CHAPTER VIII MISS CELIA'S MAN

,whichshehopedtomakeaveryhappyone. Babgaveasatisfiednod,andfelltoexaminingtheringsuponthewhitehandthatheldherown.ButBettyputherarmsaboutthenewfriend'sneck,andkissedhersosoftlythatthehungryfeelinginMissCelia'sheartfeltbetterdirectlyforthiswasthefooditwanted,andThornyhadnotlearnedyettoreturnonehalfoftheaffectionhereceived.Holdingthechildclose,sheplayedwiththeyellowbraidswhileshetoldthemaboutthelittleGermangirlsintheirfunnyblack-silkcaps,short-waistedgowns,andwoodenshoes,whomsheusedtoseewateringlongwebsoflinenbleachingonthegrass,watchinggreatflocksofgeese,ordrivingpigstomarket,knittingorspinningastheywent. Presently"Randa,"asshecalledherstoutmaid,cametotellherthat"MasterThornycouldn'twaitanotherminute"andshewentintobreakfastwithagoodappetite,whilethechildrenracedhometobounceinuponMrs.Moss,talkingallatoncelikelittlelunatics. "Thephaetonatfour,—sosweetinabeautifulwhitegown,—goingtotea,andSanchoandallthebabythingsinvited.Can'twewearourSundayfrocks?AsplendidnewnetforLita.Andshelikesdolls.Goody,goody,won'titbefun!" Withmuchdifficultytheirmothergotaclearaccountoftheapproachingfestivityoutoftheeagermouths,andwithstillmoredifficulty,gotbreakfastintothem,forthechildrenhadfewpleasures,andthisbrilliantprospectratherturnedtheirheads. BabandBettythoughtthedaywouldneverend,andcheeredthelonghoursbyexpatiatingonthepleasuresinstoreforthem,tilltheirplaymatesweremuchafflictedbecausetheywerenotgoingalso.Atnoontheirmotherkeptthemfromrunningovertotheoldhouselesttheyshouldbeinthewaysotheyconsoledthemselvesbygoingtothesyringabushatthecornerandsniffingthesavoryodorswhichcamefromthekitchen,whereKaty,thecook,wasevidentlymakingnicethingsfortea. BenworkedasifforawagertillfourthenstoodoverPatwhilehecurriedLitatillhercoatshonelikesatin,thendrovehergentlydowntothecoach-house,wherehehadthesatisfactionofharnessingher"allhisownself". "ShallIgoroundtothegreatgateandwaitforyouthere,miss?"heasked,whenallwasready,lookingupattheporch,wheretheyoungladystoodwatchinghimassheputonhergloves. "No,Ben,thegreatgateisnottobeopenedtillnextOctober.Ishallgoinandoutbythelodge,andleavetheavenuetograssanddandelions,meantime,"answeredMissCelia,asshesteppedinandtookthereins,withasuddensmile. Butshedidnotstart,evenwhenBenhadshakenoutthenewdusterandlaiditneatlyoverherknees. "Isn'titallrightnow?"askedtheboy,anxiously. "NotquiteIneedonethingm