No one was visible to receive them, but the lowtable stood in the middle of the walk, with four chairsand a foot-stool around it. A pretty set of green andwhite china caused the girls to cast admiring looksupon the little cups and plates, while Ben eyed thefeast longingly¹, and Sancho with difficulty restrainedhimself from repeating his former naughtiness. Nowonder the dog sniffed³ and the children smiled, forthere was a noble display of little tarts⁴ and cakes,little biscuits and sandwiches, a pretty milk-pitchershaped like a white calla rising out of its green leaves,and a jolly little tea-kettle singing away over thespirit-lamp as cosily⁶ as you please.

 

　　"Isn't it perfectly⁷ lovely?" whispered Betty, whohad never seen any thing like it before.

 

　　"I just wish Sally could see us now," answered Bab,who had not yet forgiven her enemy.

 

　　"Wonder where the boy is," added Ben, feelingas good as any one, but rather doubtful how othersmight regard him.

 

　　Here a rumbling⁸ sound caused the guests to looktoward the garden, and in a moment Miss Celia appeared,pushing a wheeled chair, in which sat herbrother. A gay afghan covered the long legs, abroad-brimmed hat half hid the big eyes, and a discontentedexpression made the thin face as unattractive as thefretful voice, which said, complainingly, --"If they make a noise, I'll go in. Don't see whatyou asked them for.""To amuse you, dear. I know they will, if youwill only try to like them," whispered the sister, smiling,and nodding over the chair-back as she came on,adding aloud, "Such a punctual party! I am allready, however, and we will sit down at once. Thisis my brother Thornton, and we are all going to bevery good friends by-and-by. Here 's the

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