She cast a sidelong glance as she spoke , and seeing that Mrs. Minot was looking for the letter , hid her face and lay so still she could hear the rustle of the paper as it was taken from the floor . It was well she did not also see the quick look the lady gave her as she turned the letter and found a red stamp sticking to the under side , for this unlucky little witness told the story . Mrs. Minot remembered having seen the stamp lying close to the sofa when she left the room , for she had had half a mind to take it to Jack , but did not , thinking Frank 's plan had some advantages . She also recollected that a paper flew off the table , but being in haste she had not stopped to see what it was . Now , the stamp and the letter could hardly have come together without hands , for they lay a yard apart , and here , also , on the unwritten portion of the page , was the mark of a small green thumb . Jill had been winding wool for a stripe in her new afghan , and the green ball lay on her sofa . These signs suggested and confirmed what Mrs. Minot did not want to believe ; so did the voice , attitude , and air of Jill , all very unlike her usual open , alert ways . The kind lady could easily forgive the reading of her letter since the girl had found such sad news there , but the dangers of disobedience were serious in her case , and a glance showed that she was suffering either in mind or body -- perhaps both . `` I will wait for her to tell me . She is an honest child , and the truth will soon come out , '' thought Mrs. Minot , as she took a clean sheet , and Jill tried to study . `` Shall I hear your lesson , dear ? Jack means to recite his like a good boy , so suppose you follow his example , '' she said , presently . `` I do n't know as I can say it , but I 'll try . '' Jill did try , and got on bravely till she came to the word `` permanent ; '' there she hesitated , remembering where she saw it last . `` Do you know what that means ? '' asked her teacher , thinking to help her on by defining the word . `` Always -- for a great while -- or something like that ; does n't it ? '' faltered Jill , with a tight feeling in her throat , and the color coming up , as she tried to speak easily , yet felt so shame-stricken she could not . `` Are you in pain , my child ? Never mind the lesson ; tell me , and I 'll do something for you . ''
The kind words , the soft hand on her hot cheek , and the pity in the eyes that looked at her , were too much for XXXXX .
Frank Jack Jill Minot child color left paper something throat