CHAPTER XXIII SOMEBODY COMES

BabandBettyhadbeenplayingintheavenuealltheafternoonseveralweekslater,butastheshadowsbegantolengthenbothagreedtosituponthegateandrestwhilewaitingforBen,whohadgonenuttingwithapartyofboys.WhentheyplayedhouseBabwasalwaysthefather,andwenthuntingorfishingwithgreatenergyandsuccess,bringinghomeallsortsofgame,fromelephantsandcrocodilestohumming-birdsandminnows.Bettywasthemother,andamostnotablelittlehousewife,alwaysmixingupimaginarydelicacieswithsandanddirtinoldpansandbrokenchina,whichshebakedinanovenofherownconstruction. Bothhadworkedhardthatday,andweregladtoretiretotheirfavoritelounging-place,whereBabwashappytryingtowalkacrossthewidetopbarwithoutfallingoff,andBettyenjoyedslow,luxuriousswingswhilehersisterwasrecoveringfromhertumbles.Onthisoccasion,havingindulgedtheirrespectivetastes,theypausedforabriefintervalofconversation,sittingsidebysideonthegatelikeapairofplumpgraychickensgonetoroost. "Don'tyouhopeBenwillgethisbagfull?WeshallhavesuchfuneatingnutseveningsobservedBab,wrappingherarmsinherapron,foritwasOctobernow,andtheairwasgrowingkeen. "Yes,andMasayswemayboilsomeinourlittlekettles.Benpromisedweshouldhavehalf,"answeredBetty,stillintentonhercookery. "IshallsavesomeofmineforThorny." "IshallkeeplotsofmineforMissCelia." "Doesn'titseemmorethantwoweekssinceshewentaway?" "Iwonderwhatshe'llbringus." BeforeBabcouldconjecture,thesoundofastepandafamiliarwhistlemadebothlookexpectantlytowardtheturnintheroad,allreadytocryoutinonevoice,"Howmanyhaveyougot?"Neitherspokeaword,however,forthefigurewhichpresentlyappearedwasnotBen,butastranger,—amanwhostoppedwhistling,andcameslowlyondustinghisshoesintheway-sidegrass,andbrushingthesleevesofhisshabbyvelveteencoatasifanxioustofreshenhimselfupabit. "It'satramp,let'srunaway,"whisperedBetty,afterahastylook. "Iain'tafraid,"andBabwasabouttoassumeherboldestlookwhenasneezespoiltit,andmadeherclutchthegatetoholdon. Atthatunexpectedsoundthemanlookedup,showingathin,darkface,withapairofsharp,blackeyes,whichsurveyedthelittlegirlssosteadilythatBettyquaked,andBabbegantowishshehadatleastjumpeddowninsidethegate. "Howareyou?"saidthemanwithagoodnaturednodandsmile,asiftore-assuretheround-eyedchildrenstaringathim. "Prettywell,thankyou,sir,"respondedBab,politelynoddingbackathim. "Folksathome?"askedtheman,lookingovertheirheadstowardthehouse. "OnlyMaalltheresthavegonetobemarried." "Thatsoundslively.Attheotherplaceallthefolkshadgonetoafuneral,"andthemanlaughedasheglancedatthebighouseonthehill. "Why,doyouknowtheSquire?"exclaimedBab,muchsurprisedandre-assured. "Comeonpurposetoseehim.Juststrollingroundtillhegetsback,"withanimpatientsortofsigh. "Bettythoughtyouwasatramp,butIwasn'tafraid.IliketrampseversinceBencame,"explainedBab,withherusualcandor. "Who'sBen!"andthemancamenearersoquicklythatBettynearlyfellbackward."Don'tyoubescared,Sissy.Ilikelittlegirls,soyouseteasyandtellmea