CHAPTER XXIII SOMEBODY COMES

boutBen,"headded,inapersuasivetone,asheleanedonthegatesonearthatbothcouldseewhatafriendlyfacehehadinspiteofitseager,anxiouslook. "BenisMissCelia'sboy.Wefoundhimmoststarvedinthecoach-house,andhe'sbeenhereeversince,"answeredBab,comprehensively. "Tellmeaboutit.Iliketramps,too,"andthemanlookedasifhedidverymuch,asBabtoldthelittlestoryinafewchildishwordsthatwerebetterthanamuchmoreelegantaccount. "Youwereverygoodtothelittlefeller,"wasallthemansaidwhensheendedhersomewhatconfusedtale,inwhichshehadjumbledtheoldcoachandMissCelia,dinner-pailsandnutting,Sanchoandcircuses. "'Coursewewere!He'saniceboyandwearefondofhim,andhelikesus,"saidBab,heartily. "'Speciallyme,"putinBetty,quiteateasenow,fortheblackeyeshadsoftenedwonderfully,andthebrownfacewassmilingallover. "Don'twonderamite.YouarethenicestpairoflittlegirlsI'veseenthislongtime,"andthemanputahandoneithersideofthem,asifhewantedtohugthechubbychildren.Buthedidn'tdoithemerelysmiledandstoodthereaskingquestionstillthetwochatterboxeshadtoldhimeverythingtherewastotellinthemostconfidingmanner,forheverysoonceasedtoseemlikeastranger,andlookedsofamiliarthatBab,growinginquisitiveinherturn,suddenlysaid,— "Haven'tyoueverbeenherebefore?ItseemsasifI'dseenyou." "Neverinmylife.Guessyou'veseensomebodythatlookslikeme,"andtheblackeyestwinkledforaminuteastheylookedintothepuzzledlittlefacesbeforehim,thenhesaid,soberly,— "I'mlookingroundforalikelyboydon'tyouthinkthisBenwouldsuiteme?Iwantjustsuchalivelysortofchap." "Areyouacircusman?"askedBab,quickly. "Well,no,notnow.I'minbetterbusiness." "I'mgladofit—wedon'tapproveof'embutIdothinkthey'resplendid!" BabbeganbygravelyquotingMissCelia,andendedwithanirrepressibleburstofadmirationwhichcontrasteddrollywithherfirstremark. Bettyadded,anxiously:"Wecan'tletBengoanyway.Iknowhewouldn'twantto,andMissCeliawouldfeelbad.Pleasedon'taskhim." "Hecandoashelikes,Isuppose.Hehasn'tgotanyfolksofhisown,hashe?" "No,hisfatherdiedinCalifornia,andBenfeltsobadhecried,andwewererealsorry,andgavehimapieceofMa,'causehewassolonesome,"answeredBetty,inhertenderlittlevoice,withapleadinglookwhichmadethemanstrokehersmoothcheckandsay,quitesoftly,— "Blessyourheartforthat!Iwon'ttakehimaway,child,ordoathingtotroubleanybodythat'sbeengoodtohim." "He'scomingnow.IhearSanchbarkingatthesquirrels!"criedBab,standinguptogetagoodlookdowntheroad. Themanturnedquickly,andBettysawthathebreathedfastashewatchedthespotwherethelowsunshinelaywarmlyontheredmapleatthecorner.IntothisglowcameunconsciousBen,whistling"RoryO'Moore,"loudandClear,ashetrudgedalongwithaheavybagofnutsoverhisshoulderandthelightfullonhiscontentedface.Sanchotrottedbeforeandsawthestrangerfirst,forthesuninBen'seyesdazzledhim.SincehissadlossSanchocherishedastrongdisliketotramps,andnowhepausedtogrowlandshowhisteeth,evidentlyintendingtowarnthisoneoffthepremises. "Hewon'thurtyou—"beganBab,encouraginglyb