Louisa May Alcott

Jack and Jill Louisa May Alcott

Jack and Jill never cared to say much about the night which followed the first coastingparty of the season, for it was the saddest and the hardest their short lives had ever known. Jack suffered most in body; for the setting of the broken leg was such a painful job, that itwrung several sharp cries from him, and made Frank, who helped, quite weak and whitewith sympathy, when it was over. The wounded head ached dreadfully, and the poor boyfelt as if bruised all over, for he had the worst of the fall. Dr. Whiting spoke cheerfully of thecase, and made so light of broken legs, that Jack innocently asked if he should not be up in aweek or so."Well, no; it usually takes twenty-one days for bones to knit, and young ones make quickwork of it," answered the doctor, with a last scientific tuck to the various bandages, whichmade Jack feel like a hapless chicken trussed for the spit."Twenty-one days! Three whole weeks in bed! I shouldn't call that quick work," groanedthe dismayed patient, whose experience of illness had been limited."It is a forty days' job, young man, and you must make up your mind to bear it like a hero. We will do our best; but next time, look before you leap, and save your bones. Good-night;you'll feel better in the morning. No jigs, remember;" and off went the busy doctor foranother look at Jill, who had been ordered to bed and left to rest till the other case wasattended to. Any one would have thought Jack's plight much the worse, but the doctor looked moresober over Jill's hurt back than the boy's compound fractures; and the poor little girl had avery bad quarter of an hour while he was trying to discover the extent of the injury."Keep her quiet, and time will show how much damage is done," was all he said in herhearing; but if she had known that he told Mrs. Pecq he feared serious consequences, shewould not have wondered why her mother cried as she rubbed the numb limbs and placedthe pillows so tenderly.