away from us, just as if we weren't willing they should.
They are pretty silly, I must say," laughed Faith, "and it's the hardest
thing to make them understand that you love them; but," her tone changed
tenderly as she held up the baby prince, "_you'll_ know I love you, won't
you, dear, when I give you tiny little pieces of meat every day!"

The cloud on Gladys's face deepened.

"Come on, let's hustle and put the turtles away and go for a row. Do you
like to row, Gladys?" asked Ernest.

"Yes, I guess so," she responded, rather coldly.

They ran up the hill to the side of the house where was a shallow tub of
water with a rock in the middle, its top high and dry. There was also a
floating shingle; so the steeds could swim or sun themselves just as suited
their fancy. The upper edge of the tub was covered with tin so that sharp
little claws could not find a way to climb out.

"It's fun to see them go in," said Faith, placing one on the rock and one
on the shingle, where they rested at first without sign of life; but in a
minute out came head and legs and, spurning the perches with their strong
feet, plump the turtles went into the water and to the bottom, evidently
convinced that they were outwitting their captors.

"Don't you want to choose one special one for yours, Gladys? It's fun to
name them," said Faith.

The visitor hesitated only a moment. "I choose the baby, then," she said.
"You know I'm afraid of the big ones."

Ernest thought she was joking. It did not occur to him that any one who had
seen Faith's happiness in finding the prince could seriously think of
taking it from her.

"Yes," he laughed, "I guess you and I won't get a chance at that one,
Gladys."

Faith's expression changed and her eyes grew thoughtful. "Hurry up,
girls," continued Ernest, "come on, we won't have very much time."

So the turtles, prince and all, were left disporting themselves in the tub,
and the trio went down to the pond, where Ernest untied his boat. Faith
jumped in, but Gladys timorously placed her little foot upon the unsteady
gunwale, and the children had to help her into the boat as they had done
over the wall.

"I wish I'd brought Vera," she said when she was seated and Ernest was
pushing the boat off.

"Next time we will," replied Faith.

"I don't see why Ernest couldn't go back for her now," said Gladys. "I'm
not used to walking so much and I'm too tired to go myself."

"You want me to run up the hill after a