I called you ` my boy ' in play , now you shall be my boy in earnest ; this shall be your home , and Thorny your brother . We are orphans , too ; and we will stand by one another till a stronger friend comes to help us , '' said Miss Celia , with such a mixture of resolution and tenderness in her voice , that Ben felt comforted at once , and thanked her by laying his cheek against the pretty slipper that rested on the step beside him , as if he had no words in which to swear loyalty to the gentle mistress whom he meant henceforth to serve with grateful fidelity . Sancho felt that he must follow suit ; and gravely put his paw upon her knee , with a low whine , as if he said , `` Count me in , and let me help to pay my master 's debt if I can . '' Miss Celia shook the offered paw cordially , and the good creature crouched at her feet like a small lion , bound to guard her and her house for evermore . `` Do n't lie on that cold stone , Ben ; come here and let me try to comfort you , '' she said , stooping to wipe away the great drops that kept rolling down the brown cheek half hidden in her dress . But Ben put his arm over his face , and sobbed out with a fresh burst of grief , -- `` You ca n't , you did n't know him ! Oh , daddy ! daddy ! if I 'd only seen you jest once more ! '' No one could grant that wish ; but Miss Celia did comfort him , for presently the sound of music floated out from the parlor , -- music so soft , so sweet , that involuntarily the boy stopped his crying to listen ; then quieter tears dropped slowly , seeming to soothe his pain as they fell , while the sense of loneliness passed away , and it grew possible to wait till it was time to go to father in that far-off country lovelier than golden California . How long she played Miss Celia never minded ; but , when she stole out to see if Ben had gone , she found that other friends , even kinder than herself , had taken the boy into their gentle keeping . The wind had sung a lullaby among the rustling lilacs , the moon 's mild face looked through the leafy arch to kiss the heavy eyelids , and faithful Sancho still kept guard beside his little master , who , with his head pillowed on his arm , lay fast asleep , dreaming , happily , that Daddy had come home again . CHAPTER XI SUNDAY Mrs. Moss woke Ben with a kiss next morning , for her heart yearned over the fatherless lad as if he had been her own , and she had no other way of showing her sympathy . Ben had forgotten his troubles in sleep ; but the memory of them returned as soon as he opened his eyes , heavy with the tears they had shed . He did not cry any more , but felt strange and lonely till he called Sancho and told him all about it , for he was shy even with kind Mrs. Moss , and glad when she went away . Sancho seemed to understand that his master was in trouble , and listened to the sad little story with gurgles of interest , whines of condolence , and intelligent barks whenever the word `` daddy '' was uttered . He was only a brute , but his dumb affection comforted the boy more than any words ; for Sanch had known and loved `` father '' almost as long and well as his son , and that seemed to draw them closely together , now they were left alone . `` We must put on mourning , old feller . It 's the proper thing , and there 's nobody else to do it now , '' said Ben , as he dressed , remembering how all the company wore bits of crape somewhere about them at ` Melia 's funeral . It was a real sacrifice of boyish vanity to take the blue ribbon with its silver anchors off the new hat , and replace it with the dingy black band from the old one ; but Ben was quite sincere in doing this , though doubtless his theatrical life made him think of the effect more than other lads would have done .
He could find nothing in his limited wardrobe with which to decorate XXXXX except a black cambric pocket .
Ben California Celia Count Melia Moss Sanch Sancho barks condolence