CHAPTER XVI DETECTIVE THORNTON

Afewdayslater,MissCeliawasabletogoaboutwithherarminasling,palestill,andratherstiff,butsomuchbetterthananyoneexpected,thatallagreedMr.PainewasrightinpronouncingDr.Mills"amasterhandwithbrokenbones."Twodevotedlittlemaidswaitedonher,twoeagerpagesstoodreadytorunhererrands,andfriendlyneighborssentindelicaciesenoughtokeepthesefouryoungpersonsbusilyemployedindisposingofthem. EveryafternoonthegreatbambooloungingchairwasbroughtoutandtheinterestinginvalidconductedtoitbystoutRanda,whowasheadnurse,andfollowedbyatrainofshawl,cushion,foot-stoolandbookbearers,whobuzzedaboutlikeswarmingbeesroundanewqueen.Whenallweresettled,thelittlemaidssewedandthepagesreadaloud,withmuchconversationbythewayforoneoftheruleswas,thatallshouldlistenattentively,andifanyonedidnotunderstandwhatwasread,heorsheshouldasktohaveitexplainedonthespot.Whoevercouldanswerwasinvitedtodoso,andattheendofthereadingMissCeliacouldaskanysheliked,oraddanyexplanationswhichseemednecessary.InthiswaymuchpleasureandprofitwasextractedfromthetalesBenandThornyread,andmuchunexpectedknowledgeaswellasignorancedisplayed,nottomentionpilesofneatlyhemmedtowelsforwhichBabandBettywerepaidlikeregularsewing-women. Sovacationwasnotallplay,andthegirlsfoundtheirpicnics,berryparties,and"goin'avisitin',"allthemoreagreeableforthequiethourspentwithMissCelia.Thornyhadimprovedwonderfully,andwasgettingtobequiteenergetic,especiallysincehissister'saccidentforwhileshewaslaiduphewastheheadofthehouse,andmuchenjoyedhispromotion.ButBendidnotseemtoflourishashehaddoneatfirst.ThelossofSanchopreyeduponhimsadly,andthelongingtogoandfindhisdoggrewintosuchastrongtemptationthathecouldhardlyresistit.Hesaidlittleaboutitbutnow,andthenawordescapedhimwhichmighthaveenlightenedanyonewhochancedtobewatchinghim.Noonewas,justthen,sohebroodedoverthisfancy,daybyday,insilenceandsolitude,fortherewasnoridinganddrivingnow.Thornywasbusywithhissistertryingtoshowherthatherememberedhowgoodshehadbeentohimwhenhewasill,andthelittlegirlshadtheirownaffairs. MissCeliawasthefirsttoobservethechange,havingnothingtodobutlieonthesofaandamuseherselfbyseeingothersworkorplay.Benwasbrightenoughatthereadings,becausethenheforgothistroublesbutwhentheywereoverandhisvariousdutiesdone,hewenttohisownroomorsoughtconsolationwithLita,beingsoberandquiet,andquiteunlikethemerrymonkeyallknewandlikedsowell. "Thorny,whatisthematterwithBen?"askedMissCelia,oneday,whensheandherbrotherwerealoneinthe"greenparlor,"astheycalledthelilac-treewalk. "FrettingaboutSanch,Isuppose.IdeclareIwishthatdoghadneverbeenborn!LosinghimhasjustspoiltBen.Notabitoffunleftinhim,andhewon'thaveanythingIoffertocheerhimup." Thornyspokeimpatiently,andknithisbrowsoverthepressedflowershewasneatlygummingintohisherbal. "Iwonderifhehasanythingonhismind?Heactsasifhewashidingatroublehedidn'tdaretotell.Haveyoutalkedwithhimaboutit?"askedMissCelia,lookingasifshewashidingatroubleshedidnotliketotell. "Oh,yes,Ipokehimupnowandthen,buthegetspeppery,soIlethimalone.Maybeheislongingforhisoldcircusagain.Shouldn'tblamehimmuchifhewasitisn'tverylivelyhere,andhe'susedtoexcitement,youknow." "Ihopeitisn'tthat.Doyouthinkhewouldslipawaywithouttellingus,andgobacktotheoldlifeagain?Don'tbelievehewould.Benisn'tabitofasneakthat'swhyIlikehim." "Haveyoueverfoundhimslyoruntrueinanyway?"askedMissCelia,loweringhervoice. "Nohe'sasfairandsquareafellowasIeversaw.Littlebitlow,nowandthen,buthedoesn'tmeanit,andwantstobeagentleman,onlyheneverlivedwithonebefore,andit'sallnewtohim.I'llgethimpolishedupafterawhile." "Oh,Thorny,therearethreepeacocksontheplace,andyouarethefinest!"laughedMissCelia,asherbrotherspokeinhismostcondescendingwaywithaliftoftheeyebrowsverydrolltosee. "Andtwodonkeys,andBen'sthebiggest,nottoknowwhenheiswelloffandhappy!"retortedthe"gentleman,"slappingadriedspecimenonthepageasifhewerepoundingdiscontentedBen. "Comehereandletmetellyousomethingwhichworriesme.Iwouldnotbreatheittoanotherso