`` You may make as much noise as you like , now ; Lita 's had her run and will be as quiet as a lamb after it . Pull up , Ben , and come in ; sister says you 'll get cold , '' shouted Thorny , as the rider came cantering round after a leap over the lodge gate and back again . So Ben pulled up , and the admiring boys and girls were allowed to gather about him , loud in their praises as they examined the pretty mare and the mythological character who lay easily on her back . He looked very little like the god of love now ; for he had lost one slipper and splashed his white legs with dew and dust , the crown had slipped down upon his neck , and the paper wings hung in an apple-tree where he had left them as he went by . No trouble in recognizing Ben , now ; but somehow he did n't want to be seen , and , instead of staying to be praised , he soon slipped away , making Lita his excuse to vanish behind the curtain while the rest went into the house to have a finishing-off game of blindman 's - buff in the big kitchen . `` Well , Ben , are you satisfied ? '' asked Miss Celia , as she stayed a moment to unpin the remains of his gauzy scarf and tunic . `` Yes , 'm , thank you , it was tip-top . '' `` But you look rather sober . Are you tired , or is it because you do n't want to take these trappings off and be plain Ben again ? '' she said , looking down into his face as he lifted it for her to free him from his gilded collar . `` I want to take 'em off ; for somehow I do n't feel respectable , '' and he kicked away the crown he had helped to make so carefully , adding with a glance that said more than his words : `` I 'd rather be ` plain Ben ' than any one else , for you like to have me . '' `` Indeed I do ; and I 'm so glad to hear you say that , because I was afraid you 'd long to be off to the old ways , and all I 've tried to do would be undone . Would you like to go back , Ben ? '' and Miss Celia held his chin an instant , to watch the brown face that looked so honestly back at her . `` No , I would n't -- unless -- he was there and wanted me . '' The chin quivered just a bit , but the black eyes were as bright as ever , and the boy 's voice so earnest , she knew he spoke the truth , and laid her white hand softly on his head , as she answered in the tone he loved so much , because no one else had ever used it to him , -- `` Father is not there ; but I know he wants you , dear , and I am sure he would rather see you in a home like this than in the place you came from . Now go and dress ; but , tell me first , has it been a happy birthday ? '' `` Oh , Miss Celia ! I did n't know they could be so beautiful , and this is the beautifulest part of it ; I do n't know how to thank you , but I 'm going to try -- '' and , finding words would n't come fast enough , Ben just put his two arms round her , quite speechless with gratitude ; then , as if ashamed of his little outburst , he knelt down in a great hurry to untie his one shoe .
But Miss XXXXX liked his answer better than the finest speech ever made her , and went away through the moonlight , saying to herself , -- `` If I can bring one lost lamb into the fold , I shall be the fitter for a shepherd 's wife , by-and-by . ''
Ben Celia Father Lita back blindman crown first left one