Jane of Lantern Hill Read Online Free Page A

little cherry boughs and stick them all over your bed. They’re fresher than the roses…and think how lovely they’ll look in the moonlight.”
    â€œI’m scared to do that,” said the girl. “Miss West might be mad.”
    Again Jane felt a thrill of understanding. So this girl was afraid of people too.
    â€œWell, we’ll just climb up on that big bough that stretches out and sit there and admire it,” said Jane. “I suppose that won’t make Miss West mad, will it?”
    â€œI guess she won’t mind that. Of course she’s mad at me anyhow tonight because I stumbled with a tray of tumblers when I was waiting on the supper table and broke three of them. She said if I kept on like that…I spilled soup on Miss Thatcher’s silk dress last night…she’d have to send me away.”
    â€œWhere would she send you?”
    â€œI don’t know. I haven’t anywhere to go. But she says I’m not worth my salt and she’s only keeping me out of charity.”
    â€œWhat is your name?” asked Jane. They had scrambled up into the cherry tree as nimbly as pussy cats and its whiteness enclosed and enfolded them, shutting them away into a fragrant world all their own.
    â€œJosephine Turner. But everyone calls me Jody.”
    Jody! Jane liked that.
    â€œMine’s Jane Stuart.”
    â€œI thought it was Victoria,” said Jody. “Miss West said it was.”
    â€œIt’s Jane,” said Jane firmly. “At least it’s Jane Victoria but I am Jane. And now”…briskly…“let’s get acquainted.”
    Before Jane went back through the gap that night she knew practically all there was to be known about Jody. Jody’s father and mother were dead…had been dead ever since Jody was a baby. Jody’s mother’s cousin, who had been the cook at 58, had taken her and was permitted to keep her at 58 if she never let her out of the kitchen. Two years ago Cousin Millie had died and Jody had just “stayed on.” She helped the new cook…peeling potatoes, washing dishes, sweeping, dusting, running errands, scouring knives…and lately had been promoted to waiting on the table. She slept in a little attic cubby-hole which was hot in summer and cold in winter, she wore cast-off things the boarders gave her and went to school every day there was no extra rush. Nobody ever gave her a kind word or took any notice of her…except Dick, who was Miss West’s nephew and pet, and who teased and tormented her and called her “charity child.” Jody hated Dick. Once when everybody was out she had slipped into the parlor and picked out a little tune on the piano, but Dick had told Miss West and Jody had been sternly informed that she must never touch the piano again.
    â€œAnd I’d love to be able to play,” she said wistfully. “That and a garden’s the only things I want. I do wish I could have a garden.”
    Jane wondered again why things were so crisscross. She did not like playing on the piano, but grandmother had insisted on her taking music lessons and she practiced faithfully to please mother. And here was poor Jody, hankering for music and with no chance at all of getting it.
    â€œDon’t you think you could have a bit of a garden?” said Jane. “There’s plenty of room here and it’s not too shady, like our yard. I’d help you make a bed and I’m sure mother would give us some seeds…”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be any use,” said Jody drearily. “Dick would just stomp on it too.”
    â€œThen I’ll tell you,” said Jane resolutely, “we’ll get a seed catalog…Frank will get me one…and have an imaginary garden.”
    â€œAin’t you the one for thinking of things?” said Jody admiringly. Jane tasted happiness. It was the first time anyone had ever admired her.

CHAPTER 4
    Of course it was no