`` Only Jack ; '' and Jill 's laugh was good to hear , as she glanced up with merry , yet wistful eyes . `` You are right . We 'll have him in at once , or he will come hopping on one leg ; '' and away hurried his mother , laughing , too , for whistles , shouts , thumps , and violent demonstrations of all kinds had been heard from the room where Jack was raging with impatience , while he waited for his share of the surprise . Jill could hardly lie still when she heard the roll of another chair-bed coming down the hall , its passage enlivened with cries of `` Starboard ! Port ! Easy now ! Pull away ! '' from Ralph and Frank , as they steered the recumbent Columbus on his first voyage of discovery . `` Well , I call that handsome ! '' was Jack 's exclamation , when the full beauty of the scene burst upon his view . Then he forgot all about it and gave a whoop of pleasure , for there beside the fire was an eager face , two hands beckoning , and Jill 's voice crying , joyfully , -- `` I 'm here ! I 'm here ! Oh , do come , quick ! '' Down the long room rattled the chair , Jack cheering all the way , and brought up beside the other one , as the long-parted friends exclaimed , with one accord , -- `` Is n't this jolly ! '' It certainly did look so , for Ralph and Frank danced a wild sort of fandango round the tree , Dr. Whiting stood and laughed , while the two mothers beamed from the door-way , and the children , not knowing whether to laugh or to cry , compromised the matter by clapping their hands and shouting , `` Merry Christmas to everybody ! '' like a pair of little maniacs . Then they all sobered down , and the busy ones went off to the various duties of the day , leaving the young invalids to repose and enjoy themselves together . `` How nice you look , '' said Jill , when they had duly admired the pretty room . `` So do you , '' gallantly returned Jack , as he surveyed her with unusual interest . They did look very nice , though happiness was the principal beautifier .
XXXXX wore a red wrapper , with the most brilliant of all the necklaces sparkling at her throat , over a nicely crimped frill her mother had made in honor of the day .
Columbus Frank Jack Jill beautifier fandango fire first right whistles