CHAPTER VIII MISS CELIA'S MAN

circles. "Isweptallthepaths,"addedBab,withareproachfulglanceatseveralgreensprigsfallenfromtheloadofcloveronthesmoothwalk. "Icleareduptheporch,"andBetty'scleanpinaforeroseandfellwithalongsigh,asshesurveyedthelatesummerresidenceofherexiledfamily.MissCeliaguessedthemeaningofthatsigh,andmadehastetoturnitintoasmilebyaskinganxiously,— "Whathasbecomeoftheplaythings?Idon'tseethemanywhere." "Masaidyouwouldn'twantourdudsround,sowetookthemallhome,"answeredBetty,withawistfulface. "ButIdowantthemround.Ilikedollsandtoysalmostasmuchasever,andquitemissthelittle'duds'fromporchandpath.Supposeyoucometoteawithmeto-nightandbringsomeofthemback?Ishouldbeverysorrytorobyouofyourpleasantplay-place." "Oh,yes,'m,we'dlovetocome!andwe'llbringourbestthings." "Maalwaysletsushaveourshinypitchersandthechinapoodlewhenwegovisitingorhavecompanyathome,"saidBabandBetty,bothspeakingatonce. "Bringwhatyoulike,andI'llhuntupmytoys,too.Benistocomealso,andhispoodleisespeciallyinvited,"addedMissCelia,asSanchocameandbeggedbeforeher,feelingthatsomeagreeableprojectwasunderdiscussion. "Thankyou,miss.Itoldthemyou'dbewillingtheyshouldcomesometimes.Theylikethisplaceeversomuch,andsodoI,"saidBen,feelingthatfewspotscombinedsomanyadvantagesinthewayofclimbabletrees,archedgates,half-a-dozengables,andothercharmssuitedtothetasteofanaspiringyouthwhohadbeenaflyingCupidattheageofseven. "SodoI,"echoedMissCelia,heartily."TenyearsagoIcameherealittlegirl,andmadelilacchainsundertheseverybushes,andpickedchickweedoverthereformybird,androdeThornyinhisbaby-wagonupanddownthesepaths.Grandpalivedherethen,andwehadfinetimesbutnowtheyareallgoneexceptustwo." "Wehaven'tgotanyfather,either,"saidBab,forsomethinginMissCelia'sfacemadeherfeelasifacloudhadcomeoverthesun. "Ihaveafirst-ratefather,ifIonlyknewwherehe'dgoneto,"saidBen,lookingdownthepathaseagerlyasifonewaitedforhimbehindthelockedgate. "Youarearichboy,andyouarehappylittlegirlstohavesogoodamotherI'vefoundthatoutalready,"andthesunshoneagainastheyoungladynoddedtotheneat,rosychildrenbeforeher. "Youmayhaveapieceofherifyouwantto,'causeyouhaven'tgotanyofyourown,"saidBettywithapitifullookwhichmadeherblueeyesassweetastwowetviolets. "SoIwill!andyoushallbemylittlesisters.Ineverhadany,andI'dlovetotryhowitseems"andCeliatookboththechubbyhandsinhers,feelingreadytoloveeveryonethisfirstbrightmorninginthenewhome