departed. There was no
chance for him to help now, since Pat, anxious to get whatever trifle
might be offered for his services, was quite devoted in his attentions
to the mare and her mistress till she was mounted and off. But Miss
Celia did not forget her little guide, and spying a wistful face
behind the wood-pile, paused at the gate and beckoned with that winning
smile of hers. If ten Pats had stood scowling in the way Ben would have
defied them all, and vaulting over the fence he ran up with a shining
face, hoping she wanted some last favor of him. Leaning down, Miss
Celia slipped a new quarter into his hand, saying:

"Lita wants me to give you this for taking the stone out of her foot."

"Thanky, ma'am; I liked to do it, for I hate to see 'em limp,
'specially such a pretty one as she is," answered Ben, stroking the
glossy neck with a loving touch.

"The Squire says you know a good deal about horses, so I suppose you
understand the Houyhnhnm language? I'm learning it, and it is very
nice," laughed Miss Celia, as Chevalita gave a little whinny and
snuggled her nose into Ben's pocket.

"No, miss, I never went to school."

"That is not taught there. I'll bring you a book all about it when I
come back. Mr. Gulliver went to the horse-country and heard the dear
things speak their own tongue."

"My father has been on the prairies where there's lots of wild ones,
but he didn't hear 'em speak. I know what they want without talkin',"
answered Ben, suspecting a joke, but not exactly seeing what it was.

"I don't doubt it, but I wont forget the book. Good-by, my lad, we
shall soon meet again," and away went Miss Celia as if she was in a
hurry to get back.

"If she only had a red habit and a streamin' white feather, she'd look
as fine as Melia used to. She _is_ 'most as kind and rides 'most as
well. Wonder where she's goin' to. Hope she _will_ come soon," thought
Ben, watching till the last flutter of the blue habit vanished round
the corner, and then he went back to his work with his head full of the
promised book, pausing now and then to chink the two silver halves and
the new quarter together in his pocket, wondering what he should buy
with this vast sum.

Bab and Betty meantime had had a most exciting day, for when they went
home at noon they found the pretty lady there, and she had talked to
them like an old friend, given them a ride on the little horse, and
kissed them both good-by when they went back to school.