' Joe an'
you into the city to see the princess."

"Gone?" aunt Dorcas exclaimed, in surprise.

"Yes; I told 'em Joe was kind er grumpy 'cause princess was goin' away,
an' the boss said perhaps it would be better if they took a sneak. He
left a letter in the front room for you,--wrote it on a card he got out
of his pocket."

It was plain to be seen from the expression on aunt Dorcas's face that
she was disappointed; but she repressed her own feelings to say to Joe:

"Perhaps it is the best way, dear, for it would have caused you still
more sorrow to say good-bye to Essie. Now you will have time to grow
accustomed to the loss before you see her again."

Plums was in such a state of delirious excitement, owing to the fact
that he was to reenter New York like a "reg'lar swell," that it seemed
impossible for him to behave in a proper fashion.

He danced to and fro, as if active movement was his greatest delight,
and insisted on bringing to aunt Dorcas the card which Mr. Raymond had
left, even while she was making her way as rapidly as possible to the
front room.

The message to the little woman read as follows:

MY DEAR MISS MILFORD: I understand that the lad who has been
so kind to Essie does not wish to see her just at present;
therefore, perhaps it is better we go at once, and without
ceremony. Will you yet further oblige me by coming to my
house to-morrow? The carriage shall be here about ten
o'clock. Very sincerely yours,

EDWARD RAYMOND.

"There is no reason why we shouldn't go, dear?" aunt Dorcas asked Joe,
after reading the message aloud.

"There's Dan Fernald cuttin' across the orchard, down towards the road!
Now's our time to catch him!" Plums shouted, before Joe could reply to
aunt Dorcas's kindly words, and in another instant the two boys were in
hot pursuit.

Aunt Dorcas, believing they were trying to catch the amateur detective
in order to punish him for what had been said during the morning, cried
shrilly for them to come back; but her words were unheeded, because
unheard.

Master Fernald was not in condition for a race, owing to his having
travelled to and fro a goodly portion of the day in search of revenge,
and the chase was soon ended.

In attempting to climb over the orchard fence into the road, he tripped,
fell, and, before it was possible to rise again, Joe was on his back.

"I'll have the law on you if you dare to stri