Run on , girls , and put the rest of the broth to warming , and fill the kettle . I 'll see to the boy , '' commanded Mrs. Moss , waving off the children , and going up to feel the pulse of her new charge , for it suddenly occurred to her that he might be sick and not safe to take home . The hand he gave her was very thin , but clean and cool , and the black eyes were clear though hollow , for the poor lad was half-starved . `` I 'm awful shabby , but I ai n't dirty . I had a washin ' in the rain last night , and I 've jest about lived on water lately , '' he explained , wondering why she looked at him so hard . `` Put out your tongue . '' He did so , but took it in again to say quickly , -- `` I ai n't sick , -- I 'm only hungry ; for I have n't had a mite but what Sanch brought , for three days ; and I always go halves , do n't I , Sanch ? '' The poodle gave a shrill bark , and vibrated excitedly between the door and his master as if he understood all that was going on , and recommended a speedy march toward the promised food and shelter . Mrs. Moss took the hint , and bade the boy follow her at once and bring his `` things '' with him . `` I ai n't got any . Some big fellers took away my bundle , else I would n't look so bad . There 's only this . I 'm sorry Sanch took it , and I 'd like to give it back if I knew whose it was , '' said Ben , bringing the new dinner-pail out from the depths of the coach where he had gone to housekeeping . `` That 's soon done ; it 's mine , and you 're welcome to the bits your queer dog ran off with . Come along , I must lock up , '' and Mrs. Moss clanked her keys suggestively . Ben limped out , leaning on a broken hoe-handle , for he was stiff after two days in such damp lodgings , as well as worn out with a fortnight 's wandering through sun and rain . Sancho was in great spirits , evidently feeling that their woes were over and his foraging expeditions at an end , for he frisked about his master with yelps of pleasure , or made playful darts at the ankles of his benefactress , which caused her to cry , `` Whish ! '' and `` Scat ! '' and shake her skirts at him as if he were a cat or hen . A hot fire was roaring in the stove under the broth-skillet and tea-kettle , and Betty was poking in more wood , with a great smirch of black on her chubby cheek , while Bab was cutting away at the loaf as if bent on slicing her own fingers off .
Before XXXXX knew what he was about , he found himself in the old rocking-chair devouring bread and butter as only a hungry boy can , with Sancho close by gnawing a mutton-bone like a ravenous wolf in sheep 's clothing .
Bab Ben Sancho Scat Whish benefactress darts smirch washin woes