I thought he was in fun; did he really mean I could go ?" asked Jill, expecting too much, for a word of encouragement made her as hopeful as she had been despondent before.
"No, dear, not so soon as that.

It will be months, probably, before you can walk and run, as you used to; but they will soon pass.

You needn't mind about May-day; it is always too cold for flowers, and you will find more here among your own plants, than on the hills, to fill your baskets," answered Mrs.Minot, hastening to suggest something pleasant to beguile the time of probation.
"I can wait.

Months are not years, and if I'm truly getting well, everything will seem beautiful and easy to me," said Jill, laying herself down again, with the patient look she had learned to wear, and gathering up the scattered carnations to enjoy their spicy breath, as if the fairies hidden there had taught her some of their sweet secrets.
"Dear little girl, it has been a long, hard trial for you, but it is coming to an end, and I think you will find that it has not been time wasted, I don't want you to be a saint quite yet, but I am sure a gentler Jill will rise up from that sofa than the one who lay down there in December." "How could I help growing better, when you were so good to me ?" cried Jill, putting up both arms, as Mrs.Minot went to take Frank's place, and he retired to the fire, there to stand surveying the scene with calm approval.
"You have done quite as much for us; so we are even.

I proved that to your mother, and she is going to let the little house and take care of the big one for me, while I borrow you to keep me happy and make the boys gentle and kind.