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Benjy, Caddy said, Benjy. She
put her arms around me again, but I went away. "What is it,
Benjy." she said. "Is it this hat." She took her hat off and
came again, and I went away.
"Benjy." she said. "What is it, Benjy.
What has Caddy done."
"He dont like that prissy dress." Jason
said. "You think you're grown up, dont you. You think you're better than
anybody else, dont you. Prissy."
"You shut your mouth." Caddy said. "You
dirty little beast. Benjy."
"Just because you are fourteen, you think you're
grown up, dont you."
Jason said. "You think you're something. Dont
you."
"Hush, Benjy." Caddy said. "You'll
disturb Mother. Hush."
But I didn't hush, and when she went away I followed,
and she stopped on the stairs and waited and I stopped too.
"What is it, Benjy." Caddy said. "Tell
Caddy. She'll do it. Try."
"Candace." Mother said.
"Yessum." Caddy said.
"Why are you teasing him." Mother said.
"Bring him here."
We went to Mother's room, where she was lying with the
sickness on a cloth on her head.
"What is the matter now." Mother said.
"Benjamin.
"Benjy." Caddy said. She came again, but I
went away.
"You must have done something to him."
Mother said. "Why wont you let him alone, so I can have some peace. Give
him the box and please go on and let him alone."
Caddy got the box and set it on the floor and opened
it. It was full of stars. When I was still, they were still. When I moved, they
glinted and sparkled. I hushed.
Then I heard Caddy walking and I began again.
"Benjamin." Mother said. "Come
here." I went to the door. "You, Benjamin." Mother said.
"What is it now." Father said. "Where
are you going."
"Take him downstairs and get someone to watch
him, Jason." Mother said. "You know I'm ill, yet
you "
Father shut the door behind us.
"T.P." he said.
"Sir." T.P. said downstairs.
"Benjy's coming down." Father said. "Go
with T.P."
I went to the bathroom door. I could hear the water.
"Benjy." T.P. said downstairs.
I could hear the water. I listened to it.
"Benjy." T.P. said downstairs.I listened to
the water.
I couldn't hear the water, and Caddy opened the door.
"Why, Benjy." she said. She looked at me and
I went and she put her arms around me. "Did you find Caddy again."
she said. "Did you think Caddy had run away." Caddy smelled like
trees.
We went to Caddy's room. She sat down at the mirror.
She stopped her hands and looked at me.
"Why, Benjy. What is it." she said.
"You mustn't cry. Caddy's not going away. See here." she said. She
took up the bottle and took the stopper out and held it to my nose.
"Sweet. Smell. Good."
I went away and I didn't hush, and she held the bottle
in her hand, looking at me.
"Oh." she said. She put the bottle down and
came and put her arms around me. "So that was it. And you were trying to
tell Caddy and you couldn't tell her. You wanted to, but you couldn't, could
you. Of course Caddy wont. Of course Caddy wont. Just wait till I dress."
Caddy dressed and took up the bottle again and we went
down to the kitchen.
"Dilsey." Caddy said. "Benjy's got a
present for you." She stooped down and pot the bottle in my hand.
"Hold it out to Dilsey, now." Caddy held my hand out and Dilsey took
the bottle.
"Well I'll declare." Dilsey said. "If
my baby aint give Dilsey a bottle of perfume. Just look here, Roskus."
Caddy smelled like trees. "We dont like perfume
ourselves." Caddy said.
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