Ben was still sleeping, when something tickled his nose. He rubbed
it vigorously with his forefinger and opened his eyes, confused
and bewildered.
An odd, chuckling laugh at his elbow drew his gaze hither. There
stood Linna, with the sprig of oak which she had been passing back
and forth under the base of his nose, making it feel for all the
world like a fly titillating his nostrils.
Ben made an attempt to catch the mischievous girl, but she deftly
eluded him, and laughed so heartily that the others awoke and looked
wonderingly to learn what it all meant.
"I'll pay you for that!" exclaimed the lad, as his mother raised
her head from his lap. Bounding to his feet, he darted after Linna,
but she was so nimble, and dodged back and forth and from right to
left so fast, that it took much effort to run her down.
Like all little girls, she was very "ticklish," and when he dallied
with his fingers about her plump neck, she dropped to the ground
and kicked and rolled over to get away from him. He let her up,
and said with pretended gravity that he never allowed any trifling
with him without punishing the person therefore.
Linna did not seem to notice the absence of her father, and asked
no questions. Ben told his mother how he went off after she fell
asleep, and the good woman saddened, for she was sure she understood
it all.
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