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 _bebe_!" 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 _bebe_!"
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
tardy, I give the spank to the wicked _bebe_ that makes you to delay."
To save Honey-Sweet from punishment, Anne sprang up the next morning at
Louise's first call and dressed at once. To her surprise, she found that
it was really pleasanter than dawdling over her toilette, and Louise
good-naturedly gave her permission to take Honey-Sweet for a
before-breakfast stroll to the arbor in the playground.
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