t him to understand that my business
admits of no delay, otherwise he will be putting me off with all manner
of excuses. Now go immediately; don't sit there looking at me," and aunt
Dorcas spoke so sharply that both the boys were amazed.

The little woman, putting the princess down from her lap, began to clear
away the breakfast dishes, but stopped before the work was well begun,
as she said:

"Why do I spend my time on such trifling matters, when it is so
necessary I get into the city at once? Haven't you gone yet, George?"

"Say, aunt Dorcas, how do you s'pose I know where Mr. McArthur lives?"

"You should know; he is our next-door neighbour; the first house on the
right, just above here. Now don't loiter, George, for I am in a great
hurry."

Master Plummer, looking thoroughly bewildered, went out of the house
almost rapidly, and aunt Dorcas said to Joe:

"Of course I am depending upon you to take care of the princess, and
when she goes to sleep this noon, perhaps you can put these soiled
dishes into the sink. I haven't the time now, because I must change my
clothes."

"Are you goin' into the city, to try to help us out of the scrape?"

"Of course I am, and it can be done. I knew there was some mistake about
it all when you told me the story; but I haven't time to talk with you
now, Joseph. You will find food enough in the pantry, in case I am not
back by dinner-time, and see to it that the princess doesn't go hungry.
I am depending upon your keeping things in proper order while I'm away."

Before the astonished boy could ask any further questions, aunt Dorcas
had actually run up the stairs, and the princess immediately raised a
wail of sorrow at being separated from her particular friend, thereby
forcing Joe to devote all his attention to her for the time being.

Before aunt Dorcas had completed her preparations for the journey, Joe
succeeded in inducing the little maid to walk out-of-doors with him, and
they were but a short distance from the house, down the lane, when Plums
returned with Mr. McArthur.

The worthy farmer, alarmed by a peremptory message from a neighbour who
had never before been known to give an order save in the form of the
mildest request, had harnessed his horse with all possible despatch, and
was looking seriously disturbed in mind when he drove up to where Joe
was standing.

"I reckon by your looks you're the boy what tackled the burglar last
night? Well, you showed clean grit, an