They hardly expected an answer at noon , as the Hill people were not very eager for their mail , but at night Jill was sure of a letter , and to her great delight it came . Jack brought it himself , which added to the fun , and while she eagerly read it he sat calmly poring over the latest number of his own private and particular `` Youth 's Companion . '' Bob was not a `` complete letter-writer '' by any means , and with great labor and much ink had produced the following brief but highly satisfactory epistle . Not knowing how to address his fair correspondent he let it alone , and went at once to the point in the frankest possible way : -- `` Jack did come up Friday . Sorry he got into a mess . It was real kind of him , and I shall pay him back soon . Jack paid Jerry for me and I made him promise not to tell . Jerry said he 'd come here and make a row if I did n't cash up . I was afraid I 'd lose the place if he did , for the Capt. is awful strict . If Jack do n't tell now , I will . I ai n't mean . Glad you wrote . `` R.O.W. '' `` Hurrah ! '' cried Jill , waving the letter over her head in great triumph . `` Call everybody and read it out , '' she added , as Frank snatched it , and ran for his mother , seeing at a glance that the news was good . Jill was so afraid she should tell before the others came that she burst out singing `` Pretty Bobby Shafto '' at the top of her voice , to Jack 's great disgust , for he considered the song very personal , as he was rather fond of `` combing down his yellow hair , '' and Jill often plagued him by singing it when he came in with the golden quirls very smooth and nice to hide the scar on his forehead . In about five minutes the door flew open and in came Mamma , making straight for bewildered Jack , who thought the family had gone crazy when his parent caught him in her arms , saying tenderly , -- `` My good , generous boy ! I knew he was right all the time ! '' while Frank worked his hand up and down like a pump-handle , exclaiming heartily , -- `` You 're a trump , sir , and I 'm proud of you ! '' Jill meantime calling out , in wild delight , -- `` I told you so !
I XXXXX you so !
caught exclaiming hide let promise read saying tell thought told