A rushing noise announced the approach of two or three boys, together with the barking of Prince, as they all ran down the wide hall.

“O dear, dear!” exclaimed Polly, hurriedly pulling and pinning, “there come the boys to rehearse.  It can’t be four o’clock,” as the door opened and three members of the cast entered.

“It’s quarter-past four,” said Jasper, laughing and pulling out his watch; “we gave you an extra fifteen minutes, as you had such a lot to do.  Dear me! but you are fine, Phronsie.  I make my obeisance to Princess Clotilde!” and he bowed low to the little silver and white figure, as did the other two boys, and then drew off to witness the final touches.

“It’s a most dreadful thing,” cried Polly, pushing back the brown waves from her brow, as she also fell off to their point of view, “to get up a princess.  I had no idea it was such a piece of work.”

“You have scored an immense success,” said Jasper enthusiastically.  “Oh, Phronsie! you will make the hit of the season.”

“You’ll think it is even much nicer when it is done,” said Polly, vastly relieved that Jasper had given such a kind verdict.  “It’s to have a dash of royal purple on that right side, and in one of the shoulder knots, and to catch up her train.”

“That will be very pretty, I don’t doubt,” said Jasper, trying to resolve himself into the cold critic, “but it seems to me it is almost perfect now, Polly.”

“Oh! thank you so much,” she cried, with blooming cheeks.  “How do you like it, Clare and Bensie?”

“I can’t tell,” said Ben, slowly regarding the Princess on all sides; “it’s so transforming.”

“It’s tiptop!” cried Clare.  “It out-princesses any princess I’ve ever imagined.”

“Well, it’s a perfect relief,” said Polly, “to have you boys come in.  I’ve been working so over it that I was ready to say it was horrid.  It’s too bad, isn’t it, that Dick can’t be here to-day to rehearse his part?”

“To be sure,” exclaimed Jasper, looking around, “where is the Princess’s page?”

“He’s gone to the dentist’s,” said Polly, making a wry face.  “Auntie had to make the appointment for this afternoon, and we couldn’t put off the rehearsal; Clare can’t come any other time, you know.”

Phronsie turned an anxious face to the window.  “I hope he’s not being hurt very much,” she said slowly.

“I don’t believe he is,” Polly made haste to answer most cheerfully, “it was only one tooth, you know, Phronsie, to be filled.  Auntie says Dr. Porter told her the rest are all right.”

But a cloud rested on the Princess’s face.  “One tooth is something,” she said.

“Just think how nice it will be when it is all over, and Dick comes scampering in,” cried Jasper, with great hilarity.

“Do climb up on the sofa, Phronsie,” urged Polly, looking into the pale little face, “you must sit down and rest a bit, you’re so tired.”