"O dear!" said Vinnie; "I'm afraid you'll blow my trunk to pieces; and I must have my trunk now!"
"I doin' to blow it to pieces, and you tan't have it," cried Chokie, stoutly.
"But I've something for you in it," said Vinnie, "and we never can get it for you, if you touch off your Fourth-of-July on it."
"O, wal, you may dit it." And he began to shovel the sand off, throwing it into his clothing, into the house, and some into Vinnie's eyes.
Lord Betterson, who was walking leisurely about his castle, now came forward, and, seeing Vinnie in some distress, inquired, in his lofty way, if he could do anything for her.
"If you please," she replied, laughing, as she brushed the sand away from her eyes, "I should like to have this trunk carried in."
Betterson drew himself up with dignified surprise; for he had not meant to proffer any such menial service. Vinnie perceived the little mistake she had made; but she was not so overpoweringly impressed by his nobility as to think that an apology was due. She even permitted herself to be amused; and, retiring behind the sand in her eyes, which she made a great show of winking and laughing away, she waited to see what he would do.
He looked around, and coughed uncomfortably.
"Where are the boys?" he asked. "This—hem—is very awkward. I don't know why the trunk was left here; I directed that it should be taken to Cecie's room."—
Vinnie mischievously resolved that the noble Betterson back should bend beneath that burden.