s the trusty adherent?"

"I know," said Agatha. "It's the red-haired boy next door. Jinny dropped
her umbrella the other day and he picked it up for her, and she stopped
to thank him--that day we had colds and couldn't go out, Helen."

"No," said Elspeth; "it was Jinny that picked up some of his books that
dropped--he was carrying such a pile of awfully messy ragged ones. He
must go to a messy school."

"He was not going to school," said Ginevra. "He was taking these old
books to--but no, I must not betray him."

"Rubbish," said Agatha; "he can't be more than nine. What could there be
to betray? _He's_ not a shut-up prince, Jinny. Do talk sense for once."

Ginevra changed her tone.

"I don't want to tell you," she said in a matter-of-fact voice, "for
fear of disappointing you all. Just wait a very few days and then I'll
tell you. But first, _supposing_ we could get a doll, what should it be
like--fair or dark?"

"Dark, black hair and brown eyes," replied all the five voices. For the
six princesses had fair curls and blue eyes, so, naturally, they
preferred a contrast.

"Hum," said Tinny. "Brown hair, perhaps, but not black. The black-haired
dolls in the shop-windows look common."

"Never mind. _Any_ haired would do so long as we got her," said Agatha.
"But don't talk about it. It does make me want her _so_ dreadfully."

Late that afternoon, just about the time that the little boy next door
would be coming home from school, a small figure with a shawl drawn over
its head might have been seen at Miss Burton's front gate. She had
waited patiently for some minutes. At last she was rewarded by the
sight, or the sound rather, for it was almost too dark to see any one,
of Master Red-Head coming up the road. When he got close to his own door
she called out. It was rather difficult to do so, for she had no idea
what his name was.

"Master--Mr.--" she began, and then changing suddenly, "boy, please, I
don't know your name."

He stopped and came up to her, exclaiming of course, "I say, who's
there? What's up?"

"It's me--Prin--I mean one of the little girls next door, the one who
picked up your old books the other day. I want to ask you something,
please."

Red-Head was all attention, and the two went on talking for some
minutes.

"You're sure he will?" said Jinny at last.

"Quite positive. I'll get all out of him I can. It's real silver, you
say."

"Real, pure silver," she replied.

"And--and it's your ve