in a way which would have attracted attention if Lita 's head had not popped out of her box , more than once , to survey the invaders of her abode , with a much astonished expression . `` Sounds kind of circusy , do n't it ? '' said Sam to Billy , who had come out to receive the compliments of the company and enjoy the tableau at a safe distance . `` You just wait till you see what 's coming . It beats any circus I ever saw , '' answered Billy , rubbing his hands with the air of a man who had seen many instead of but one . `` Ready ! Be quick and get out of the way when she goes off ! '' whispered Ben , but they heard him and prepared for pistols , rockets or combustibles of some sort , as ships were impossible under the circumstances , and no other `` She '' occurred to them . A unanimous `` O-o-o-o ! '' was heard when the curtain rose , but a stern `` Hush ! '' from Thorny kept them mutely staring with all their eyes at the grand spectacle of the evening . There stood Lita with a wide flat saddle on her back , a white head-stall and reins , blue rosettes in her ears , and the look of a much-bewildered beast in her bright eyes . But who the gauzy , spangled , winged creature was , with a gilt crown on its head , a little bow in its hand , and one white slipper in the air , while the other seemed merely to touch the saddle , no one could tell for a minute , so strange and splendid did the apparition appear . No wonder Ben was not recognized in this brilliant disguise , which was more natural to him than Billy 's blue flannel or Thorny 's respectable garments . He had so begged to be allowed to show himself `` just once , '' as he used to be in the days when `` father '' tossed him up on the bare-backed old General , for hundreds to see and admire , that Miss Celia had consented , much against her will , and hastily arranged some bits of spangled tarlatan over the white cotton suit which was to simulate the regulation tights . Her old dancing slippers fitted , and gold paper did the rest , while Ben , sure of his power over Lita , promised not to break his bones , and lived for days on the thought of the moment when he could show the boys that he had not boasted vainly of past splendors . Before the delighted children could get their breath , Lita gave signs of her dislike to the foot-lights , and , gathering up the reins that lay on her neck , Ben gave the old cry , `` Houp-la ! '' and let her go , as he had often done before , straight out of the coach-house for a gallop round the orchard . `` Just turn about and you can see perfectly well , but stay where you are till he comes back , '' commanded Thorny , as signs of commotion appeared in the excited audience . Round went the twenty children as if turned by one crank , and sitting there they looked out into the moonlight where the shining figure flashed to and fro , now so near they could see the smiling face under the crown , now so far away that it glittered like a fire-fly among the dusky green .
XXXXX enjoyed that race as heartily as she had done several others of late , and caracoled about as if anxious to make up for her lack of skill by speed and obedience .
Houp-la Lita Thorny coach-house evening fro gauzy head-stall minute tarlatan