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 Celia 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 . '' CHAPTER XXII A BOY 'S BARGAIN It was some days before the children were tired of talking over Ben 's birthday party ; for it was a great event in their small world ; but , gradually , newer pleasures came to occupy their minds , and they began to plan the nutting frolics which always followed the early frosts . While waiting for Jack to open the chestnut burrs , they varied the monotony of school life by a lively scrimmage long known as `` the wood-pile fight . '' The girls liked to play in the half-empty shed , and the boys , merely for the fun of teasing , declared that they should not , so blocked up the doorway as fast as the girls cleared it . Seeing that the squabble was a merry one , and the exercise better for all than lounging in the sun or reading in school during recess , Teacher did not interfere , and the barrier rose and fell almost as regularly as the tide . It would be difficult to say which side worked the harder ; for the boys went before school began to build up the barricade , and the girls stayed after lessons were over to pull down the last one made in afternoon recess .
They had their play-time XXXXX ; and , while the boys waited inside , they heard the shouts of the girls , the banging of the wood , and the final crash , as the well-packed pile went down .
Ben Celia Father Jack Teacher by-and-by days first nutting squabble