Isn't it nice that I'm not to be a poor Lucinda after all ?" and Jill drew a long sigh of relief that six months instead of twenty years would probably be the end of her captivity.
"Yes, thank Heaven! I don't think I _could_ have borne that;" and the mother took Jill in her arms as if she were a baby, holding her close for a minute, and laying her down with a tender kiss that made the arms cling about her neck as her little girl returned it heartily, for all sorts of new, sweet feelings seemed to be budding in both, born of great joy and thankfulness.
Then Mrs.Pecq hurried away to see about tea for the hungry boys, and Jill watched the pleasant twilight deepen as she lay singing to herself one of the songs her friend taught her because it fitted her so well.
"A little bird I am, Shut from the fields of air, And in my cage I sit and sing To Him who placed me there: Well pleased a prisoner to be, Because, my God, it pleases Thee! "Naught have I else to do; I sing the whole day long; And He whom most I love to please Doth listen to my song, He caught and bound my wandering wing, But still He bends to hear me sing." "Now we are ready for you, so bring on your flowers," said Molly to the boys, as she and Merry added their store of baskets to the gay show Jill had set forth on the long table ready for the evening's work.
"They wouldn't let me see one, but I guess they have had good luck, they look so jolly," answered Jill, looking at Gus, Frank, and Jack, who stood laughing, each with a large basket in his hands.
"Fair to middling.

Just look in and see;" with which cheerful remark Gus tipped up his basket and displayed a few bits of green at the bottom.
"I did better.

Now, don't all scream at once over these beauties;" and Frank shook out some evergreen sprigs, half a dozen saxifrages, and two or three forlorn violets with hardly any stems.
"I don't brag, but here's the best of all the three," chuckled Jack, producing a bunch of feathery carrot-tops, with a few half-shut dandelions trying to look brave and gay.
"Oh, boys, is that all ?" "What _shall_ we do ?" "We've only a few house-flowers, and all those baskets to fill," cried the girls, in despair; for Merry's contribution had been small, and Molly had only a handful of artificial flowers "to fill up," she said.
"It isn't our fault: it is the late spring.

We can't make flowers, can we ?" asked Frank, in a tone of calm resignation.
"Couldn't you buy some, then ?" said Molly, smoothing her crumpled morning-glories, with a sigh.
"Who ever heard of a fellow having any money left the last day of the month ?" demanded Gus, severely.
"Or girls either.

I spent all mine in ribbon and paper for my baskets, and now they are of no use.