The sound of running water and the tinkle of broken glass reached their ears from an adjoining room. "Oh, you naughty boy! What will mother do with you!"
"I was dest cweanin' my teef, muzzer, an' I dwopped 'e' gwass, an' it b-w-owke!" explained the small boy earnestly. "An' all 'e' toof-powder 'pilled on 'e' floor! It's nice an' s-w-e-et, muzzer! I like toof-powder."
"Oh, Buster Belknap, you haven't been eating tooth-powder?"
"I cweaned my teef, an I dwopped 'e' gwass, an' I——"
Further explanations were rendered impossible by Mrs. Belknap's prompt and heroic measures. The naughty pink mouth was forced open and rapidly explored by maternal eyes and fingers, while Jane was required to fetch in rapid succession a glass of water, a clean towel, and a fresh pinafore.
During the process the small boy screamed and struggled manfully if ineffectually; but once washed, dried, and freshly arrayed he pranced gayly away, his countenance composed and cheerful.
Jane was by this time busily engaged in sweeping the front stairs, while she wondered miserably if any girl in the whole world could be so unhappy and friendless as herself. She wished gloomily that she had not run away from Portland Square. She condemned herself bitterly for the pride and vainglory of her hasty actions, and with it all wave after wave of desperate homesickness surged over her young soul. It was scarcely to be wondered at that dust accumulated in dark nooks and corners should escape the notice of the tear-blurred hazel eyes, nor that the unswept rugs should be thoughtlessly pushed to one side.
She was suddenly recalled to a sense of these shortcomings by Mrs. Belknap's crisp, American voice. "Why, Jane! You are not doing this work at all properly. One would think it was your first experience in sweeping!"
"It is, ma'am," said Jane hopelessly.
"Dear me! I'm afraid this will never do," went on Mrs. Belknap, with a discouraged sigh. "Can't you see the dirt? Here, let me show you!"