Ben Pepper

  XXIII

  THE SLEIGHING PARTY

  "Oh, yes, Pip," said Ben, "you must go."

  "Oh, I don't want to," cried Pip, in great alarm, and, clinging to Ben'shand, he huddled up closer than ever. "Don't make me go to that oldwoman's; don't," he pleaded.

  "Why not?" asked Ben, whirling him around to let his blue eyes searchkeenly the distressed little face.

  "She looks at me so," said Pip, squirming uncomfortably; "she's alwayslooking at me."

  "Well, supposing she does, she won't bite you," said Ben, with a littlelaugh. Then he stopped suddenly. "Now then, Pip," and he put his hand onthe small shoulder, "it's best for you to go; there's to be a jolly goodtime. Just think, Madam Van Ruypen is to give you all a sleigh-ride! Andoff you'll go into the country and have a supper and come home bymoonlight. Why, everybody's going!"

  "Are you going?" asked Pip, suddenly, his face emerging a little fromits wrinkles.

  "Well, no, I'm not," said Ben, "but everybody else is; I'm going to staywith Jasper."

  "Oh, I won't go! I won't go!" screamed Pip, wholly beside himself withdistress. "I'm going to stay with you, I am." With that he wound hiswiry little arms around one of Ben's, and beat his feet nervously on thefloor.

  "See here now, Pip," Ben lifted him clear from the floor, and set himdown on the window-seat, then he stood in front of him, "now just lookat me," which Pip did, swinging miserable little feet and twisting hishands.

  "It is best for you to go on this party, and so you must go. Why, you'dhave to stay with Jocko if you didn't," added Ben, "or else amuseyourself."

  "Oh, I don't want to stay with Jocko," replied Pip, who had goodreasons, after his introduction to the monkey by Joel, for thisdecision.

  "Well, you needn't," said Ben, bursting into a laugh, "but you must goon the sleighing party, and without me. Do you understand, Pip?"

  Pip did, after he had carefully scanned Ben's face. At first hesnivelled softly, but at last even that died away.

  "Very well," said Ben. "Now then, you are to go with Joel. He'll seethat you have a good time, for he said so. Here he comes now," as hastyfeet scampering down the back stairs proclaimed Joel's approach.

  "Where's Pip? I can't find him," cried Joel, rushing up with a very redface. "Oh, here he is! Well, come on, Pip," and he plunged toward thedoor.

  "Hold on!" roared Ben. "Pip has got to go up to Mamsie; she's going toput some extra things on him so he won't get cold."

  "Oh, bother!" said Joel, beating his feet impatiently on the floor.

  "Why, there isn't any need for such a tremendous hurry, Joe," said Ben."Now then, Pip, step lively upstairs to Mamsie's room; she wants to fixyou up herself."

  So Pip slowly got off from the window-seat, and, with many a backwardglance at Ben, he crept upstairs.

  "Go ahead, old snail," sang out Joel beneath. "O dear me! He'll never beready, Ben," and now he beat his woollen mittens together as he prancedup and down the hall.

  "Oh, yes, he will," said Ben, soothingly. "Don't rage so, Joel."

  "And he's such a muff," said Joel, but he said it under his breath andwith one eye on Ben.

  "Hush up, Joe," said Ben, "there's no use in talking that way. And whatare you in such a hurry to get to Madam Van Ruypen's for? Why, shedoesn't expect you till three o'clock, and its only"--Ben pulled out hissilver watch--"twenty-five minutes past two. What a silly thing you are,Joe!"

  Joel dug the toes of his shoes into the rug. "Larry'll get there firstif I don't," he whined; "you know he will."

  "Nonsense! And what if he does; you aren't invited till three o'clock.Wait and go with Polly."

  "Oh, I'm not going with a lot of girls," cried Joel, in a dudgeon, andextricating his toes from the rug. "You know they're always coming forher, Ben Pepper."

  "Well, go with Percy and Van," said Ben. "Don't fly off in such atangent."

  But this suggestion only added fresh fuel to Joel's fire to be off.

  "Oh, do make Pip hurry." He fairly howled it now. "Percy and Van havestarted already, I most know. They said they'd get ahead of me." And herushed up and nipped Ben's arm.

  "Goodness me! What a crab you are, Joe!" cried Ben, shaking him off, andthen feeling of his arm.

  "Well, do make him hurry," begged Joel. "O dear me, all the boys willget ahead of me!"

  "Well, let them for once," said Ben, coolly. "And Aunty Whitney won'tallow the boys to go now, you may be sure. So rest easy, Joe. And onething more, you are not to race Pip over there at lightning speed. Doyou understand, Joe?"

  "O dear!" said Joel, wrinkling his round cheek in great disdain, "he'ssuch a--"

  "Yes, yes, I know," said Ben, hastily. "Well, now, I'm off to Jasper."

  "Oh, Ben," Joel flew after him, "I wish you were going, I do."

  "Well, I'm not," said Ben, "so good-by." He pulled his jacket away fromJoel's detaining hand, got around the corner of the hall, and hurried upthe front stairs.

  Meantime, Polly was having a perfectly dreadful time in little DoctorFisher's office. There he sat behind his big table, rolling up somepowders in tiny papers, and looking at her over his spectacles.

  "Oh, please, papa Doctor," begged Polly, clasping her hands, "do let mestay at home."

  "That wouldn't ever do in all this world." Doctor Fisher shook his headgravely, and the big spectacles seemed to blink so much displeasure ather, that Polly felt very wicked indeed. "It would stop the party atonce, Polly."

  "Well, it's no fun at all," said Polly, mournfully, "without Jasper andBen." She could hardly keep the tears from streaming down her cheeks.

  "I don't suppose there'll be so much fun in it as if Jasper and Bencould go," said the little Doctor, quietly, "but that isn't the questionjust at present. It seems to be the best thing that this sleighing partyshould be carried out. Think of those poor children, Polly."

  Polly twisted uneasily on her feet.

  "And how they've never in all their lives had any pleasure like this,"the little doctor proceeded artfully.

  "O dear me!" said Polly.

  "And what such a thing in Badgertown would have meant to you children,Polly," said the little man, softly. He laid down his powder papers andlooked at her.

  "Oh, I'll go, I'll go!" exclaimed Polly, perfectly overwhelmed, andrunning around the big table to throw both arms around his neck.

  "I knew you would, Polly my girl. There--there." Doctor Fisher pattedher gently. "Now that's right, and your mother will be so pleased. Shetold Madam Van Ruypen she was sure you would help the thing along. Sobundle up and start--that's right!" He set his spectacles straight andfairly beamed at her, as she ran out of the room.

  * * * * *

  "Dear me, you were so long in coming, Ben," Jasper was exclaiming fromhis big easy-chair. "I've been watching that door as a cat does a mousefor the last hour."

  "Hulloa!" said Ben, advancing to the chair. "And nonsense! You've onlyjust about finished your luncheon, I'll be bound."

  "Well, it seems ages ago," said Jasper, with a little laugh. "I tellyou, Ben, it's awfully dull to be kept in bed all the morning," and hemade a grimace at his canopied resting-place.

  "Well, you sat up so late last night; and just think of all that fun!"said Ben.

  "Oh, I know I'm an ungrateful wretch," said Jasper, bursting into alaugh. "Well, I don't care now, as long as Doctor Fisher allows me tohave you. Where are all the others, Ben?" he asked suddenly, as Benhurried to draw up a chair.

  "Oh, they are going to be with Madam Van Ruypen," said Ben, carelessly,making a great deal of unnecessary noise over getting the chair inplace.

  "Oh!" said Jasper.

  "You know those mountain children," said Ben, feeling something else wasexpected.

  "Yes," said Jasper, "I know. Is Polly going?"

  "Oh, yes, of course," said Ben, with wide eyes. "Why, they couldn't dowithout Polly, you know."

  "Of course not," said Jasper, then he twisted uneasily in his big chair."It's an awful nuisance to P
olly," he broke out.

  Ben said nothing, not thinking of anything that seemed just the rightthing to say.

  "And that girl--that Elvira. O dear me!" Jasper pulled himself upquickly.

  "So you'll just have to put up with this person this afternoon," saidBen.

  "And I'm sure I'll be glad to," cried Jasper, affectionately. "Oh, Ben!"He leaned over so that both of his pillows immediately tumbled out. "AndI was going to give you a regular bear hug," he said ruefully, as Benhopped up to put them in place again.

  "I'll be willing to put it off till you get well," said Ben, laughing."Now, then, see that you don't knock those out again," and he drew along breath. "Well, what do you want to do now?"

  "Oh, I tell you," said Jasper, and his dark eyes sparkled, "let us playchess. And do get the new ones that Father gave me last night at ourChristmas. We'll christen the set this afternoon."

  "We shall go twisted all the year, shan't we," said Ben, as he hurriedover to the table for a box of chessmen, in the midst of the overflow ofgifts, "because we had such a belated Christmas? Aren't these justfine?" coming back with it in his hand.

  "Aren't they so?" cried Jasper, seizing the box eagerly. "And isn'tFather good to give me a new set? And such beauties!" He emptied the boxon the sofa blanket across his knees, while Ben went to draw up a smalltable to set them on.

  "Oh, not that one," cried Jasper, looking up from his delightedexamination of his new treasure. "Do you suppose for an instant that I'mgoing to play on that old table when I have a brand-new one that SisterMarian gave me last night? Why, Ben Pepper, what are you thinking of?No-sir-ee! Not by a long shot!"

  "Excuse me, your high mightiness," said Ben, pushing back the old tableand hurrying over to get the new gift. "Will that suit your Majesty?" heasked, setting it down in front of Jasper's chair.

  "Perfectly," said Jasper, setting a good handful of the chessmen on thetable, and Ben, bunching the others up from the little hollow in thesofa blanket, they were soon all there in a heap.

  "Now which do you choose?" asked Jasper, putting a red and a white piecein either hand, and thrusting them behind him.

  "O dear me!" said Ben. "It won't make any difference, for you'll beat meall to death, just as usual."

  "Nonsense," laughed Jasper, "you know as much about the game as I do,Ben Pepper!"

  "Indeed I don't," said Ben, stoutly contradicting. "Why, you knock thelife out of me every time we play. Just think of that last score, JasperKing!"

  "Oh, well, a beat doesn't always signify who's the cleverest," saidJasper, quickly.

  "Doesn't it?" said Ben, with a little laugh. "Well, I always thought itdid."

  "Well, which do you choose?" said Jasper, impatiently. "We never shallget to playing if you don't make haste."

  "Oh, the right hand," said Ben.

  So the red queen was placed in Ben's hand, and the two boys fell to workto set the pieces. And the game began.

  "The same old story," said Ben, at its close. "There you go checkmatingme, and I haven't even begun to move half my men."

  "Oh, well, you'll have better luck next time," said Jasper, beginning toset his men again.

  "I'm going to get a paper and pencil for the score," said Ben, hurryingover to the desk in the corner. "There now, game number one, 'J' beats.I might as well mark ditto down for game number two and all the rest."

  "Nonsense!" exclaimed Jasper, who was now setting Ben's men. "You'llprobably beat me out of sight next time."

  "Probably," said Ben, sarcastically. And they fell to work again. And itwas ditto, and number three also. But on game number four the luckturned, and Jasper's men, after a long fight, were routed.

  "What did I tell you?" cried Jasper, who, although he had put up as gooda game as he could, was greatly pleased at Ben's success.

  "Oh, well, once," said Ben, leaning back in his chair. His round facewas very red and he mopped it with his handkerchief. "I worked harderthan I used to chopping wood," he said.

  "Well, we won't play any more," said Jasper, yet he looked longingly atthe men he was setting.

  "Oh, yes, we will; that is, when I've rested a minute," said Ben,getting out of his chair to walk up and down the big room and swing hisarms. "You set my men, and I'll be ready then."

  "Oh, walk away and swing all you want to," said Jasper, "I'll set yourmen. Oh, I say, Ben!"

  "What?" answered Ben, from the other end of the room.

  "Wouldn't it be good fun to go up to the mountains, where those poorchildren came from, next summer?" said Jasper. "That minister says thereis a capital camp up there."

  "Wouldn't it!" cried Ben, flying around. Then he came up to Jasper'schair, "And he's an awfully good sort of man," he declared, bringing hishand down on the chess-table so that all the red and white men danced.

  "Take care," warned Jasper, putting up both hands to the table-edge,"you'll have them all off. Yes, he is a splendid chap."

  "And the camp is a big one," Ben went on, his blue eyes alight, andraising his hand again.

  "Ow! Look out!" cried Jasper. But too late; down came Ben's hand, andaway flew half the chessmen, running off to all quarters.

  "O dear me!" exclaimed Ben, ruefully. "Now I have done it! Whatever didyou speak of that mountain camp for now, Jasper King?"

  "Well, I didn't suppose you'd think it necessary to knock over the wholething into flinders," said Jasper, and lying back against the pillows."You'll have a perfectly sweet time, now, Ben Pepper, picking all thoseup."

  "I rather guess I shall," said Ben, getting down on his hands and knees.When at last he placed the last one on the table he was quite ready tosit down and rest by beginning a new game.

  "And Father and Sister Marian could stay at the hotel, if they couldn'tstand camp life," Jasper was saying, as he set his men. "And--"

  "But I don't believe Grandpapa will want to," Ben was guilty ofinterrupting. "Mr. St. John says its splendid up at that camp. Oh,Jasper, don't you suppose we can go?" Ben was quite carried away now,and he got the king and queen all mixed up, while his knight and bishophad concluded to change places.

  "Oh, what a chap you are!" chaffed Jasper, pointing to them. "See what amess you've made!"

  "Well, I tell you, you mustn't talk about that camp, if you want me toplay," said Ben, desperately.

  "Oh, well, let's drop the camp," said Jasper, turning his dark eyes onthe chess-table, and revolving his plan, for it was his move.

  "But I can't. I've just got to talk camp," said Ben, stubbornly.

  "Well, you can't. We mustn't either of us talk," said Jasper, "when weare playing. Dear me, what a game that would be!"

  "Well, I've got to think camp, then," said Ben.

  "All right," said Jasper, "go ahead and think camp, if you must. Then Iwill beat you all around Robin Hood's barn."

  Which he did. And then, as so many things occurred to both of them thathad to be uttered about that mountain camp, the chessmen were shut up intheir box, the new Christmas game table set back carefully in thecorner, and the two boys gave themselves up without reserve to the grandplan for next summer.