I should be very sorry to rob you of your pleasant play-place . '' `` Oh , yes , 'm , we 'd love to come ! and we 'll bring our best things . '' `` Ma always lets us have our shiny pitchers and the china poodle when we go visiting or have company at home , '' said Bab and Betty , both speaking at once . `` Bring what you like , and I 'll hunt up my toys , too . Ben is to come also , and his poodle is especially invited , '' added Miss Celia , as Sancho came and begged before her , feeling that some agreeable project was under discussion . `` Thank you , miss . I told them you 'd be willing they should come sometimes . They like this place ever so much , and so do I , '' said Ben , feeling that few spots combined so many advantages in the way of climbable trees , arched gates , half-a-dozen gables , and other charms suited to the taste of an aspiring youth who had been a flying Cupid at the age of seven . `` So do I , '' echoed Miss Celia , heartily . `` Ten years ago I came here a little girl , and made lilac chains under these very bushes , and picked chickweed over there for my bird , and rode Thorny in his baby-wagon up and down these paths . Grandpa lived here then , and we had fine times ; but now they are all gone except us two . '' `` We have n't got any father , either , '' said Bab , for something in Miss Celia 's face made her feel as if a cloud had come over the sun . `` I have a first-rate father , if I only knew where he 'd gone to , '' said Ben , looking down the path as eagerly as if one waited for him behind the locked gate . `` You are a rich boy , and you are happy little girls to have so good a mother ; I 've found that out already , '' and the sun shone again as the young lady nodded to the neat , rosy children before her . `` You may have a piece of her if you want to , 'cause you have n't got any of your own , '' said Betty with a pitiful look which made her blue eyes as sweet as two wet violets . `` So I will ! and you shall be my little sisters . I never had any , and I 'd love to try how it seems ; '' and Celia took both the chubby hands in hers , feeling ready to love every one this first bright morning in the new home , which she hoped to make a very happy one . Bab gave a satisfied nod , and fell to examining the rings upon the white hand that held her own .
But Betty put her arms about the new friend 's neck , and kissed her so softly that the hungry feeling in Miss XXXXX 's heart felt better directly ; for this was the food it wanted , and Thorny had not learned yet to return one half of the affection he received .
Bab Ben Betty Celia Cupid Grandpa Sancho baby-wagon chickweed play-place