some day, Jasper," said Mr. King,
warming with his subject; and forgetting all about the brown paper and
water which he had ordered, and which was now waiting for him at his
elbow, "just by that creature."

"He's the noblest--" began Jasper, throwing his arms around his neck; an
example which was immediately followed by the Whitney boys, and the two
little Peppers. When Dick saw this, he began to struggle to get down to
add himself to the number.

"Where's the brown paper?" began Mr. King, seeing this and whirling
around suddenly. "Hasn't any body brought it yet?"

"Here 'tis sir," said Jane, handing him a generous supply. "Oh, I don't
want to," cried little Dick in dismay, seeing his grandfather advance
with an enormous piece of paper, which previously wet in the bowl of
water, was now unpleasantly clammy and wet--"oh, no, I don't want to be
all stuck up with old horrid wet paper!"

"Hush, dear!" said his mamma, soothingly. "Grandpapa wants to put it
on--there--" as Mr. King dropped it scientifically on his head, and then
proceeded to paste another one over his left eye.

"And I hope they'll all drop off," cried Dick, savagely, shaking his
head to facilitate matters. "Yes, I do, every single one of 'em!" he
added, with an expression that seen under the brown bits was anything
but benign.

"Was Prince on the stairs, Dick?" asked Jasper, coming up and peering
under his several adornments. "Tell us how you fell!"

"No," said little Dick, crossly, and giving his head another shake.
"He was up in the hall--oh, dear, I want to get down," and he began to
stretch his legs and to struggle with so much energy, that two or three
pieces fell off, and landed on the floor to his intense delight.

"And how did you fall then?" said Jasper, perseveringly. "Can't you
remember, Dicky, boy?"

"I pushed Princey," said Dick, feeling, with freedom from some of
his encumbrances, more disposed for conversation, "and made him go
ahead--and then I fell on top of him--that's all."

"I guess Prince has saved him, father," cried Jasper, turning around
with eyes full of pride and love on the dog, who was trying as hard as
he could to tell all the children how much he enjoyed their caresses.

And so it all came about that the consultation so summarily interrupted
was never held. For, as Mrs. Whitney was about retiring that evening,
Mr. King rapped at her door, on his way to bed.

"Oh," he said popping in his head, in response to her in