"That isn't fair!" stammered Mr. Bill, when he was confronted with the truth. "That isn't fair!"
"It's true, isn't it?" demanded Tessie triumphantly. "I should say I am glad I'm a queen!"
"So I would know you are on earth?" asked Mr. Bill softly, and quite forgetting the gulf which is supposed to yawn between queens and floorwalkers.
But Tessie would not admit that that was the reason she was glad to be a queen. No girl would.
"The idea!" she said instead, and sat up straighter and refused to exchange tender glances with him. "Is this a good car?" she asked in a most matter-of-fact voice. "I have to buy a car, and I don't know which is a good one."
"I do!" exclaimed Mr. Bill emphatically. "And I'll help you buy a car. I'll help you do anything!" And he might have dared to put his hand on the royal fingers, they were so soft and white as they rested on her knee beside him, but a snarl from the rear made him realize that Ka-kee-ta's eyes were watchful. "I wish we could lose him," he grumbled.
"So do I," agreed Tessie heartily.
But Ka-kee-ta snarled louder and jumped to his feet and stared at a car which had come so close to them that it had almost scraped their fender. He waved his ax wildly.
"The shark!" he shouted. "The shark!"