CHAPTER V BEN GETS A PLACE

WhenBenawokenextmorning,helookedabouthimforamomenthalfbewildered,becausetherewasneitheracanvastent,abarnroof,northeblueskyabovehim,butaneatwhiteceiling,whereseveralfliesbuzzedsociablytogether,whilefromwithoutcame,notthetrampingofhorses,thetwitterofswallows,orthechirpofearlybirds,butthecomfortablecackleofhensandthesoundoftwolittlevoiceschantingthemultiplicationtable. Sanchosatattheopenwindow,watchingtheoldcatwashherface,andtryingtoimitateherwithhisgreatruffledpaw,soawkwardlythatBenlaughedandSanch,tohidehisconfusionatbeingcaught,madeoneboundfromchairtobed,andlickedhismaster'sfacesoenergeticallythattheboydivedunderthebedclothestoescapefromtheroughtongue.Araponthefloorfrombelowmadebothjumpup,andintenminutesashiny-facedladandalivelydogwentracingdownstairs,—onetosay,"Good-mornin',ma'am,"theothertowaghistailfasterthanevertailwaggedbefore,forhamfrizzledonthestove,andSanchowasfondofit. "Didyourestwell?"askedMrs.Moss,noddingathim,forkinhand. "GuessIdid!Neversawsuchabed.I'musedtohayandahorse-blanket,andlatelynothin'butskyforacoverandgrassformyfeather-bed,"laughedBen,gratefulforpresentcomfortsandmakinglightofpasthardships. "Clean,sweetcorn-husksain'tbadforyoungbones,eveniftheyhaven'tgotmorefleshonthemthanyourshave,"answeredMrs.Moss,givingthesmoothheadamotherlystrokeasshewentby. "Fatain'tallowedinourprofession,ma'am.Thethinnerthebetterfortight-ropesandtumblin'likewisebarebackridin'andspryjugglin'.Muscle'sthething,andthereyouare." Benstretchedoutawirylittlearmwithaclenchedfistattheendofit,asifhewereayoungHercules,readytoplayballwiththestoveifshegavehimleave.Gladtoseehiminsuchgoodspirits,shepointedtothewelloutside,sayingpleasantly,— "Well,then,justtryyourmusclebybringinginsomefreshwater." Bencaughtupapailandranoff,readytobeusefulbut,whilehewaitedforthebuckettofilldownamongthemossystones,helookedabouthim,wellpleasedwithallhesaw,—thesmallbrownhousewithaprettycurlofsmokerisingfromitschimney,thelittlesisterssittinginthesunshine,greenhillsandnewly-plantedfieldsfarandnear,abrookdancingthroughtheorchard,birdssingingintheelmavenue,andalltheworldasfreshandlovelyasearlysummercouldmakeit. "Don'tyouthinkit'sprettynicehere?"askedBab,ashiseyecamebacktothemafteralonglook,whi