Ten minutes of this decorous demeanor made it absolutely necessary for him to stir; so he unfolded his arms and crossed his legs as cautiously as a mouse moves in the presence of a cat; for Mrs.Allen's eye was on him, and he knew by experience that it was a very sharp one.
The music which presently began was a great relief to him, for under cover of it he could wag his foot and no one heard the creak thereof; and when they stood up to sing, he was so sure that all the boys were looking at him, he was glad to sit down again.

The good old minister read the sixteenth chapter of Samuel, and then proceeded to preach a long and somewhat dull sermon.

Ben listened with all his ears, for he was interested in the young shepherd, "ruddy and of a beautiful countenance," who was chosen to be Saul's armor-bearer.

He wanted to hear more about him, and how he got on, and whether the evil spirits troubled Saul again after David had harped them out.

But nothing more came; and the old gentleman droned on about other things till poor Ben felt that he must either go to sleep like the Squire, or tip the stool over by accident, since "nestling" was forbidden, and relief of some sort he must have.
Mrs.Allen gave him a peppermint, and he dutifully ate it, though it was so hot it made his eyes water.