CHAPTER V BEN GETS A PLACE

chseemedtotakeineverything,brighteningasitroved. "Justthenicestplacethateverwas.Onlyneedsahorseroundsomewheretobecomplete,"answeredBen,asthelongwell-sweepcameupwithadrippingbucketatoneend,anoldgrindstoneattheother. "Thejudgehasthree,buthe'ssofussyaboutthemhewon'tevenletuspullafewhairsoutofoldMajor'stailtomakeringsof,"saidBetty,shuttingherarithmetic,withaninjuredexpression. "Mikeletsmeridethewhiteonetowaterwhenthejudgeisn'tround.It'ssuchfuntogojouncingdownthelaneandback.Idolovehorses!"criedBab,bobbingupanddownonthebluebenchtoimitatethemotionofwhiteJenny. "Iguessyouareapluckysortofagirl,"andBengaveheranapprovinglookashewentby,takingcaretoslopalittlewateronMrs.Puss,whostoodcurlingherwhiskersandhumpingupherbackatSancho. "Cometobreakfast!"calledMrs.Mossandforabouttwentyminuteslittlewassaid,asmushandmilkvanishedinawaythatwouldhaveastonishedevenJacktheGiant-killerwithhisleatherbag. "Now,girls,flyroundandgetyourchoresdoneupBen,yougochopmesomekindlingsandI'llmakethingstidy.Thenwecanallstartoffatonce,"saidMrs.Moss,asthelastmouthfulvanished,andSancholickedhislipsoverthesavoryscrapsthatfelltohisshare. BenfelltochoppingsovigorouslythatchipsflewwildlyallabouttheshedBabrattledthecupsintoherdish-panwithdangeroushaste,andBettyraisedacloudofdust"sweeping-up"whilemotherseemedtobeeverywhereatonce.EvenSanch,feelingthathisfatewasatstake,endeavoredtohelpinhisownsomewhaterraticway,—nowfriskingaboutBenattheriskofgettinghistailchoppedoff,thentrottingawaytopokehisinquisitivenoseintoeveryclosetandroomwhitherhefollowedMrs.Mossinher"flyinground"evolutionsnextdraggingoffthematsoBettycouldbrushthedoor-steps,orinspectingBab'sdish-washingbystandingonhishind-legstosurveythetablewithacriticalair.Whentheydrovehimouthewasnottheleastoffended,butgaylybarkedPussupatree,chasedallthehensoverthefence,andcarefullyinterredanoldshoeinthegarden,wheretheremainsofthemutton-bonewerealreadyburied. Bythetimetheotherswereready,hehadworkedoffhissuperfluousspirits,andtrottedbehindthepartylikeawell-behaveddogaccustomedtogooutwalkingwithladies.Atthecross-roadstheyseparated,thelittlegirlsrunningontoschool,whileMrs.MossandBenwentuptotheSquire'sbighouseonthehill. "Don'tyoubescared,child.I'LLmakeitallright