CHAPTER XXIV THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED

toleave,andItriedbutIguessabetterfriendthanIamhasbeenraisedupforhimwhenheneededhermost.Itwon'thurtmetofollowhiminthisroad,"thoughtMr.Brown,ashecameoutintothehighwayfromhisstroll"across-lots,"feelingthatitwouldbegoodforhimtostayinthisquietplace,forhisownaswellashisson'ssake. TheBellhaddoneringingwhenhereachedthegreen,butasingleboysatonthestepsandrailtomeethim,saying,withareproachfullook,— "Iwasn'tgoingtoletyoubealone,andhavefolksthinkIwasashamedofmyfather.Come,Daddy,we'llsittogether." SoBenledhisfatherstraighttotheSquire'spew,andsatbesidehimwithafacesofullofinnocentprideandjoy,thatpeoplewouldhavesuspectedthetruthifhehadnotalreadytoldmanyofthem.Mr.Brown,painfullyconsciousofhisshabbycoat,wasrather"takenaback,"asheexpresseditbuttheSquire'sshakeofthehand,andMrs.Allen'sgraciousnodenabledhimtofacetheeyesoftheinterestedcongregation,theyoungerportionofwhichstaredsteadilyathimallsermontime,inspiteofpaternalfrownsandmaternaltweakingsintherear. Butthecrowninggloryofthedaycameafterchurch,whentheSquiresaidtoBen,andSamheardhim,— "I'vegotaletterforyoufromMissCelia.Comehomewithme,andbringyourfather.Iwanttotalktohim." Theboyproudlyescortedhisparenttotheoldcarry-all,and,tuckinghimselfinbehindwithMrs.Allen,hadthesatisfactionofseeingtheslouchedfelthatsidebysidewiththeSquire'sSundaybeaverinfront,astheydroveoffatsuchanunusuallysmartpace,itwasevidentthatDukeknewtherewasacriticaleyeuponhim.Theinteresttakeninthefatherwasowingtothesonatfirstbut,bythetimethestorywastold,oldBenhadwonfriendsforhimselfnotonlybecauseofthemisfortuneswhichhehadevidentlyborneinamanlyway,butbecauseofhisdelightintheboy'simprovement,andthedesirehefelttoturnhishandtoanyhonestwork,thathemightkeepBenhappyandcontentedinthisgoodhome. "I'llgiveyoualinetoTowne.Smithersspokewellofyou,andyourownabilitywillbethebestrecommendation,"saidtheSquire,ashepartedfromthemathisdoor,havinggivenBentheletter. MissCeliahadbeengoneafortnight,andeveryonewaslongingtohaveherback.ThefirstweekbroughtBenanewspaper,withacrinklylinedrawnroundthemarriagestoattractattentiontothatspot,andonewasmarkedbyablackframewithalargehandpointingatitfromthemargin.ThornysentthatbutthenextweekcameaparcelforMrs.Moss,andinitwasdiscoveredaboxofweddingcakeforeverymemberofthefamily,includingSancho,whoatehisatonegulp,andchewedupthelacepaperwhichcoveredit.Thiswasthethirdweekand,asiftherecouldnotbehappinessenoughcrowdedintoitforBen,theletterhereadonhiswayhometoldhimthathisdearmistresswascomingbackonthefollowingSaturday.Onepassageparticularlypleasedhim,— "Iwantthegreatgateopened,sothatthenewmastermaygointhatway.Willyouseethatitisdone,andallmadeneatafterward?Randawillgiveyouthekey,andyoumayhaveoutallyourflagsifyoulike,fortheoldplacecannotlooktoogayforthishome-coming." Sundaythoughitwas,BencouldnothelpwavingtheletteroverhisheadasheranintotellMrs.Mossthegladnews,andbeginatoncetoplanthewelcometheywouldgiveMissCelia,forhenevercalledheranythingelse. Duringtheirafternoonstrollinthemellowsunshine,Bencontinuedtotalkofher,nevertiredoftellingabouthishappysummerunderherroof.AndMr.Brownwasneverwearyofhearing,foreveryhourshowedhimmoreplainlywhatalovelymiraclehergentlewordshadwrought,andeveryhourincreasedhisgratitude,hisdesiretoreturnthekindnessinsomehumbleway.Hehadhiswish,anddidhisparthandsomelywhenheleastexpectedtohaveachance. OnMondayhesawMr.Towne,and,thanksto