`` 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 would n'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 , do n'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 do n'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 is n't our fault : it is the late spring . We ca n't make flowers , can we ? '' asked Frank , in a tone of calm resignation . `` Could n'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 . It 's a shame ! ''
lamented Jill , while Merry began to thin out her full baskets to XXXXX the empty ones .
chuckled cried fill look producing said scream smoothing spent stems