She thought she could , as the sofa was near and she had improved so much that she could sit up a little if the doctor would have let her . She was gathering herself together for the effort , when , within arm 's reach now , she saw the tempting paper , and seized it with glee , for in spite of her predicament she did want to tease Frank . A glance showed that it was not the composition nor a note , but the beginning of a letter from Mrs. Minot to her sister , and Jill was about to lay it down when her own name caught her eye , and she could not resist reading it . Hard words to write of one so young , doubly hard to read , and impossible to forget . `` Dear Lizzie , -- Jack continues to do very well , and will soon be up again . But we begin to fear that the little girl is permanently injured in the back . She is here , and we do our best for her ; but I never look at her without thinking of Lucinda Snow , who , you remember , was bedridden for twenty years , owing to a fall at fifteen . Poor little Janey does not know yet , and I hope '' -- There it ended , and `` poor little Janey 's '' punishment for disobedience began that instant . She thought she was getting well because she did not suffer all the time , and every one spoke cheerfully about `` by and by . '' Now she knew the truth , and shut her eyes with a shiver as she said , low , to herself , -- `` Twenty years ! I could n't bear it ; oh , I could n't bear it ! '' A very miserable Jill lay on the floor , and for a while did not care who came and found her ; then the last words of the letter -- `` I hope '' -- seemed to shine across the blackness of the dreadful `` twenty years '' and cheer her up a bit , for despair never lives long in young hearts , and Jill was a brave child . `` That is why Mammy sighs so when she dresses me , and every one is so good to me . Perhaps Mrs. Minot does n't really know , after all . She was dreadfully scared about Jack , and he is getting well . I 'd like to ask Doctor , but he might find out about the letter . Oh , dear , why did n't I keep still and let the horrid thing alone ! '' As she thought that , Jill pushed the paper away , pulled herself up , and with much painful effort managed to get back to her sofa , where she laid herself down with a groan , feeling as if the twenty years had already passed over her since she tumbled off . `` I 've told a lie , for I said I would n't stir . I 've hurt my back , I 've done a mean thing , and I 've got paid for it .
A nice missionary I am ; I 'd better begin at home , as Mammy told me to ; '' and XXXXX groaned again , remembering her mother 's words .
Doctor Frank Jack Janey Jill Lizzie Mammy Minot Snow years