He made short work of the story , but was quite satisfied with the sensation it produced ; for his listener was startled , relieved , excited and charmed , in such rapid succession , that he was obliged to sit upon the meal-chest and get his breath before he Could exclaim , with an emphatic demonstration of his heels against the bin , -- `` Ben Brown , I 'll never forget what you 've done for Celia this day , or say ` bow-legs ' again as long as I live . '' `` George ! I felt as if I had six legs when we were going the pace . We were all one piece , and had a jolly spin , did n't we , my beauty ? '' and Ben chuckled as he took Lita 's head in his lap , while she answered with a gusty sigh that nearly blew him away . `` Like the fellow that brought the good news from Ghent to Aix , '' said Thorny , surveying the recumbent pair with great admiration . `` What follow ? '' asked Ben , wondering if he did n't mean Sheridan , of whose ride he had heard . `` Do n't you know that piece ? I spoke it at school . Give it to you now ; see if it is n't a rouser . '' And , glad to find a vent from his excitement , Thorny mounted the meal-chest , to thunder out that stirring ballad with such spirit that Lita pricked up her ears and Ben gave a shrill `` Hooray ! '' as the last verse ended . `` And all I remember is friends flocking round , As I sat with his head ` twixt my knees on the ground , And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine , As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine , Which -LRB- the burgesses voted by common consent -RRB- Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent . '' CHAPTER XVI DETECTIVE THORNTON A few days later , Miss Celia was able to go about with her arm in a sling , pale still , and rather stiff , but so much better than any one expected , that all agreed Mr. Paine was right in pronouncing Dr. Mills `` a master hand with broken bones . '' Two devoted little maids waited on her , two eager pages stood ready to run her errands , and friendly neighbors sent in delicacies enough to keep these four young persons busily employed in disposing of them . Every afternoon the great bamboo lounging chair was brought out and the interesting invalid conducted to it by stout Randa , who was head nurse , and followed by a train of shawl , cushion , foot-stool and book bearers , who buzzed about like swarming bees round a new queen . When all were settled , the little maids sewed and the pages read aloud , with much conversation by the way ; for one of the rules was , that all should listen attentively , and if any one did not understand what was read , he or she should ask to have it explained on the spot . Whoever could answer was invited to do so , and at the end of the reading Miss Celia could ask any she liked , or add any explanations which seemed necessary . In this way much pleasure and profit was extracted from the tales Ben and Thorny read , and much unexpected knowledge as well as ignorance displayed , not to mention piles of neatly hemmed towels for which Bab and Betty were paid like regular sewing-women .
So vacation was not all play , and the girls found their picnics , berry parties , and `` goin ' a visitin ' , '' all the more agreeable for the quiet hour spent with Miss XXXXX .
Aix Bab Celia Paine Roland THORNTON Thorny afternoon meal-chest sewing-women