CHAPTER IV HIS STORY

ostafraidtohavesuchawonderfullyintelligentanimalinthehouse.PraisesofhisdogpleasedBenmorethanpraisesofhimself,andwhentheconfusionhadsubsidedheentertainedhisaudiencewithalivelyaccountofSancho'scleverness,fidelity,andthevariousadventuresinwhichhehadnoblybornehispart. Whilehetalked,Mrs.Mosswasmakinguphermindabouthim,andwhenhecametoanendofhisdog'sperfections,shesaid,gravely,— "IfIcanfindsomethingforyoutodo,wouldyouliketostayhereawhile?" "Oh,yes,ma'am,I'dbegladto!"answeredBen,eagerlyfortheplaceseemedhome-likealready,andthegoodwomanalmostasmotherlyasthedepartedMrs.Smithers. "Well,I'llstepovertotheSquire'sto-morrowtoseewhathesays.Shouldn'twonderifhe'dtakeyouforachore-boy,ifyouareassmartasyousay.Healwayshasoneinthesummer,andIhaven'tseenanyroundyet.Canyoudrivecows?" "Hopeso"andBengaveashrug,asifitwasaveryunnecessaryquestiontoputtoapersonwhohaddrivenfourcalicoponiesinagildedchariot. "Itmayn'tbeaslivelyasridingelephantsandplayingwithbears,butitisrespectableandIguessyou'llbehappierswitchingBrindleandButtercupthanbeingswitchedyourself,"saidMrs.Moss,shakingherheadathimwithasmile. "IguessIwill,ma'am,"answeredBen,withsuddenmeekness,rememberingthetrialsfromwhichhehadescaped. Verysoonafterthis,hewassentoffforagoodnight'ssleepinthebackbedroom,withSanchotowatchoverhim.ButbothfounditdifficulttoslumbertilltheracketoverheadsubsidedforBabinsistedonplayingshewasabearanddevouringpoorBetty,inspiteofherwails,tilltheirmothercameupandputanendtoitbythreateningtosendBenandhisdogawayinthemorning,ifthegirls"didn'tbehaveandbeasstillasmice." Thistheysolemnlypromisedandtheyweresoondreamingofgildedcarsandmouldycoaches,runawayboysanddinner-pails,dancingdogsandtwirlingteacups.