A sham princess

by Eglanton Thorne

"What, is it you?" said Mr. Hurst, as he recognised the boy. "And is the Princess ill again? Why, I thought she had gone away?"

"So she did," said Bert; "but she came back the day before yesterday."

"Ah! Came back ill?"

Bert nodded.

"Did they send her back because she was ill?"

"Oh no; it wasn't that," said Bert; "she ran away because they were unkind to her."

"Ran away! Unkind to her!" repeated the doctor, in amazement.

"Yes; they said she had stolen something. Prin could not stand that. She always was a spirit. So she ran away."

"Phew!" said the doctor expressively. "A very foolish spirit."

Then he gave his attention to his patient. He went thoroughly into her case, and seemed anxious to do his best for her. There was no infection, he said. It was a fever produced by exposure, over-fatigue, and distress of mind. Perhaps influenza had something to do with it; but, whatever it was, she could not be moved now, but must be nursed where she lay.