Ben was absorbed in his flags, which were sprinkled all down the
avenue with a lavish display, suggesting several Fourth-of-Julys rolled
into one. Mr. Brown had come down to lend a hand, and did so most
energetically, for the break-neck things he did with his son during the
decoration fever would have terrified Mrs. Moss out of her wits if she
had not been in the house giving last touches to every room, while Ronda
and Katy set forth a sumptuous tea.
All was going well, and the train would be due in an hour, when luckless
Bab nearly turned the rejoicing into mourning, the feast into ashes. She
heard her mother say to Ronda, "There ought to be a fire in every room,
it looks so cheerful, and the air is chilly spite of the sunshine," and
never waiting to hear the reply that some of the long-unused chimneys
were not safe till cleaned, off went Bab with an apron full of old
shingles and made a roaring blaze in the front room fire-place, which
was of all others the one to be let alone, as the flue was out of order.
Charmed with the brilliant light and the crackle of the tindery fuel,
Miss Bab refilled her apron and fed the fire till the chimney began to
rumble ominously, sparks to fly out at the top, and soot and swallows'
nests to come tumbling down upon the hearth. Then, scared at what she
had done, the little mischief-maker hastily buried her fire, swept up
the rubbish, and ran off, thinking no one would discover her prank if
she never told.
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