and Ben gratefully surveyed the Arab chief , now his own , though the best of all the collection . `` Wo n't we have splendid times ? She Says we may come over every night and play with her and Thorny . '' `` And she 's goin ' , to have the seats in the porch lift up , so we can put our things in there all day and have 'em handy . '' `` And I 'm going to be her boy , and stay here all the time . I guess the letter I brought was a recommend from the Squire . '' `` Yes , Ben ; and if I had not already made up my mind to keep you before , I certainly would now , my boy . '' Something in Miss Celia 's voice , as she said the last two words with her hand on Ben 's shoulder , made him look up quickly and turn red with pleasure , wondering what the Squire had written about him . `` Mother must have some of the party ; so you shall take her these , Bab , and Betty may carry Baby home for the night . She is so nicely asleep , it is a pity to wake her . Good by till to-morrow , little neighbors , '' continued Miss Celia , and dismissed the girls with a kiss . `` Is Ben coming , too ? '' asked Bab , as Betty trotted off in a silent rapture with the big darling bobbing over her shoulder . `` Not yet ; I 've several things to settle with my new man . Tell mother he will come by-and-by . '' Off rushed Bab with the plateful of goodies ; and , drawing Ben down beside her on the wide step , Miss Celia took out the letters , with a shadow creeping over her face as softly as the twilight was stealing over the world , while the dew fell , and every thing grew still and dim . `` Ben , dear , I 've something to tell you , '' she began , slowly ; and the boy waited with a happy face , for no one had called him so since ` Melia died . `` The Squire has heard about your father , and this is the letter Mr. Smithers sends . '' `` Hooray ! where is he , please ? ''
cried XXXXX , wishing she would hurry up ; for Miss Celia did not even offer him the letter , but sat looking down at Sancho on the lower step , as if she wanted him to come and help her .
Arab Ben Betty Celia Mother Smithers Squire day plateful stealing