CHAPTER XXIV THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED

TheBrownswereupandoutsoearlynextmorningthatBabandBettyweresuretheyhadrunawayinthenight.Butonlookingforthem,theywerediscoveredinthecoach-housecriticisingLita,bothwiththeirhandsintheirpockets,bothchewingstraws,andlookingasmuchalikeasabigelephantandasmallone. "That'sasprettyalittlespanasI'veseenforalongtime,"saidtheelderBen,asthechildrencametrottingdownthepathhandinhand,withthefourbluebowsattheendsoftheirbraidsbobbingbrisklyupanddown. "Thenighoneismyfavorite,buttheoffoneisthebestgoer,thoughshe'sdreadfullyhardbitted,"answeredBentheyounger,withsuchacomicalassumptionofajockey'simportantairthathisfatherlaughedashesaidinanundertone,— "Come,boy,wemustdroptheoldslangsincewe'vegivenuptheoldbusiness.Thesegoodfolksaremakingagentlemanofyou,andIwon'tbetheonetospoiltheirwork.Holdon,mydears,andI'llshowyouhowtheysaygood-morninginCalifornia,"headded,beckoningtothelittlegirls,whonowcameuprosyandsmiling. "Breakfastisready,sir,"saidBetty,lookingmuchrelievedtofindthem. "Wethoughtyou'drunawayfromus,"explainedBab,asbothputouttheirhandstoshakethoseextendedtothem. "Thatwouldbeameantrick.ButI'mgoingtorunawaywithyou,"andMr.Brownwhiskedalittlegirltoeithershoulderbeforetheyknewwhathadhappened,whileBen,rememberingtheday,withdifficultyrestrainedhimselffromturningaseriesoftriumphantsomersaultsbeforethemallthewaytothedoor,whereMrs.Mossstoodwaitingforthem. AfterbreakfastBendisappearedforashorttime,andreturnedinhisSundaysuit,lookingsoneatandfreshthathisfathersurveyedhimwithsurpriseandprideashecameinfullofboyishsatisfactioninhistrimarray. "Here'sasmartyoungchap!DidyoutakeallthattroublejusttogotowalkwitholdDaddy?"askedMr.Brown,strokingthesmoothhead,fortheywerealonejustthen,Mrs.Mossandthechildrenbeingupstairspreparingforchurch. "Ithoughtmaybeyou'dliketogotomeetingfirst,"answeredBen,lookingupathimwithsuchahappyfacethatitwashardtorefuseanything."I'mtooshabby,Sonny,elseI'dgoinaminutetopleaseyou." "MissCeliasaidGoddidn'tmindpoorclothes,andshetookmewhenIlookedworsethanyoudo.Ialwaysgointhemorningshelikestohaveme,"saidBen,turninghishataboutasifnotquitesurewhatheoughttodo. "Doyouwanttogo?"askedhisfatherinatoneofsurprise. "Iwanttopleaseher,ifyoudon'tmind.Wecouldhaveourtrampthisafternoon." "Ihaven'tbeentomeetingsincemotherdied,anditdon'tseemtocomeeasy,thoughIknowIoughtto,seeingI'maliveandhere,"andMr.Brownlookedsoberlyoutatthelovelyautumnworldasifgladtobeinitafterhislatedangerandpain. "MissCeliasaidchurchwasagoodplacetotakeourtroubles,andtobethankfulin.IwentwhenIthoughtyouweredead,andnowI'dlovetogowhenI'vegotmyDaddysafeagain." Noonesawhim,soBencouldnotresistgivinghisfatherasuddenhug,whichwaswarmlyreturnedasthemansaidearnestly,— "I'llgo,andthanktheLordheartyforgivingmebackmyboybetter'nIlefthim!" ForaminutenothingwasheardbuttheloudtickoftheoldclockandamournfulwhinefrontSancho,shutupintheshedlestheshouldgotochurchwithoutaninvitation. Then,asstepswereheardonthestairs,Mr.Browncaughtuphishat,sayinghastily,— "Iain'tfittogowiththem,youtell'm,andI'llslipintoabackseatafterfolksarein.Iknowtheway."And,beforeBencouldreply,hewasgone.Nothingwasseenofhimalongtheway,buthesawthelittleparty,andrejoicedagainoverhisboy,changedinsomanywaysforthebetterforBenwastheonethingwhichhadkepthisheartsoftthroughallthetrialsandtemptationsofaroughlife. "IpromisedMaryI'ddomybestforthepoorbabyshehad