of our never having had any mamma," said a slow, soft
little voice from the floor.

"Princess Butter-ball, what a vulgar way of speaking you have!--'all
along of'--I'm ashamed of you," said Jinny severely. "Besides, we did
have a mamma once--all except----" and she glanced at Baby, but without
finishing her sentence. For had she done so poor Princess Baby would
have burst into loud sobs; it was a very sore point with her that she
had never had a mamma at all, whereas all the others, even Butter-ball,
were perfectly sure they could remember their mother.

"If Aunt Ginevra would come home," sighed Elspeth. "We've always been
promised she would." "And she's written us kind letters," added Agatha.

"What's letters?" said Jinny contemptuously.

"Well, you needn't complain," said Helen. "She sent you a silver
mug--real silver--and that's more than any of our godmothers did for the
rest of us."

"Yes, she did," said Jinny, "and it's fortunate for us all, princesses,
that through all our troubles I have always kept that one--memento of
happier days about my person----"

"What stories, Jinny!" Agatha exclaimed. "At least it's stories if
you're being real just now. You mix up princess-ing and real, so that I
get quite muddled. But, you know, you _don't_ carry the mug about with
you."

For all answer, Princess Ginevra, after some fumbling in her pocket,
drew out a short, thick parcel wrapped in tissue paper, which she
unfolded, and held up to view a silver mug.

"There now," she said.

Agatha looked rather crestfallen.

"It must be very uncomfortable to have that lumpy thing in your pocket,
and some day Miss Burton will be asking where it's gone," she said. "I
suppose it makes you fancy yourself more a princess, but I'm getting
rather tired of fancies. Now if we only had a beautiful doll, and could
all work at dressing it, that _would_ be worth something."

"And we might go on being princesses all the same, or even more," put in
Elspeth.

"Patience," said Jinny, "patience and courage. Leave it to me. I think I
see my way. I have my eye on a trusty adherent, and if I am not much
mistaken, you shall have a doll before Christmas."

All five pricked up their ears at this--they had all at the bottom of
their hearts the greatest faith in Ginevra, though the elder ones now
and then felt it necessary to snub her a little.

"Are you in earnest, Jinny?" said Helen; "and if you are, I wish you'd
tell us what you mean. Who i