CHAPTER XXIII SOMEBODY COMES

nderamiteifyoucouldrighthere,forMr.Townehasagreatboarding-stableoveryonder,andhe'salwayswantingmen."SaidMrs.Moss,eagerly,forshedreadedtohaveBengo,andnoonecouldforbiditifhisfatherchosetotakehimaway. "Thatsoundslikely.Thanky,ma'am.I'lllookuptheconcernandtrymychance.Wouldyoucallittoogreatacome-downtohavefatheran'ostlerafterbeingfirstriderinthe'GreatGoldenMenagerie,Circus,andColossem,'hey,Ben?"askedMr.Brown,quotingthewell-rememberedshow-billwithalaugh. "No,Ishouldn'tit'srealjollyuptherewhenthebigbarnisfullandeightyhorseshavetobetakencareof.Ilovetogoandsee'em.Mr.Towneaskedmetocomeandbestable-boywhenIrodethekickinggraytherestwereafraidof.Ihankeredtogo,butMissCeliahadjustgotmynewbooks,andIknewshe'dfeelbadifIgaveupgoingtoschool.NowI'mgladIdidn't,forIgetonfirstrateandlikeit." "Youdoneright,boy,andI'mpleasedwithyou.Don'tyoueverbeungratefultothemthatbefriendedyou,ifyouwanttoprosper.I'lltacklethestablebusinessaMondayandseewhat'stobedone.NowIoughttobewalking,butI'llberoundinthemorningma'am,ifyoucanspareBenforaspellto-morrow.We'dliketohaveagoodSundaytrampandtalkwouldn'twe,Sonny?"andMr.BrownrosetogowithhishandonBen'sshoulder,asiflothtoleavehimevenforthenight. Mrs.Mosssawthelonginginhisface,andforgettingthathewasanutterstranger,spokerightoutofherhospitableheart. "It'salongpiecetothetavern,andmylittlebackbedroomisalwaysready.Itwon'tmakeamiteoftroubleifyoudon'tmindaplainplace,andyouareheartilywelcome." Mr.Brownlookedpleased,buthesitatedtoacceptanyfurtherfavorfromthegoodsoulwhohadalreadydonesomuchforhimandhis.Bengavehimnotimetospeak,however,forrunningtoadoorheflungitopenandbeckoned,saying,eagerly,— "Dostay,fatheritwillbesonicetohaveyou.Thisisatip-toproomIsleptherethenightIcame,andthatbedwasjustsplendidafterbaregroundforafortnight." "I'llstop,andasI'mprettywelldoneup,Iguesswemayaswellturninnow,"answeredthenewguestthen,asifthememoryofthathomelesslittleladsokindlycherishedmadehisheartoverflowinspiteofhim,Mr.Brownpausedatthedoortosayhastily,withahandonBabandBetty'sheads,asifhispromisewasaveryearnestone,— "Idon'tforget,ma'am,thesechildrenshallneverwantafriendwhileBenBrown'salive"thenheshutthedoorsoquicklythattheotherBen'sprompt"Hear,hear!"wascutshortinthemiddle. "Is'posehemeansthatweshallhaveapieceofBen'sfather,becausewegaveBenapieceofourmother,"saidBetty,softly. "Ofcoursehedoes,andit'sallfair,"answeredBab,decidedly."Isn'theaniceman,Ma? "Gotobed,children,"wasalltheanswershegotbutwhentheyweregone,Mrs.Moss,asshewashedupherdishes,morethanonceglancedatacertainnailwhereaman'shathadnothungforfiveyears,andthoughtwithasighwhatanatural,protectingairthatslouchedfelthad. Ifoneweddingwerenotquiteenoughforachild'sstory,wemightherehintwhatnoonedreamedofthen,thatbeforetheyearcameroundagainBenhadfoundamother,BabandBettyafather,andMr.Brown'shatwasquiteathomebehindthekitchendoor.But,onthewhole,itisbestnottosayawordaboutit.