e," thought she, "unless I go to work at once, setting
things to rights."

And the thought of helping others cheered herself.

She needed something from her trunk. That was at the door, just where
Jack had left it. She went out, and found that Chokie had changed his
mind with regard to digging a well, and was building a pyramid, using
the door-yard sand for his material, a shingle for a shovel, and the
trunk for a foundation.

"Why, Chokie!" she said; "what are you doing?"

"I makin' a Fourth-of-Duly," replied Chokie, flourishing his shingle.
"After I dit it about twice as bid as the house, I doin' to put some
powder in it, and tout'th it off."

"O dear!" said Vinnie; "I'm afraid you'll blow my trunk to pieces; and I
must have my trunk now!"

"I doin' to blow it to pieces, and you tan't have it," cried Chokie,
stoutly.

"But I've something for you in it," said Vinnie, "and we never can get
it for you, if you touch off your Fourth-of-July on it."

"O, wal, you may dit it." And he began to shovel the sand off, throwing
it into his clothing, into the house, and some into Vinnie's eyes.

Lord Betterson, who was walking leisurely about his castle, now came
forward, and, seeing Vinnie in some distress, inquired, in his lofty
way, if he could do anything for her.

"If you please," she replied, laughing, as she brushed the sand away
from her eyes, "I should like to have this trunk carried in."

Betterson drew himself up with dignified surprise; for he had not meant
to proffer any such menial service. Vinnie perceived the little mistake
she had made; but she was not so overpoweringly impressed by his
nobility as to think that an apology was due. She even permitted herself
to be amused; and, retiring behind the sand in her eyes, which she made
a great show of winking and laughing away, she waited to see what he
would do.

He looked around, and coughed uncomfortably.

"Where are the boys?" he asked. "This--hem--is very awkward. I don't
know why the trunk was left here; I directed that it should be taken to
Cecie's room."--

Vinnie mischievously resolved that the noble Betterson back should bend
beneath that burden.

"It is quite light," she said. "If you want help, I can lift one end of
it."

The implication that it was not greatness of character, but weakness of
body, which kept him above such service, touched my lord. As she, at the
same time, actually laid hold of one handle, he waived her off, with
ostent