whom she used to
see watering long webs of linen bleaching on the grass, watching great
flocks of geese, or driving pigs to market, knitting or spinning as
they went.

Presently, "Randa," as she called her stout maid, came to tell her that
"Master Thorny couldn't wait another minute," and she went in to
breakfast with a good appetite, while the children raced home to bounce
in upon Mrs. Moss, talking all at once like little lunatics.

"The phaeton at four,--so sweet in a beautiful white gown,---going to
tea, and Sancho and all the baby things invited. Can't we wear our
Sunday frocks? A splendid new net for Lita. And she likes dolls. Goody,
goody, wont it be fun!"

With much difficulty their mother got a clear account of the
approaching festivity out of the eager mouths, and with still more
difficulty got breakfast into them, for the children had few pleasures,
and this brilliant prospect rather turned their heads.

Bab and Betty thought the day would never end, and cheered the long
hours by expatiating on the pleasures in store for them, till their
playmates were much afflicted because they were not going also. At
noon their mother kept them from running over to the old house lest
they should be in the way, so they consoled themselves by going to the
syringa bush at the corner and sniffing the savory odors which came
from the kitchen, where Katy, the cook, was evidently making nice
things for tea.

Ben worked as if for a wager till four, then stood over Pat while he
curried Lita till her coat shone like satin, then drove her gently down
to the coach-house, where he had the satisfaction of harnessing her
"all his own self."

"Shall I go round to the great gate and wait for you there, miss?" he
asked, when all was ready, looking up at the porch where the young lady
stood watching him as she put on her gloves.

"No, Ben, the great gate is not to be opened till next October. I shall
go in and out by the lodge, and leave the avenue to grass and
dandelions, meantime," answered Miss Celia, as she stepped in and took
the reins, with a sudden smile.

But she did not start even when Ben had shaken out the new duster and
laid it neatly over her knees.

"Isn't it all right now?" asked the boy, anxiously.

"Not quite; I need one thing more. Can't you guess what it is?"--and
Miss Celia watched his anxious face as his eyes wandered from the tips
of Lita's ears to the hind-wheel of the phaeton, trying to discover
what had