"I've slept here some mighty cold nights, an' I know jest how good the place is," the proprietor said, proudly. "She's tight as a brick, an' there can't so much as a sniff of wind get in. Then look here!" He raised the lid of a small box, thereby displaying two tin tomato cans in which were fragments of biscuits, a broken cup half full of sugar, two wooden plates, a knife, a fork, and a spoon. "When trade is dull, I buy stuff at the grocery store, an' bring it in here. Why, Joe, things will keep jest as well in that box as they would in one of your tony 'frigerators, an' I ain't sure but it's better. I have had ice in there two or three days, though I don't know as it 'mounted to anything 'cept to wet everything." Joe gave little heed to his friend's cupboard. He was looking around for some spot where the princess could sit down without danger of soiling her garments, but failed to find that for which he sought. "See here, Plums, you'll have to spread some papers over that blanket; it'll never do to put this little thing down where everything is so dirty." "I don't see what there is 'round here that's dirty. It seems like she couldn't come to much harm on the straw. It's only been here two weeks." "Put the papers down, an' we'll talk 'bout it afterwards. It seems as though my arms would break." Master Plummer obeyed, but with an ill grace, for this fault-finding without reason was not agreeable. There was no lack of newspapers in the house, and in as short a time as Plums could compass it the straw was covered. It was with a long breath of relief that Joe sat his charming burden down, and then were the boys treated to an exhibition of the princess's temper. Cleanly though the couch was, she had no idea of sitting bolt upright when there were two subjects at hand to obey her wishes. She positively refused to be seated, but held out her hands as if for Joe to take her in his arms once more, and when the boy attempted to explain that it was necessary she remain there a few moments, the little maiden made protest at the full strength of her lungs. "I guess I'll have to take her up again," Joe said, with a long-drawn sigh, "an' I don't know as she's to be blamed for not wantin' to stay there." "Well, I'd never believed anything so pretty could screech so loud!" Master Plummer exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment. "She yells jest 'bout the same's old Mis' Carter's kids do, an' there's nothin' swell about them." Joe made no reply. He was too deeply engaged in trying to hush the princess to give any heed to his friend's remark, and fully five minutes passed before the imperious little maid was reduced to silence. Then she nestled down in his arms with such apparent content, and looked so charming, that he was her willing slave, without one disagreeable thought concerning her temper. "If my face was washed, I'd kiss her this minute," he said, half to himself, and immediately Master Plummer looked jealous.