CHAPTER IX A HAPPY TEA

Exactlyfiveminutesbeforesixthepartyarrivedingreatstate,forBabandBettyworetheirbestfrocksandhair-ribbons,Benhadanewblueshirtandhisshoesonasfull-dress,andSancho'scurlswerenicelybrushed,hisfrillsaswhiteasifjustdoneup. Noonewasvisibletoreceivethem,butthelowtablestoodinthemiddleofthewalk,withfourchairsandafoot-stoolaroundit.Aprettysetofgreenandwhitechinacausedthegirlstocastadmiringlooksuponthelittlecupsandplates,whileBeneyedthefeastlongingly,andSanchowithdifficultyrestrainedhimselffromrepeatinghisformernaughtiness.Nowonderthedogsniffedandthechildrensmiled,fortherewasanobledisplayoflittletartsandcakes,littlebiscuitsandsandwiches,aprettymilk-pitchershapedlikeawhitecallarisingoutofitsgreenleaves,andajollylittletea-kettlesingingawayoverthespirit-lampascosilyasyouplease. "Isn'titperfectlylovely?"whisperedBetty,whohadneverseenanythinglikeitbefore. "IjustwishSallycouldseeusnow,"answeredBab,whohadnotyetforgivenherenemy. "Wonderwheretheboyis,"addedBen,feelingasgoodasanyone,butratherdoubtfulhowothersmightregardhim. Herearumblingsoundcausedthegueststolooktowardthegarden,andinamomentMissCeliaappeared,pushingawheeledchair,inwhichsatherbrother.Agayafghancoveredthelonglegs,abroad-brimmedhathalfhidthebigeyes,andadiscontentedexpressionmadethethinfaceasunattractiveasthefretfulvoice,whichsaid,complainingly,— "Iftheymakeanoise,I'llgoin.Don'tseewhatyouaskedthemfor." "Toamuseyou,dear.Iknowtheywill,ifyouwillonlytrytolikethem,"whisperedthesister,smiling,andnoddingoverthechair-backasshecameon,addingaloud,"Suchapunctualparty!Iamallready,however,andwewillsitdownatonce.ThisismybrotherThornton,andweareallgoingtobeverygoodfriendsby-and-by.Here'sthedrolldog,Thornyisn'theniceandcurly?" Now,Benhadheardwhattheotherboysaid,andmadeuphismindthatheshouldn'tlikehimandThornyhaddecidedbeforehandthathewouldn'tplaywithatramp,evenifhecutcapersgobothlookeddecidedlycoolandindifferentwhenMissCeliaintroducedthem.ButSanchohadbettermannersandnofoolishpridehe,therefore,setthemagoodexamplebyapproachingthechair,withhistailwavinglikeaflagoftruce,andpolitelypresentedhisruffledpawforaheartyshake. Thornycouldnotresistthatappeal,andpattedthewhitehead,withafriendlylookintotheaffectionateeyesofthedog,sayingtohissisterashedidso,— "Whatawiseoldfellowheis!Itseemsasifhecouldalmostspeak,doesn'tit?" "Hecan.Say'Howdoyoudo,'Sanch,"commandedBen,relentingatonce,forhesawadmirationinThorny'sface. "Wow,wow,wow!"remarkedSancho,inamildandconversationaltone,sittingupandtouchingonepawtohishead,asifhesalutedbytakingoffhishat.Thornylaughedinspiteofhimself,andMissCeliaseeingthattheicewasbroken,wheeledhimtohisplaceatthefootofthetable.Then,seatingthelittlegirlsononeside,Benandthedogontheother,tooktheheadherselfandtoldhergueststobegin.BabandBettyweresoonchatteringawaytotheirpleasanthostessasfreelyasiftheyhadknownherformonthsbuttheboyswerestillrathershy,andmadeSanchothemediumthroughwhichtheyaddressedoneanother.Theexcellentbe