`` You done right , boy , and I 'm pleased with you . Do n't you ever be ungrateful to them that befriended you , if you want to prosper . I 'll tackle the stable business a Monday and see what 's to be done . Now I ought to be walking , but I 'll be round in the morning ma'am , if you can spare Ben for a spell to-morrow . We 'd like to have a good Sunday tramp and talk ; would n't we , Sonny ? '' and Mr. Brown rose to go with his hand on Ben 's shoulder , as if loth to leave him even for the night . Mrs. Moss saw the longing in his face , and forgetting that he was an utter stranger , spoke right out of her hospitable heart . `` It 's a long piece to the tavern , and my little back bedroom is always ready . It wo n't make a mite of trouble if you do n't mind a plain place , and you are heartily welcome . '' Mr. Brown looked pleased , but hesitated to accept any further favor from the good soul who had already done so much for him and his . Ben gave him no time to speak , however , for running to a door he flung it open and beckoned , saying , eagerly , -- `` Do stay , father ; it will be so nice to have you . This is a tip-top room ; I slept here the night I came , and that bed was just splendid after bare ground for a fortnight . '' `` I 'll stop , and as I 'm pretty well done up , I guess we may as well turn in now , '' answered the new guest ; then , as if the memory of that homeless little lad so kindly cherished made his heart overflow in spite of him , Mr. Brown paused at the door to say hastily , with a hand on Bab and Betty 's heads , as if his promise was a very earnest one , -- `` I do n't forget , ma'am , these children shall never want a friend while Ben Brown 's alive ; '' then he shut the door so quickly that the other Ben 's prompt `` Hear , hear ! '' was cut short in the middle . `` I s ` pose he means that we shall have a piece of Ben 's father , because we gave Ben a piece of our mother , '' said Betty , softly . `` Of course he does , and it 's all fair , '' answered Bab , decidedly . `` Is n't he a nice man , Ma ? `` Go to bed , children , '' was all the answer she got ; but when they were gone , Mrs. Moss , as she washed up her dishes , more than once glanced at a certain nail where a man 's hat had not hung for five years , and thought with a sigh what a natural , protecting air that slouched felt had . If one wedding were not quite enough for a child 's story , we might here hint what no one dreamed of then , that before the year came round again Ben had found a mother , Bab and Betty a father , and Mr. Brown 's hat was quite at home behind the kitchen door . But , on the whole , it is best not to say a word about it .
CHAPTER XXIV THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED The Browns were up and out so early next morning that Bab and Betty were sure they had run away in the XXXXX .
Bab Ben Betty Moss Sonny fortnight morning night right years