ride and run and leap as you
do, and even the oldest are not as capable of taking care of themselves as
you are. Your active life has done much in some ways to make a man of you,
but in other ways it was bad, as I think you begin to see. Now, suppose
you try to forget the harmful past, and remember only the good, while
learning to be more like our boys, who go to school and church, and fit
themselves to become industrious, honest men."

Ben had been looking straight up in Miss Celia's face as she spoke,
feeling that every word was true, though he could not have expressed it if
he had tried, and when she paused, with her bright eyes inquiringly fixed
on his, he answered heartily:

"I'd like to stay here and be respectable, for, since I came, I've found
out that folks don't think much of circus riders, though they like to go
and see 'em. I didn't use to care about school and such things, but I do
now, and I guess _he'd_ like it better than to have me knockin' round that
way without him to look after me."

"I know he would; so we will try, Benny. I dare say it will seem dull and
hard at first, after the gay sort of life you have led, and you will miss
the excitement. But it was not good for you, and we will do our best to
find something safer. Don't be discouraged, and, when things trouble you,
come to me as Thorny does, and I'll try to straighten them out for you.
I've got two boys now, and I want to do my duty by both."

Before Ben had time for more than a grateful look, a tumbled head appeared
at an upper window, and a sleepy voice drawled out:

"Celia! I can't find a bit of a shoe-string, and I wish you'd come and do
my neck-tie."

"Lazy boy, come down here, and bring one of your black ties with you.
Shoe-strings are in the little brown bag on my bureau," called back Miss
Celia, adding, with a laugh, as the tumbled head disappeared mumbling
something about "bothering old bags":

"Thorny has been half spoiled since he was ill. You mustn't mind his
fidgets and dawdling ways. He'll get over them soon, and then I know you
two will be good friends."

Ben had his doubts about that, but resolved to do his best for her sake;
so, when Master Thorny presently appeared, with a careless "How are you,
Ben," that young person answered respectfully,

"Very well, thank you," though his nod was as condescending as his new
master's; because he felt that a boy who could ride bareback and turn a
double somersault in the air oug