So Ralph came often , and in times of trouble was a real rainy-day friend . Jack grew very fond of him during his imprisonment , for the good youth ran in every evening to get commissions , amuse the boy with droll accounts of the day 's adventures , or invent lifts , bed-tables , and foot-rests for the impatient invalid . Frank found him a sure guide through the mechanical mysteries which he loved , and spent many a useful half-hour discussing cylinders , pistons , valves , and balance-wheels . Jill also came in for her share of care and comfort ; the poor little back lay all the easier for the air-cushion Ralph got her , and the weary headaches found relief from the spray atomizer , which softly distilled its scented dew on the hot forehead till she fell asleep . Round the beds of Jack and Jill met and mingled the schoolmates of whom our story treats . Never , probably , did invalids have gayer times than our two , after a week of solitary confinement ; for school gossip crept in , games could not be prevented , and Christmas secrets were concocted in those rooms till they were regular conspirators ' dens , when they were not little Bedlams . After the horn and bead labors were over , the stringing of pop-corn on red , and cranberries on white , threads , came next , and Jack and Jill often looked like a new kind of spider in the pretty webs hung about them , till reeled off to bide their time in the Christmas closet . Paper flowers followed , and gay garlands and bouquets blossomed , regardless of the snow and frost without . Then there was a great scribbling of names , verses , and notes to accompany the steadily increasing store of odd parcels which were collected at the Minots ' , for gifts from every one were to ornament the tree , and contributions poured in as the day drew near . But the secret which most excited the young people was the deep mystery of certain proceedings at the Minot house . No one but Frank , Ralph , and Mamma knew what it was , and the two boys nearly drove the others distracted by the tantalizing way in which they hinted at joys to come , talked strangely about birds , went measuring round with foot-rules , and shut themselves up in the Boys ' Den , as a certain large room was called . This seemed to be the centre of operations , but beyond the fact of the promised tree no ray of light was permitted to pass the jealously guarded doors . Strange men with paste-pots and ladders went in , furniture was dragged about , and all sorts of boyish lumber was sent up garret and down cellar . Mrs. Minot was seen pondering over heaps of green stuff , hammering was heard , singular bundles were smuggled upstairs , flowering plants betrayed their presence by whiffs of fragrance when the door was opened , and Mrs. Pecq was caught smiling all by herself in a back bedroom , which usually was shut up in winter . `` They are going to have a play , after all , and that green stuff was the curtain , '' said Molly Loo , as the girls talked it over one day , when they sat with their backs turned to one another , putting last stitches in certain bits of work which had to be concealed from all eyes , though it was found convenient to ask one another 's taste as to the color , materials , and sizes of these mysterious articles . `` I think it is going to be a dance . I heard the boys doing their steps when I went in last evening to find out whether Jack liked blue or yellow best , so I could put the bow on his pen-wiper , '' declared Merry , knitting briskly away at the last of the pair of pretty white bed-socks she was making for Jill right under her inquisitive little nose . `` They would n't have a party of that kind without Jack and me . It is only an extra nice tree , you see if it is n't , '' answered Jill from behind the pillows which made a temporary screen to hide the toilet mats she was preparing for all her friends . `` Every one of you is wrong , and you 'd better rest easy , for you wo n't find out the best part of it , try as you may . ''
And Mrs. XXXXX actually chuckled as she , too , worked away at some bits of muslin , with her back turned to the very unsocial-looking group .
Jack Jill Pecq Ralph balance-wheels bed-socks centre day garret webs