He knew he was an orphan now , and turned instinctively to the old friend who loved him best . Throwing himself down beside his dog , Ben clung about the curly neck , sobbing bitterly , -- `` Oh , Sanch , he 's never coming back again ; never , never any more ! '' Poor Sancho could only whine and lick away the tears that wet the half-hidden face , questioning the new friend meantime with eyes so full of dumb love and sympathy and sorrow that they seemed almost human . Wiping away her own tears , Miss Celia stooped to pat the white head , and to stroke the black one lying so near it that the dog 's breast was the boy 's pillow . Presently the sobbing ceased , and Ben whispered , without looking up , -- `` Tell me all about it ; I 'll be good . '' Then , as kindly as she could , Miss Celia read the brief letter which told the hard news bluntly ; for Mr. Smithers was obliged to confess that he had known the truth months before , and never told the boy , lest he should be unfitted for the work they gave him . Of Ben Brown the elder 's death there was little to tell , except that he was killed in some wild place at the West , and a stranger wrote the fact to the only person whose name was found in Ben 's pocket-book . Mr. Smithers offered to take the boy back and `` do well by him , '' averring that the father wished his son to remain where he left him , and follow the profession to which he was trained . `` Will you go , Ben ? '' asked Miss Celia , hoping to distract his mind from his grief by speaking of other things . `` No , no ; I 'd rather tramp and starve . He 's awful hard to me and Sanch ; and he 'd be worse , now father 's gone . Do n't send me back ! Let me stay here ; folks are good to me ; there 's nowhere else to go . '' And the head Ben had lifted up with a desperate sort of look , went down again on Sancho 's breast as if there were no other refuge left . `` You shall stay here , and no one shall take you away against your will . 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 , XXXXX ; 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 .
Ben Brown Celia Count Sanch Sancho Smithers left months pocket-book