CHAPTER XV BEN'S RIDE

GreatwasthemourningforSancho,becausehistalentsandvirtuesmadehimuniversallyadmiredandbeloved.MissCeliaadvertised,Thornyofferedrewards,andevensurlyPatkeptasharplook-outforpoodledogswhenhewenttomarketbutnoSanchooranytraceofhimappeared.Benwasinconsolable,andsternlysaiditservedBabrightwhenthedogwoodpoisonaffectedbothfaceandhands.PoorBabthoughtso,too,anddaredasknosympathyfromhim,thoughThornyeagerlyprescribedplantainleaves,andBettykepthersuppliedwithanendlesssuccessionofthemsteepedincreamandpityingtears.Thistreatmentwassosuccessfulthatthepatientsoontookherplaceinsocietyaswellasever,butforBen'safflictiontherewasnocure,andtheboyreallysufferedinhisspirits. "Idon'tthinkit'sfairthatIshouldhavesomuchtrouble,—firstlosingfatherandthenSanch.Ifitwasn'tforLitaandMissCelia,Idon'tbelieveIcouldstandit,"hesaid,oneday,inafitofdespair,aboutaweekafterthesadevent. "Oh,comenow,don'tgiveupso,oldfellow.We'llfindhimifhesalive,andifheisn'tI'lltryandgetyouanotherasgood,"answeredThorny,withafriendlyslapontheshoulder,asBensatdisconsolatelyamongthebeanshehadbeenhoeing. "Asifthereevercouldbeanotherhalfasgood!"criedBen,indignantattheidea"orasifI'devertrytofillhisplacewiththebestandbiggestdogthateverwaggedatail!No,sir,there'sonlyoneSanchinalltheworld,andifIcan'thavehimI'llneverhaveadogagain." "Trysomeothersortofpet,then.Youmayhaveanyofmineyoulike.Havethepeacocksdonow,"urgedThorny,fullofboyishsympathyandgood-will. "Theyaredreadfulpretty,butIdon'tseemtocareaboutem,thankyou,"repliedthemourner. "Havetherabbits,allofthem,"whichwasahandsomeofferonThorny'spart,fortherewereadozenatleast. "Theydon'tloveafellowasadogdoesalltheycareforisstufftoeatanddirttoburrowin.I'msickofrabbits."Andwellhemightbe,forhehadhadthechargeofthemeversincetheycame,andanyboywhohaseverkeptbunniesknowswhatacaretheyare. "SoamI!Guesswe'llhaveanauctionandsellout.WouldJackbeacomforttoyou?Ifhewill,youmayhavehim.I'msowellnow,Icanwalk,orrideanything,"addedThorny,inaburstofgenerosity. "Jackcouldn'tbewithmealways,asSanchwas,andIcouldn'tkeephimifIhadhim." Bentriedtobegrateful,butnothingshortofLitawouldhavehealedhiswoundedheart,andshewasnotThorny'stogive,orhewouldprobablyhaveofferedhertohisafflictedfriend. "Well,no,youcouldn'ttakeJacktobedwithyou,orkeephimupinyourroom,andI'mafraidheWouldneverlearntodoanythingclever.IdowishIhadsomethingyouwanted,I'dsolovetogiveittoyou." HespokesoheartilyandwassokindthatBenlookedup,feelingthathehadgivenhimoneofthesweetestthingsintheworld—friendshiphewantedtotellhimso,butdidnotknowhowtodoit,socaughtuphishoeandfelltowork,saying,inatoneThornyunderstoodbetterthanwords,— "Youarerealgoodtome-nevermind,Iwon'tworryaboutitonlyitseemsextrahardcomingsosoonaftertheother—" Hestoppedthere,andabrightdropfellonthebeanleaves,toshinelikedewtillBensawclearlyenoughtoburyitoutofsightinagreatflurry. "ByJove!I'llfindthatdog,ifheisoutoftheground.Keepyourspiritsup,mylad,andwe'llhavethedearoldfellowbackyet." WithwhichcheeringprophecyThornywentofftorackhisbrainsastowhatcouldbedoneaboutthematter. Halfanhourafterward,thesoundofahand-organintheavenuerousedhimfromthebrownstudyintowhichhehadfallenashelayonthenewlymowngrassofthelawn.Peepingoverthewall,Thornyreconnoitred,and,findingtheorganagoodone,themanapleasant-facedItalian,andthemonkeyalivelyanimal,heorderedthemallin,asadelicateattentiontoBen,formusicandmonkeytogethermightsuggestsoothingmemoriesofthepast,andsobeacomfort. IntheycamebywayoftheLodge,escortedbyBabandBetty,fullofglee,forhand-organswererareinthoseparts,andthechildrendelightedinthem.Smilingtillhiswhiteteethshoneandhisblackeyessparkled,themanplayedawaywhilethemonkeymadehispatheticlittlebows,andpickedupthepenniesThornythrewhim. "Itiswarm,andyoulooktired.SitdownandI'llgetyousomedinner,"saidtheyoungmaster,pointingtotheseatwhichnowstoodnearthegreatgate. WiththanksinbrokenEnglishthemangladlyobeyed,andBenbeggedtobeallowedtomakeJackoequallycomfortable,explainingthatheknewallaboutmonkeysandwhattheyliked.Sothepoorthingwasfreedfromhiscockedhatanduniform,fedwithbreadandmilk,andallowedtocurlhims