Ah , ha ! `` The streets were so wide , and the lanes were so narry , He brought his wife home on a little wheelbarry , '' sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop his load and push back his hat , to see Pat 's red head looking over the fence . To have his enemy behold him then and there was the last bitter drop in poor Ben 's cup of humiliation . A shrill approving whistle from the hill was some comfort , however , and gave him spirit to help Bab out with composure , though his hands were blistered and he had hardly breath enough to issue the Command , -- `` Go along home , and do n't mind him . '' `` Nice childer , ye are , runnin ' off this way , settin ' the women distracted , and me wastin ' me time comin ' after ye when I 'd be milkin ' airly so I 'd get a bit of pleasure the day , '' grumbled Pat , coming up to untie the Duke , whose Roman nose Ben had already recognized , as well as the roomy chaise standing before the door . `` Did Billy tell you about us ? '' asked Bab , gladly following toward this welcome refuge . `` Faith he did , and the Squire sent me to fetch ye home quiet and aisy . When ye found me , I 'd jist stopped here to borry a light for me pipe . Up wid ye , b ` y , and not be wastin ' me time stramashin ' after a spalpeen that I 'd like to lay me whip over , '' said Pat , gruffly , as Ben came along , having left the barrow in the shed . `` Do n't you wish you could ? You need n't wait for me ; I 'll come when I 'm ready , '' answered Ben dodging round the chaise , bound not to mind Pat , if he spent the night by the road-side in consequence . `` Bedad , and I wo n't then . It 's lively ye are ; but four legs is better than two , as ye 'll find this night , me young man . '' With that he whipped up and was off before Bab could say a word to persuade Ben to humble himself for the sake of a ride . She lamented and Pat chuckled , both forgetting what an agile monkey the boy was , and as neither looked back , they were unaware Master Ben was hanging on behind among the straps and springs , making derisive grimaces at his unconscious foe through the little glass in the leathern back . At the lodge gate Ben jumped down to run before with whoops of naughty satisfaction , which brought the anxious waiters to the door in a flock ; so Pat could only shake his fist at the exulting little rascal as he drove away , leaving the wanderers to be welcomed as warmly as if they were a pair of model children . Mrs. Moss had not been very much troubled after all ; for Cy had told her that Bab went after Ben , and Billy had lately reported her safe arrival among them , so , mother-like , she fed , dried , and warmed the runaways , before she scolded them . Even then , the lecture was a mild one , for when they tried to tell the adventures which to them seemed so exciting , not to say tragical , the effect astonished them immensely , as their audience went into gales of laughter , especially at the wheelbarrow episode , which Bab insisted on telling , with grateful minuteness , to Ben 's confusion . Thorny shouted , and even tender-hearted Betty forgot her tears over the lost dog to join in the familiar melody when Bab mimicked Pat 's quotation from Mother Goose .
`` We must not laugh any more , or these naughty children will think they have done something very clever in running away , '' said Miss Celia , when the fun subsided , adding , soberly , `` I am displeased , but I will say nothing , for I think XXXXX is already punished enough . ''
Bab Bedad Ben Duke childer left road-side runaways springs wid