CHAPTER V BEN GETS A PLACE

s,andmules,andsixyellowponiesalltooncet.MaybeIcouldmanagecowsifItriedhard,"answeredBen,endeavoringtobemeekandrespectfulwhenscornfilledhissoulattheideaofnotbeingabletodriveacow. TheSquirelikedhimallthebetterforthedrollmixtureofindignationandamusementbetrayedbythefireinhiseyesandtheslysmileroundhislipsandbeingrathertickledbyBen'slistofanimals,heansweredgravely,— "Don'traiseelephantsandcamelsmuchroundhere.Bearsusedtobeplenty,butfolksgottiredofthem.Mulesarenumerous,butwehavethetwo-leggedkindandasageneralthingpreferShanghaefowlstoostriches." Hegotnofarther,forBenlaughedoutsoinfectiouslythatboththeothersjoinedhimandsomehowthatjollylaughseemedtosettlemattersthanwords.Astheystopped,theSquiretappedonthewindowbehindhim,saying,withanattemptattheformergruffness,— "We'lltryyouoncowsawhile.Mymanwillshowyouwheretodrivethem,andgiveyousomeoddjobsthroughtheday.I'llseewhatyouaregoodfor,andsendyouwordto-night,Mrs.Moss.Theboycansleepatyourhouse,can'the?" "Yes,indeed,sir.Hecangoondoingit,andcomeuptohisworkjustaswellasnot.Icanseetohimthen,andhewon'tbeacaretoanyone,"saidMrs.Moss,heartily. "I'llmakeinquiriesconcerningyourfather,boymeantimemindwhatyouareabout,andhaveagoodreporttogivewhenhecomesforyou,"returnedtheSquire,withawarningwagofasternfore-finger. "Thanky',sir.Iwill,sir.Father'llcomejustassoonashecan,ifheisn'tsickorlost,"murmuredBen,inwardlythankinghisstarsthathehadnotdoneanythingtomakehimquakebeforethatawfulfinger,andresolvedthatheneverwould. Hereared-headedIrishmancametothedoor,andstoodeyingtheboywithsmallfavorwhiletheSquiregavehisorders. "Pat,thisladwantswork.He'stotakethecowsandgoforthem.Givehimanylightjobsyouhave,andletmeknowifhe'sgoodforanything." "Yis,yourhonor.Comeouto'this,b'y,tillIshowyethebastes,"respondedPatand,withahastygood-bytoMrs.Moss,Benfollowedhisnewleader,sorelytemptedtoplaysomenaughtytrickuponhiminreturnforhisungraciousreception. ButinamomentheforgotthatPatexisted,forintheyardstoodtheDukeofWellington,sonamedinhonorofhisRomannose.IfBenhadknownanythingaboutShakespeare,hewouldhavecried,"Ahorse,ahorse!mykingdomforahorse!"forthefeelingwasinhisheart,andheranuptothestatelyanimalwithoutafear.Dukeputbackhisearsandswishedhistailasifdispleasedforamo