quietly in Joe's arms when Master Plummer finally
returned, bringing the can of milk, and yawning as if he had been asleep
during the entire journey and had but just awakened.

"Now you can see that it was jest as I said!" he exclaimed. "When
youngsters start in yellin', they've got to do about so much of it, an'
there's no use tryin' to stop 'em. Here I've walked all over this city
huntin' for milk when I might jest as well have been sleepin'."

"It won't do you any harm, Plums, an' I honestly think the princess is
hungry."

"She can't be very bad off, with Bologna, an' cakes, an' peanuts 'round.
I'll bet she won't touch this."

Joe broke into the milk such fragments of cracker as remained in the
cupboard-box, after which, and first wiping the spoon carefully on his
coat sleeve, he began to feed the little maid.

[Illustration: "HE BEGAN TO FEED THE LITTLE MAID."]

To Master Plummer's disappointment, she ate almost greedily, and Joe
said, in a tone of triumph:

"You may know a good deal 'bout Mis' Carter's babies, but you're way off
when it comes to one of this kind."

"I don't know whether I am or not," and Plums laid himself down once
more, falling asleep, or pretending to, almost immediately thereafter.

Having eaten with evident relish the food which had cost Plums so much
labour, the princess's ill-temper vanished entirely, and she twittered
and chirped to Joe until he forgot his former fears and anxieties in the
love which sprang up in his heart for the tiny maid who was dependent
upon him for a shelter.

The day was close at hand when the amateur nurse and his charge
journeyed into dreamland for the second time, and although Joe had
gained but little rest during the night, his slumbers were not so
profound but that a hum of shrill voices near the building awakened him
very shortly afterward.

The one fear in his mind was that the princess would be disturbed, and
he stepped quickly outside the shanty to learn the cause of the noise.

"Here he is! Here he is now! We was in big luck to come 'round this
way!" one of a party of boys said, excitedly, and Joe recognised in
these early visitors three friends and business acquaintances, all of
whom were looking very serious, and evidently labouring under great
excitement.

"What's brought you fellers up to this part of the town so early?" Joe
asked, in surprise, and Dan Fernald, who had under his arm a bundle of
morning papers, said, in a mournful tone: