CHAPTER VI A CIRCULATING LIBRARY

Aftersupperthatnight,BabandBettysatintheoldporchplayingwithJosephusandBelinda,anddiscussingtheeventsofthedayfortheappearanceofthestrangeboyandhisdoghadbeenamostexcitingoccurrenceintheirquietlives.Theyhadseennothingofhimsincemorning,ashetookhismealsattheSquire's,andwasatworkwithPatinadistantfieldwhenthechildrenpassed.Sanchohadstuckcloselytohismaster,evidentlyratherbewilderedbytheneworderofthings,andboundtoseethatnoharmhappenedtoBen. "Iwishthey'dcome.It'ssundown,andIheardthecowsmooing,soIknowtheyhavegonehome,"saidBetty,impatientlyforsheregardedthenew-comerinthelightofanentertainingbook,andwishedtoreadonasfastaspossible. "I'mgoingtolearnthesignshemakeswhenhewantsSanchotodancethenwecanhavefunwithhimwheneverwelike.He'sthedearestdogIeversaw!"answeredBab,whowasfonderofanimalsthanhersister. "Masaid—Ow,what'sthat?"criedBettywithastart,assomethingbumpedagainstthegateoutsideandinamomentBen'sheadpeepedoverthetopasheswunghimselfuptotheironarch,inthemiddleofwhichwastheemptylanternframe. "Pleasetolocate,gentlemenpleasetolocate.TheperformanceisabouttobeginwiththegreatFlyin'Coopidact,inwhichMasterBloomsburyhasappearedbeforethecrownedheadsofEurope.Pronouncedbyallbeholdersthemostremarkableyouthfulprogidyagoin'.Hooray!hereweare!" HavingrattledoffthefamiliarspeechinMr.Smithers'selegantmanner,Benbegintocutupsuchcapersthatevenapartyofdignifiedhens,goingdowntheavenuetobed,pausedtolookonwithclucksofastonishment,evidentlyfancyingthatsalthadsethimtoflutteringandtumblingasitdidthem.Neverhadtheoldgatebeheldsuchantics,thoughithadseengaydoingsinitstimeforofalltheboyswhohadclimbedoverit,notonehadeverstoodonhisheaduponeachofthebigballswhichornamentedtheposts,hungbyhisheelsfromthearch,goneroundandroundlikeawheelwiththebarforanaxis,playedatattoowithhistoeswhileholdingonbyhischin,walkedaboutthewallonhishands,orclosedtheentertainmentbyfestooninghimselfinanairypostu