Produced by Joanne Hogan. HTML version by Al Haines. Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott TO EMMA, IDA, CARL, AND LINA, Over The Sea, THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED BY THEIR NEW FRIEND AND SISTER, L. M. A. Contents I. A MYSTERIOUS DOG II. WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER III. BEN IV. HIS STORY V. BEN GETS A PLACE VI. A CIRCULATING LIBRARY VII. NEW FRIENDS TROT IN VIII. MISS CELIA'S MAN IX. A HAPPY TEA X. A HEAVY TROUBLE XI. SUNDAY XII. GOOD TIMES XIII. SOMEBODY RUNS AWAY XIV. SOMEBODY GETS LOST XV. BEN'S RIDE XVI. DETECTIVE THORNTON XVII. BETTY'S BRAVERY XVIII. BOWS AND ARROWS XIX. SPEAKING PIECES XX. BEN'S BIRTHDAY XXI. CUPID'S LAST APPEARANCE XXII. A BOY'S BARGAIN XXIII. SOMEBODY COMES XXIV. THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED UNDER THE LILACS CHAPTER I A MYSTERIOUS DOG The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years. Yet voices were heard about the place, the lilacs nodded over the high wall as if they said, "We could tell fine secrets if we chose," and the mullein outside the gate made haste to reach the keyhole, that it might peep in and see what was going on. If it had suddenly grown up like a magic bean-stalk, and looked in on a certain June day, it would have seen a droll but pleasant sight, for somebody evidently was going to have a party. From the gate to the porch went a wide walk, paved with smooth slabs of dark stone, and bordered with the tall bushes which met overhead, making a green roof. All sorts of neglected flowers and wild weeds grew between their stems, covering the walls of this summer parlor with the prettiest tapestry. A board, propped on two blocks of wood, stood in the middle of the walk, covered with a little plaid shawl much the worse for wear, and on it a miniature tea-service was set forth with great elegance. To be sure, the tea-pot had lost its spout, the cream-jug its handle, the sugar-bowl its cover, and the cups and plates were all more or less cracked or nicked; but polite persons would not take notice of these trifling deficiencies, and none but polite persons were invited to this party. On either side of the porch was a seat, and here a somewhat remarkable sight would have been revealed to any inquisitive eye peering through the aforesaid keyhole. Upon the left-hand seat lay seven dolls, upon the right-hand seat lay six; and so varied were the expressions of their countenances, owing to fractures, dirt, age, and other afflictions, that one would very naturally have thought this a doll's hospital, and these the patients waiting for their tea. This, however, would have been a sad mistake; for if the wind had lifted the coverings laid over them, it would have disclosed the fact that all were in full dress, and merely reposing before the feast should begin.