Then she sat down on the floor and proceeded to put on her
stockings,--that is, she meant to put them on, but she became so
absorbed in trying to spell her name backwards that she forgot about the
stockings. Louise caught her by the shoulder.

"You will dress instant, Mees Anne," she threatened, "or I report you to
Mademoiselle."

Anne had heard that threat too often to be disturbed by it. She went to
get a fresh apron, then, seeing that Honey-Sweet's frock was soiled, she
selected a fresh frock for her doll whom she reproved severely for being
so untidy and so slow about dressing. Louise, who was wrestling with
Annette's curls, turned and saw Anne devoting herself to her doll's
toilette when she ought to have been finishing her own. The much-tried
maid snatched away Honey-Sweet and shook her heartily.

"Don't, don't, Louise!" cried Anne. "Don't you hurt Honey-Sweet. I'll
dress. I'll hurry. I'll be quick."

Louise looked keenly at Anne's flushed, earnest face. Then she gave poor
Honey-Sweet a smart little smack. "The wicked _bébé_!" she exclaimed.
"She does not permit that you make the toilette. If you are not dressed
in six minutes exact, I give the spank once more to the bad _bébé_!"

Anne's fingers hurried as she had not known they could hurry and in
exactly four minutes she presented herself for Louise to tie her
hair-ribbons, while she cuddled and pitied her rescued baby.

"Oh, ho! Mees Anne," said Louise, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction
at having found a way to enforce promptness. "Each morning that is