but how am I goin' to get
it for you to-night? Why won't you try to make the best of it till
mornin', an' then we'll be sure to find your folks? Here, eat some of
these peanuts; they must be awful good, 'cordin' to the way Plums
pitched into 'em last night."

The princess had no appetite for peanuts just then, and, as the readiest
way of giving her guardian such information, she struck the outstretched
hand with her tiny fist, sending the nuts flying in every direction.

Joe was considerably surprised that such a dainty-looking little maiden
could display so much temper, but did not relax his efforts to please.

One of the sugared cakes had escaped Master Plummer's cyclonic appetite,
and with this the amateur nurse tried to tempt the screaming child into
silence.

The cake shared the fate of the peanuts, and the princess gave every
evidence in her power of a positive refusal to be soothed.

Joe had tossed her in the air, fondled her in his arms, paced to and fro
as if walking for a wager, but all without avail, and now it seemed
necessary he should have assistance.

Master Plummer's rest had not been disturbed by the noise, but he rose
to a sitting posture very suddenly when Joe kicked him almost roughly.

"Wha--wha--what's the matter?" he asked, blinking in the light of the
candle, which was directly in front of his eyes.

"I should think you might know by this time! Can't you hear the
princess?"

"I thought there'd be a row if she waked up," Master Plummer replied, in
a matter-of-fact tone, and then he laid himself down again, evidently
intending to continue the interrupted nap.

"See here, Plums, you can't do that!" Joe cried, sharply. "I mustn't be
left alone with this poor little thing. It ain't certain but she'll die,
she's so frightened."

"Don't fret yourself. She'll come out of it after a spell; all Mis'
Carter's kids used to."

"But she isn't like them, I tell you! They could stand 'most anything,
an' she's been raised different."

"She cries jest the same's they did."

"Look here, George Plummer, get up on your feet an' help me! This thing
is growin' dangerous!"

Plums had no fear the princess would injure herself by crying; but his
friend spoke so sternly that he decided it was wisest to obey the
command, and a very sleepy-looking boy he was, as he stood yawning and
rubbing his eyes, with an expression of discontent amounting almost to
peevishness upon his face.

"There ain't anything ei