Busied with friends , Miss Celia could not help wondering how the lads got on ; and , when the tea-bell rang , waited a little anxiously for their return , knowing that she could tell at a glance if they had enjoyed themselves . `` All goes well so far , '' she thought , as she watched their approach with a smile ; for Sancho sat bolt upright in the chair which Ben pushed , while Thorny strolled beside him , leaning on a stout cane newly cut . Both boys were talking busily , and Thorny laughed from time to time , as if his comrade 's chat was very amusing . `` See what a jolly cane Ben cut for me ! He 's great fun if you do n't stroke him the wrong way , '' said the elder lad , flourishing his staff as they came up . `` What have you been doing down there ? You look so merry , I suspect mischief , '' asked Miss Celia , surveying them front the steps . `` We 've been as good as gold . I talked , and Ben learned a hymn to please you . Come , young man , say your piece , '' said Thorny , with an expression of virtuous content . Taking off his hat , Ben soberly obeyed , much enjoying the quick color that came up in Miss Celia 's face as she listened , and feeling as if well repaid for the labor of learning by the pleased look with which she said , as he ended with a bow , -- `` I feel very proud to think you chose that , and to hear you say it as if it meant something to you . I was only fourteen when I wrote it ; but it came right out of my heart , and did me good . I hope it may help you a little . '' Ben murmured that he guessed it would ; but felt too shy to talk about such things before Thorny , so hastily retired to put the chair away , and the others went in to tea . But later in the evening , when Miss Celia was singing like a nightingale , the boy slipped away from sleepy Bab and Betty to stand by the syringa bush and listen , with his heart full of new thoughts and happy feelings ; for never before had he spent a Sunday like this . And when he went to bed , instead of saying `` Now I lay me , '' he repeated the third verse of Miss Celia 's hymn ; for that was his favorite , because his longing for the father whom he had seen made it seem sweet and natural now to love and lean , without fear upon the Father whom he had not seen . CHAPTER XII GOOD TIMES Every one was very kind to Ben when his loss was known . The Squire wrote to Mr. Smithers that the boy had found friends and would stay where he was . Mrs. Moss 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 XXXXX 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 .
Ben Betty Celia Father Moss Sancho Smithers condolence labor tea-bell