Page:The Story of the Treasure Seekers.djvu/120

90 Princesses&mdash;which was silly, to a grown-up person that is not a great friend of yours.

The gruff lady gave a short, horrid laugh, like a husky bark, and said&mdash;

"Princes, indeed! They're only common children!"

Dora turned very red and began to speak, but the little girl cried out "Common children! Oh, I am so glad! When I am grown up I'll always play with common children."

And she ran at us, and began to kiss us one by one, beginning with Alice; she had got to H. O. when the horrid lady said&mdash;

"Your Highness&mdash;go indoors at once!"

The little girl answered, "I won't!" Then the prim lady said&mdash;

"Wilson, carry her Highness indoors."

And the little girl was carried away screaming, and kicking with her little thin legs and her buttoned boots, and between her screams she shrieked: "Common children! I am glad, glad, glad! Common children! Common children!"

The nasty lady then remarked&mdash;

"Go at once, or I will send for the police!"

So we went. H. O. made a face at her and