, his cheeks reddening, he replied, in a low tone:

"She must have counted on our bein' willin' to wash our faces, but
didn't want to say so right out, so put the towels here to remind us,
an' I'm as ashamed as I can be 'cause I didn't think of it before."

The meal had come to an end, for the very good reason that there was
nothing more on the table to be eaten.

While aunt Dorcas was talking with Joe, Plums had slyly taken the last
remaining section of pie, having previously devoured the cookies and
cheese, and, with a long-drawn sigh of content, he replied to his
friend's remark by saying:

"I guess I couldn't eat any more if I'd washed my face a dozen times, so
it don't make much difference."

Joe arose from the table, and seated himself in one of the chairs which
were ranged precisely against the wall, Master Plummer following his
example.

Aunt Dorcas, having lighted the second lamp, said:

"I'll leave you boys here alone while I attend to making up a bed. You
could sleep in the spare-room, I suppose; but my best sheets are there,
and I don't just like to--Why, you didn't use the napkins!"

Joe's face was of a deep crimson hue, as he replied:

"If I'd seen any soap an' water I'd known what they meant; but it's been
so long since I was in a reg'lar house that I've kind'er forgot how to
behave."

Aunt Dorcas turned away quickly, and when she had left the room Plums
said, as he unbent from the awkward position he had at first assumed in
the straight chair:

"Dan Fernald ain't in this! He may be a mighty big detective, but he
slips up when it comes to hustlin' for these kind of snaps!"

"Aunt Dorcas is nice, ain't she?"

"She's a corker!"

"If the princess was only here we'd be jest about as snug as any two
fellers that could be found in this world."

"I'm going to give you the chamber over the kitchen; it is clean and
comfortable, but, of course, not as nice as the spare-room," aunt Dorcas
said, as she entered suddenly, causing Master Plummer to instantly
assume a less negligent attitude.

"Plums an' me ain't slept in a reg'lar bed for so long that a blanket
spread out on the floor would seem mighty good to us," Joe replied, and
the little woman held up both hands in astonishment.

"Haven't slept in a bed! Well, I've heard of the heathen in our midst,
but never believed I'd be brought in contact with them. How did
you--But, there, I won't ask questions to-night, when I know you must
be tired. We