So at the feet of his Royal Highness is laid such a queer collection of articles as never before appeared in that trim sitting-room: a _Child's History of England_, a bottle of mucilage, a pair of scissors, a coal shovel, a comb and brush, a bunch of flowers, a photograph album, a bottle of ink, and goodness knows what besides. Miss Helena ransacks her brains and her bureau, Miss Judith brings every portable in the room, and Victoria literally squanders the contents of her larder, but all to no purpose, and what is worse, his Highness, becoming alarmed at such unusual behavior, begins to moan "Ont daykumboa" in a way that draws tears to the eyes of his aunts. "Judith," exclaims Miss Helena, "the case is getting desperate. We _must_ send for Elijah, no matter if he does get angry.--Victoria, just go to the study, and tell the Professor that he _must_ come here for a few minutes. Do you hear--_must_!" Victoria, looking as scared as only a solemn-natured darky _can_ look, departs, and returns speedily with the Professor. "Is anything the matter with Alcibiades?" he asks. Alcibiades, be it known, is what the Professor always calls Ralph--"for short," he says. "He is in a most peculiar condition, Elijah--persists in calling for _daykumboa_, and we can not understand what he means." "What is it that you want, my boy?" inquires the Professor, bending his dignified back and knees, so as to bring his gray head on a level with Ralph's "curly pow." Ralph turns to him with an expression of relief, as much as to say, "Well, here's a reasonable being at last," and explains, "Ont daykumboa." "And what is daykumboa?" says the Professor. "Daykumboa," repeats Ralph, with a lingering hope that perhaps he is going to get some satisfaction; but this creature is just as dull as the rest, and his Highness, with great want of dignity, begins to whimper. "The child seems to be in pain," says the Professor, standing up, and regarding his nephew with concern. "Perhaps he has hurt himself." "I never thought of that," cries Miss Judith.--"Have you hurt yourself, Ralphie?" "Ont daykumboa," is the only response. "Looks like he gwine to hab a fit. I gib de chile a good warm bath, if I's you," suggests Victoria. Miss Helena eagerly catches at the straw. "That's a good idea, Victoria. Just fill the little foot-tub with hot water, and bring it right in here." Victoria hurries off to get the bath, and the Professor, seized with a new idea for the explanation of the mystery, goes to his study to search his dictionary for "daykumboa" in some dead or living language.