Miss Celia had been gone a fortnight, and every one was longing to have
her back. The first week brought Ben a newspaper, with a crinkly line
drawn round the "marriages" to attract attention to that spot, and one
was marked by a black frame with a large hand pointing at it from the
margin. Thorny sent that, but the next week came a parcel for Mrs. Moss,
and in it was discovered a box of wedding-cake for every member of the
family, including Sancho, who ate his at one gulp and chewed up the lace
paper which covered it. This was the third week, and as if there could
not be happiness enough crowded into it for Ben, the letter he read on
his way home told him that his dear mistress was coming back on the
following Saturday. One passage particularly pleased him:
"I want the great gate opened, so that the new master may go in that
way. Will you see that it is done, and all made neat afterward. Ronda
will give you the key, and you may have out all your flags if you like,
for the old place cannot look too gay for this home-coming."
Sunday though it was, Ben could not help waving the letter over his head
as he ran in to tell Mrs. Moss the glad news, and begin at once to plan
the welcome they would give Miss Celia, for he never called her anything
else.
During their afternoon stroll in the mellow sunshine, Ben continued to
talk of her, never tired of telling about his happy summer under her
roof.
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