it, don't it?" Master
Plummer replied, complacently, and there the conversation came to an
end.

Plums, having ministered to his appetite, stretched himself at full
length on the ground, and it seemed to Joe as if he had but just assumed
that position when his heavy breathing told that he had fallen asleep.

Now and then from the street beyond could be heard the rumbling of a
carriage, sounding unusually loud owing to the stillness of the night.
At intervals the hum of voices told that belated seekers after pleasure
were returning home, and, in fact, everything reminded the ruined fruit
merchant that the time for rest was at hand.

Joe's eyelids were heavy with sleep, yet he resisted the impulse to
close them, because it seemed necessary he should watch over the
princess.

The candle, having burned down to the neck of the bottle in which it had
been placed, spluttered and fretted because its life was so nearly at an
end, and Joe replaced it with a fresh one.

With his back against the box which served as cupboard, he sat watching
the little maid with a strong determination not to indulge in sleep, and
even as he repeated for the twentieth time that it was necessary he
remain awake, his eyes closed in slumber.

It was yet dark, and the second candle nearly consumed, when the
princess suddenly opened her big, brown eyes, and during a single
instant looked about her in silent astonishment.

Then, as the only way by which she could express her displeasure with
her surroundings, the child opened her tiny mouth to its fullest extent,
and from the little pink throat came as shrill a scream as was ever
uttered by one of "old Mis' Carter's kids."

Joe Potter was on his feet instantly, and during the first few seconds
after being thus rudely awakened was at a loss to understand exactly
where he was, or what had aroused him.

The princess introduced herself to his attention very quickly, however,
for she was a maid who had ever received, and was ever ready to demand,
attention.

Joe had her in his arms as soon as might be, but just at this moment it
was her mother she wanted, and the friendship previously displayed for
her new guardian was forgotten.

In other words, the princess screamed passionately; Joe walked to and
fro with her in his arms, whispering soothing words which did not
soothe; and through all the uproar Master Plummer slumbered as sweetly
as an infant.

"I know what you want, you poor little thing;