Sometimes however he was disturbed in this resigned acceptance of the situation. One afternoon he raised his head from the enthralled perusal of "Maiden Sweet" to find that the sands were empty of his charge. He struggled up from his chair, dropped the luscious masterpiece into it, and hurried in search of him. Pollyooly was a good sixty yards away; and he was breathless when he reached her. He clamoured wheezily for information as to the whereabouts of the prince. Pollyooly told him, indifferently enough, that he had gone to the village. The baron sought the village at his best, but curious, toddling rush. In the middle of it he met his young charge plodding along with an air of perfect content. In his hand he bore a paper bag. "Vot 'af your 'ighness been doing?" cried his richly purple preceptor. "Bollyooly zent me to buy bebbermints," said his charge stolidly, without stopping. "Mein Gott!" cried the baron. "And now that she-devil-child uses you as a lackey!" "She wanted zem," said his charge stolidly, pursuing his way without turning his head. "Bud bebbermints you do not like!" cried the baron. "Bollyooly wanted bebbermints," said the prince stolidly. The baron said no more because there was no more to say. He followed his charge to the beach and sought his chair; his charge sought Pollyooly. Gloomily the baron resumed his perusal of "Maiden Sweet." He had not read half a page when the thoughtful Pollyooly sent the prince to offer him a peppermint. The baron refused it with the proper cold scorn. The prince put it into his own mouth. "Bud bebbermints you do not like!" said the baron again. "Bollyooly says bebbermints is goot," said the prince stolidly; and he turned on his heel. The baron searched the far-smiling sea with wild, questioning eyes. It offered neither explanation nor comfort. It chanced a few days later that the Honourable John Ruffin put Pollyooly's skilful cooking to the further test of grilling mushrooms along with his bacon. They came from the marsh. Presently to Pollyooly's prudent mind it seemed foolish to pay for vegetables which might be gathered for nothing. She resolved to gather them herself; and one afternoon with that end in view she came down to the sands, leading the Lump, and carrying a basket, and suggested to Kathleen and others of her young friends that they should accompany her on her quest and share the spoil. But their nurses, fore-seeing extra work from the mud in the marsh, would not allow them to go.