ame tiptoeing in with short,
mincing steps, to go through her serving with an exaggerated elegance,
bowing and smirking and flourishing her tray, with all the airs and
graces at her command. However, there was nothing to be done about it,
and Mrs. Pennypoker was forced to be content with ignoring her for the
present, while she frowned down any demonstrations of amusement on the
part of the children. The rest of the meal was hurried through in
silence, and as soon as it was over the young people shut themselves up
in Allie's room, to vent their indignation by talking over the events of
the past two days.

"You don't catch anybody getting in ahead of Janey, though," said
Howard with a chuckle. "She's a match for even Mrs. Pennypoker."

"I'm 'most afraid she'll get mad and go off," said Allie anxiously.
"Mrs. Pennypoker has just been nagging at her all day long, and Janey
won't put up with it. She isn't used to it, as Wang Kum is."

"Even Wang Kum kicked, the other day," said Charlie, sitting down on the
footboard of the bed, and swinging his heels while he talked. "Grant
told me about it. Wang made a mistake and threw away all her soup she'd
made, just before dinner; and when she scolded him for it, he said he
't'ought 'twas dish-water.' She gave him fits, scolded like everything,
till all at once he drew himself up and said: 'Old lady scold heap much;
Wang no be bossed by hens.' And he turned and walked off, and left her
standing there, with her mouth wide open."

"Good enough for her!" applauded Howard. "I only hope Janey'll serve her
the same way."

"I don't believe I do," said Allie thoughtfully. "She's here, and we'll
have to make the best of her. But don't you pity Ned and Grant, to have
to stand her all the time?"

The predicted explosion was not slow in coming. Charlie had come in
after his lessons, the next morning, clasping a huge watermelon in his
arms, and, without a word to Mrs. Pennypoker, he had carried it through
to the kitchen.

"Here, Janey," he called; "I'm awfully hungry, and if you'll cut this up
for us to eat now, before lunch, I'll give you a quarter of it. You'd
better do it, for it's the last one you'll get this year."

With the zeal of her melon-loving race, Janey's eyes glistened, as she
received the treasure.

"Dat's a gay one, Mars' Charlie!" she exclaimed, as she snapped her
fingers against its green rind, and listened delightedly to the clear,
crisp sound. "Janey'll cut it right u