And she likes dolls . Goody , goody , wo n't 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 . `` Is n't it all right now ? '' asked the boy , anxiously . `` Not quite ; I need one thing more . Ca n'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 been omitted . `` No , miss , I do n't see -- '' he began , much mortified to think he had forgotten any thing . `` Would n't a little groom up behind improve the appearance of my turnout ? '' she said , with a look which left no doubt in his mind that he was to be the happy boy to occupy that proud perch . He grew red with pleasure , but stammered , as he hesitated , looking down at his bare feet and blue shirt , -- `` I ai n't fit , miss ; and I have n't got any other clothes . ''
Miss XXXXX only smiled again more kindly than before , and answered , in a tone which he understood better than her words , -- `` A great man said his coat-of-arms was a pair of shirt-sleeves , and a sweet poet sang about a barefooted boy ; so I need not be too proud to ride with one .
Ben Ca Celia Katy Pat duster hind-wheel hours left phaeton