Under the Lilacs Read Online Free Page B

lively way of moving about in his clothes, like an eel
     in a skin rather too big for him. The merry black eyes seemed to see everything, the voice had an honest sound, and the sunburnt
     face looked several years younger since the unnatural despondency had gone out of it.
    “It’s very nice, and me and Sanch are lots obliged, ma’am,” murmured Ben, getting red and bashful under the three pairs of
     friendly eyes fixed upon him.
    Bab and Betty were doing up the tea things with unusual despatch, so that they might entertain their guest, and just as Ben
     spoke Bab dropped a cup. To her great surprise no smash followed, for, bending quickly, the boy caught it as it fell, and
     presented it to her on the back of his hand with a little bow.
    “Gracious! how could you do it?” asked Bab, looking as if she thought there was magic about it.
    “That’s nothing; look here,” and, taking two plates, Ben sent them spinning up into the air, catching and throwing so rapidly
     that Bab and Betty stood with their mouths open, as if to swallow the plates should they fall, while Mrs. Moss, with her dishcloth
     suspended, watched the antics of her crockery with a housewife’s anxiety.
    “That does beat all!” was the only exclamation she had time to make; for, as if desirous of showing his gratitude inthe only way he could, Ben took several clothespins from a basket nearby, sent several saucers twirling up, caught them on
     the pins, balanced the pins on chin, nose, forehead, and went walking about with a new and peculiar sort of toadstool ornamenting
     his countenance.
    The children were immensely tickled, and Mrs. Moss was so amused she would have lent her best soup tureen if he had expressed
     a wish for it. But Ben was too tired to show all his accomplishments at once, and he soon stopped, looking as if he almost
     regretted having betrayed that he possessed any.
    “I guess you’ve been in the juggling business,” said Mrs. Moss, with a wise nod, for she saw the same look on his face as
     when he said his name was Ben Brown — the look of one who was not telling the whole truth.
    “Yes, ’m. I used to help Señor Pedro, the Wizard of the World, and I learned some of his tricks,” stammered Ben, trying to
     seem innocent.
    “Now, look here, boy, you’d better tell me the whole story, and tell it true, or I shall have to send you up to Judge Morris.
     I wouldn’t like to do that, for he is a harsh sort of a man; so, if you haven’t done anything bad, you needn’t be afraid to
     speak out, and I’ll do what I can for you,” said Mrs. Moss, rather sternly, as she went and sat down in her rocking chair,
     as if about to open the court.
    “I
haven’t
done anything bad, and I
ain’t
afraid, only I don’t want to go back; and if I tell, maybe you’ll let ’em know where I be,” said Ben, much distressed between
     his longing to confide in his new friend and his fear of his old enemies.
    “If they abused you, of course I wouldn’t. Tell the truth, and I’ll stand by you. Girls, you go for the milk.”
    “Oh, Ma, do let us stay! We’ll never tell, truly, truly!”cried Bab and Betty, full of dismay at being sent off when secrets were about to be divulged.
    “I don’t mind ’em,” said Ben handsomely.
    “Very well, only hold your tongues. Now, boy, where did you come from?” said Mrs. Moss, as the little girls hastily sat down
     together on their private and particular bench opposite their mother, brimming with curiosity and beaming with satisfaction
     at the prospect before them.

His Story
C HAPTER 4
    “I ran away from a circus,” began Ben, but got no further, for Bab and Betty gave a simultaneous bounce of delight, and both
     cried out at once—
    “We’ve been to one! It was splendid!”
    “You wouldn’t think so if you knew as much about it as I do,” answered Ben, with a sudden frown and wriggle, as if he still
     felt the smart of the blows he had received. “We don’t call it splendid; do