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Under the Lilacs - Chapter 12

Every one was very kind to Ben when his loss was known. The Squire 1 wrote to Mr. Smithers that the boy had found friends and would stay where he was. Mrs. Moss 2 consoled him in her motherly way, and the little girls did their very best to "be good to poor Benny." But Miss Celia was his truest comforter, and completely won his heart, not only by the friendly words she said and the pleasant things she did, but by the unspoken sympathy which showed itself just at the right minute, in a look, a touch, a smile, more helpful than any amount of condolence. She called him "my man," and Ben tried to be one, bearing his trouble so bravely that she respected him. although he was only a little boy, because it promised well for the future., ,Then she was so happy herself, it was impossible for those about her to be sad, and Ben soon grew cheerful again in spite of the very tender memory of his father laid quietly away in the safest corner of his heart. He would have been a very unboyish boy if he had not been happy, for the new place was such a pleasant one, he soon felt as if, for the first time, he really had a home. No more grubbing now, but daily tasks which never grew tiresome 3, they were so varied 4 and so light. No more cross Pats to try his temper, but the sweetest mistress that ever was, since praise was oftener on her lips than blame, and gratitude 5 made willing service a delight., ,At first, it seemed as if there was going to be trouble between the two boys; for Thorny 6 was naturally masterful, and illness had left him weak and nervous, so he was often both domineering and petulant 7. Ben had been taught instant obedience 8 to those older than him self, and if Thorny had been a man Ben would have made no complaint; but it was hard to be "ordered round" by a boy, and an unreasonable 9 one into the bargain., , ,The only point on which they never could agree was legs, and many a hearty 11 laugh did they give Miss Celia by their warm and serious discussion of this vexed 12 question. Thorny insisted that Ben was bowlegged; Ben resented the epithet 13, and declared that the legs of all good horsemen must have a slight curve, and any one who knew any thing about the matter would acknowledge both its necessity and its beauty. Then Thorny Would observe that it might be all very well in the saddle, but it made a man waddle 14 like a duck when afoot; whereat Ben would retort that, for his part, he would rather waddle like a duck than tumble about like a horse with the staggers. He had his opponent there, for poor Thorny did look very like a weak-kneed colt when he tried to walk; but he would never own it, and came down upon Ben with crushing allusions 15 to centaurs 16, or the Greeks and Romans, who were famous both for their horsemanship and fine limbs. Ben could not answer that, except by proudly referring to the chariot-races copied from the ancients, in which he had borne a part, which was more than some folks with long legs could say. Gentlemen never did that sort of thing, nor did they twit their best friends with their misfortunes, Thorny would remark; casting a pensive 17 glance at his thin hands, longing 18 the while to give Ben a good shaking. This hint would remind the other of his young master's late sufferings and all he owed his dear mistress; and he usually ended the controversy 19 by turning a few lively somersaults as a vent 20 for his swelling 21 wrath 22, and come up with his temper all right again. Or, if Thorny happened to be in the wheeled chair, he would trot 23 him round the garden at a pace which nearly took his breath away, thereby 24 proving that if "bow-legs" were not beautiful to some benighted 25 beings they were "good to go.", ,Thorny liked that, and would drop the subject for the time by politely introducing some more agreeable topic; so the impending 26 quarrel would end in a laugh over some boyish joke, and the word "legs" be avoided by mutual consent till accident brought it up again., ,The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。,Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上 。

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