But he did not forget to thank Mrs. Moss for the cake she sent him , nor the girls for the red mittens which they had secretly and painfully knit . Bab 's was long and thin , with a very pointed thumb , Betty 's short and wide , with a stubby thumb , and all their mother 's pulling and pressing could not make them look alike , to the great affliction of the little knitters . Ben , however , assured them that he rather preferred odd ones , as then he could always tell which was right and which left . He put them on immediately and went about cracking the new whip with an expression of content which was droll to see , while the children followed after , full of admiration for the hero of the day . They were very busy all the morning preparing for the festivities to come , and as soon as dinner was over every one scrambled into his or her best clothes as fast as possible , because , although invited to come at two , impatient boys and girls were seen hovering about the avenue as early as one . The first to arrive , however , was an uninvited guest , for just as Bab and Betty sat down on the porch steps , in their stiff pink calico frocks and white ruffled aprons , to repose a moment before the party came in , a rustling was heard among the lilacs , and out stepped Alfred Tennyson Barlow , looking like a small Robin Hood , in a green blouse with a silver buckle on his broad belt , a feather in his little cap and a bow in his hand . `` I have come to shoot . I heard about it . My papa told me what arching meant . Will there be any little cakes ? I like them . '' With these opening remarks the poet took a seat and calmly awaited a response . The young ladies , I regret to say , giggled , then remembering their manners , hastened to inform him that there would be heaps of cakes , also that Miss Celia would not mind his coming without an invitation , they were quite sure . `` She asked me to come that day . I have been very busy . I had measles . Do you have them here ? '' asked the guest , as if anxious to compare notes on the sad subject . `` We had ours ever so long ago . What have you been doing besides having measles ? ''
said XXXXX , showing a polite interest .
Bab Barlow Ben Betty Celia Hood Moss frocks knitters left