d
the amateur detective in what he intended should appear like a friendly
manner, and said, stiffly:

"I'll do what aunt Dorcas says, though it comes mighty hard after what
you threatened yesterday, Dan. We're friends now; but I'll wipe the
floor up with you, if you don't walk pretty near straight."

The little woman was not particularly well pleased at this evidence of
friendliness; but she professed to be satisfied, and the three boys
glared at each other like so many pugnacious cats until the evening
devotions were begun.

Then aunt Dorcas read, with great fervour, the first chapter of the
Sermon on the Mount, and afterwards prayed so earnestly for those
"within her gates," that Joe resolved then and there to treat Dan as he
had done before the princess was found,--at least, during such time as
the amateur detective behaved himself in what he considered a proper
manner.

"Joseph and George are to sleep in the spare-room to-night, and Daniel
will occupy the chamber over the kitchen," aunt Dorcas announced, when
the devotions were brought to a close.

"Did you take off the best sheets?" Master Potter asked.

"Of course not, Joseph."

"Why don't you do it? Plums an' me would be snug enough if there wasn't
any clothes at all on the bed."

"We will leave it as it is, dear. Perhaps I was wrong in not letting you
occupy it before."

"How could that be?" Joe asked, in astonishment.

"I have allowed myself to be proud of the chamber, and the Book
particularly warns us against pride. It is better that I accustom myself
to seeing it used."

When Joe and Plums were in the spare-room that night, neither daring to
stretch out at full length lest he should soil the sheets more than was
absolutely necessary, Master Potter whispered confidentially to his
friend:

"Aunt Dorcas is a mighty good woman, Plums; but, 'cordin' to my way of
thinkin', she's makin' a pile of trouble for herself."

"How?"

"Some day a reg'lar duffer like Dan Fernald will come along, an' then
she'll get taken in mighty bad."

"Seems almost as if we ought'er stay here an' take care of her, don't
it?"

"There's no sense thinkin' anything like that, Plums. This is our last
night in a first-class bed, an' from to-morrow mornin' we've got to
hustle jest the same as if we'd never had it so rich."

Then Joe fell asleep, to dream of the princess, and until aunt Dorcas
awakened him, next morning, it was as if nothing had occurred to depose
him fr