that the footman I hear outside? I expect he has
discovered."

Just then James, who had been in the family for the last five or six
years, came staggering into the room. He had been caught by a booby-trap
which Irene had placed just over his pantry door, and a shower of
spiders and caterpillars and other offensive insects had fallen all over
him. His face was deadly pale, and he declared that he had been severely
stung.

"There were wasps there," he said, "and I have been stung in the cheek
and on the hand; and, madam, I don't really know what to do."

"It was a booby-trap. You look beautiful, James!" said Irene.

James flashed her an angry glance. Poor Lady Jane started to the rescue.
What was she to do with this intolerable child?

"There are a lot more traps laid for the other servants," said Irene
under her breath. "I didn't want poor old James to be stung by the
wasps. They stung me when I was catching them, but I didn't cry out. I
never cry out when I have pain. I wonder which insect stings worst? I
ought to have a few handy for the worst of the servants. The only one I
don't want to part with is cook, for cook is so much afraid of me that
she will give me any unwholesome food I like to ask her for. When dear
Rose comes we will have a feast. Oh, won't we have fun! I wonder--I do
wonder--when she will come?"

Lady Jane left the room, and returned with a blue-bag, which she applied
to James's swollen hand and cheek. The frightened servant said he did
not think he could keep his situation much longer; but Lady Jane begged
of him to be patient. Irene had disappeared.

"It is the kind of shock, your ladyship," he said to his mistress. "It's
that I can't bear. There was I a-walking in as innocent as you please
into my pantry, carrying the hot dishes from your ladyship's breakfast.
I just touched a string, and found a shower of the most venomous insects
crawling all over me. I dropped the dish on the spot, and if it hadn't
been a silver one it would have been in shivers. And how was she to know
that it wouldn't be your ladyship's best Sevres or Crown Derby? How am I
to endure it, my lady?"

"She is a very naughty girl, and I will certainly punish her," said Lady
Jane, with a sigh. "But now, James, go about your business. The remedies
I have used will soon take the pain out of your stings, and you will be
all right again."

"There's poor Miss Frost," continued the man; "she has swallowed living
beasts. It's al