"It's tiptop!" cried Clare. "It out-princesses any princess I've ever imagined."
"Well, it's a perfect relief," said Polly, "to have you boys come in.
I've been working so over it that I was ready to say it was horrid.
It's too bad, isn't it, that Dick can't be here to-day to rehearse his
part?"
"To be sure," exclaimed Jasper, looking around, "where is the
Princess's page?"
"He's gone to the dentist's," said Polly, making a wry face. "Auntie had to make the appointment for this afternoon, and we couldn't put off the rehearsal; Clare can't come any other time, you know."
Phronsie turned an anxious face to the window. "I hope he's not being hurt very much," she said slowly.
"I don't believe he is," Polly made haste to answer most cheerfully, "it was only one tooth, you know, Phronsie, to be filled. Auntie says Dr. Porter told her the rest are all right."
But a cloud rested on the Princess's face. "One tooth is something," she said.
"Just think how nice it will be when it is all over, and Dick comes scampering in," cried Jasper, with great hilarity.
"Do climb up on the sofa, Phronsie," urged Polly, looking into the pale little face, "you must sit down and rest a bit, you're so tired."
"I will read the prologue while she rests," said Jasper.