sorts of plans for nextsummer, and vows of eternal friendship exchanged between people whowould soon forget each other. It was very pleasant, till poor Booinnocently added to the excitement by poisoning a few of his neighborswith a bad lobster.
The ambitious little soul pined to catch one of these mysterious butlovely red creatures, and spent days fishing on the beach, investigatingholes and corners, and tagging after the old man who supplied the house.One day after a high wind he found several "lobs" washed up on thebeach, and, though disappointed at their color, he picked out a big one,and set off to show his prize to Molly. Half-way home he met the oldman on his way with a basket of fish, and being tired of lugging hiscontribution laid it with the others, meaning to explain later. No onesaw him do it, as the old man was busy with his pipe; and Boo ran backto get more dear lobs, leaving his treasure to go into the kettle andappear at supper, by which time he had forgotten all about it.
Fortunately none of the children ate any, but several older people weremade ill, and quite a panic prevailed that night as one after the othercalled up the doctor, who was boarding close by; and good Mrs. Grey,the hostess, ran about with hot flannels, bottles of medicine, anddistracted messages from room to room. All were comfortable by morning,but the friends of the sufferers lay in wait for the old fisherman,and gave him a good scolding for his carelessness. The poor man wasprotesting his innocence when Boo, who was passing by, looked into thebasket, and asked what had become of his lob. A few questions broughtthe truth to light, and a general laugh put every one in good humor,when poor Boo mildly said, by way of explanation,--
"I fought I was helpin' Mrs. Dray, and I did want to see the dreen lobcome out all red when she boiled him. But I fordot, and I don't finkI'll ever find such a nice big one any more."
"For our sakes, I hope you won't, my dear," said Mrs. Hammond, who hadbeen nursing one of the sufferers.
"It's lucky we are going home to-morrow, or that child would be thedeath of himself and everybody else. He is perfectly crazy about fish,and I've pulled him out of that old lobster-pot on the beach a dozentimes," groaned Molly, much afflicted by the mishaps of her youngcharge.
There was a great breaking up next day, and the old omnibus went off tothe station with Bacon hanging on behind, the bicycle boy and hisiron whirligig atop, and heads popping out of all the windows for lastgood-byes. Our party and the Hammonds were going by boat, and were allready to start for the pier when Boo and little Harry were missing.Molly, the maid, and both boys ran different ways to find them; and allsorts of dreadful suggestions were being made when shouts of laughterwere heard from the beach, and the truants appeared, proudly draggingin Harry's little wagon a dead devil-fish, as the natives call that uglything which looks like a magnified tadpole--all head and no body.
"We've dot him!" called the innocents, tugging up their prize with suchsolemn satisfaction it was impossible to help laughing.
"I always wanted to tatch a whale, and this is a baby one, I fink. A boysaid, when they wanted to die they comed on the sand and did it, and wesaw this one go dead just now. Ain't he pretty?" asked Boo, displayingthe immense mouth with fond pride, while his friend flapped the tail.
"What are you going to do with him?" said Mrs. Hammond, regarding herinfant as if she often asked herself the same question about her boy.
"Wap him up in a paper and tate him home to pay wid," answered Harry,with such confidence in his big blue eyes that it was very hard todisappoint his hopes and tell him the treasure must be left behind.
Wails of despair burst from both children as the hard-hearted boystipped out the little whale, and hustled the indignant fishermen onboard the boat, which had been whistling for them impatiently. Boorecovered his spirits first, and gulping down a sob that nearly shookhis hat off, consoled his companion in affliction and convulsed hisfriends by taking from his pocket several little crabs, the remains ofa jelly-fish, and such a collection of pebbles that Frank understood whyhe found the fat boy such a burden when he shouldered him, kicking andhowling, in the late run to the boat. These delicate toys healed thewounds of Boo and Harry, and they were soon happily walking the little"trabs" about inside a stone wall of their own building, while theothers rested after their exertions, and laid plans for coming to theWillows another year, as people usually did who had once tasted thewholesome delights and cordial hospitality of this charming place.