The young gentlemen did not take the hint as quickly as Miss Celia hoped they would ; in fact , both looked rather blank at the suggestion , as boys generally do when it is proposed that girls -- especially small ones -- shall join in any game they are playing . `` P ` r ` aps it would be too much trouble , '' began Betty , in her winning little voice . `` I can make my own , '' declared Bab , with an independent toss of the head . `` Not a bit ; I 'll make you the jolliest small bow that ever was , Belinda , '' Thorny hastened to say , softened by the appealing glance of the little maid . `` You can use mine , Bab ; you 've got such a strong fist , I guess you could pull it , '' added Ben , remembering that it would not be amiss to have a comrade who shot worse than he did , for he felt very inferior to Thorny in many ways , and , being used to praise , had missed it very much since he retired to private life . `` I will be umpire , and brighten up the silver arrow I sometimes pin my hair with , for a prize , unless we can find something better , '' proposed Miss Celia , glad to see that question settled , and every prospect of the new play being a pleasant amusement for the hot weather . It was astonishing how soon archery became the fashion in that town , for the boys discussed it enthusiastically all that evening , formed the `` William Tell Club '' next day , with Bab and Betty as honorary members , and , before the week was out , nearly every lad was seen , like young Norval , `` With bended bow and quiver full of arrows , '' shooting away , with a charming disregard of the safety of their fellow citizens . Banished by the authorities to secluded spots , the members of the club set up their targets and practised indefatigably , especially Ben , who soon discovered that his early gymnastics had given him a sinewy arm and a true eye ; and , taking Sanch into partnership as picker-up , he got more shots out of an hour than those who had to run to and fro . Thorny easily recovered much of his former skill , but his strength had not fully returned , and he soon grew tired . Bab , on the contrary , threw herself into the contest heart and soul , and tugged away at the new bow Miss Celia gave her , for Ben 's was too heavy . No other girls were admitted , so the outsiders got up a club of their own , and called it `` The Victoria , '' the name being suggested by the magazine article , which went the rounds as a general guide and reference book . Bab and Betty belonged to this club and duly reported the doings of the boys , with whom they had a right to shoot if they chose , but soon waived the right , plainly seeing that their absence would be regarded in the light of a favor . The archery fever raged as fiercely as the base-ball epidemic had done before it , and not only did the magazine circulate freely , but Miss Edgeworth 's story , which was eagerly read , and so much admired that the girls at once mounted green ribbons , and the boys kept yards of whip-cord in their pockets like the provident Benjamin of the tale . Every one enjoyed the new play very much , and something grew out of it which was a lasting pleasure to many , long after the bows and arrows were forgotten . Seeing how glad the children were to get a new story , Miss Celia was moved to send a box of books -- old and new -- to the town library , which was but scantily supplied , as country libraries are apt to be . This donation produced a good effect ; for other people hunted up all the volumes they could spare for the same purpose , and the dusty shelves in the little room behind the post-office filled up amazingly . Coming in vacation time they were hailed with delight , and ancient books of travel , as well as modern tales , were feasted upon by happy young folks , with plenty of time to enjoy them in peace . The success of her first attempt at being a public benefactor pleased Miss Celia very much , and suggested other ways in which she might serve the quiet town , where she seemed to feel that work was waiting for her to do . She said little to any one but the friend over the sea , yet various plans were made then that blossomed beautifully by-and-by . CHAPTER XIX SPEAKING PIECES The first of September came all too soon , and school began .
Among the boys and girls who went trooping up to the `` East Corner knowledge-box , '' as they called it , was our friend XXXXX , with a pile of neat books under his arm .
Bab Belinda Ben Club Edgeworth XIX first fro right whip-cord