CHAPTER XV BEN'S RIDE

dadozenvoicesasked,"Who'skilled?"ashepulledupatthedoctor'sgate. "JestdroveoffthatwayMrs.Flynn'sbaby'sinafit,"criedastoutladyfromthepiazza,neverceasingtorock,thoughseveralpassers-bypausedtohearthenews,forshewasadoctor'swife,andusedtothearrivalofexcitedmessengersfromallquartersatallhoursofthedayandnight. Deigningnoreplytoanyone,Benrodeaway,wishinghecouldleapayawninggulf,scaleaprecipice,orfordaragingtorrent,toprovehisdevotiontoMissCelia,andhisskillinhorsemanship.Butnodangersbesethispath,andhefoundthedoctorpausingtowaterhistiredhorseattheverytroughwhereBabandSanchohadbeendiscoveredonthatever-memorableday.Thestorywasquicklytold,and,promisingtobethereassoonaspossible,Dr.MillsdroveontorelievebabyFlynn'sinnerman,alittledisturbedbyabitofsoapandseveralbuttons,uponwhichhehadprivatelylunchedwhilehismammawasbusyatthewash-tub. Benthankedhisstars,ashehadalreadydonemorethanonce,thatheknewhowtotakecareofahorseforhedelayedbythewatering-placelongenoughtowashoutLita'smouthwithahandfulofwetgrass,toletherhaveoneswallowtoclearherdustythroat,andthenwentslowlybackoverthebreezyhills,pattingandpraisingthegoodcreatureforherintelligenceandspeed.Sheknewwellenoughthatshehadbeenacleverlittlemare,andtossedherhead,archedherglossyneck,andambleddaintilyalong,asconsciousandcoquettishasaprettywoman,lookingroundatheradmiringridertoreturnhiscomplimentsbyglanceofaffection,andcaressingsniffsofavelvetnoseathisbarefeet. MissCeliahadbeenlaidcomfortablyinbedbythefarmer'swifeanddaughterand,whenthedoctorarrived,borethesettingofherarmbravely.Nootherseriousdamageappeared,andbruisessoonheal,soBenwassenthometocomfortThornywithagoodreport,andasktheSquiretodriveupinhisbigcarry-allforherthenextday,ifshewasabletobemoved. Mrs.Mosshadbeenwiseenoughtosaynothing,butquietlymadewhatpreparationsshecould,andwaitedfortidings.BabandBettywereawayberrying,sonoonehadalarmedThorny,andhehadhisafternoonnapinpeace,—anunusuallylongone,owingtothestillnesswhichprevailedintheabsenceofthechildrenandwhenheawokehelayreadingforawhilebeforehebegantowonderwhereeveryonewas.Loungingouttosee,hefoundBenandLitareposingsidebysideonthefreshstrawintheloosebox,whichhadbeenmadeforherinthecoach-house.Bythepails,spongesandcurry-combslyingabout,itwasevidentthatshehadbeenrefreshedbyacarefulwashingandrubbingdown,andmyladywasnowluxuriouslyrestingafterherlabors,withherdevotedgroomhalfasleepcloseby. "Well,ofallqueerboysyouarethequeerest,tospendthishotafternoonfussingoverLita,justforthefunofit!"criedThorny,lookinginatthemwithmuchamusement. "Ifyouknewwhatwe'dbeendoing,you'dthinkIoughttofussoverher,andbothofushadarighttorest!"answeredBen,rousingupasbrightasabuttonforhelongedtotellhisthrillingtale,andhadwithdifficultybeenrestrainedfromburstinginonThornyassoonashearrived. Hemadeshortworkofthestory,butwasquitesatisfiedwiththesensationitproducedforhislistenerwasstartled,relieved,excitedandcharmed,insuchrapidsuccession,thathewasobligedtosituponthemeal-chestandgethisbreathbeforeheCouldexclaim,withanemphaticdemonstrationofhisheelsagainstthebin,— "BenBrown,I'llneverforgetwhatyou'vedoneforCeliathisday,orsay'bow-legs'againaslongasIlive." "George!IfeltasifIhadsixlegswhenweweregoingthepace.Wewereallonepiece,andhadajollyspin,didn'twe,mybeauty?"andBenchuckledashetookLita'sheadinhislap,whilesheansweredwithagustysighthatnearlyblewhimaway. "LikethefellowthatbroughtthegoodnewsfromGhenttoAix,"saidThorny,surveyingtherecumbentpairwithgreatadmiration. "Whatfollow?"askedBen,wonderingifhedidn'tmeanSheridan,ofwhoseridehehadheard. "Don'tyouknowthatpiece?Ispokeitatschool.Giveittoyounowseeifitisn'tarouser." And,gladtofindaventfromhisexcitement,Thornymountedthemeal-chest,tothunderoutthatstirringballadwithsuchspiritthatLitaprickedupherearsandBengaveashrill"Hooray!"asthelastverseended. "AndallIrememberisfriendsflockinground, AsIsatwithhishead'twixtmykneesontheground, AndnovoicebutwaspraisingthisRolandofmine, AsIpoureddownhisthroatourlastmeasureofwine, Which(theburgessesvotedbycommonconsent) WasnomorethanhisduewhobroughtgoodnewsfromGhent."