CHAPTER XX BEN'S BIRTHDAY

eitherwasexactlyinthemiddlesotherewasroomtodobetter,even,andthechildrencrowdedround,cryingeagerly,"Now,Ben!""Now,Bab!""Hitherup,Ben!""Beathim,Bab!"whileThornylookedasanxiousasifthefateofthecountrydependedonthesuccessofhisman.Bab'sturncamefirstand,asMissCeliaexaminedherbowtoseethatallwasright,thelittlegirlsaid,Withhereyesonherrival'sexcitedface,— "Iwanttobeat,butBenwillfeelsobad,I'mosthopeIsha'n't." "Losingaprizesometimesmakesonehappierthangainingit.Youhaveprovedthatyoucoulddobetterthanmostofthemso,ifyoudonotbeat,youmaystillfeetproud,"answeredMissCelia,givingbackthebowwithasmilethatsaidmorethanherwords. ItseemedtogiveBabanewidea,forinaminuteallsortsofrecollections,wishes,andplansrushedthroughherlivelylittlemind,andshefollowedasuddengenerousimpulseasblindlyassheoftendidawilfulone. "Iguesshe'llbeat,"shesaid,softly,withaquicksparkleoftheeyes,asshesteppedtoherplaceandfiredwithouttakingherusualcarefulaim. HershotstruckalmostasnearthecentreontherightasherlastonehadhitontheleftandtherewasashoutofdelightfromthegirlsasThornyannounceditbeforehehurriedbacktoBen,whisperinganxiously,— "Steady,oldMan,steadyyoumustbeatthat,orweshallneverhearthelastofit." Bendidnotsay,"Shewon'tgetaheadofme,"ashehadsaidatthefirsthesethisteeth,threwoffhishat,and,knittinghisbrowswitharesoluteexpression,preparedtotakesteadyaim,thoughhisheartbeatfastandhisthumbtrembledashepresseditonthebowstring. "Ihopeyou'llbeat,Itrulydo,"saidBab,athiselbowand,asifthebreaththatframedthegenerouswishhelpeditonitsway,thearrowflewstraighttothebull's-eye,hitting,apparently,theveryspotwhereBab'sbestshothadleftahole. "Atie!atie!"criedthegirls,asageneralrushtookplacetowardthetarget. "No,Ben'sisnearest.Ben'sbeat!"Hoorayshoutedtheboys,throwinguptheirhats.Therewasonlyahair's-breadthdifference,andBabcouldhonestlyhavedisputedthedecisionbutshedidnot,thoughforaninstantshecouldnothelpwishingthatthecryhadbeen"Bab'sbeat!Hurrah!"itsoundedsopleasant.ThenshesawBen'sbeamingface,Thorny'sintenserelief,andcaughtthelookMissCeliasentherovertheheadsoftheboys,anddecided,withasuddenwarmglowalloverherlittleface,thatlosingaprizedidsometimesmakeonehappierthanwinningit.Upwentherbesthat,andsheburstoutinashrill,"Rah,rah,rah!"thatsoundedveryfunnycomingallaloneafterthegeneralclamorhadsubsided. "Goodforyou,Bab!youareanhonortotheclub,andI'mproudofyou",saidPrinceThorny,withaheartyhandshakefor,ashismanhadwon,hecouldaffordtopraisetherivalwhohadputhimonhismettle,thoughshewasagirl. Babwasmuchupliftedbytheroyalcommendation,butafewminuteslaterfeltpleasedaswellasproudwhenBen,havingreceivedtheprize,cametoher,asshestoodbehindatreesuckingherblisteredthumb,whileBettybraidedupherdishevelledlocks. "Ithinkitwouldbefairertocallitatie,Bab,foritreallywas,andIwantyoutowearthis.Iwantedthefunofbeating,butIdon'tcareabitforthisgirl'sthingandI'dratherseeitonyou." Ashespoke,Benofferedtherosetteofgreenribbonwhichheldthes