irl myself. Yes, sir, it's lovely work on the hills behind
a palace with all the knights ridin' by an' sayin', 'Fair maid, did'st
see a boar pass by this way?' You don't have to be afraid--you'd never
have to see one. In all the books the goose-girls didn't never see no
boars, and the knights gave 'em a piece of gold an' smiled on 'em, and
the sunshine shined on 'em, an' they had a lovely time."

Having stumbled into the road to peace of conscience, Mary trod it
bravely and joyously. Theodora's future rank increased with the decrease
of her present comfort, but her posts, though lofty and remunerative,
were never such as would bring her into intimate contact with the person
of the queen.

She was betrothed to the son of a noble, and very distant, house after
an afternoon when the perambulator, ill-trained to cross-country work,
balked at the first stone wall on the way to the old ladies' house. It
was then dragged backward for a judicious distance and faced at the
obstacle at a mad gallop. Umbrella down, handle up, wheels madly
whirring, it was forced to the jump.

Again it refused, reared high into the air, stood for an instant upon
its hind wheels and then fell supinely on its side, shedding its
blankets, its pillows, and Theodora upon the cold, hard stones.

After that her rise was rapid, and the distance separating her from her
sister's elaborate court more perilous and more beset with seas and
boars and mountains and robbers. She was allowed to wed her high-born
betrothed when she had been forgotten for three hours while Mary learned
a heart-rending poem commencing, "Oh, hath she then failed in her troth,
the beautiful maid I adore?" until even Miss Susan could only weep in
intense enjoyment and could suggest; no improvement in the recitation.

On another occasion Mary was obliged to borrow the perambulator for the
conveyance of leaves and branches with which to build a bower withal;
and Theodora, having been established in unfortunate proximity to an
ant hill, was thoroughly explored by its inhabitants ere her
ministering sister realized that her cries and agitation were anything
more than her usual attitude of protest against whatever chanced to be
going on. By the time the bower was finished and the perambulator ready
for its customary occupant that young person was in a position to claim
heavy damages.

"Don't you care," said Mary cheerfully, as she relieved Theodora from
the excessive animation. "I can m