therin' me half so much jest now as Dan Fernald is. I reckon he's
pretty near wild by this time, an' it would be a terrible thing if the
perlice should come an' drag us out of this place, wouldn't it?"

"I ain't afraid he'll kick up a row. That detective business is all in
his eye. He don't 'mount to any more'n Sim Jepson does, when it comes to
law matters."

"But he might do something for all that."

"If he does, it can't be helped. We'll know, whatever happens to us,
that princess has got a good home."

"Of course, there's somethin' in that; but, all the same, I'd rather
know _I_ was goin' to stay in a good one," and Master Plummer crept
between the lavender-scented sheets with an expression of most intense
satisfaction upon his face.

Day had but just dawned, when Joe Potter awakened after a long and
restful sleep.

"Come, turn out, Plums," he said, as he shook his friend roughly. "I'm
goin' down-stairs to build a fire for aunt Dorcas before she gets up,
an' you'd better come along. If we're goin' to eat her food an' sleep in
her bed, it stands us in hand to try to pay our way."

Master Plummer promised to get up in "two minutes" but the fire had been
built, and breakfast was nearly ready, when he made his appearance.

Aunt Dorcas had made no remark, when she came down-stairs and found Joe
performing such of the household duties as he was familiar with; but he
knew, by the expression on her face, that she was pleased, and this was
sufficient reward for having left the rest-inviting bed at such an early
hour.

According to the arrangements made on the previous evening, Joe was to
set out on his three-mile journey immediately after breakfast, and, as
soon as the meal was brought to a close, aunt Dorcas made up a
reasonably large parcel of seed-cakes and doughnuts, intended, as she
explained, to serve as lunch for the travellers.

"But I won't be hungry, aunt Dorcas, 'cause I'm about as full as I can
be, now, an' the princess couldn't eat all you've got there if she tried
for a week."

"I dare say you won't be sorry for taking it," and Joe made no further
protest.

Aunt Dorcas actually kissed him, much to his embarrassment, as he left
the house, and called after him, while he was yet in the lane:

"Don't try to make the child walk too far, Joseph, and be careful not to
carry her very long at a time. You've got plenty of food, even if you
shouldn't get back until nightfall, and it's better to go slowly th