AS the days grew warmer, Kit became languid and ill. She could scarcely walk any distance, and Ben counted the days till the 10th of June (the one fixed for the treat). It would do her a world of good to get into the country for one day, he thought; but the weather was unusually close for May, and she sat in a listless manner in her little corner near the narrow passage, with the boxes of fusees on her lap; and many a one, seeing the little girl's pale face, bought of her; still it took all they could earn to keep them both in food, and every now and then they had to buy some article of clothing.
The days passed by, as all days will pass, and Kit laid aside her thin black frock, and was arrayed in the blue one by Ben for the treat. He carried her up to Mrs. Perrin to have her hair curled for the occasion. It was a time of great excitement for the children. They were to start from the school-room at ten o'clock, and were to take their own dinners with them. Of course they turned out of bed earlier than they need have done for fear of being too late, and then Ben went out to buy some food. He said he should be rather extravagant that day, so he bought two penny loaves of bread, and a pennyworth of shrimps to eat with them; then he gave Kit a penny to spend on the meadow on what she liked best, and kept one for himself. He bought a ha'porth of treacle to eat for breakfast with some dry bread which his father had left, so altogether it was a day not to be forgotten.
It was a beautiful morning; the sky was without a cloud, and the sun shone brightly, while a nice fresh air blew softly in the children's faces as they rode along. Ben and Kit had a comfortable seat up one corner of the van, where they could see whatever they passed. They were intensely happy. How often they had looked with longing eyes at little children riding in omnibuses or in cabs, when they had to drag their weary feet along; but now they were actually being driven along the London streets, and, after half an hour's drive, began to see nice houses and wide roads, and every now and then Ben pointed out with delight a tree, or a pretty garden full of flowers, to Kit. But the little child had had more excitement than her delicate little form could bear; her eyes drooped, and she sunk back on Ben's shoulder in a heavy sleep. He was a little disappointed that he could no longer show her the beauties of the way, but Miss Randolph, who was in the same van with them, lifted the little girl on to her lap into a comfortable position, and advised Ben not to wake her, for she looked very pale and tired.
Miss Randolph had so many little scholars that she could not visit them all, and had only been once to see these children, and then they were out selling matches. But she saw Mrs. Perrin, and had a long talk with her, and learned a great deal about the children-particularly about Ben's love and care for little Kit. She preferred taking her class-of between ninety and a hundred children-all by herself, with the exception of a girl of fourteen years of age, who helped to keep them in order; but on this day two or three other young ladies, and one or two gentlemen, had offered their services in amusing the children, so they drove with them in the vans.
At last they reached the country, and then the children cried "Hooray," with might and main at the sight of the fields covered with buttercups and daisies, and the hedges where the May flowers were still in blossom. Oh, happy little children! to lose sight of your dull dirty streets, and your wretched homes, for one long day; but how many of you must return in the evening-return to the toil and strife of a London life!
When the vans stopped at a large meadow, well sprinkled with buttercups and daisies, and with tall leafy trees round the sides, there was a great rush to get out, and little Kit woke up to be lifted into Ben's arms and to be placed under a shady oak tree. Then she revived for a little while, and filled her hands with the flowers, and ran a few steps after the balls, but was soon glad to rest again. The fresh breeze seemed almost too much for her after the close street in which she lived, but she smiled and clapped her little hands to see Ben run after the balls and throw them in the air, and to hear him shout as he joined in the ring games that some of the other children seemed to understand, for they had often played them in backyards and courts. Then she had a gentle swing for a few minutes, but liked far better to see Ben go up high in the air. He seemed quite a hero to her that day.
"Kit," said he, after a little while, "there are donkeys on the field. I mean to spend my penny on a ride; I never had one, and I suppose I shall never have another. Will you come too, or would you like to lie and watch me till you are quite rested, and then buy a pennyworth of sugar candy?”
"I like to stop still, and buy sugar candy.”
So Ben rode a donkey which galloped well, and occasionally kicked up its heels to show its spirit, and caused the little girl to laugh as she had not laughed for many a day.
Then Miss Randolph and another lady and a gentleman came and spoke to her, and asked her if she were better, and one of them gave her a penny to spend, so she went to the stall and asked for two pennyworths of candy, to be done up in two separate parcels, and presented one to Ben on his return from the ride; after that they ate their dinner, at least he did, for Kit tasted but a few mouthfuls, and then put the rest of hers away.
At four o'clock they were to have their tea. Shortly before that hour Ben was playing at a little distance from Kit; every now and then he turned his eye upon her, to see that she was safe, as she had fallen asleep, but at last the game drew him further off from the place where she lay, and he lost sight of her for about five minutes. During this time she woke and looked round for him, and, in getting up, her frock caught in a thorn in the hedge which tore a hole in it, but still it held her fast, and she could not get away. She was frightened and vexed at the prized blue frock being torn, and began to cry, and here we must leave her for a few minutes while we take a peep into a little cottage not far off.