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"Ben'll be getting jealous, that's all. He'll have another grudge against you, if you're not careful." Douglas realised that what Mrs. Jukes said was quite true. Ben must have been watching through the window the night he was at the professor's house, and no doubt jealousy had been added to his hatred. But he did not care, for a new feeling had now taken possession of him.
It had scarcely turned into the lane when the colonel, looking back, saw the old man digging furiously. The condition of the yard was explained; he had been unjust in ascribing it to Ben's neglect. "I reckon, suh," remarked Peter, "dat w'en he fin' dat million dollahs, Mistah Ben'll marry Miss Grac'ella an' take huh ter New Yo'k." "Perhaps and perhaps not," said the colonel.
"Well, it's hard work to write," said Ben, yawning. "I'd rather chop wood." "I wish! knew how," exclaimed Joel, longingly. "Just you try every day; Ben'll teach you, Joe," said his mother, eagerly, "and then I'll let you write." "I will!" cried Joe; "then, Dave, you'll see how I'll write I tell you!" "And I'm goin' to ma, can't I?" said Davie, unwilling to be outdone.
"The ladder's in the tool-house, Uncle Dick Ben'll show you. Will you get it, please?" he pleaded in a wheedling tone. "First of all, my Imp, why did your Auntie Lisbeth send you to bed had you been a very naughty boy?"
Joel laid his mouth close to the ear on the straw pillow; "if you do, I'll nip you and snip you." "Ow!" said little Davie, huddling down under the scanty blanket and dragging it over his head. "Sh , be still!" cried Joel, with a wrathful pinch. "Ben'll hear you, there now, just see!" "What's the matter, boys?" asked Ben, sleepily.
An' I guess Baldy'd be kinda neutral, 'cause he don't pay attention t' Eskimos or anything when he's workin'. I never saw a dog mind his own business like Baldy. That's worth somethin' in a race." The inactivity was becoming unbearable. "George, if you and Ben'll get the dogs into harness, I'll go an' see what's doin' with some of the others. It'll sort o' fill in time."
"Ben Barry's just as smart as he is brave. He ain't goin' to take any foolish risk now that you're safe. I don't know what he wants the boy for, but probably it's some good reason; and if you don't stop workin' yourself up, you won't be fit to go to town to-morrow. I want you should stay in bed all day. Now, you behave yourself, my lamb. Ben'll come back all right."
"I wouldn't a' missed that racket to-night fer anything. I wonder what Ben'll think about it all now." "Do you suppose the men will tell him?" Douglas asked. "Sure. He knows all about it by now, I bet ye'r life. Most likely he was not fer off, the skunk, watchin' the hull racket. I wish to goodness I'd got the punch on his nose instead of Tom's. How I'd like to have heard him squeal, ho, ho."
Then he walked back, and taking his whisky from the table, threw it on the floor. "I've had enough of that," he said briefly. "When am I to take her over, Cap'n Barber?" "So soon as ever you please," said his benefactor. "Old Ben'll stay on as mate; Fraser's gone."
"Well," said Polly, "we've got to get all the thirty centses we can, mammy dear; and I know I can do it, truly try me once," she implored. "Well." Mrs. Pepper relented, slowly. "Don't feel bad, mammy dear," comforted Polly, sewing away briskly; "Ben'll get well pretty soon, and then we'll be all right." "Maybe," said Mrs.
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