Sancho also had been put in better trim , for , after his master had refreshed himself with a warm bath , he gave his dog a good scrub while Mrs. Moss set a stitch here and there in the new old clothes ; and Sancho reappeared , looking more like the china poodle than ever , being as white as snow , his curls well brushed up , and his tasselly tail waving proudly over his back . Feeling eminently respectable and comfortable , the wanderers humbly presented themselves , and were greeted with smiles of approval from the little girls and a hospitable welcome from the mother , who set them near the stove to dry , as both were decidedly damp after their ablutions . `` I declare I should n't have known you ! '' exclaimed the good woman , surveying the boy with great satisfaction ; for , though still very thin and tired , the lad had a tidy look that pleased her , and a lively way of moving about in his clothes , like an eel in a skin rather too big for him . The merry black eyes seemed to see every thing , the voice had an honest sound , and the sunburnt face looked several years younger since the unnatural despondency had gone out of it . `` It 's very nice , and me and Sanch are lots obliged , ma'am , '' murmured Ben , getting red and bashful under the three pairs of friendly eyes fixed upon him . Bab and Betty were doing up the tea-things with unusual despatch , so that they might entertain their guest , and just as Ben spoke Bab dropped a cup . To her great surprise no smash followed , for , bending quickly , the boy caught it as it fell , and presented it to her on the back of his hand with a little bow . `` Gracious ! how could you do it ? '' asked Bab , looking as if she thought there was magic about . `` That 's nothing ; look here , '' and , taking two plates , Ben sent them spinning up into the air , catching and throwing so rapidly that Bab and Betty stood with their mouths open , as if to swallow the plates should they fall , while Mrs. Moss , with her dish-cloth suspended , watched the antics of her crockery with a housewife 's anxiety . `` That does beat all ! '' was the only exclamation she had time to make ; for , as if desirous of showing his gratitude in the only way he could , Ben took clothes-pins from a basket near by , sent several saucers twirling up , caught them on the pins , balanced the pins on chin , nose , forehead , and went walking about with a new and peculiar sort of toadstool ornamenting his countenance . The children were immensely tickled , and Mrs. Moss was so amused she would have lent her best soup-tureen if he had expressed a wish for it . But Ben was too tired to show all his accomplishments at once , and he soon stopped , looking as if he almost regretted having betrayed that he possessed any . `` I guess you 've been in the juggling business , '' said Mrs. Moss , with a wise nod , for she saw the same look on his face as when he said his name was Ben Brown , -- the look of one who was not telling the whole truth . `` Yes , 'm . I used to help Senor Pedro , the Wizard of the World , and I learned some of his tricks , '' stammered Ben , trying to seem innocent . `` Now , look here , boy , you 'd better tell me the whole story , and tell it true , or I shall have to send you up to judge Morris .
I would n't like to do that , for he is a harsh sort of a man ; so , if you have n't done any thing bad , you need n't be afraid to speak out , and I 'll do what I can for you , '' said Mrs. XXXXX , rather sternly , as she went and sat down in her rocking-chair , as if about to open the court .
Bab Betty Brown Moss Pedro Sancho ablutions clothes-pins soup-tureen toadstool