and let her go , as he had often done before , straight out of the coach-house for a gallop round the orchard . `` Just turn about and you can see perfectly well , but stay where you are till he comes back , '' commanded Thorny , as signs of commotion appeared in the excited audience . Round went the twenty children as if turned by one crank , and sitting there they looked out into the moonlight where the shining figure flashed to and fro , now so near they could see the smiling face under the crown , now so far away that it glittered like a fire-fly among the dusky green . Lita enjoyed that race as heartily as she had done several others of late , and caracoled about as if anxious to make up for her lack of skill by speed and obedience . How much Ben liked it there is no need to tell , yet it was a proof of the good which three months of a quiet , useful life had done him , that even as he pranced gayly under the boughs thick with the red and yellow apples almost ready to be gathered , he found this riding in the fresh air with only his mates for an audience pleasanter than the crowded tent , the tired horses , profane men , and painted women , friendly as some of them had been to him . After the first burst was over , he felt rather glad , on the whole , that he was going back to plain clothes , helpful school , and kindly people , who cared more to have him a good boy than the most famous Cupid that ever stood on one leg with a fast horse under him . `` You may make as much noise as you like , now ; Lita 's had her run and will be as quiet as a lamb after it . Pull up , Ben , and come in ; sister says you 'll get cold , '' shouted Thorny , as the rider came cantering round after a leap over the lodge gate and back again . So Ben pulled up , and the admiring boys and girls were allowed to gather about him , loud in their praises as they examined the pretty mare and the mythological character who lay easily on her back . He looked very little like the god of love now ; for he had lost one slipper and splashed his white legs with dew and dust , the crown had slipped down upon his neck , and the paper wings hung in an apple-tree where he had left them as he went by . No trouble in recognizing Ben , now ; but somehow he did n't want to be seen , and , instead of staying to be praised , he soon slipped away , making Lita his excuse to vanish behind the curtain while the rest went into the house to have a finishing-off game of blindman 's - buff in the big kitchen . `` Well , Ben , are you satisfied ? '' asked Miss Celia , as she stayed a moment to unpin the remains of his gauzy scarf and tunic . `` Yes , 'm , thank you , it was tip-top . '' `` But you look rather sober . Are you tired , or is it because you do n't want to take these trappings off and be plain Ben again ? '' she said , looking down into his face as he lifted it for her to free him from his gilded collar . `` I want to take 'em off ; for somehow I do n't feel respectable , '' and he kicked away the crown he had helped to make so carefully , adding with a glance that said more than his words : `` I 'd rather be ` plain Ben ' than any one else , for you like to have me . '' `` Indeed I do ; and I 'm so glad to hear you say that , because I was afraid you 'd long to be off to the old ways , and all I 've tried to do would be undone . Would you like to go back , Ben ? ''
and XXXXX Celia held his chin an instant , to watch the brown face that looked so honestly back at her .
Miss back burst collar figure lamb moment scarf school tent