`` I 'll give you a line to Towne . Smithers spoke well of you , and your own ability will be the best recommendation , '' said the Squire , as he parted from them at his door , having given Ben the letter . Miss Celia had been gone a fortnight , and every one was longing to have her back . The first week brought Ben a newspaper , with a crinkly line drawn round the marriages to attract attention to that spot , and one was marked by a black frame with a large hand pointing at it from the margin . Thorny sent that ; but the next week came a parcel for Mrs. Moss , and in it was discovered a box of wedding cake for every member of the family , including Sancho , who ate his at one gulp , and chewed up the lace paper which covered it . This was the third week ; and , as if there could not be happiness enough crowded into it for Ben , the letter he read on his way home told him that his dear mistress was coming back on the following Saturday . One passage particularly pleased him , -- `` I want the great gate opened , so that the new master may go in that way . Will you see that it is done , and all made neat afterward ? Randa will give you the key , and you may have out all your flags if you like , for the old place can not look too gay for this home-coming . '' Sunday though it was , Ben could not help waving the letter over his head as he ran in to tell Mrs. Moss the glad news , and begin at once to plan the welcome they would give Miss Celia , for he never called her any thing else . During their afternoon stroll in the mellow sunshine , Ben continued to talk of her , never tired of telling about his happy summer under her roof . And Mr. Brown was never weary of hearing , for every hour showed him more plainly what a lovely miracle her gentle words had wrought , and every hour increased his gratitude , his desire to return the kindness in some humble way . He had his wish , and did his part handsomely when he least expected to have a chance . On Monday he saw Mr. Towne , and , thanks to the Squire 's good word , was engaged for a month on trial , making himself so useful that it was soon evident he was the right man in the right place . He lived on the hill , but managed to get down to the little brown house in the evening for a word with Ben , who just now was as full of business as if the President and his Cabinet were coming . Every thing was put in apple-pie order in and about the old house ; the great gate , with much creaking of rusty hinges and some clearing away of rubbish , was set wide open , and the first creature who entered it was Sancho , solemnly dragging the dead mullein which long ago had grown above the keyhole . October frosts seemed to have spared some of the brightest leaves for this especial occasion ; and on Saturday the arched gate-way was hung with gay wreaths , red and yellow sprays strewed the flags , and the porch was a blaze of color with the red woodbine , that was in its glory when the honeysuckle was leafless . Fortunately it was a half-holiday , so the children could trim and chatter to their heart 's content , and the little girls ran about sticking funny decorations where no one would ever think of looking for them . Ben was absorbed in his flags , which were sprinkled all down the avenue with a lavish display , suggesting several Fourth of Julys rolled into one . Mr. Brown had come to lend a hand , and did so most energetically , for the break-neck things he did with his son during the decoration fever would have terrified Mrs. Moss out of her wits , if she had not been in the house giving last touches to every room , while Randa and Katy set forth a sumptuous tea .
All was going well , and the train would be due in an XXXXX , when luckless Bab nearly turned the rejoicing into mourning , the feast into ashes .
Ben Celia President Sancho Towne fortnight half-holiday hour mullein woodbine