The princess did not like it, and showed her displeasure by a succession of sulky “Rookety cahoos!” uttered from her basket.
After a time the Judge rang the bell.
“Jennie,” he said when the parlor maid appeared, “ask Master Titus to come here after he finishes studying his lessons.”
Half an hour later Titus came whistling down the hall.
“W-w-well, grandfather,” he said, as he came into the study, “what do you want—a-a-a game of backgammon?”
“No,” said the Judge, “I want to talk to you. Sit down.”
Titus threw himself into a chair, and stared at him.
“When you were ill,” began the Judge, “I, in my extremity, promised my Maker that if you were spared to me I would show my gratitude by adopting some poor child who had no home of his own.”
“W-w-whew!” exclaimed Titus, and he drew his black brows together.
The Judge was not surprised. He had feared that Titus might be jealous of another lad.