CHAPTER XX BEN'S BIRTHDAY

ilverarrow,andBab'seyesbrightenedastheyfellupontheprettyornament,fortoher"thegirl'sthing"wasalmostasgoodasthevictory. "Ohnoyoumustwearittoshowwhowon.MissCeliawouldn'tlikeit.Idon'tmindnotgettingitIdidbetterthanalltherest,andIguessIshouldn'tliketobeatyou,"answeredBab,unconsciouslyputtingintochildishwordsthesweetgenerositywhichmakessomanysistersgladtoseetheirbrotherscarryofftheprizesoflife,whiletheyarecontenttoknowthattheyhaveearnedthemandcandowithoutthepraise. ButifBabwasgenerous,Benwasjustandthoughhecouldnotexplainthefeeling,wouldnotconsenttotakealltheglorywithoutgivinghislittlefriendashare. "YoumustwearitIshallfeelrealmeanifyoudon't.YouworkedharderthanIdid,anditwasonlyluckmygettingthis.Do,Bab,topleaseme,"hepersisted,awkwardlytryingtofastentheornamentinthemiddleofBab's'whiteapron. "ThenIwill.NowdoyouforgivemeforlosingSancho?"askedBab,withawistfullookwhichmadeBensay,heartily,— "Ididthatwhenhecamehome." "Andyoudon'tthinkI'mhorrid?" "Notabitofityouarefirst-rate,andI'llstandbyyoulikeaman,foryouare'mostasgoodasaboy!"criedBen,anxioustodealhandsomelywithhisfemininerival,whoseskillhadraisedherimmenselyinhisopinion. Feelingthathecouldnotimprovethatlastcompliment,Babwasfullysatisfied,andlethimleavetheprizeuponherbreast,consciousthatshehadsomeclaimtoit. "Thatiswhereitshouldbe,andBenisatrueknight,winningtheprizethathemaygiveittohislady,whileheiscontentwiththevictory,"saidMissCelia,laughingly,toTeacher,asthechildrenranofftojoinintheriotousgameswhichsoonmadetheorchardring. "Helearnedthatatthecircus'tunnyments,'ashecallsthem.Heisaniceboy,andIammuchinterestedinhimforhehasthetwothingsthatdomosttowardmakingaman,patienceandcourage,"answeredTeacher,alsoasshewatchedtheyoungknightplayandthehonoredladytearingaboutinagameoftag. "Babisanicechild,too,"saidMissCelia"sheisasquickasaflashtocatchanideaandcarryitout,thoughveryoftentheideasarewildones.Shecouldhavewonjustnow,Ifancy,ifshehadtried,buttookthenotionintoherheadthatitwasnoblertoletBenwin,andsoatoneforthetroubleshegavehiminlosingthedog.Isawaverysweetlookonherfacejustnow,andamsurethatBenwillneverknowwhyhebeat." "Shedoessuchthingsatschoolsometimes,andIcan'tbeartospoilherlittleatonements,thoughtheyarenotalwaysneededorverywise,"answeredTeacher."NotlongagoIfoundthatshehadbeengivingherlunchdayafterdaytoapoorchildwhoseldomhadany,andwhenIaskedherwhy,shesaid,withtears,'IusedtolaughatAbby,becauseshehadonlycrusty,drybread,andsoshewouldn'tbringany.Ioughttogivehermineandbehungry,itwassomeantomakefunofherpoorness." "Didyoustopthesacrifice?" "NoIletBab'gohalves,'andaddedanextrabittomyownlunch,soIcouldmakemycontributionlikewise." "ComeandtellmeaboutAbby.Iwanttomakefriendswithourpoorpeople,forsoonIshallhavearighttohelpthem"and,puttingherarminTeacher's,MissCelialedherawayforaquietchatintheporch,makingherguest'svisitahappyholidaybyconfidingseveralplansandaskingadviceinthefriendliestway.