`` Celia , did you bring our old bows ? '' asked her brother , eagerly , as she put down the book from which she had been reading Miss Edgeworth 's capital story of `` Waste not Want not ; or , Two Strings to your Bow . '' `` Yes , I brought all the playthings we left stored away in uncle 's garret when we went abroad . The bows are in the long box where you found the mallets , fishing-rods , and bats . The old quivers and a few arrows are there also , I believe . What is the idea now ? asked Miss Celia in her turn , as Thorny bounced up in a great hurry . `` I 'm going to teach Ben to shoot . Grand fun this hot weather ; and by-and-by we 'll have an archery meeting , and you can give us a prize . Come on , Ben . I 've got plenty of whip-cord to rig up the bows , and then we 'll show the ladies some first-class shooting . '' `` I ca n't ; never had a decent bow in my life . The little gilt one I used to wave round when I was a Coopid was n't worth a cent to go , '' answered Ben , feeling as if that painted `` prodigy '' must have been a very distant connection of the respectable young person now walking off arm in arm with the lord of the manor . `` Practice is all you want . I used to be a capital shot , but I do n't believe I could hit any thing but a barn-door now , '' answered Thorny , encouragingly . As the boys vanished , with much tramping of boots and banging of doors , Bab observed , in the young-ladyish tone she was apt to use when she composed her active little mind and body to the feminine task of needlework , -- `` We used to make bows of whalebone when we were little girls , but we are too old to play so now . '' `` I 'd like to , but Bab wo n't , 'cause she 's most ` leven years old , '' said honest Betty , placidly rubbing her needle in the `` ruster , '' as she called the family emery-bag . `` Grown people enjoy archery , as bow and arrow shooting is called , especially in England . I was reading about it the other day , and saw a picture of Queen Victoria with her bow ; so you need n't be ashamed of it , Bab , '' said Miss Celia , rummaging among the books and papers in her sofa corner to find the magazine she wanted , thinking a new play would be as good for the girls as for the big boys . `` A queen , just think ! ''
and XXXXX looked much impressed by the fact , as well as uplifted by the knowledge that her friend did not agree in thinking her silly because she preferred playing with a harmless home-made toy to firing stones or snapping a pop-gun .
Ben Betty England barn-door emery-bag left needlework playthings whalebone whip-cord