`` I guess I will , ma'am , '' answered Ben , with sudden meekness , remembering the trials from which he had escaped . Very soon after this , he was sent off for a good night 's sleep in the back bedroom , with Sancho to watch over him . But both found it difficult to slumber till the racket overhead subsided ; for Bab insisted on playing she was a bear and devouring poor Betty , in spite of her wails , till their mother came up and put an end to it by threatening to send Ben and his dog away in the morning , if the girls `` did n't behave and be as still as mice . '' This they solemnly promised ; and they were soon dreaming of gilded cars and mouldy coaches , runaway boys and dinner-pails , dancing dogs and twirling teacups . CHAPTER V BEN GETS A PLACE When Ben awoke next morning , he looked about him for a moment half bewildered , because there was neither a canvas tent , a barn roof , nor the blue sky above him , but a neat white ceiling , where several flies buzzed sociably together , while from without came , not the tramping of horses , the twitter of swallows , or the chirp of early birds , but the comfortable cackle of hens and the sound of two little voices chanting the multiplication table . Sancho sat at the open window , watching the old cat wash her face , and trying to imitate her with his great ruffled paw , so awkwardly that Ben laughed ; and Sanch , to hide his confusion at being caught , made one bound from chair to bed , and licked his master 's face so energetically that the boy dived under the bedclothes to escape from the rough tongue . A rap on the floor from below made both jump up , and in ten minutes a shiny-faced lad and a lively dog went racing downstairs , -- one to say , `` Good-mornin ' , ma'am , '' the other to wag his tail faster than ever tail wagged before , for ham frizzled on the stove , and Sancho was fond of it . `` Did you rest well ? '' asked Mrs. Moss , nodding at him , fork in hand . `` Guess I did ! Never saw such a bed . I 'm used to hay and a horse-blanket , and lately nothin ' but sky for a cover and grass for my feather-bed , '' laughed Ben , grateful for present comforts and making light of past hardships . `` Clean , sweet corn-husks ai n't bad for young bones , even if they have n't got more flesh on them than yours have , '' answered Mrs. Moss , giving the smooth head a motherly stroke as she went by . `` Fat ai n't allowed in our profession , ma'am . The thinner the better for tight-ropes and tumblin ' ; likewise bareback ridin ' and spry jugglin ' . Muscle 's the thing , and there you are . '' Ben stretched out a wiry little arm with a clenched fist at the end of it , as if he were a young Hercules , ready to play ball with the stove if she gave him leave . Glad to see him in such good spirits , she pointed to the well outside , saying pleasantly , -- `` Well , then , just try your muscle by bringing in some fresh water . '' Ben caught up a pail and ran off , ready to be useful ; but , while he waited for the bucket to fill down among the mossy stones , he looked about him , well pleased with all he saw , -- the small brown house with a pretty curl of smoke rising from its chimney , the little sisters sitting in the sunshine , green hills and newly-planted fields far and near , a brook dancing through the orchard , birds singing in the elm avenue , and all the world as fresh and lovely as early summer could make it . `` Do n't you think it 's pretty nice here ? ''
asked Bab , as his eye XXXXX back to them after a long look , which seemed to take in every thing , brightening as it roved .
ai bringing came found giving ran remembering rest see sent