The appearance of Miranda, the maid, reminded the children of their
errand, and having delivered their offerings, they were about to retire
in some confusion, when Miss Celia said pleasantly:
"I want to thank you for helping put things in such nice order. I see
signs of busy hands and feet both inside the house and all about the
grounds, and I am very much obliged."
"I raked the beds," said Ben, proudly eying the neat ovals and circles.
"I swept all the paths," added Bab, with a reproachful glance at
several green sprigs fallen from the load of clover on the smooth walk.
"I cleared up the porch," and Betty's clean pinafore rose and fell with
a long sigh, as she surveyed the late summer residence of her exiled
family.
Miss Celia guessed the meaning of that sigh, and made haste to turn it
into a smile by asking, anxiously:
"What _has_ become of the playthings? I don't see them anywhere."
"Ma said you wouldn't want our duds round, so we took them all home,"
answered Betty, with a wistful face.
"But I do want them round. I like dolls and toys almost as much as
ever, and quite miss the little "duds" from porch and path.
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