“Not you, Honeysuckle,” said the old man, rising and setting the child down carefully in the chair. “Sit you there, and be a real princess, and I will be your steward, and get supper this time. I like to see you in your fine clothes, and 'twould be a shame to take 'em off so soon.”
She clapped her hands again, and settling herself cosily in the great chair, arranged her train with a graceful sweep, and pushed back her cloudy golden hair.
“Shall I really act princess?” she asked,—and without waiting for an answer, she began to give orders in lofty tones, holding her head high in the air, and pointing hither and thither with her tiny hands. “Take up the golden chafing-dish, Grumio!” she cried. “The kidneys—I mean the capons—are quite ready now. And the milk—no! the sack—is in the silver flagon!” she pointed to an ancient blue jug which stood on the dresser.
The obedient Captain hastened to take up the saucepan, and soon the frugal supper was set out, and princess and steward were doing ample justice to it.
“You didn't say 'Anon! anon! Madam' when I ordered you about,” said the Princess, thoughtfully. “You ought to, you know. Servants always do in the book.”
“Wal, I didn't think on't,” the steward admitted. “I wa'n't brought up to the business, you see, Princess. It always seemed to me a foolish thing to say, anyhow: no disrespect to W. Shakespeare. The hull of the word's 'anonymous,' I believe, and the dictionary says that means 'wanting a name.' So, altogether, Star Bright, I haven't been able to make much sense out o' that answer.”
“Oh, never mind!” said the Princess, tossing her head. “I don't like the dictionary. It's a wretch!”
“So 'tis, so 'tis,” assented the Captain, with servile alacrity. “Have some more milk then, Sunshine.”
“It isn't milk! it's sack,” said the child, promptly, holding out her small yellow mug with a royal air. “Are the capons good, Grumio?”
“They are, my lamb, they are,” replied the Captain. “Oncommon good they are, to be sure, and me not knowin' to this day what capons was. A little more? Yes, Pigeon Pie, I will take a little more, thank ye kindly.”