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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sweet Little Maid, by Amy E. Blanchard
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Sweet Little Maid
+
+Author: Amy E. Blanchard
+
+Release Date: August 10, 2006 [EBook #19025]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SWEET LITTLE MAID ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+A SWEET LITTLE MAID
+
+BY
+AMY E. BLANCHARD
+
+Author of "Little Miss Oddity," "Little Miss Mouse,"
+"Little Sister Anne," "Mistress May," etc.
+
+NEW YORK
+HURST & COMPANY
+PUBLISHERS
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1899,
+by GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+To
+
+MY DEAR LITTLE GODDAUGHTER
+AGNES BLANCHARD WILLIAMS
+I LOVINGLY DEDICATE THIS STORY OF ANOTHER
+SWEET LITTLE MAID
+
+A. E. B.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS
+
+ CHAP.                                    PAGE
+
+    I. DIMPLE AND BUBBLES                    9
+   II. DOLLS                                26
+  III. A QUARREL                            44
+   IV. HOUSEBREAKERS                        62
+    V. ROCK                                 81
+   VI. THE TEA-PARTY                        97
+  VII. HOUSEKEEPERS                        119
+ VIII. ADRIFT                              139
+   IX. DOWN TOWN                           158
+    X. THE PICNIC                          177
+   XI. AN UNCLE AND A WEDDING              196
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+Dimple and Bubbles
+
+
+"Is yuh asleep, Miss Dimple?"
+
+"No," said Dimple, drowsily.
+
+"I'm are."
+
+"Why, Bubbles," replied Dimple, "if you were asleep you wouldn't be
+talking."
+
+"Folks talks in their sleep sometimes, Miss Dimple," answered Bubbles,
+opening her black eyes.
+
+"Well, maybe they do, but your eyes are open now."
+
+"I have heerd of people sleepin' with their eyes open," returned
+Bubbles, nothing abashed.
+
+"O, Bubbles, I don't believe it; for that is how to go to sleep; mamma
+says, 'shut your eyes and go to sleep,' she never says, 'open your eyes
+and go to sleep;' so there!"
+
+Bubbles sat thoughtfully looking at her toes, having nothing to say when
+Dimple brought her mamma into the question.
+
+"I'll tell you what, Bubbles," said Dimple, after a moment's pause,
+rising from the long grass where the two had been sitting. "Let's play
+Indian. You make such a lovely Indian, just like a real one. I am almost
+afraid of you when you are painted up, and have feathers in your head."
+
+Bubbles grinned at the compliment.
+
+"I will be the white maiden to be captured," said Dimple, as Bubbles
+coolly proceeded to take off her frock, displaying a red flannel
+petticoat.
+
+"I'll hunt up the feathers, and you get ready," Dimple went on. "And the
+shawl--we must have the striped shawl for a blanket," and, running into
+the house, she soon came out with a little striped shawl, and a handful
+of stiff feathers. The shawl was arranged over Bubbles' shoulders, and
+produced a fine effect, when the feathers were stuck in her head.
+
+"Now if you could only have the hatchet. You go get it, Bubbles."
+
+"I dassent," said Bubbles.
+
+"Oh yes, you dare," Dimple said, coaxingly. "I'd go ask mamma, but it is
+so hot and I've been in the house once."
+
+"'Deed, Miss Dimple"--Bubbles began.
+
+"Don't you 'deed me. I tell you to go and I mean it. I'll send you to
+the orphan asylum, if you don't, and I wonder how you will like that; no
+more cakes, no more chicken and corn-bread for you, Miss Bubbles. Mush
+and milk, miss."
+
+This dreadful threat had its desired effect, and Bubbles' bare black
+legs went scudding through the grass, and were back in a twinkling.
+
+"Hyah it is," she said. "I was skeered, sho' 'nough."
+
+"Oh well, you are a goose," said Dimple. "Who ever heard of an Indian
+being scared at a hatchet? Now I will go into the woodshed--that is my
+house, you know--and you must skulk softly along, and when you get to
+the door bang it open with the hatchet, and give a whoop."
+
+So Dimple went in her house and shut the door, fearfully peeping through
+the cracks once in a while, as the terrible foe crept softly nearer and
+nearer, then with a terrific yell burst in.
+
+"Please, Mr. Indian, don't scalp me."
+
+"Ugh!" said the Indian.
+
+"What shall I do?" said Dimple. "Make me take off my stockings and
+shoes, Bubbles. You know the captives must go barefooted."
+
+"Ugh!" said the Indian, pointing to Dimple's feet.
+
+"My shoes and stockings? Well, I will give them to you," and she quickly
+took them off. The Indian gravely tied them around his neck, and taking
+Dimple by the hand he led her forth in triumph.
+
+But here a disaster followed, for the captive, thinking it her duty to
+struggle, knocked the hatchet out of the Indian's hand, and it fell with
+its edge on Dimple's little white foot, making a bad gash.
+
+"Oh, you've killed me, sure enough," she cried. "Oh, you wicked, wicked
+thing!"
+
+Poor Bubbles cried quite as hard as she, and begged not to be sent to
+the orphan asylum.
+
+"Oh! your mother will whip me," she cried. "I 'spect I ought to be
+killed, but 'deed I didn't mean to, Miss Dimple; I wisht it had been my
+old black foot."
+
+"I wish it had," sobbed Dimple. "Oh, I am bleeding all to nothing! Take
+me to mamma, Bubbles!"
+
+Bubbles stooped down and, being a little larger and stronger, managed to
+carry her to the house.
+
+Dimple's mamma was horrified when they appeared at her door. Bubbles in
+war-paint and feathers, carrying the little barefooted girl, from whose
+foot blood was dropping on the floor.
+
+"What on earth is the matter? Oh, Dimple! Oh, Bubbles! What have you
+been doing?"
+
+But Bubbles was so overcome by terror, and Dimples by the sight of the
+blood, that neither could explain till the foot was washed and bandaged.
+
+Then poor Bubbles flung herself on the floor and begged not to be sent
+to the orphan asylum.
+
+"You ridiculous child," said Dimple's mamma. "Of course you ought to be
+careful, but it is not your fault any more than Dimple's. She should not
+have sent you for the hatchet. I am very sorry for my little Dimple; it
+is not so very serious, but she will not be able to walk for several
+days. Next time you want to play Indian, do without a hatchet. Put on
+your frock, Bubbles, and go into the kitchen, for I'm sure I heard Sylvy
+call you."
+
+Bubbles went meekly out and Dimple was soon asleep on the sofa.
+
+Bubbles' real name was Barbara. She was the child of a former servant
+who went away, leaving her, when she was about five years old, with Mrs.
+Dallas; as the mother never came back, and no one could tell of her
+whereabouts, Bubbles gradually became a fixture in Dimple's home.
+
+Dimple, when she was just beginning to talk, tried hard to say Barbara,
+but got no nearer to it than Bubbles, and Bubbles the little darkey was
+always called.
+
+Dimple herself was called so from the deep dimple in one cheek. Every
+one knew her by her pet name, and most persons forgot that her name ever
+was Eleanor.
+
+She and Bubbles were devoted comrades. Bubbles would cheerfully have let
+Dimple walk over her and never forgot to call her _Miss_ Dimple, thereby
+expressing her willingness to serve her.
+
+Dimple was the dearest little girl in the world, but considering Bubbles
+her special property, made her do pretty much as she pleased, and her
+most dreadful threat was to send her to the orphan asylum.
+
+She had once said, "Mamma, if you hadn't let Bubbles stay here, where
+would you have sent her?"
+
+"To the orphan asylum, I suppose," her mamma answered; and Bubbles,
+hearing it, was ever after in mortal terror of the place, for Dimple
+gave her a graphic description of it, telling her she would never have
+anything to eat but mush and milk.
+
+Dimple's foot did not get well as fast as she expected, and the little
+girl found it rather tiresome to lie on a lounge all day, although her
+mamma read to her, and tried to amuse her. Bubbles, too, was as obedient
+a nurse as could be, and, because she had been the cause of the
+accident, considered it her first and only duty to wait on Dimple.
+
+"Mamma," said Dimple, "for a colored girl, Bubbles is the nicest I ever
+saw; but indeed, I should like a white girl to play with, just for a
+change. Couldn't you get me one?"
+
+"Perhaps so," said her mamma. "We will see what can be done."
+
+"Good-bye, little girl," said her papa the next morning. "I am going
+away and will not be back till to-morrow. What shall I bring you? A new
+doll?"
+
+"Oh, please, papa; and papa a white girl if you can get one that is real
+nice, something the same kind of girl that I am."
+
+"A girl like you would be hard to find, I think," said he, laughing,
+"but I'll inquire around and see if there is one to be had."
+
+Bubbles looked very sober all day, and rolled her eyes around at Dimple
+in such a reproachful way that finally she said:
+
+"I know just what you think, Bubbles. You believe I am going to send you
+to the orphan asylum and get a white girl, but I am not at all. If I get
+a white girl I shall want you all the same, because you will have to
+wait on her too."
+
+Bubbles' face lighted up, as she said,
+
+"'Deed, cross my heart, Miss Dimple, I didn't fo' sure think yuh was
+gwine to send me off, but I tuck and thought yuh was conjurin' up
+somethin' agin me."
+
+"Why, Bubbles, I wouldn't do such a thing, unless you were out and out
+bad. It has been such a long day," she said, turning to her mamma. "When
+will it be to-morrow?"
+
+Mrs. Dallas drew up a little table, and Bubbles brought Dimple's best
+set of dishes, and with a clean cloth spread on first, the dishes were
+arranged. Then Bubbles brought in a little dish of chicken, a glass of
+jelly, light rolls, little cakes, a pitcher of milk, tea, sugar, and
+butter; and then Mrs. Dallas said,
+
+"We will have our supper together, because papa is away, and Bubbles can
+wait on us here."
+
+Bubbles had disappeared, but presently came back with a bunch of roses,
+which she put in the middle of the table.
+
+"Why, Bubbles, that is quite fine," said Dimple, and she ate her supper
+with a relish; after which, the time seemed very short until to-morrow,
+for she was soon asleep.
+
+"I believe this day is long too," she said, toward the afternoon of the
+next day. "When will papa come?"
+
+"Not till six o'clock," replied her mamma. "You must try to be patient,
+for I think you will be very glad when he gets here. I have sent Bubbles
+for a book, and I will read to you, to pass the time away."
+
+Six o'clock came at last, and soon after Dimple heard her papa's voice
+in the hall.
+
+"Come right up," she heard him say.
+
+"I do believe he has brought the white girl," she said, clasping her
+hands; and, to be sure, when he opened the door, some one was behind
+him.
+
+"This is the nearest like you I could get," he said, and led forward
+some one in a grey frock and hat.
+
+Dimple screamed, "Why, it is Florence. Oh! papa, you didn't say you were
+going to auntie's!"
+
+"No. I wanted to surprise you," he replied. "And I thought your own
+cousin ought to be more like you than any one else."
+
+"Well, I am delighted. You are sure to stay a long, long time, Florence.
+Take off your hat and sit right here," she said, moving up on the
+lounge. "I never had such a surprise."
+
+"You forgot I promised a doll, too," said her papa, as he opened a
+package. "I thought Florence would like one, so I brought two, as near
+alike as if they were cousins," he added.
+
+"Oh! you preciousest papa," said Dimple; "let me hug you all to pieces.
+I do think you are the most delightful man. I don't wonder mamma
+married you. When you go down please send Bubbles up here, so I can tell
+her I am almost glad she cut my foot, for it is worth it, to have
+Florence and a new doll too."
+
+Bubbles came in beaming.
+
+"Bubbles," cried Dimple, "see Florence and our new dolls,--and Bubbles,
+you shall have one of my old ones,--and Bubbles, when I grow up, you
+shall live with me always, because you cut my foot, and you must never,
+never think of the orphan asylum again.
+
+"Now, tell me, Florence," she said, turning to her, "all about your
+coming. Didn't you have to get ready in a hurry?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," replied Florence, "and, oh Dimple, I was so glad when
+uncle asked mamma and she said 'yes,' and she just packed up my things
+in a jiffy, and we stopped at papa's office, and said good-bye to him,
+and uncle bought me oranges and papers on the cars, and we didn't seem a
+bit long coming."
+
+"Well, I am too glad," returned Dimple. "Won't we have fun with the
+dolls? O, Florence, do eat your supper up here with me instead of going
+downstairs."
+
+"Of course," said Florence, "unless you would rather go down, for uncle
+said he would carry you."
+
+"I know," said Dimple, "but it is more fun to have it up here with my
+tea-set, and Bubbles to wait on us."
+
+So they had their tea upstairs, with the table set by the window, where
+the wistaria peeped in to look at them, and a little brown bird, quite
+envious, put his head on one side, and stood on the sill a full minute
+before he flew away.
+
+"Oh! I think it is just lovely here," said Florence. "Ever so much nicer
+than at our house."
+
+"Do you think so?" said Dimple, quite pleased. "You have a lovely house,
+though, Florence; it is four stories high, and has such beautiful things
+in it, and when you look out of the windows there is so much to see,
+carriages, and people all dressed up."
+
+"Yes, and dirty old beggars and ragmen," said Florence, "and nasty,
+muddy streets."
+
+They both laughed.
+
+"What cunning little doylies," said Florence. "Who worked the little
+figures on them?"
+
+"Mamma," said Dimple. "Aren't they sweet? She always sends them up with
+my supper, one over the milk pitcher, and one over the cake. Do you like
+lots of sugar in your tea, Florence?"
+
+"Two lumps."
+
+"Only two! Why I like three, and I believe I could take another; mamma
+says I have a sweet tooth, but I don't know where it is, for I have put
+my tongue on all of them and they all taste alike. Bubbles, go down and
+ask mamma if we mayn't have a little teensy-weensy bit more honey, we
+are both so hungry."
+
+Bubbles took the little glass dish, and went off.
+
+"I wish I had a Bubbles," said Florence. "We have a black man, but I
+think a little girl is ever so much nicer; then there is nurse, she
+takes us to walk; and then there is Kate, the cook, and Lena, the
+chambermaid, they are always fussing and quarreling. I get tired of so
+many."
+
+"We only have Sylvy and Bubbles," said Dimple. "Sylvy is black too; she
+is real nice but she will get mad with Bubbles sometimes. Bubbles
+cleans knives, and runs errands, sets the table, wipes the dishes, and
+is a lot of help. You don't know how much she can do, and she learns
+something new every little while. Have some more honey, Florence, for
+that piece of bread. I never can come out even; sometimes I have to take
+more bread for the honey, and then more honey for the bread, till I do
+eat so much. Have you finished? I believe I have too."
+
+"It is _so_ nice here," said Florence, as they settled themselves after
+their tea, "just delicious. It is so much pleasanter to see green grass,
+and trees, and flowers, than brick walls, and pavements. Do you play out
+of doors much?"
+
+"Yes, all day, nearly; but I haven't since my foot was hurt. I couldn't
+run about, and I should have to wait for some one to bring me in; then I
+always want to be close to mamma when anything is the matter with me.
+Are you that way?"
+
+"Yes," said Florence. "Aren't mammas the best thing in the world? I hope
+mine doesn't miss me."
+
+"Now, Florence, don't get homesick, for I shall be distressed if you do.
+Let's talk about the dolls. Here comes mamma. We will ask her what we
+can dress them in.
+
+"Mamma, mamma, did you see our beauty dolls? Won't you get out your
+reserve bag to-morrow? I have looked over my piece box so much, and it
+would be perfectly splendid to have something I had never seen before."
+
+"What is a reserve bag?" asked Florence.
+
+"Why, you see," said Dimple, "mamma has a lot of bags, one for silk
+pieces, and one for white pieces, and one for pieces like our frocks,
+and so on, but the nicest is the one she keeps for occasions, like
+Christmas and birthdays and fairs, and there are the prettiest bits of
+velvet and silk in it. Mamma, bring out your reserve bag, that is a
+lovely blue-eyed mamma," said Dimple, coaxingly.
+
+"You are very complimentary," said her mamma, laughing. "If you won't
+tease or worry me, to-morrow I will bring it out and you can each choose
+what you want."
+
+"Oh! mamma, you are lovelier and more blue-eyed than ever," said Dimple,
+"let us both kiss you. We will be good as gold, won't we, Florence?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said she. "Auntie, you are lovely."
+
+"I think if you don't go to bed," said Mrs. Dallas, "you will keep me
+awake all night with your flattery."
+
+"Florence is to sleep with me, isn't she, mamma?"
+
+"Certainly, and the sooner you go, the sooner it will be to-morrow."
+
+"Well, we will go now. See me ride, Florence," said Dimple, as her mamma
+put her in a rocking-chair and pushed the chair along through the door
+into Dimple's little blue and white room.
+
+It was a dear little room, and Dimple, with the help of Bubbles, took
+care of it all herself.
+
+There was a white curtained window around which roses and honeysuckle
+grew, and threw their tendrils about in a such a reckless way, that one
+or two had made up their minds to live in the room instead of outdoors,
+and were climbing around the window sash.
+
+A little brass bedstead, a mantel with a blue and white lambrequin, a
+blue and white toilet set, pretty pictures on the wall, and a small
+bookshelf, made a very cozy looking nest for a little girl, and so
+Florence thought, who had no room of her own, but slept with an older
+sister.
+
+They were both tired, and even the delightful topic of dolls could not
+keep them awake very long, for a half hour later when the moon looked in
+on her way across the sky, she saw them both sound asleep, an auburn
+head on Florence's pillow, and a yellow one on Dimple's.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+Dolls
+
+
+Florence and Dimple were on the back porch where it was always cool in
+the morning.
+
+Bubbles was cleaning knives on the steps, the temptation to watch the
+dressing of the dolls being too great to keep her in the kitchen.
+
+"I declare," said Dimple, "we haven't named them yet."
+
+"That is so," returned Florence.
+
+"You take first choice, then," said Dimple. "I shall have to think, for
+I've had a Rose and a Violet and a Lily, besides one named Victoria, and
+one Aurelia."
+
+Florence sat still watching Bubbles briskly scouring her knives. "Dear
+me," she said, presently, "it's awfully hard. How do you suppose our
+mothers found names for us?"
+
+"Oh! that was easy enough," answered Dimple. "I was named Eleanor after
+your mamma, and you were named Florence after mine; but, you see we are
+not sisters, so we can't do that. I'll tell you what let's do; you tell
+mamma the names you like best, and I will tell her those I like; then
+she can write them down and put them in a hat, and we will draw lots for
+them."
+
+"That will be a good plan," said Florence. "She is coming now with the
+reserve bag."
+
+"Oh! Oh! Oh!" they cried, as Mrs. Dallas shook out its contents.
+
+"Let Florence choose first, dear," said she as Dimple began making dives
+at the fluttering ends of silk. "You may each have two pieces."
+
+Dimple looked a little disappointed; being an only child she was used to
+first choice herself, but she yielded with a very good grace.
+
+Florence finally chose a piece of maroon satin, and another of yellow
+brocaded velvet, while Dimple picked out a piece of silk with velvet
+stripes of a lovely pink, and another bit of blue silk brocade. "Mamma,"
+whispered she, "give Bubbles a little piece, if she is black," and so
+the brightest bit of scarlet was picked out for Bubbles, who was made
+perfectly happy by it.
+
+"Now, names," exclaimed Dimple, as the rest of the pieces were returned
+to the bag. "First Florence one and then I one. How many, Florence?"
+
+"Four, I think. Ethel first, for me. No, you choose first, Dimple. I had
+first choice in the pieces."
+
+"No, you're company."
+
+Being company, Florence took her rights, and Ethel went down.
+
+"Blanche, for me, mamma," said Dimple.
+
+"And Celestine for me, auntie."
+
+"Irene," said Dimple.
+
+"Geraldine," said Florence.
+
+"Adele," said Dimple.
+
+"My last," said Florence. "Rubina."
+
+"Oh, what a lovely name!" exclaimed Dimple. "If you don't draw it, I
+should like it, so I won't say any more till you have drawn."
+
+The slips were shaken up in a hat, and Florence, with eyes shut, drew
+out Celestine.
+
+"I am glad," she said. "I believe I like that best; it has a sort of a
+heavenly sound, and my doll is angelic."
+
+"Well, mamma, I will take Rubina. You don't care, do you, Florence?"
+
+"No, indeed. I am glad you like it."
+
+"Now they are named, we will dress them."
+
+"How are you going to dress yours, Dimple?"
+
+"I think I'll have a skirt of the blue and a waist of the pink. No, the
+other way, will look best, because the velvet is thickest, the skirt of
+pink and the waist of blue."
+
+"Well, I will have to make my doll's frock of all the same, with velvet
+trimming. Will that look well?"
+
+"Lovely! What are you going to do with your piece, Bubbles?"
+
+"Make a overskirt for Floridy Alabamy," said Bubbles, importantly.
+
+"Who?" said Dimple, with her scissors ready to cut into the pink.
+
+"Floridy Alabamy," said Bubbles, gravely.
+
+"What a name!" shrieked Dimple, throwing back her head in a fit of
+laughter. "Florence, _did_ you hear? Floridy Alabamy."
+
+And the girls laughed till the tears ran down their cheeks.
+
+"Bubbles, you are too ridiculous," said Dimple, while Bubbles pinned her
+bit of scarlet on her doll.
+
+Just then Sylvy called her, and she ran off, holding her doll admiringly
+at arm's length.
+
+"She will dress it just like a darkey. You see," said Dimple, "she has a
+purple dress on it now; think of that, with a scarlet overskirt; and I
+know she will make it a blue waist out of one of my old sash ribbons I
+gave her."
+
+And sure enough, Floridy Alabamy did wear the three colors in triumph.
+
+"Do you like big or little dolls best?" asked Florence.
+
+"I don't know," said Dimple. "I think rather big or real little. Middle
+sizes are so hard to dress. They have to have such little fidgety
+sleeves and waists. I have two little dolls upstairs, and we can dress
+them up next. I believe one of them has an arm off, but it can be
+mended. How many dolls have you?"
+
+"Four, now," answered Florence. "I had five, but Gertrude broke one.
+Gertrude is such a mischief, I have to keep all my things locked up. I
+hope to goodness they won't let her get at them while I'm away."
+
+"Oh, you must make a traveling dress for your Celestine. I have a piece
+of grey linen that will just do."
+
+By the time the dinner bell rang, both the dolls were dressed
+gorgeously.
+
+"Aren't they lovely, papa?" said Dimple, as she hobbled out to meet him.
+
+"Yes; they look like two butterflies," he said, lifting her up, doll and
+all.
+
+"Are you having a good time, Florence? I hope Dimple hasn't pinched or
+scratched you yet."
+
+"Why, papa," said Dimple, looking very much hurt. "Florence will think I
+am a regular little cat," but seeing a twinkle in his eyes, she knew he
+was only in fun, and was consoled by the kiss he gave her as he put her
+in her chair at the table.
+
+There was a long afternoon before them, and, although Dimple could not
+walk very well with her bandaged foot, she managed to get down to her
+favorite place, under a big tree, where the grass was long and thick.
+
+"Now we can play beautifully with our dolls, Florence," she said, "and
+have no one to disturb us, for Bubbles doesn't count. She has to be in
+the kitchen for a while anyhow."
+
+They had not been out very long before Bubbles came running to them.
+"There is a lady and a boy in the house, Miss Dimple," she said, "and
+your mamma's a bringin' the boy out hyah."
+
+"A boy!" said both the girls in horror.
+
+"Think of it, Florence, a horrid boy! What will we do with him? I can't
+run, and boys despise dolls. As for talking, I never could talk to boys.
+They shut me up like a clam. I always feel as if they wanted to get
+away, and I believe they would if they could," said Dimple in a
+disgusted tone.
+
+But, by this time, Mrs. Dallas had come up to them.
+
+"This is Rock Hardy, girls," said she. "As Dimple is a little lame, I
+brought him out here, rather than take her in the house," and so saying,
+she left them. There was a deep silence after they had shaken hands; all
+looking rather bashful for a few minutes.
+
+Finally Rock took courage to say, "What pretty dolls."
+
+This was encouraging; Florence and Dimple exchanged pleased glances.
+
+"Do you think they are pretty?" asked Dimple. "I thought boys hated
+dolls."
+
+"I don't," said Rock. "I played with them myself for a long time, and I
+have one now, but I don't play with it because I like to read better."
+
+"He _is_ a nice boy," thought the girls.
+
+"How funny," said Florence. "How came you to play with dolls?"
+
+"Why, you see, I haven't any brothers and sisters. When I was a little
+fellow I used to get so lonely, that my mother dressed a boy doll for
+me, and I talked to it and pretended it was another boy."
+
+"I haven't any brothers, or sisters either," said Dimple, "but Florence
+has. I have Bubbles, though. Everybody can't have a Bubbles; she is next
+best to a sister, or a cousin."
+
+"Who is Bubbles?" asked Rock.
+
+"She is the little colored girl you saw when you came out of the house;
+she has lived here ever since I was a baby; she is a year older than I
+am; her mother ran off and left her, and she is real nice to play with."
+
+Dimple was fast getting over her embarrassment.
+
+"Don't you go to school?" asked Rock.
+
+"No, mamma has always taught me at home, but I am going next year. It is
+vacation now."
+
+"Yes, I know," said Rock, "that is why we came here. We are going to
+stay for some time. I like to play with girls. Will you let me come and
+play with you sometimes?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Dimple, in her warm-hearted way. "My foot is nearly
+well, and I can soon run about. I think I should like to play with a
+nice boy."
+
+"I hope I'm a nice boy," said Rock, "but I don't know. I suppose
+everybody is mean sometimes."
+
+"I think you look nice," said Dimple, honestly, looking at him from head
+to foot.
+
+"Why don't you say something, Florence?"
+
+Florence thus appealed to, could say nothing.
+
+"Florence is my cousin," said Dimple. "She lives in Baltimore and she
+came here yesterday."
+
+"Why, I live in Baltimore," said Rock. "What street do you live on,
+Florence?"
+
+Florence told him, and they found it was in the next street to that on
+which Rock lived, so they all began to feel like old friends.
+
+"If I had my scroll saw here, I could make you each a chair for your
+dolls," said Rock. "Maybe my mother will let me send for it. I will ask
+her."
+
+"Oh, that would be lovely," said the girls.
+
+"And I will lend you some of my books to read," said Dimple. "If you
+will please hand me that little cane, we will go in and you can choose
+them."
+
+"Oh, thank you," said Rock. "I shall like to have them, for I like to
+read better than to do anything else."
+
+They all went in and found Rock's mother and Mrs. Dallas in the parlor.
+
+Dimple told her mamma what they had come for, and her mamma suggested
+her taking Rock into the library first, as he might find something there
+that he liked.
+
+So Rock was taken to the bookcase, and found there a book of travels he
+had been wanting to read, so he bade them good-bye, with it under his
+arm, promising soon to come again.
+
+Then Dimple and Florence returned to the garden where they had left a
+colony of grasshoppers imprisoned in a small house built for them out of
+bits of wood and bark.
+
+"Baby Grasshopper has gone," said Florence, in dismay, as she peeped in
+to see the prisoners.
+
+"I knew he would get out; he was so little," returned Dimple. "Let's set
+them all free, Florence. We'll pretend that they escaped in the night,
+or that peace has been declared."
+
+"Or that a tornado blew down their prison."
+
+"Yes, that will be the best. We'll blow real hard, and maybe it will
+come down."
+
+So, with cheeks much puffed out they blew and blew, but without avail,
+and finally they picked up their hats and fanned the little bark
+structure so vigorously that it toppled over, and the grasshoppers
+escaped in every direction, the children laughing to see how quickly
+they disappeared.
+
+They sat there in the grass wondering what to do next when Dimple
+exclaimed, "There comes papa with Mr. Coulter,--he's the carpenter, you
+know--I wonder what he is going to do. See, Mr. Coulter is measuring the
+ground, and papa is explaining something. I can tell by the way he
+keeps doing so, with his hand. He always does that when he is
+explaining. Help me up, Florence, and let's go over there and see what's
+going on. Papa must mean to have something built. I hope it isn't a
+fence. No, it can't be that, for it would be too near the other one.
+Isn't it funny to watch men talking? They do so many funny things. Mr.
+Coulter keeps nodding his head like a horse."
+
+Florence laughed and they made their way over to where the two men
+stood. As soon as they were within speaking distance, Dimple began to
+put her questions. "Are you going to build something, papa? What is it?
+Please don't say it's a fence, or a--a pig-sty."
+
+Mr. Coulter chuckled as he went on laying his foot-rule along the
+ground.
+
+"I hope it won't turn into a pig-sty," Mr. Dallas replied, with a smile.
+"It won't unless little pigs get into it."
+
+"Are you going to keep little pigs?" Dimple asked.
+
+"I didn't say so."
+
+"Oh, papa, you are so mystiferious. I wish you would tell us all about
+it. What are you going to build? Any sort of house?"
+
+"Yes, one sort of house."
+
+"What is it to be for?"
+
+"Little chicks."
+
+"Ah!" Dimple was quite satisfied. "I see. You need a new hen house.
+Isn't the old one big enough? To be sure we don't get very many eggs
+just now, for so many of the hens are sitting. Oh, I know, maybe you are
+going to build a place like Mr. Lind's, with a--what is that thing? A
+inkybator. Are you going to have one of those? and a brooder? Are you,
+papa?"
+
+"I haven't decided exactly what is to be in it, just yet. I think we'll
+let mamma see to that--she knows best what is needed. You shall know all
+about it in good time. But, Dimple, I don't want you to worry Mr.
+Coulter with questions, and I want you two little girls to keep away
+from the building while the work is going on."
+
+"Yes, uncle." Florence gave her promise promptly.
+
+"Yes--papa--but--" Dimple was disappointed. She dearly liked to watch
+the workmen when they came on the place, and she felt this was a
+deprivation which seemed unnecessary. "Why, papa, can't we look at the
+workmen? We won't ask questions and bother them," she said.
+
+"I think it is best that you shouldn't this time. Can't you trust papa?
+When the proper time comes I'll show you the whole thing, and explain it
+all. Meantime I want you to be an obedient little girl, and keep out of
+the way."
+
+Dimple looked up wistfully.
+
+"Won't you please your father by minding what he says?" continued Mr.
+Dallas.
+
+"Yes, papa," replied Dimple, faintly, "I will be sure to mind, only I
+wish you could let me see the house going up. It is such fun to climb
+about over the boards and things."
+
+"I know it is, and I know I'm requiring a great deal of you, but I think
+in the end you will see why," returned her father.
+
+"Have we many little chicks to go in it. I mean will there be a great
+many?"
+
+Mr. Dallas and Mr. Coulter glanced at each other and smiled; then Mr.
+Dallas said, "It might be a good plan to go to the barn and see how old
+Speckle is getting on. Her time is about up, so perhaps we'll find some
+little chicks. I'll carry you there on my back."
+
+"And maybe we'll find some eggs," spoke up Florence, who dearly liked to
+hunt eggs. "We found two yesterday. Indeed, uncle, I think you do need
+more hens, for auntie said yesterday that she didn't get all the eggs
+she wanted."
+
+They found old Speckle ready to be quite flustered when they took her
+off the nest, for they found that four little chicks were already
+hatched, and the shells of several other eggs were chipped.
+
+Mr. Dallas gave the children each two of the little chicks to carry up
+to the house, that they might be kept safely till Speckle came off with
+the rest of the brood, and Bubbles, who had followed them, trotted along
+behind with her hands full of the eggs they were fortunate enough to
+find.
+
+The new building was begun at once, and Dimple found it hard to keep
+away from it, but she resolutely stuck to her promise. One day, to be
+sure, she did not venture nearer than usual, but suddenly she exclaimed
+in a loud voice, "Get thee hence, satan!" and turning ran directly into
+Bubbles who, as usual, had followed her.
+
+"What dat yuh call me, Miss Dimple," exclaimed Bubbles, in an aggrieved
+tone.
+
+"You! Oh, I wasn't talking to you."
+
+This seemed rather a lame excuse to Bubbles, since no one else was near.
+"Yass 'm, yuh is call me sumpin'," she insisted. "Dey ain't nobody
+else."
+
+"There was somebody else," Dimple replied, with dignity. "And don't you
+contradict me. I reckon I know what I'm talking about better than you
+do."
+
+This puzzled Bubbles, but it also silenced her, although she looked
+furtively around to see where Dimple's hidden acquaintance might be;
+that somebody else to whom she spoke so defiantly. "Hit's dat no 'count
+little niggah Jim, I'll be bound," she muttered, under her breath. "He
+done shy a stone at the de birds and dat mek Miss Dimple mad. She don't
+'low nobody 'buse de birds." Thus settling the matter, she cheerfully
+smiled when Dimple gave her a glance, and Dimple laughed. Then she stood
+still.
+
+"Bubbles," she said, "papa never said you mustn't go near that house,
+did he?"
+
+"No 'm."
+
+"Well, just go peep in and tell me what it looks like. From the looks of
+the outside, I should say that it is nearly done. You peep in at the
+window."
+
+Bubbles obeyed, and came back with the information. "Hit's got a flo'
+an' a stove."
+
+"Ah!" Dimple pondered. "Oh yes, that's to keep the baby chicks warm, I
+suppose. I wish I could see for myself. Is that all, Bubbles?"
+
+"Yass 'm."
+
+"I wish I hadn't told you to peep in," Dimple remarked, after a pause.
+"I don't believe it was quite honest for me to do it, and I'll have to
+be uncomfortable till I tell mamma or papa. You oughtn't to have peeped,
+Bubbles."
+
+"Yuh tole me to."
+
+"So I did, but--well, you shouldn't have done it, just the same."
+
+Bubbles rolled her eyes reproachfully, and began to mutter.
+
+"There, never mind. It wasn't your fault," Dimple confessed, hastily.
+But although Bubbles' countenance cleared, Dimple herself did not feel
+at ease till she had told her mother, which she did that night at
+bedtime.
+
+"It was not right," her mother told her, "and was a bad example to
+Bubbles. That is where the trouble often comes in. Not so much in the
+actual wrong we do, but its effect upon others."
+
+"I do want to see, so very much. Papa never made it so hard for me
+before."
+
+"I know it, dear. I have realized very clearly all along how hard it
+must be for you, but I think when you do know you will be so pleased
+that you will forget this part of it. I am glad my little girlie was
+brave enough to tell of her asking Bubbles to peep."
+
+And kissing her good-night, Mrs. Dallas left her little girl feeling
+comforted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+A Quarrel
+
+
+"Raining! Isn't that too bad?" said Florence, leaning on one elbow in
+bed, and looking out of the window.
+
+"Hm, hm," said Dimple, sleepily, from her pillow.
+
+Florence slipped out of bed and stood looking dolefully at the falling
+drops.
+
+"What do you suppose the birds do, Dimple?" she asked, going up to her,
+and softly shaking her.
+
+"Oh," said Dimple, now awake, and sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes,
+"I suppose they get under the leaves just as we do under an umbrella, or
+they go under the eaves, and places like that. I have seen them lots of
+times. It is raining, isn't it, Florence?"
+
+"I said so, long ago," answered Florence; "now we can't go out of doors
+to play, and it is so nice outdoors. I don't see the sense of its
+raining in summer."
+
+"Why," returned Dimple, sitting down on the floor to put on her shoes
+and stockings, "that is the very time for it to rain, or everything
+would dry up."
+
+"Well, I wish it didn't have to," said Florence, coming away from the
+window, and sitting on the floor too. "What color stockings do you like
+best, Dimple?"
+
+"I don't know; black, I think. Don't you?"
+
+"I believe I do. My! there is the breakfast bell, and we are only
+beginning to get dressed. You fasten my buttons, and I will fasten
+yours, Dimple, so we will get dressed in a hurry."
+
+Their fingers flew, and they rushed down to breakfast two steps at a
+time.
+
+"It was so dark this morning that we went to sleep again after you
+called us, mamma," explained Dimple.
+
+"I will excuse you this time, but your breakfast is not as warm as it
+would have been earlier," said Mrs. Dallas, "and papa had to go away
+without his morning kiss."
+
+"I am sorry," said Dimple. "Cold eggs aren't very good," she went on,
+pushing away her plate. "What can we do to-day, mamma?"
+
+"What should you like to do?"
+
+"I don't know," returned Dimple. "My feelings hurt me rainy days, and I
+don't know what I want."
+
+Mrs. Dallas smiled, as she replied, "You might make paper dolls, they
+are good rainy day people; that would be one thing. Then you can paint."
+
+"I haven't but one brush, and I have used up all the books and papers
+you gave me to paint in."
+
+"I can find some more, perhaps, and you and Florence can take turn about
+with the paint brush."
+
+Dimple looked as if that would not suit very well, and Florence seeing
+her look, felt a little hurt.
+
+Paper dolls did not amuse them very long; and when Dimple was ready to
+color the pictures Mrs. Dallas had found for them, Florence declined
+absolutely to paint at all. So they both sat with their elbows on the
+window-sill, decidedly out of humor.
+
+"Florence," said Dimple, presently, "I have an idea. Do you see that
+hogshead down there? It is running over."
+
+"I see it," said Florence. "What of it; it isn't anything very
+wonderful."
+
+"Well, you needn't be so disagreeable," said Dimple. "What I was going
+to say, is this; let's make paper boats, and put paper dolls in them. We
+can pretend the hogshead is Niagara Falls, and the water that runs down
+the gutter can be Niagara river."
+
+"We will get sopping wet."
+
+"Oh no, we won't; it isn't raining so awfully hard. I will put on my
+rubber waterproof, and you can put on mamma's. We can slip around there
+without any one seeing us, for mamma is busy on the other side of the
+house. Don't you think it would be fun?"
+
+"Ye-es," said Florence, doubtfully.
+
+"Let's hurry and make the boats then. Which paper dolls shall we take?
+The ugliest, I think, because they will all be drowned anyhow; and don't
+let's take any pretty frocks, because we can make dolls to fit the
+frocks when these are drowned."
+
+With paper boats, dolls and waterproofs they stole softly down the front
+stairs, and shutting the door after them very gently, ran around the
+house to the hogshead. The roses were heavy with rain, and the
+honeysuckle shook big drops on them, as they ran by.
+
+The boats went topsy-turvy over the falls, upsetting the dolls, who went
+careering down the stream, to the great delight of the children.
+
+They played till the last boat load was lost beyond all hope, and then,
+with wet feet and streaming sleeves, they crept back to the house.
+
+"Now, what shall we do? It was lots of fun, Dimple," said Florence, "but
+I know your mother will scold, when she sees how wet our feet are, and
+your foot just well too, and see my sleeves. If we change our clothes
+she will wonder and then--What shall we do?"
+
+"I don't think it was a bit of harm," said Dimple, determined to brave
+it out, "but it won't do to keep these wet frocks on. I know. We will go
+up into the attic, take them off, and hang them up to dry; then we can
+dress up in other things. There are trunks and boxes full of clothes up
+there, and we can play something."
+
+"So we can," exclaimed Florence. "That is a perfectly lovely plan. Do
+you think our clothes will dry before supper?"
+
+"Of course," said Dimple; "anyhow it will be funny to put on trains and
+things. Come on."
+
+They raced up to the garret, and were soon diving into the boxes and
+trunks of winter clothing that Mrs. Dallas had packed away.
+
+"Here," said Dimple, on her knees before a trunk, "take this skirt of
+mamma's," and she dragged out a cashmere skirt. "Florence, see what is
+in those band-boxes, and get us each a bonnet, while I hunt for a shawl
+or coat, or something."
+
+After much tumbling up of clothing, she found what she wanted, and they
+had taken off their frocks when they heard Mrs. Dallas calling,
+
+"Children, where are you?"
+
+Both were silent for a moment, and stood with quickly beating hearts.
+
+After a second call, Dimple mustered up courage to answer, "Up here,
+mamma."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"In the garret."
+
+"What are you doing?"
+
+"Just playing."
+
+"Well, don't get into any mischief," came from the bottom of the stairs,
+and then Mrs. Dallas went off.
+
+Presently there came another fright: a footstep on the stairs.
+
+"Who is that?" asked Dimple, fearfully.
+
+"Me," came the answer, as Bubbles' woolly head appeared.
+
+"It is only Bubbles," said Dimple, much relieved. "Come up, Bubbles; we
+are dressing up, and you shall too; but if you dare to tell on us--off
+you go to the orphan asylum."
+
+"I wouldn't tell fur nothin', Miss Dimple," said she, as Dimple threw
+her an old wrapper.
+
+"I am going to be Lady Melrose, and Florence Lady Beckwith. You can
+be--Oh, Florence, let's dress Bubbles up in a coat and trousers, and
+have her for a footman."
+
+"All right," said Florence, and shaking with laughter, Bubbles was
+attired in coat, trousers, and tall hat.
+
+"Oh, she is too funny," said Florence, holding her sides. "Where is my
+bonnet?"
+
+"That's mine," exclaimed Dimple, as Florence possessed herself of a
+bonnet with feathers in it.
+
+"No, I chose this first," said Florence.
+
+"Well, it's my mother's, I reckon, and I have the best right to it."
+
+"Well, I'm company, and you're very impolite."
+
+"I'm not," retorted Dimple, getting very red in the face.
+
+"You are. I'd have my mother teach me how to behave, if I were you,
+Dimple Dallas."
+
+"You horrid, red-headed thing!" cried Dimple, now thoroughly angry. "I'd
+like to know how you would look in a garnet velvet bonnet anyhow. You'd
+better take something that's not quite so near the color of your hair."
+
+"My hair isn't red, it's auburn," said Florence, bursting into a sob,
+"and I'm not going to stay here another minute. I'm going straight home
+to my mother." And she tore off the clothes in which she had decked
+herself, leaving them in a heap on the floor. She snatched up her wet
+frock and ran downstairs.
+
+Dimple sat quite still after Florence left her. She did not dare to go
+downstairs for fear of encountering her mother, and yet, suppose
+Florence should really mean to go home. How dreadful! She considered the
+question till she could bear it no longer, and, slowly putting on her
+own clothes, she crept downstairs, hoping as she went from room to room
+that she would find Florence. She even peeped cautiously in upon her
+mother, busy with her sewing, but no Florence was to be seen.
+
+"Perhaps she has started to go home," Dimple said to herself, in real
+alarm. "Oh, dear, I hope there hasn't been any train along that she
+could take." She put on her hat, seized an umbrella from the rack, and
+sallied forth. It was still raining hard, and as she splashed along, the
+little girl was very miserable.
+
+It was quite a walk to the railway station, and Dimple hurried her
+steps, fearing she might be too late to intercept her cousin. She
+entered the waiting-room of the station, and looked anxiously around. No
+Florence was there. Her heart sank and she turned to go. Florence had
+really meant what she said. And her aunt and cousins in Baltimore, what
+would they think of her? The tears began to roll down Dimple's cheeks
+as she looked up and down the long track. She did not know what to do
+next. It would be so dreadful to go home and tell her mother that she
+had driven her cousin away by her rudeness. She was about to turn toward
+home, when she bethought herself of making some inquiry about the
+trains; and she entered the waiting-room again.
+
+Standing on tiptoe she asked the ticket agent. "When was the last train
+to Baltimore?"
+
+"Next train leaves at 4:50," said the man, without looking up.
+
+"Not the next train, but the last train. When did it go?"
+
+"Last train!" the man glanced up. "Last train left at 2:15."
+
+"Thank you." It was with a sense of relief that she heard him give the
+time. Florence had not left the house so long ago as that. It was now
+after four, and two hours had not elapsed since they were playing in the
+garret. So she went slowly out, but suddenly remembered that Florence
+was not at home. Where was she? Perhaps she was lost. She didn't know
+her way about very well, Dimple reflected, and she could easily have
+taken a wrong turn.
+
+"I'll just have to look for her, that's all," thought Dimple; and the
+little feet pattered along in the rain, getting wetter and wetter each
+moment.
+
+Up one street and down another went Dimple, but there was no sign of
+Florence, and the child's repentance grew stronger as she traveled on.
+Her imagination saw Florence in a dozen different plights, each one
+worse than the last. Accidents of various kinds, disasters of every
+possible nature, even the very improbable idea that she had been stolen
+by gypsies, rose to the child's mind, till, terror stricken, she flew
+along, scarcely knowing which way she went.
+
+She was conscious of steadily pursuing footsteps behind her, but she did
+not turn to look until the feet came nearer and nearer and a soft
+plaintive voice called, "Oh, Miss Dimple, stop, please stop." Looking
+around, she saw that Bubbles had followed her.
+
+It was a relief to see the familiar face, and Dimple forlornly dropped
+into her little maid's arms crying: "Oh, Bubbles! Oh, Bubbles, Florence
+is lost."
+
+"No 'm, she ain't," replied Bubbles, with confidence.
+
+"Oh, how do you know?"
+
+"'Cause she come in de front do' jis' as I was gwine th'ough de yard. I
+never stopped to ast her nothin', fo' I seen yuh a kitin' down street,
+an' I put after yuh, lickety-split. All of a suddent I los' sight of
+yuh, an' I been a standin' on de cornah waitin' fo' yuh to come back. I
+know yuh 'bleedged to cross to git home, an' I been a waitin' fo' yuh."
+
+"Oh Bubbles! Oh Bubbles! I'm so glad, but I'm so tired and so wet,
+and--oh dear--I'm afraid to tell mamma, and I'm so miserable. I never
+was so miserable."
+
+Bubbles looked as sympathetic as the occasion required, and trotted
+along by Dimple's side, holding the umbrella over her, and trying to
+suggest all manner of comforting things.
+
+"Hit'll all be ovah befo' yuh is twict married, Miss Dimple, and hit
+mought be wuss. S'posin' Miss Flo'ence was los' sho 'nough, den yuh
+might tek on. She safe an' soun'. Jes' yuh come in de back way, an'
+I'll git yuh some dry things. An' Sylvy won't say nothin'. I jes' know
+she wont, an' yuh can git dry by de kitchen fire. I reckon Miss Flo'ence
+mighty 'shamed o' herse'f, kickin' up all dis rumpus 'bout nothin'."
+
+But Dimple shook her head. "It wasn't about nothing. I behaved just as
+mean as could be, and I'm the one to be ashamed. I'll go straight to
+mamma; it will be best, for she would find out anyhow, and besides, I'd
+feel a great deal worse if I deceived her about it."
+
+Bubbles was not to be convinced that her beloved Miss Dimple was at all
+in the wrong, but Dimple would not change her mind, being in a state of
+great humility and penitence, and finally Bubbles gave up trying to
+dissuade her.
+
+Florence had reached home long before. Indeed she had not gone very far
+before her anger cooled, although she was still very much hurt; but she
+concluded it would not be right to start off for her own home without a
+word to her aunt, who had been so kind to her. This thought added to her
+unhappiness, and she went to Dimple's room, throwing herself on the
+floor, crying bitterly.
+
+The sound of her sobs brought Mrs. Dallas from the next room.
+
+"Why, Florence," she said, seeing the little girl prone upon the floor.
+"What is the matter? Why have you taken off your frock?"
+
+"Oh! auntie," sobbed Florence, "please let me go home; indeed, I can't
+stay."
+
+"Are you homesick?" asked her aunt, as she took her up on her lap, and
+pushed back the damp hair from her face. "Poor little girl!"
+
+A fresh burst of tears was the only answer.
+
+"Where is Dimple?" asked Mrs. Dallas.
+
+But Florence only cried the harder, and her aunt was forced to put her
+down with an uncomfortable sense of there being something wrong. She
+went directly up to the attic, but it was silent. Dimple was not there,
+neither was Bubbles, and no amount of search revealed them. She went
+back to Florence, who dried her tears and unburdened her heart, and then
+in her turn became alarmed about Dimple, since no amount of hunting
+disclosed her whereabouts.
+
+Mrs. Dallas was, herself, becoming much worried, when the door slowly
+opened and a disheveled little figure stood before them, with soaking
+garments and sodden shoes.
+
+For a moment Dimple stood, then ran forward and buried her head in her
+mother's lap.
+
+"Mamma," she sobbed, "it was all on account of the weather. I coaxed
+Florence out to the hogshead, and then we got wet, and didn't know how
+to get out of it, and we went up into the attic, and I felt naughty all
+the time, and we got mad, and oh dear! I wish the sun would shine."
+
+"I am afraid from all I hear, that you have been the one to set all this
+mischief astir," said her mother. "I thought I could trust my little
+girl. Think, Dimple, what a day's work. You have tempted your cousin to
+do wrong, first by going out in the wet, and again by meddling with the
+clothing upstairs; then you hurt her feelings, and quarreled with her,
+and now you blame the weather for it all, besides setting a bad example
+to Bubbles. Where have you been, my child?"
+
+"Trying to find Florence, mamma. I walked and walked, and I was so
+worried, and--oh, mamma, I thought all sorts of dreadful things. I went
+to the station, Florence, and I found out there that you hadn't really
+gone home; then I thought you were lost, or that the cars had run over
+you, or the gypsies had stolen you, or that--oh I'm so miserable," she
+caught her breath, and shivered with cold and excitement.
+
+Her mother was unfastening her wet garments. She felt that Dimple's
+naughtiness had brought its own punishment. "I think Florence has
+changed her mind about going home," she said, quietly.
+
+Dimple raised a tear-stained face. "Oh, Florence, have you?" she
+exclaimed. "I'm so glad. I don't want you to think I don't love you, for
+I do. I love you dearly, dearly, Florence, and I think your hair is
+lovely."
+
+This was too much for Florence's tender heart, and she sobbed out, "It
+was my fault too, Dimple. I said hateful things, and I couldn't forgive
+myself when I thought you had gone, I didn't know where. I had no
+business to scare you so. Please, Aunt Flo, kiss us and forgive us, and
+please, for my sake, don't scold Dimple."
+
+Mrs. Dallas gathered the two little penitents into her loving arms. They
+were so truly sorry, and had suffered really more than they deserved. "I
+think Dimple sees her fault quite plainly, dear," Florence was told,
+"but I am afraid you will both be ill, and so I think I must put you to
+bed, not for punishment, but because you must be kept warm, and must
+have something hot to keep you from taking cold. Where is Bubbles,
+Dimple? Wasn't she with you?"
+
+"Not all the time, mamma, but she came after me, and found me on the
+corner. Please don't punish her. She only went out because she wanted to
+find me."
+
+"I understand that, and I know she did not mean to do wrong. She did
+what she felt to be her duty to you. I'll not scold her, nor punish her,
+daughter."
+
+Dimple gave a sigh of relief, and pressed her wet cheek against her
+mother's. "Please kiss me, mamma," she whispered, "and then I'll know
+you forgive naughty me."
+
+Mrs. Dallas immediately consented, and when she left the room, two very
+contrite little girls cuddled up close to each other, and took without
+a murmur the hot herb tea which Mrs. Dallas brought to them. And the
+next morning when they woke, lo! the sun was shining, and not an ache
+nor a pain did either little girl feel to remind her of the dreary
+yesterday.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+Housebreakers
+
+
+Despite all this unpleasant experience, it was only about a week later
+that Dimple and Florence came near getting into trouble again. This
+time, however, it was Florence who set the ball rolling. It was not
+exactly from a spirit of mischief, but because her fancy was appealed
+to, and because she did not see any harm in what she proposed.
+
+The two little girls had been to take a note to Mrs. Hardy, and on their
+way home they passed a pretty house and grounds which greatly attracted
+Florence.
+
+"Oh, do let us stop and look in," she said. "I think this is the very
+prettiest place here, don't you, Dimple?"
+
+"Yes," was the reply, "I like it best. The grounds are so lovely. See
+those roses."
+
+The two pressed their faces against the iron railing, and let their
+eyes wander over the lawn and to the garden beyond.
+
+"How very quiet it is," Florence remarked, presently. "We can't hear a
+sound except the wind among the trees, and the robins singing. There
+doesn't seem to be a soul about. Who lives here, Dimple?"
+
+"The Atkinsons. Mamma and papa know them."
+
+"Are there any little children?"
+
+"Not now; there used to be a little girl named Stella, but she died two
+years ago, and now there is only their eldest son living; he has just
+gone abroad with his mother. That is why it's so quiet. They are all
+away. You see the house is shut up."
+
+"Ah, I wonder if they would mind if we went in and looked around. Do you
+think they would mind? I should love so to go and sit on that porch for
+a few minutes."
+
+Dimple hesitated. She wasn't quite sure that it would be right for them
+to go in, especially when no one was at home.
+
+"You know," Florence went on, "it would be just exactly the same as if
+we went there to call, and they should happen to be out. It won't hurt
+anybody or anything for us to walk around and look at the grounds."
+
+At last Dimple consented. So they lifted the latch of the gate and shut
+it behind them very gingerly.
+
+"Do you often come here?" asked Florence, when they had made their tour
+of the grounds and were sitting on the porch in the shadow of the vines.
+
+"Not so very often, but I have been here with mamma when she came to
+call. I remember Stella very well. She died of diphtheria, and they have
+a lovely portrait of her. She was such a pretty little girl, and the
+portrait shows her with a great big dog she used to have."
+
+"How I should like to see the portrait. Wouldn't it be nice if the door
+should suddenly open, and we could walk right in?"
+
+Dimple laughed. "I'd be scared if that should happen. The house is
+beautiful inside. I never saw so many pretty things. Mrs. Atkinson's
+father was a naval officer, and she has curiosities from all over the
+world."
+
+"I wish Mrs. Atkinson had said, 'Dimple, here are the keys, come in as
+often as you like while we are away; in fact, I wish you would try to
+come in and look around once in a while to see if everything is all
+right.'"
+
+"Maybe she would have said that if she had thought of it," returned
+Dimple, "for she is always so nice and pleasant."
+
+Florence cast wistful eyes up and down the side of the house; then she
+went out on the lawn, at the side, and looked up. "Dimple, come here,"
+she called, and her cousin obeyed. "We could get in as easily as
+anything," said Florence. "See, that's a very easy tree to climb, and
+that long branch goes right over the upper porch. We could reach that;
+then we could go in by raising the window."
+
+"If the window is not fastened down. Maybe there is some one in the
+house, after all. I shouldn't think they would leave it with no one ever
+to look after it. We might go around to the back door and see."
+
+"Let's try climbing the tree anyhow. It will be easy enough to do that,
+and won't do a bit of harm. See, I'm going," and Florence put her foot
+against the rough bark, and swung herself up, reaching the porch
+without difficulty. But Dimple would not follow and her cousin climbed
+down again, not, however, as easily as she had gone up.
+
+"It was nothing at all to do," she declared. "I think you might try it,
+Dimple. I'll tell you what we'll do: let's bring our dolls to-morrow,
+and go up there and play. I'm sure if I had a pretty place like this, I
+should be glad if two little girls, like us, could come and enjoy it.
+Ah, Dimple, you don't know how fine it is on that upper porch. It would
+be the finest place in the world to play in."
+
+The idea took such possession of her that the next morning she broached
+the subject again.
+
+"I'll ask mamma," said Dimple, at last consenting with this proviso. But
+Mrs. Dallas had gone out to spend the morning with a friend, and finally
+Florence's persuasions overcame Dimple's scruples, and with Celestine
+and Rubina they set forth.
+
+At first Florence was contented to play on the corner porch, but the
+memory of the day before was too much for her, and she again climbed to
+the upper porch. "Do come up, Dimple," she coaxed. "You've no idea how
+fine it is, with the tree all around. It's just like a nest," and Dimple
+decided that she would try it too.
+
+"Wait, we mustn't leave the dolls," Florence said. "I wish we had a
+piece of string. See if you can find a piece, Dimple."
+
+After much searching Dimple hunted up an end of rope, which she found by
+the kitchen shed, and brought around. "Will this do?" she asked.
+
+"Finely. Can you throw it so I can catch it?"
+
+"I don't know. Maybe I could if I tied a stone to it. Don't let it hit
+you, Florence."
+
+After several attempts the rope was landed, and when the dolls were
+fastened to it, they were drawn safely up, and then Dimple made her
+ascent successfully.
+
+"It is nice," she declared. "Isn't it fun to be here, where no one can
+see us? I wonder if that window will open." She gave the shutters a
+little shake and lo! they offered no resistance, but opened easily, and,
+the latch being out of order, the window, too, yielded to their efforts,
+and before they knew it, they were inside.
+
+"Now we're here, we might as well go through the house," said Florence.
+"And you can show me the portrait."
+
+They proceeded stealthily through rooms whose furniture was swathed in
+sheets to keep away the dust. It all looked rather bare and desolate
+upstairs in the dim rooms, but it was better below, especially in the
+dining-room, where a big bay window let in a flood of light when the
+inside shutters were opened.
+
+"Let's pretend it's our house, and keep house really," Florence
+exclaimed. "Here is a broom and a duster. I'll sweep and you can dust.
+Then if we can find some dishes, we'll set the table. I wish we had
+brought something to eat. Oh, Dimple, you haven't shown me the portrait
+yet; where is it?"
+
+"In the library. Come, we'll go there now."
+
+"My, but it's dark in here!" Florence exclaimed, as they entered the
+room. "Let us open the shutters a little so we can see the picture."
+
+This they managed to do, shutting the window carefully.
+
+"It seems dark still," Dimple remarked. "I wonder what makes this such a
+dark room." Just then they heard a mighty crash and both started, then
+clung to each other, whispering, "What's that?"
+
+"It is thunder," said Dimple, when a second peal was heard. "Oh, how
+dark it is. Come, Florence; we must hurry. Open the window and shut the
+shutters as quick as you can and I'll go to the dining-room. We must
+leave everything as we found it."
+
+"Don't leave me," Florence implored. "I can't bear to be alone when the
+lightning flashes so." And together they fastened the shutters and the
+windows, then ran to the porch, where they had left their dolls.
+
+An angry gust was blowing the dust about furiously. The trees swayed and
+creaked, lashing their branches about in a very terrifying way. The
+thunder growled and muttered, while sharp flashes of lightning zigzagged
+across the sky almost incessantly.
+
+"We would never dare to go down the tree while it is blowing so," said
+Florence, after they had surveyed the scene for a moment in silence.
+
+"But it is beginning to rain. Oh, dear! What shall we do? It's coming
+down a perfect torrent. Come back, Florence; we'll have to go inside,"
+cried Dimple. And snatching up their dolls, they retreated into the
+house in no enviable state of mind, between fear of the tempest and
+alarm at being obliged to stay alone where they were.
+
+"We might as well make ourselves comfortable," Florence said at last.
+"Suppose we go down to the library or the dining-room. We can open the
+inside shutters, and it won't seem so gloomy. I'd rather see the
+lightning than stay up here in the dark."
+
+"Oh, dear! I wish we hadn't come at all," sighed Dimple. "I wish we were
+safe at home. Mamma will be so worried, for she won't know where we are.
+I do wish we hadn't come."
+
+Florence was very uncomfortable, but she tried to brave it out.
+"Anyhow," she said, "it's a great deal better than to be out in the
+storm. I am sure auntie will be very glad when she knows we were safe
+here, and it isn't as if you had come to a perfectly strange house. The
+Atkinsons are your friends, and they won't mind a bit our coming here
+for shelter. I know they won't. They'd be very hard-hearted if they did
+mind."
+
+"Yes, I s'pose so," returned Dimple, somewhat comforted.
+
+"Very likely your mamma isn't bothering at all about us," Florence went
+on. "She probably hasn't gone home herself, on account of the storm."
+
+They had been conversing together at the top of the stairs, and now made
+their way to the dining-room, where, after opening the shutters, they
+stood looking out at the rain. The peals of thunder had died away into
+distant mutterings, but it was still raining hard.
+
+"Somehow we always get into trouble when it rains," Dimple remarked.
+
+"Don't let's talk about that," returned Florence. "See how the raindrops
+dance up and down. Little water fairies they are. Don't they look as if
+they were having a good time?"
+
+"Yes; but I'm getting hungry. I wonder if it isn't most dinner time. Do
+you suppose it will rain all afternoon, Florence?"
+
+"I don't know. If it holds up we'll have to run between the drops."
+
+"But how can we get out? We could never climb down that sopping wet
+tree, and we would be very wicked to leave any part of the house down
+here unfastened. Some one might see us and try to get in."
+
+They lapsed into a grave silence which was presently broken by a
+startled "What's that?" from Dimple. She heard a sound like the click of
+a key turning in a latch. They listened fearfully, as the sound was
+followed by the shutting of a door, and the noise of footsteps along the
+hall. The two girls looked at each other. "Let's hide," whispered
+Florence, but before they had decided what to do, a man was seen
+standing in the doorway. It was Mr. Atkinson.
+
+"Well, well, well," he exclaimed, "where did you little girls come from?
+You came in out of the rain, I suppose, but how did you manage it? Why,
+Eleanor, is it you? I declare, I didn't know you. It is fortunate you
+managed to escape the storm; it was a hard one."
+
+Dimple stood very much confused, her color coming and going, and her
+eyes very bright. But she summoned up courage to make the confession:
+"We did come in out of the rain, Mr. Atkinson, but no one let us in, and
+we didn't happen to come here on account of the storm."
+
+"You didn't! Come here, then, and tell me about it." He drew her to his
+side and looked down at her very kindly.
+
+She dropped her eyes and hung her head in confusion, but she went on,
+"We,--we thought it was so pretty here, and--and we thought you wouldn't
+mind if we came and brought our dolls and sat on the porch a little
+while; we didn't think you'd care if we were very good and didn't touch
+anything. Then it was so easy to climb the tree and get on the other
+porch, and when we got there,--why I wanted to show Florence the
+portrait of your little girl, and we did not have to force the shutter
+at all; it opened just as easy, and so did the window; and we went
+downstairs, and while we were looking at the portrait the storm came up
+and we were afraid to climb down the tree; it was blowing about so, and
+we didn't like to go out any other way and leave the windows downstairs
+unfastened. So--we stayed."
+
+Mr. Atkinson listened quietly. "So you were housebreakers. Don't you
+know that's a prison offence? Burglary is a pretty serious crime." He
+looked very serious, and Dimple did not see the twinkle in his eyes.
+Her own grew round with horror.
+
+"Oh!" she gasped. "Oh! we didn't mean--" The tears began to gather, and
+the child's lips quivered. She was overcome with dismay. "I am so sorry,
+so dreadfully sorry," she quavered.
+
+Mr. Atkinson put his hand on her sunny head. "There, dear, never mind,"
+he said, "you were a very innocent pair of housebreakers, and you are a
+very brave and honest little girl to tell me the truth about it, when
+you might easily have allowed me to think it happened another way. Of
+course, on general principles, it isn't right to break into any one's
+house, but I think you may have done me a good turn by letting me know
+about that weak place upstairs, and you may have prevented a real thief
+from breaking in. You see, I come down from the city every Saturday to
+look after things while my wife and son are away, and I am glad I
+happened to be here just now. Let us forget all about the unpleasant
+part of this, and make ourselves comfortable. You are my guests. Who is
+your little friend?"
+
+"My cousin Florence."
+
+"Ah, yes. I am glad to see you, Florence. Now don't you think it would
+be wise, Eleanor, if I were to speak to your father over the 'phone, and
+let him know you are safe?"
+
+"Oh, yes, thank you. Is there a telephone in the house?"
+
+"Yes, and I can call up your father at his office. You can speak to him
+yourself, if you like. What time does he go home to dinner?"
+
+"About half-past one o'clock."
+
+Mr. Atkinson consulted his watch. "We shall catch him, I think." And in
+a few minutes Dimple, listening, heard her father's voice in reply to
+Mr. Atkinson's "Hallo! is that you, Dallas?"
+
+"Don't you want to speak to him yourself?" asked Mr. Atkinson, when he
+had told Mr. Dallas that Dimple and her cousin were safely housed. He
+lifted the little girl up so she could call her father. "I'm safe here,
+papa, and so is Florence," she said; "please tell mamma."
+
+The answer came, "I will, daughter; I'm glad you are in good hands. I'll
+tell mamma to send Bubbles for you when it has stopped raining."
+
+"Let them stay till I take them home," spoke up Mr. Atkinson. "I can
+take care of them, and it will be a great pleasure to have them here."
+
+"Very well, if you like. I shall be satisfied to have them in such safe
+hands. Good-bye," came Mr. Dallas's parting words.
+
+"Good-bye," and Mr. Atkinson hung up the receiver, and turned to his
+guests. "Now, young ladies, I suspect you are hungry. I am, for one.
+Suppose we see what we can find to eat." He took out his keys and
+unlocked the pantry door. The girls looked at each other. There were
+delightful possibilities before them.
+
+"I'll forage in here," continued Mr. Atkinson, "while you set the table.
+You'll find dishes in there." And he pointed to a china-closet.
+
+This was such an unexpected outcome of the morning's affair, that the
+two little girls retired behind the door and hugged each other, and then
+briskly went to work to set the table, upon which Mr. Atkinson placed
+various articles.
+
+"I keep a lot of such truck in here," he told them. "So, in case I get
+hungry, I can find a bite to eat. Do you like sardines or canned salmon
+best?"
+
+"Sardines!" exclaimed both the girls.
+
+"That settles it. We haven't any ice, or we could have some lemonade.
+We'd better have chocolate. What do you say?"
+
+"It would be very nice, but we have no fire."
+
+"Fire enough. See here." He turned on the gas, and lighted a little
+stove over which the chocolate was made, condensed milk being at hand
+for use.
+
+"Now, let me see. I've some ginger-snaps somewhere, and some marmalade.
+This is rather a mixed meal, I am thinking, but it will keep us from
+starving."
+
+"I should think so," said Florence, surveying the table. "I think it is
+fine."
+
+"And we can wash the dishes afterward. Will you let us?" asked Dimple.
+
+"I shall be charmed to have you," Mr. Atkinson assured her. "It was one
+of the points upon which I felt uncertain. I confess to disliking, very
+much, that part of the business; and now you relieve my anxiety."
+
+They made a merry meal of it, and became very well acquainted with their
+host before it was over. He told them funny stories and kept them
+laughing so that they were a long time getting their appetites
+satisfied, and as it had become much cooler, Bubbles appeared with wraps
+for them before they had finished with the dishes.
+
+"We have had such a lovely, lovely time," said Dimple, as she raised a
+beaming face to Mr. Atkinson. "You know just what to do to make little
+girls have a good time, don't you?"
+
+He stooped and kissed her. "I had a little girl once," he replied,
+gravely.
+
+Dimple put her two arms closely around his neck. She felt so very, very
+sorry when she remembered pretty little Stella. "I'd like to be your
+little girl, if I had to be any one's but papa's and mamma's," she
+whispered.
+
+"Thank you, dear child, I appreciate that. It is a very great
+compliment," he answered, slowly. "I want you two little girls to come
+over whenever you can. I am always here on Saturday afternoons. Will you
+come to see me often?"
+
+"If mamma will let us. I'm afraid maybe she will not, because we were
+naughty about coming when we had no right to."
+
+"Well, we'll see how we can manage it. I will tell your father about
+it, myself, or, better still, I will walk home with you, and you can
+tell your story to your mother, and let me beg pardon for you. How will
+that do?"
+
+Dimple's eyes spoke her thanks, and she turned to Florence who answered
+with a satisfied smile.
+
+And so by Mr. Atkinson's kind request the culprits were forgiven, and
+were promised that they should go again since Mr. Atkinson really wanted
+them. "And you must feel at liberty to play about the grounds all you
+choose," he told the girls. "They can run about, and sit on the porches
+and do as they please, so long as they do not trample the flower-beds,
+or get into any mischief," he said to Mrs. Dallas.
+
+"We wouldn't hurt anything for the world," put in Florence and Dimple,
+eagerly. And they bade their good friend farewell, feeling very humble
+and thankful that matters had turned out so well for them.
+
+"We don't deserve it, and I feel dreadfully ashamed of myself," said
+Florence, meekly.
+
+"I think Mr. Atkinson put our heads in the fire," said Dimple, soberly.
+
+"What do you mean?" her mother asked.
+
+"Why, isn't that what the Bible says when any one does something very
+kind to you after you have been mean to him?"
+
+Mrs. Dallas laughed. "You mean he heaped coals of fire on your head;
+that is the expression the Bible uses."
+
+"It's a funny one," Dimple responded, thoughtfully. "Anyhow, mamma, I
+shall never, never try to break into any one's house again."
+
+"I hope not."
+
+"I really meant to ask you if we could go over there, mamma, but you had
+gone out. We were in a dreadful trouble for a while."
+
+"Yes, I know, dear. One very little wrong beginning sometimes leads to a
+great deal of trouble; even grown people find that out."
+
+"Do they? It always seems as if you must know everything, mamma."
+
+She smiled and shook her head. Thus ended this incident, but neither
+Dimple nor Florence ever forgot it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+Rock
+
+
+Florence and Dimple with Rubina and Celestine were on the back porch,
+when they heard some one whistle, and looking up they saw Rock coming
+around the corner of the house.
+
+"Good-morning," said he, "I am glad you have your dolls here; I want to
+measure them."
+
+"Why, are you a tailor?" asked Florence.
+
+"No," he said, laughing, "only a cabinetmaker. I came over with a
+message from my mother to Mrs. Dallas, and a message from myself to
+yourselves."
+
+"Have you given mamma her message?" asked Dimple.
+
+"Yes," said he, "and mine is that I want you to come to tea with me
+to-morrow evening, you and Florence and the dolls."
+
+"Oh, the dolls?"
+
+"Yes, the dolls. I will come for you, if you like, at half-past four."
+
+"Did mamma say we might go?"
+
+"Yes, so it is all settled."
+
+"Now," said Florence, "we _must_ make the dolls new frocks. Do tell us,
+Rock, what they ought to wear."
+
+Rock turned over the bits of stuff in Dimple's box. "White, I think,"
+said he; "that dotted stuff is pretty."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Dimple, "and I have plenty of that. We can trim them
+with this lace, Florence, and they will look so cool and nice. Now if
+mamma only had time to make hats for them!"
+
+"I'll make them hats," said Rock.
+
+"You! Whoever heard of boys making hats for dolls?"
+
+"Did you never hear of a man-milliner?" asked Rock. "And men
+dressmakers? I have. You stay here. I am going to ask your mamma for
+something to make them of."
+
+"Isn't he a funny boy, Florence?" said Dimple, as Rock disappeared; "but
+I think he is real nice. Just hand me the scissors, won't you? Which way
+does this go, so, or so?"
+
+"So, like mine. Are you going to make a wide or a narrow hem?"
+
+"Wide, if the stuff is long enough; it isn't so easy, but it looks
+nicer. I wonder if mamma will give us fresh ribbons for sashes for the
+dolls; it will set them off so."
+
+"Here comes Rock," exclaimed Florence, "and what has he in his hand? An
+old bonnet, I declare."
+
+"Now," said Rock, "if you will tell me where I can get a basin of water,
+I will make the hats."
+
+"With water?"
+
+"I shall need water. Don't get up--Bubbles will get it for me," as
+Dimple was about to put down her work.
+
+Bubbles brought the water, and Rock began to rip the straw bonnet to
+pieces; then he dampened it a little and sewed it into shape, once in a
+while dampening it more to give it the right turn. "Will you have a wide
+or a narrow brim?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, just a between brim. Don't you say so, Florence? Isn't it going to
+be lovely? Did you ever?" as Rock handed her a cunning little straw hat.
+
+"Now for the other one," said he, and he soon had that done too.
+
+A little narrow ribbon and one or two flowers made the hats perfect.
+
+"Oh, Rock, I wish you were my brother," sighed Dimple, as she held her
+doll off at arm's length to admire her. "Rubina, you are a darling! blue
+is _so_ becoming to her."
+
+"I almost wish I had trimmed mine with blue," said Florence,
+regretfully.
+
+"Oh, I think pink is just as pretty," exclaimed Rock, "and it is nicer
+not to have them both alike."
+
+"Now what are you making?" asked Dimple, as Rock went on sewing straw.
+
+"Baskets."
+
+"Baskets, for the dolls?"
+
+"Yes, for the dolls, or you either."
+
+Dimple put her chin in her hands, and leaned on the arm of her chair to
+watch him.
+
+"How clever you are," she said, "I wish you were my brother, really and
+truly, Rock."
+
+"Well, we will pretend I am," said he. "What shall I put in your basket,
+sister?"
+
+They all laughed.
+
+"I don't think it will hold much, but Rubina can put her work in it.
+See, if I pin her arm up so, she can hold it nicely. There! I must go
+and show it to mamma. I'll tell her to adopt you," she called back, as
+she ran off.
+
+"Now I must clear up my scraps," said Rock, as he put the finishing
+touches to the other basket.
+
+"Mamma says I may gather you some flowers," said Dimple, coming out
+again with a pair of shears in her hand, "and she says you are a very
+nice boy, a very nice boy indeed."
+
+Rock laughed. "She wouldn't think so sometimes," said he. "I don't
+believe she wants to change children with my mother."
+
+"I hope she doesn't want to," said Dimple, then added quickly, "Not that
+I don't think your mother is real nice, Rock, but you know I am so used
+to mine, and she is so used to me."
+
+"Of course," said Rock, laughing again. "I didn't mean they would
+change, or even think of it."
+
+"Now let's get the flowers," said Dimple; "you are to choose just which
+you like best, Rock," she said, leading the way to the flower-beds. "The
+pansies are almost gone, but there are plenty of roses yet, and
+verbenas, and mignonette, and lots of things."
+
+"Now, Rock," she said, as they went along the paths, "you are not
+choosing the prettiest ones at all. I believe you are picking out the
+mean ones on purpose; I am going to choose myself. You tell me,
+Florence, whenever you see a real pretty one."
+
+Florence promised, and Rock looked on, secretly pleased that they had
+taken the matter into their own hands.
+
+"What lovely ones you have chosen," he said, as Dimple gave the bunch
+into his hands. "Thank you so much."
+
+"And thank you, so much," said the girls, "for the hats, and the
+baskets, and the invitation."
+
+"You will be sure to be ready," he said, at the gate.
+
+"Yes," they cried.
+
+"At half-past four?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Good-bye sister; good-bye Florence; go in out of the sun."
+
+"Good-bye, brother, keep in the shade."
+
+Then they laughed and ran in.
+
+"Mamma," cried Dimple. "Auntie," cried Florence, "where are you?"
+
+"Upstairs," she answered.
+
+Up they ran. "Aren't you glad Rock is such a nice boy? Did you know boys
+could be so nice?" asked Dimple.
+
+"I knew they could be, if they would."
+
+"What makes Rock so gentle and kind and good?"
+
+"Well, you see he lost his father when he was a very little boy, and as
+he had no brothers or sisters, he has been almost constantly with his
+mother, who is a very gentle, sweet woman."
+
+"He doesn't seem silly, like some boys, either," said Florence. "I know
+a boy, we call him 'sissy,' he is so like a girl, and he is always
+whining, and afraid of cold, and afraid of sun, and afraid of
+everything."
+
+"I shouldn't like that kind of boy," Dimple said. "Mamma, I call Rock my
+brother, and he calls me sister."
+
+"Do you?" said her mother, smiling. "Now it is nearly dinner time, and
+if I am not mistaken, two little girls have left their new dolls, and
+all their scraps and things out on the porch."
+
+"So we have!" they exclaimed, and ran down to bring them in.
+
+The dolls were laid away in state for the next day, and at the sound of
+the dinner bell, the girls went into dinner.
+
+Since the arrival of Florence, Dimple had not cared so much for Bubbles'
+society, and sometimes objected to her joining in their plays; but
+Bubbles, by the gift of Floridy Alabamy, did not lack amusement, and
+could be seen almost any afternoon happy with her doll.
+
+She was singing, "Oh Beurah lan', sweet Beurah lan'," when Florence
+called her.
+
+"What are you singing, Bubbles?"
+
+"Beurah lan'," answered she.
+
+"What does she mean, Dimple?"
+
+"Beulah land. She does get things so twisted. We are going down to the
+woodshed to play till mamma calls us. Bubbles, do you want to go?"
+
+Of course Bubbles did, and off they all went.
+
+The woodshed was at some distance from the house, out in a shady place.
+Sometimes the children took to the roof, which could be reached by a
+ladder, and it was the scene of many a bold adventure.
+
+"What shall we play?" said one to another.
+
+"Injun," suggested Bubbles.
+
+"No Indian for me, since my foot was cut," said Dimple.
+
+"Let's play house afire and climb from the roof by the ladder," said
+Florence.
+
+"No. I tell you," said Dimple, "let's be cats and get on the roof and
+meow like they do at night."
+
+They all laughed at this, but finally concluded to be birds, and build
+nests, but why they should take leaves in their mouths and climb up and
+down the ladder no mortal could tell, and indeed this proved too tedious
+a play, and they all sat on the roof to decide what should be done next.
+
+Suddenly Dimple cried out, "What is that sticking out of your pocket,
+Bubbles?"
+
+Bubbles quickly thrust whatever it was back into her pocket, and was
+about to get down from the roof, when Dimple held her.
+
+"Pull it out, Florence," she cried. "I believe it is a piece of my
+dotted swiss."
+
+And so it was. Bubbles had been consumed with envy ever since Rubina and
+Celestine had been dressed in white, and wanted her doll to look as
+well.
+
+"You wicked girl! where did you get it?" asked Dimple, fiercely.
+
+"Found it."
+
+"You didn't. You've been stealing. You stole it from my box that I left
+on the porch yesterday. What were you going to do with it?"
+
+"Make a frock for Floridy Alabamy."
+
+"Why didn't you ask for something, instead of taking what didn't belong
+to you?"
+
+Bubbles was silent.
+
+"You told a story too, when you said you found it; you knew it was mine.
+Now you shall be punished."
+
+"Don't send me to the orphan asylum," said Bubbles, beginning to cry.
+
+"No, I promised mamma I wouldn't say that any more, but I shall do
+something. The idea of your doing such a thing. I really used to think
+you were nearly as nice as a white girl, Bubbles, but I never shall any
+more."
+
+Bubbles cried harder than ever at this.
+
+"What shall I do with her, Florence?"
+
+"Take her doll away," suggested she.
+
+"No! no! no! please, Miss Dimple, I'll never do so no mo'," cried
+Bubbles, "'deed an' 'deed, I won't. Don't take my doll away. Yuh can
+whup me, or anything, but don't tek my doll away," and she hugged it
+tightly, rocking herself to and fro.
+
+Dimple thought a moment, and then she said, "I know, we will leave her
+here on the roof, and take the ladder away; then when mamma calls us to
+come in to dress we can put the ladder up again, and she can get down."
+
+This was agreed upon, and Bubbles was left a lofty prisoner.
+
+The girls concluded to play under the big tree, and became so
+interested, that when Mrs. Dallas called them, they forgot all about
+Bubbles, and went into the house without ever putting up the ladder.
+
+"What am I to wear, mamma?" asked Dimple. "One of my white frocks, I
+suppose."
+
+"Yes," said her mother.
+
+"And Florence too? Yes, Florence, then we will all be in white, the
+dolls too. Mamma, may we carry our parasols?"
+
+"I don't think you will need them. Now, girls, I will send papa for you
+at half-past eight. I hope you will be little ladies, both of you,
+because I particularly want Mrs. Hardy to be fond of you."
+
+"Oh, we will, mamma," replied Dimple. "Why do you want Mrs. Hardy to
+like us?"
+
+"I have two or three reasons. I will tell you when we have more time.
+Hurry, Florence, and put on your frock; it is nearly half-past four."
+
+"I hear a carriage stopping," said Dimple, running to look out of the
+window. "Florence, Florence, do hurry; Rock and his mother are out there
+in a carriage; where are the dolls? Oh, here they are. No, I have
+yours," she exclaimed, excitedly. "Do, Florence, get your hat."
+
+"Don't get so excited, Dimple," said her mamma. "There is no need of
+such a very great hurry as all that. I will go down and you can come.
+You have forgotten your handkerchief; it is there on the bureau."
+
+"Oh Dimple, do get me a handkerchief too," said Florence, "I don't know
+what does make me so behindhand."
+
+"Perfume, Florence?"
+
+"Oh, please, just a wee drop, not too much."
+
+"Cologne or violet water?"
+
+"Which have you?"
+
+"Cologne."
+
+"Then I will take the other. Now I'm ready. Do you suppose we are going
+anywhere? It is such a little way to drive only to the house."
+
+"I don't know," returned Dimple. "We'll soon see."
+
+"We thought it was so early," said Mrs. Hardy, "that we could take a
+short drive before tea, if these little girls would like it."
+
+"Indeed we should," said they.
+
+"Then help them in, Rock," and they were soon seated, driving off in
+great style, dolls and all.
+
+Meanwhile, Bubbles sat on the roof, waiting for their return. As the
+time passed and they did not come, she made desperate efforts to get
+down, but there was no way. The tree that shaded the woodhouse was just
+too high to reach, and she crept to the edge of the roof, making up her
+mind to jump, but when she saw the distance her heart failed her, and
+she went back.
+
+"Leave me hyah all night I s'pose," she said, "mebbe I'll ketch cold and
+die; 'most wisht I would."
+
+Then she heard some one call "Bubbles, Bubbles," but though she
+answered, no one came.
+
+It grew later and later, the sun went down, and the sky sent up little
+puffs of pink clouds overhead.
+
+Bubbles lay down on her back, and looked up at the sky. After a while a
+little star peeped out, then disappeared again, like a baby playing
+"Peep-bo."
+
+"Angels, I reckon," thought Bubbles. "S'pose I won't git to see 'em. I
+reckon stealin's awful," and she lay there in a very humble frame of
+mind, till she went to sleep.
+
+"I cannot imagine what has become of Bubbles," said Mrs. Dallas to her
+husband when he came in. "I have looked the house over, and called her
+in every room. She cannot have followed the children. I never knew her
+to stay away before."
+
+"Hasn't Sylvy seen her?"
+
+"Not since early in the afternoon. She has looked all over the place."
+And so she had, but Bubbles asleep on the roof did not hear her, and a
+limb of the tree on that side hid her from view.
+
+"There is no reason for her running off, is there?" asked Mr. Dallas.
+
+"No, unless Dimple has threatened her with the orphan asylum once too
+often. She has such a horror of it, but I told Dimple not to do so
+again, and she is not apt to disobey."
+
+They sat down to tea, and it was not till an hour later that Bubbles was
+rescued. Mr. Dallas was walking about, smoking his cigar, when he heard
+a doleful voice saying,
+
+"Lordy, Lordy, I'm awful bad, just as well go to the orphan asylum. I'll
+die hyah, plum sho'."
+
+He listened, and walked a few steps further.
+
+"Wisht I was a bird, I'd get up in that tree. Wisht I had a raven to
+bring me my supper--s'pose I'll starve and die too."
+
+"Bubbles, where are you?" called Mr. Dallas. He heard a scrambling
+overhead, and a delighted reply.
+
+"Hyah, sah, hyah I are."
+
+He looked all around, but did not see her.
+
+"Where are you?" he asked again.
+
+"On de roof, sah."
+
+"Well, why don't you get down?"
+
+"Ain't no way, sah; done tucken de ladder away."
+
+Mr. Dallas found the ladder and put it up, and Bubbles scrambled down.
+
+"Have you been up there all this time?"
+
+"Yas, sah," said Bubbles, scraping one foot with the bare toes of the
+other.
+
+"How came the ladder down?"
+
+"Miss Dimple done did it."
+
+"What for?"
+
+Bubbles hung her head, and began scraping the other foot.
+
+"What for?" again asked Mr. Dallas.
+
+"I done stole," said Bubbles, solemnly.
+
+"And she did it to punish you?"
+
+"Yas, sah."
+
+Mr. Dallas could not avoid smiling, but he said, "Go along into the
+house, and tell Mrs. Dallas about it. By the way, didn't you see any one
+looking for you?"
+
+"No, sah. I was clean tuckered a waitin', and I went to sleep. 'Specs
+they came then mebbe."
+
+"Well, go along," he said, and Bubbles started for the house, while he
+went to bring home the girls.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+The Tea-Party
+
+
+When the carriage left the house Mrs. Hardy directed the driver to go
+through one of the pleasant roads leading from the town.
+
+"Which is your favorite drive, Dimple?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, Pleasant Valley and Big Run," answered she. "Don't you think so?"
+
+"I hardly know," said Mrs. Hardy. "I have been around so little; you
+will have to be our guide and tell us the pretty places."
+
+Dimple felt quite important, and chatted away at a great rate.
+
+"Didn't Rock make our dolls pretty hats?" she asked. "Mrs. Hardy, I wish
+he were my brother. He couldn't be, could he? Even if he could only be
+my cousin, I should like it."
+
+Mrs. Hardy looked at Rock, who laughed and said, "That is more likely
+than the other."
+
+"I don't see how," said Dimple.
+
+"You will see," said Rock. But at a look from his mother he was silent.
+
+They leaned back on the soft cushions, breathing the sweet air, spicy
+with the scent of the pines through which they were driving.
+
+At Big Run they all begged to get out, to see if there were any fish in
+the water. They clambered about on the bank and over the stones, till
+Mrs. Hardy told them it was too late to stop longer, and they drove
+toward town.
+
+After they had reached the house where Rock and his mother were
+boarding, they took off their hats and were ready for tea. They wondered
+if they were all to sit with Mrs. Brisk's family at the table, and
+dreaded it a little. However, when Rock said, "Come this way, girls,"
+they were a little mystified, for he took them out into the garden.
+
+Under a trellised summerhouse there was set a little table for three,
+and on the bench a very small table with two little chairs.
+
+"That is for the dolls," explained Rock.
+
+"Oh, Rock!" exclaimed the girls. "Where did they come from? Did you make
+them?"
+
+"Yes," said he. "Do you like them?"
+
+"They are perfect," said Florence. "Dimple, do see how nicely Celestine
+sits up to the table."
+
+"And Rubina, too," said Dimple, as she took off her doll's hat. "Don't
+they look lovely? Look, Rock. What a boy you are."
+
+Rock laughed, and they turned to their own table, which had a tiny
+bouquet by each plate and a pyramid of fruit in the centre.
+
+The long drive had given them all an appetite, and they did full justice
+to the croquettes, muffins and fried potatoes before they thought of the
+jelly, fruit and cake.
+
+"How will we get our chairs and table home?" said Florence.
+
+"I will take them to-morrow," said Rock.
+
+"Oh, no," said Dimple. "It was enough for you to make them, without
+taking them home, too."
+
+"Well," said Rock, "if the cabinetmaker can't take home his own goods, I
+think it is a pity."
+
+The girls laughed, and so the matter rested.
+
+"What shall we do now?" asked Rock. "Will you look at pictures, or play
+games, or what?"
+
+Dimple looked at Florence, and Florence looked at Dimple.
+
+"I think pictures are nice in winter, when you can't be out of doors,"
+said Florence, who never could get enough of out of doors.
+
+So they concluded to play out of doors.
+
+"What nice long grass this is," said Dimple. "We could almost hide
+ourselves. We might play we were rabbits, and hop about and make nests."
+
+"Let's hide ourselves," cried Florence. "I speak for first count.
+
+    "'Onery Twoery,
+    Dickery Day,
+    Illava, Lullava,
+    Lackava Lay,
+    One condemn the American line.
+    Umny Bumny,
+    Twenty-nine.
+    Fillason, Folloson,
+    Nicholas John.
+    Queevy, Quavy,
+    English Navy,
+    Signum, Sangnum,
+    Buck!'
+
+"You're out," she sang out to Rock and then went again rapidly over the
+count, making herself "It."
+
+Then Dimple and Rock stole softly off to hide themselves, while
+Florence covered her eyes by a tree.
+
+"Whoop!" called Dimple, presently.
+
+"Whoop!" called Rock, a moment later.
+
+And Florence went in search of them, but before she found them, she
+discovered something else and called out:
+
+"Rock! Dimple! Come here, quick. I have found something so funny and
+cunning."
+
+Out of their nests started the children to see Florence standing over
+another nest in a trellis, in which was a family of little baby wrens,
+opening their small beaks and clamoring to be fed.
+
+"Sh! Sh!" Dimple said, softly. "Don't let's scare them, poor little
+things. See, there is the mother bird. She is distressed because we have
+found her babies. Oh Rock, don't let any one else know they are here,
+for they might hurt them."
+
+"Let us go away now," said Rock, in a whisper. "The poor mother bird is
+flying around, and is so troubled. She doesn't know that we wouldn't
+harm her little ones for anything." So they tiptoed away and left the
+mother in possession.
+
+"What kind of bird was it?" Florence asked, in a low voice.
+
+"Why, don't you know? That was Jenny Wren," returned Dimple, more
+accustomed to creatures of woods and fields.
+
+"Was it really Jenny Wren?" exclaimed Florence, delightedly. "I'm so
+glad I've seen her."
+
+"Didn't you ever see her before? You have heard Mr. Wren sing, haven't
+you? Oh, how he sings! I think house-wrens are such dear, dear birds. We
+always put up boxes and cans and such things for them, for we like to
+have them around, and they can build their nests in quite small places.
+The other big birds try to drive them away sometimes, but we always try
+to protect them. Mamma says Jenny Wren is a very neat housekeeper, and
+takes excellent care of her family. They are such friendly little birds.
+I love them better than any others."
+
+"Do you believe you have any wrens' nests near the house, this year?"
+Florence asked.
+
+"Yes, indeed, ever so many. I know just where to look for them. I'll
+show you some to-morrow. There's one in the funniest place. You know
+where the bamboo shade is rolled up at the side of the front porch:
+well, in one end of that a wren has built a nest, and mamma will not
+have the shade let down till the little birds are ready to fly."
+
+Florence gave a sigh of content. She enjoyed such things so heartily,
+and saw none of them in her city home.
+
+"I like the robins," put in Rock, "they are such cheerful fellows.
+Listen to that one whistle. Doesn't it remind you of juicy cherries?"
+
+Dimple laughed. "Yes, and don't they love cherries! I believe they eat
+half on our trees, and they always pick out the very finest ones."
+
+"Of course. So would you, if you were a robin," Rock returned. "Speaking
+of birds, Florence, have you ever watched the swallows--the chimney
+swifts--come home? It's a sight."
+
+"No, I never saw them. Are there any here?" returned Florence, eagerly.
+
+"Lots of them. They build in that old chimney, and they come every year
+on a certain day of the month. They seem to have a sort of system in the
+way they circle around, and go down the chimney; just as if they were
+regularly drilled for it. It's about time for them now. Suppose we sit
+here and watch them."
+
+This they did, and when the last belated swallow had dropped down into
+the tall old chimney, they went up to the house where Mrs. Hardy was
+waiting for them, and where they were glad to listen to her tales of
+California; its big trees, its fine fruits, and the lovely flowers that
+grow wild there; and she told many funny tales of the Chinese, till Mr.
+Dallas made his appearance, and with regretful good-byes they took their
+leave.
+
+All this time the girls had not once remembered Bubbles. They were
+having such a good time, and it was not till they were on their way
+home, when Mr. Dallas questioned them, that they thought of how they had
+left her on the roof.
+
+"Mrs. Hardy is just lovely, mamma," said Dimple, when they reached home.
+"I hope she liked me, for I liked her, and, oh mamma! I am so sorry
+about Bubbles."
+
+"I am glad you like Mrs. Hardy," said her mother, "but the next time
+Bubbles does wrong, I hope you will tell me, and not punish her
+yourself. You must remember that she is only a little ignorant, colored
+girl, and that it is no wonder she wants what you have, for you have
+played with her, and been with her so much. Of course it was wrong for
+her to take anything without leave. Were you and Florence good girls?"
+
+"Yes, I think so. Mamma, what did Rock mean when he said he was more
+likely to be my cousin than my brother?"
+
+"Did he say that?" said Mrs. Dallas, smiling. "Well, so you are."
+
+"Mamma, I don't understand."
+
+"No. I know you don't. You will in a few days. Now go to bed."
+
+"Florence," said Dimple, after they were in bed. "There is another
+secret somewhere, and I cannot puzzle it out. Mamma wants Mrs. Hardy to
+be fond of me, and Rock is likely to be my cousin, and all that."
+
+"I can't imagine," answered Florence, sleepily.
+
+"I don't see into it," said Dimple, after thinking a while. "Florence,
+are you asleep?"
+
+But Florence made no answer, having by that time arrived in dreamland,
+and Dimple soon followed her, dreaming that she was feeding the little
+wrens on croquettes, and was taking her doll to drive in California,
+when a big tree came up to her, and insisted on shaking hands, because
+it said it was her cousin. She laughed right out in her sleep, and
+frightened a little mouse back into its hole.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the two little girls ran down to breakfast the next morning, they
+wore very happy faces, for Dimple had just discovered that her birthday
+was only a week off, and she and Florence had been planning for it.
+
+"Papa always does something very specially nice for me," Dimple had just
+announced, "and I always have a lovely birthday-cake with icing and
+candles. Mamma makes it herself, because I always think it tastes better
+when she does. And she lets me choose what we are to have for dinner.
+You tell what you like best, Florence, and we'll have that."
+
+"I like fried chicken better than anything, except, of course, ice cream
+and cake."
+
+"So do I. I'm so glad you like what I do, and I'm very glad my birthday
+is in June, for it is such a rosy month, and we can have strawberries
+with the ice cream. There are so many good things to eat in June;
+strawberries, and peas, and asparagus and--oh, I don't know what all."
+This conversation took place before breakfast, and Dimple was sitting on
+the floor hugging her knees, and looking as contented as it was possible
+to be.
+
+They were still talking on the important subject when they entered the
+dining-room.
+
+"What's all this about birthdays?" asked Mr. Dallas, looking up from his
+morning paper.
+
+"Why, papa, don't you know my birthday will be next week?" returned
+Dimple, as she went up to give him his morning kiss. "Aren't you glad?"
+she added.
+
+"Is it an occasion for great joyfulness? I'm not so sure of that. Don't
+you know it makes mamma feel very serious to have a daughter eight--or
+is it nine--years old? And as for myself, I begin to feel the grey hairs
+popping out all over my head at the very thought of it."
+
+"I shall be nine years old. But, papa, you are always making out that
+you are old and that makes me feel sorry. I don't see a single grey
+hair. People are not very old till they are forty, at least, are they?"
+
+"Well, no, but they are rather decrepit when they reach such extreme old
+age as that--Uncle Heath is forty you know, and see what a tottering old
+man he is."
+
+"Now, papa, you are laughing at me. I don't believe you'll have grey
+hairs for years and years."
+
+"They are starting, I am sure. However, we'll change the subject, if you
+wish. What do you expect me to give you on that festal day? Not another
+doll, surely?"
+
+"No--I don't know--perhaps."
+
+"Oh, you are insatiable as to dolls. I believe if any one were to give
+you a dozen at Christmas you would be glad to have a dozen more on New
+Years. I don't believe Florence is so doll-crazy."
+
+"Yes, she is. Aren't you, Florence?"
+
+Florence nodded.
+
+"Nevertheless," continued Mr. Dallas, "I'll promise no doll this time.
+Shall it be books? Perhaps we'd better consult mamma. Come to think of
+it, I had an idea about this same birthday. It seems to me I thought it
+wouldn't be a bad plan to provide some amusement for rainy days."
+
+The two little girls looked at each other, and Dimple hung her head.
+
+"What do you think?" Mr. Dallas asked, quizzically. "It seems to me that
+I have heard that the rain produces a singularly bad effect upon two
+little girls I know."
+
+"Yes, papa, we were horrid, especially one time. We didn't know what to
+do, and so--and so----"
+
+    "'Satan found some mischief still
+    For idle hands to do;'
+
+was that the way of it?"
+
+Dimple glanced at Florence shamefacedly. "Yes, papa, I'm afraid it was
+just that way," she replied, meekly.
+
+"Well, as I said before, I think it wouldn't be a bad plan to provide
+against such trouble. Perhaps that birthday will show you a way out of
+future difficulty."
+
+And so it proved, for on her birthday morning the secret of the little
+house was revealed.
+
+"You must wait till after breakfast to see your birthday gifts,
+daughter," Mrs. Dallas said, as Dimple came bounding into the room to
+receive her nine kisses.
+
+"Oh, mamma, why? I always have them the first thing. Do tell me where
+they are. Downstairs or up here?"
+
+"Downstairs, in one sense, but they are not in the house at all."
+
+Dimple's eyes opened wide. "Not in the house? Florence, just listen.
+There is a great secret. Oh, dear, how can I wait?"
+
+"Well, dearie," returned her mother, "the sooner you are dressed the
+sooner the secret will come. See, I am nearly ready to go down."
+
+"Please help me, just this morning, mamma. It will make it so much
+easier, and it's my birthday, you know."
+
+"Very well, since you are the person of importance to-day, I will help
+you."
+
+"Hurry up, Florence," cried Dimple. "Come in here and I'll fasten your
+buttons while mamma does mine; then we'll get through all the sooner."
+
+Although Dimple, the day before, had carefully selected the day's bill
+of fare, the breakfast was scarcely tasted, her favorite waffles
+offering no inducement for her to linger over them, so great was her
+excitement, and she watched eagerly till her father pushed back his
+chair, and declared himself ready for orders. It seemed to Dimple that
+he had never had such an appetite before, and she watched with anxious
+interest as he helped himself to waffles from each plateful that Bubbles
+brought in. There was a twinkle in his eyes as Dimple at last heaved a
+long sigh, and he immediately arose and led the way through the garden
+to the little new house between the house and the stable.
+
+"We'll look in here," he remarked, as he unlocked the door.
+
+Although Dimple had been quite curious to see the inside of the "house
+for little chicks," she was rather disappointed at the delay, for she
+thought, perhaps, her papa had something for her in the stable, a fox
+terrier, or maybe a goat, since she had expressed a wish for both. But
+when the door of the little house was opened her surprise was so great
+that she gave expression to one long-drawn "Oh-h!" and looked from one
+to the other half bewildered.
+
+For, instead of a brooder and an "inkybator," she saw before her the
+dearest little room with white curtains at the window, a rug upon the
+floor, a small cooking stove in one corner, a table, chairs, and all to
+suit a little girl. Upon the shelves were ranged plates, cups, saucers
+and dishes, and a cupboard in the corner looked as if it might hold
+other necessary things for housekeeping. Moreover, her family of dolls
+sat along in a row on the window-seat, looking as expectant as is the
+nature of dolls to look.
+
+"Well, Dot, how do you like it?" asked Mr. Dallas, smiling down at the
+child whose color came and went in her fair little face.
+
+"Oh, papa! Oh, papa! is it truly my house?" she asked, clasping him
+closely.
+
+"Yes, it is truly yours. I thought a rainy day house might help to keep
+our little chicks out of mischief, because here they can peep as loud as
+they choose and it will not disturb any one."
+
+"You said it was for little chicks, and I never once thought you meant
+us. Did you, Florence? It is lovely, lovely. Oh, papa, you are too
+good."
+
+"I think it is a matter of self-defence, for if you and Florence are so
+ambitious as to take violent possession of your neighbors' houses, it
+seemed to me there would be no end of complaints, and the best way to
+prevent further housebreaking was to give you a house where you could
+cook and sweep and exercise your domestic tastes to your hearts'
+content."
+
+Dimple understood all this banter, and she laughingly said, "Florence,
+we are like the birds that try to take the wrens' houses to live in. But
+now we have a nest of our own we won't do it any more, papa. Thank you
+so much. It is the most lovely surprise I ever had in all my life."
+
+"I'm glad you like your house, Mistress Eleanor Dallas; but, dear me, I
+can't stand here chattering. I must be off."
+
+Dimple gave him an ecstatic parting hug, and returned to a survey of her
+house.
+
+"Papa gives you the house, and I the furniture," her mother told her.
+"You must try to keep the place neat and clean. Of course, Bubbles can
+help you, sometimes, but I want you to learn to take care of it yourself
+and to be a good housekeeper."
+
+"Like Jenny Wren. Oh, yes, mamma, I will try. Florence, we'll put up
+boxes for the wrens, up there by the door, and maybe they will come and
+build. Mamma, may we have our ice cream and cake out here this
+afternoon?"
+
+"Yes, if you like, and you may go over and ask Rock Hardy to come, and
+Leila and Eugene Clark too, if you like to have them. That will make
+quite a nice little party. You can use your own dishes, and have all the
+fun you choose."
+
+"Won't that be fine!" cried Dimple, softly clapping her hands. "Shall we
+go now?" she asked.
+
+"Yes, unless you would rather wait."
+
+"No, I'd rather go now, so I won't have to think about it, for I shall
+not want to leave my house to-day; it is so dear and cunning. And,
+Florence, when we come back, we'll gather some flowers and make
+everything look as pretty as possible. Just think, we'll be like
+grown-up ladies, with a house, and a servant, and--oh, mamma, please let
+Bubbles wear a cap."
+
+Mrs. Dallas laughed. "I don't believe we will insist upon that, but you
+can rig up one for her if you like, when she is out here. Now I must go
+in."
+
+"Come, Florence, we'll go and invite the company, and get that over
+with, and then we'll have nothing to interrupt us the rest of the day,"
+said Dimple. "Won't it be fine to come out here on rainy days and make
+all the noise we want. What time shall we tell the children to come?"
+she called after her mother, who was just stepping off the little porch.
+
+"At four o'clock, I think."
+
+"That's the time Rock had his tea-party," said Dimple. "I am glad we can
+invite him to our feast, because we had such a nice time over there. I
+wonder if he knows anything about this being our little house. If he
+doesn't, won't he be surprised!"
+
+It proved that Rock didn't know, and he was as interested as any one
+could wish;--so much so, indeed, that he begged to go over at once to
+see it, and his mother allowed him to do so.
+
+"My! but it's fine," he declared, examining both outside and in. "You
+might have a pretty little garden out here, and plant some vines to grow
+over the porch."
+
+"So we might," Dimple responded, "I never thought of that. It will make
+the little porch so much prettier. Just think, I never dreamed that it
+was being built for me."
+
+"Your father is awfully good," returned Rock, adding soberly, "I hope it
+runs in the family."
+
+Dimple laughed, but looked sober herself, immediately after. "I'm afraid
+I'll never be as good as papa and mamma, for I do horrid things," she
+said. She looked at Florence wistfully, then lifted one of her cousin's
+soft auburn curls, and laid her cheek against it; to which Florence
+responded by giving her a sudden kiss. They both remembered that day in
+the garret.
+
+Rock became so interested in the idea of a garden, that, after Mrs.
+Dallas's consent was gained, he spent most of the day in digging up a
+little patch in which the children planted a remarkable collection of
+plants, both wild and cultivated. They even put in some corn, so as to
+have roasting ears, Dimple said, and a pumpkin seed, because she liked
+pumpkin pies.
+
+They were so busy all day that they were scarcely willing to go in to
+prepare for their feast.
+
+Leila and Eugene Clark were properly impressed with the new house; yet,
+with the others, were quite ready to stop their play that they might do
+justice to the big cake with its nine candles, and its wreath of
+flowers; while the amount of ice cream eaten showed plainly that the
+refreshments were quite to the taste of the guests. Leila brought Dimple
+a box of candy, and Eugene presented her with a bunch of beautiful
+roses. Rock, too, although he hardly could spare the time to rush home
+and get his gift for her, had something to donate; an exquisite little
+fan with carved ivory sticks, that he said was made in China, and which
+his mother had bought in California. Mrs. Hardy added to the gift a
+dainty pink sash, and Florence had struggled in secret to make Rubina a
+new frock, and had succeeded very well. So Dimple felt herself
+bountifully remembered.
+
+"It's been just the very happiest day I ever had," said the little girl
+as she stood in her white night gown, ready for bed.
+
+"I ought to be a very, very good girl, mamma; and I have done so many
+naughty things lately, but I didn't think."
+
+"Didn't Think is a bad enemy to most little girls," said Mrs. Dallas,
+holding her daughter's fair head against her shoulder.
+
+"Did _you_ have to fight him?"
+
+"I did, indeed."
+
+"That's a comfort. Perhaps when I grow up, I may be a little weeny,
+weeny bit like you, darling mamsey. Please give me nine more kisses."
+
+"One on your forehead; one on each cheek; one on each eyelid; one
+between the eyes; one on your chin; one on your mouth, and where shall I
+put the other?"
+
+"Here, in the tickley place under my chin. Now say 'my blessed child';
+that always makes me feel good, and then I'll pop into bed."
+
+But the head was no sooner on the pillow than it was bobbed up again,
+and there came the whisper, "Mamma, please kiss Florence more than one
+time, and call her something nice." And when this was done, two very
+tired, but very happy, little girls kissed each other, and in a few
+moments were fast asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+Housekeepers
+
+
+"Mamma," said Dimple, with her elbows on the arm of her mother's chair,
+"what are you thinking about so hard? You have a little puckery frown
+between your eyes, whenever you look at Florence and me. What have we
+been doing?"
+
+"Nothing," replied Mrs. Dallas, smiling. "I was wondering if it would be
+wise to leave you two alone here with Bubbles for a day. Mrs. Hardy
+wants me to go to the city with her to-morrow, and I promised Sylvy some
+time ago that she should have the day; she wants to go off on an
+excursion, and has been making great preparations. I could not have the
+heart to disappoint her, and your papa will not be at home for another
+week, so I am very doubtful about leaving you."
+
+"Oh! do go, mamma," cried Dimple, clapping her hands. "We can keep house
+beautifully, can't we, Florence?--and it will be such fun. Do go,
+there's a darling. We'll be just as grown-up as possible, and do
+anything you tell us."
+
+"And you will not be afraid?"
+
+"Not in the least. We'll have Bubbles, you know, and she can run awfully
+fast, if we get ill, and want the doctor," replied Dimple, cheerfully.
+
+"I hope no such effort will be needed on Bubbles' part. You must not
+turn the house upside down, nor empty all the trunks and chests upon the
+floor of the attic."
+
+"Now, mamma," exclaimed Dimple, reproachfully, "why do you remind us of
+that?"
+
+Mrs. Dallas laughed at the woe-begone tone.
+
+"That you may remember not to do it again," she replied; then she added,
+"Well, I'll think about it a little longer. I promised to let Mrs. Hardy
+know this afternoon. Now run along and let me think."
+
+"You will tell us as soon as you make up your mind," said Dimple, as she
+left the room with Florence.
+
+"Yes, yes; don't keep me any longer from my 'think.'"
+
+"Don't you hope she will go?" asked Florence. "I think it would be lots
+of fun to have the house all to ourselves for a whole day. What shall we
+do, Dimple?"
+
+"Oh, there will be lots to do," replied Dimple, importantly. "There will
+be the beds to make, and the house to put in order, and dinner to get.
+Oh, Florence! What shall we have for dinner? What should you like?"
+
+"I don't know, exactly; baked custards are nice."
+
+"Yes," assented Dimple, doubtfully, "but I'm afraid we couldn't manage
+to make them just right; they seem sort of hard; and you don't like
+huckleberry pudding."
+
+"Then let's have apple 'cobbler;' we both like that."
+
+"Yes, and it is easy, at least I think it is, just crust and apples.
+Well, we'll have that. I do wish mamma would hurry up and tell us."
+
+The two established themselves on the lowest step, as near as possible
+to the library, where Mrs. Dallas was sitting.
+
+"Don't make such a noise," said Dimple, as Florence, to while away the
+time, began to sing; "you will keep mamma from thinking. Just let's
+whisper." So for a half hour or more a little whispering sound went on,
+interspersed by stifled laughter. Then at the noise of Mrs. Dallas' hand
+upon the door knob, the two girls sprang to their feet.
+
+"Hurry up, mamma, tell us," cried Dimple, as the door opened.
+
+"When you give me a chance," replied Mrs. Dallas, smiling. "I am going.
+Does that please you?"
+
+"Oh! oh!" cried the two, dancing up and down.
+
+"How flattering you are," said Mrs. Dallas, laughing; "I never had
+pleasure so fully shown for such a cause. So you will be delighted to
+get rid of me?"
+
+"Now mamma! Now auntie!" came in chorus. "It isn't that at all, but it
+will be such fun, and we are going to make an 'apple cobbler' for
+dinner."
+
+"Are you! Who said so?"
+
+"Why, mayn't we?" asked Dimple, somewhat taken aback.
+
+"Who will make it?"
+
+"Why, we will, of course. I've seen Sylvy do it often, and I know
+exactly how. Do, do let us, mamma."
+
+It seemed too bad to dampen their ardor, and Mrs. Dallas, rather
+dubiously, consented, but charged them not to eat under cooked dough, or
+raw apples.
+
+Every one was up betimes the next morning. Sylvy had set everything in
+readiness for breakfast, and had taken an early departure, and Mrs.
+Dallas was to leave on the nine o'clock train.
+
+"I shall be back by eight o'clock," she told the children. "Don't set
+the house afire, and don't make yourselves ill."
+
+"Now, don't worry over us," said Dimple, loftily; "we shall do finely."
+
+But she did feel a little sinking of heart as her mamma's form was lost
+to view, and the two girls turned from the gate.
+
+"I wish Rock were not going with them," remarked Dimple. "It would be
+nice to have him here."
+
+"I don't think it would," replied Florence; "we'd have to entertain him,
+and maybe he doesn't like 'apple cobbler.'"
+
+"That is true," returned Dimple, her spirits rising at the suggestion
+of some active employment. "Now let us go and make the beds, while
+Bubbles does the dishes." And they set to work, with much chattering, to
+follow out this duty.
+
+"There, now, it looks as neat as possible," pronounced Dimple, as she
+closed the shutters to keep out the glaring sun. "Just hang up that
+towel that has fallen down, Florence, and then we'll go downstairs and
+shut up the rest of the house; by that time Bubbles will be through her
+work, and we can all play till it is time to get dinner."
+
+Bubbles had just emptied her dish-pan and was about to scour the knives
+when they entered the kitchen.
+
+"Hurry up, Bubbles," said Dimple, "so we can all go out and play. We
+want you to take care of Celestine and Rubina, while we go out shopping.
+Mamma said we might use the pieces in this," holding out a calico bag.
+"That is, we are just going to roll them up and have them for dry goods.
+The dry goods shop is to be at the end of the porch, where the bench is.
+We have cut out a great big newspaper man to sell the goods. We'll have
+to pin him against the railing, Florence, or he won't stand up, he is so
+limp. Isn't he fine and tall? His name is Mr. Star, because we cut him
+out of the _Evening Star_."
+
+Their play proved to be so very interesting that it was after twelve
+o'clock before the little housekeepers remembered that they had a dinner
+to prepare, and that the making and baking of their apple pie would take
+some time. Then it appeared that Bubbles, in her haste to join the play,
+had forgotten the fire, which was nearly out.
+
+"Never mind, we'll put in some wood," concluded Dimple, cheerfully.
+"I've seen Sylvy do it lots of times, to hurry up the oven. Run,
+Bubbles, and get some wood. Then you can pare the apples, while I make
+the crust."
+
+"Let me pare the apples," suggested Florence; "it is such fun to put
+them on that little thing and turn the crank, while the skin comes off
+so easily."
+
+"Well, you do that," agreed Dimple. "And Bubbles can set the table."
+
+"Why doesn't this apple go right?" said Florence. "It wabbles around so
+and--there!--it has gone bouncing off to the other side of the kitchen;
+how provoking!"
+
+"It is a sort of 'skew-jawed' one," pronounced Dimple. "I can never do
+anything with those on the parer. Pick out the ones that are perfectly
+round and smooth, and they will go all right. I wonder how much
+shortening I ought to put in. Does that look like enough to you?"
+
+Florence viewed the pan critically. "I don't know," she replied,
+doubtfully. "I don't believe I know much about it; it looks like a
+pretty big lump."
+
+"Oh, I'll call it enough," decided Dimple. "There, it is ready to roll
+out. Somehow, it doesn't roll very easily."
+
+"Let me try," offered Florence, who, having finished paring the apples,
+was watching her cousin.
+
+"It is not easy," she said, after banging away with the rolling-pin.
+"Maybe Bubbles can do it; her arms are stronger;" and, after this third
+effort, some sort of crust was ready, with which to line the pan.
+
+"It seems pretty thick," Dimple declared, looking at it with a
+dissatisfied eye; "but it is the best we can do."
+
+"Oh, it will taste all right," encouraged Florence. "Now for the apples;
+what else, Dimple?"
+
+"Sugar, and little bits of butter and--what else? Oh, yes, a little
+sprinkling of flour. Now the top goes on, and it can go into the oven. I
+wonder how long it will take to bake. It is one o'clock, and I am
+beginning to get hungry.
+
+"The oven isn't very hot," she presently pronounced. "Put some more wood
+in, Bubbles. Oh, what is the matter, Florence?" as an exclamation made
+her turn in her cousin's direction.
+
+"I have burned my hand," said Florence, trying hard not to cry. "I
+wanted to look at the fire, and when I lifted the lid, the steam from
+the kettle came just where I put my hand. I didn't know steam could
+burn so."
+
+"It is worse than anything else," informed Dimple. "It is too bad. I'll
+get something to put on it, to take the burn out."
+
+"Kar'sene's mighty good," suggested Bubbles.
+
+"Yes, and so is flour; and linseed oil is good; that will be the best,"
+and the bottle being brought, the wounded hand was bound up and
+Florence retired from action and sat on the step watching the others,
+while she nursed her hurt.
+
+"Let me see," went on Dimple, bustling about. "We have chicken, and
+bread and butter, and sliced tomatoes, and milk, and the 'cobbler.' It
+is doing, Florence; it is beginning to brown."
+
+"I wish it would hurry up," Florence said. "I'm hungry, and, oh! how my
+hand hurts."
+
+"Isn't it any better?"
+
+"A little; but it doesn't feel a bit good."
+
+"It is too bad," said Dimple, sympathetically, coming over and putting a
+floury hand on her cousin's.
+
+"I smell the pie," she exclaimed, jumping up. "It must be burning," and
+she ran to the oven.
+
+"Is it burned?" asked Florence, anxiously.
+
+"No, only just a weeny bit caught. I'll take it out. Doesn't it look
+good?"
+
+Florence gave an admiring assent, and they proceeded to take their meal;
+but alas!--when the pie was cut a mass of sticky dough and raw apple was
+disclosed to the disappointment of them all.
+
+"We'll have to put it back and eat it after awhile," said Florence. "It
+will taste just as good then."
+
+"Yes, and we can eat cake for dessert," and the pie was again placed in
+the oven.
+
+Not long after, a rapping was heard at the side porch. "Who in the world
+can that be around there!" exclaimed Dimple. "Go and see, Bubbles."
+
+Bubbles looked out, cautiously, for it was not the usual place for any
+one to make an appearance. Presently she came back with big eyes and a
+somewhat scared expression. "Hit's a man, Miss Dimple," she said, in an
+excited whisper, "with a gre't big haid an' long hair, an' somethin' on
+his back."
+
+Florence and Dimple looked at each other. "Let's peep and see,"
+whispered the latter, as the rapping, which had ceased, began again.
+
+They peeped timidly through the shutters. "He looks queer," said Dimple,
+"maybe he is crazy."
+
+"Oh!" cried Florence, with a stifled scream, "maybe he is an escaped
+lunatic. Dimple, let's lock all the doors, and hide," and the two ran
+into the kitchen, barring and locking the door, and then raced upstairs
+as fast as they could go, with Bubbles close following at their heels.
+
+Florence buried her face in the pillows and covered up her head with the
+bed clothes; Bubbles crawled under the bed, then, as the rapping
+continued louder than before, interspersed with calls of "Hey, there!
+Hey, there!" Dimple, feeling very brave, opened the window and cried
+out, "Go away!" then she shut down the window with a slam, and sprang
+into the middle of the room with very red cheeks and a beating heart.
+
+After a little time all was quiet, and the three timidly ventured
+downstairs to find the pie baked to such a crisp brownness, that it
+barely escaped being called black. It was set aside to cool, and after a
+short parley, the children set out to reconnoitre, armed with such
+weapons as they thought most useful. Bubbles carried an axe, Florence a
+bottle of ammonia, which she meant to throw in the face of the intruder
+"to take his breath away," she declared; and Dimple bore a long rope and
+a pair of large scissors. She intended, she said, to snip at the man if
+he came near her, and, when he was overpowered by Florence's ammonia,
+to bind him hand and foot with the rope.
+
+But, after a long and thorough search, no one was found about the
+premises, and they all returned to the house to eat the "cobbler," which
+by this time was cool.
+
+"It doesn't taste like Sylvy's," said Dimple. "I believe I forgot to put
+any salt in the crust, and where it isn't hard it is tough; there! I
+didn't put any water in it, of course there is scarcely any juice. I was
+going to save some for mamma, but I don't think I shall. We'll give it
+away to the first person we can," she continued to Florence.
+
+This happened to be an organ grinder, who made his appearance at the
+gate. Bubbles was despatched with the message that they hadn't any
+money, but there was some pie, and the organ grinder departed, whether
+grateful or not, they did not learn.
+
+"It seems to me it has been a pretty long day," said Dimple, as the
+afternoon wore on. "Five o'clock. Three hours before we can possibly
+expect mamma. I should think she would get dreadfully tired of
+housekeeping," she continued, remembering her discouraging pie. "I
+don't feel as if I wanted any supper, do you, Florence?"
+
+"Not now," replied Florence; "but your mamma will want some."
+
+"Oh, well, Bubbles can attend to it," decided Dimple. "I'm tired of
+seeing dishes and dabs. What shall we do next, Florence?"
+
+"We haven't cleared up the porch yet. Mr. Star is out there and all the
+pieces."
+
+"Sure enough. Well, we'll get those put away, and then we can dress. I
+wonder what became of the crazy man."
+
+"Why do you remind me of him?" said Florence, plaintively. "I had almost
+forgotten, and now I shall dream of him."
+
+"I don't believe he was crazy," said Dimple. "I suppose he had something
+to sell. I thought so at the time, but I began, to get scared and
+couldn't stop. Roll up Mr. Star, Florence, we may want him again. There!
+I have the bag and all the rest of the things. You bring Mr. Star and
+the dolls."
+
+Just here came a "Hallo!" from around the corner of the house. The
+children gave a suppressed scream which changed into a hearty laugh
+when Rock appeared; and with words tumbling over each other they began
+to give a breathless recital of the day's experiences which amused Rock
+vastly.
+
+"But how did you happen to be here?" the girls remembered at last to
+ask. "We thought you had gone to the city."
+
+"No, I didn't go after all. Mr. Brisk was going off in the country, and
+mamma gave me my choice of places, so I thought I'd not enjoy going
+shopping very much, and I decided to go with Mr. Brisk. We got back
+about half an hour ago, and I came over to see if you wouldn't go back
+to the house with me. I want to show you something I found."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Wait till you see."
+
+"I'm afraid we oughtn't to leave the house," said Dimple.
+
+"Can't you lock it up? We won't be gone long, and I'll come back and
+stay with you till your mother comes. Then I can walk home with my
+mother, for she'll stop here first."
+
+"That will be very nice, but I don't believe we dare lock it up."
+
+"Let Bubbles stay."
+
+But Bubbles' eyes nearly popped out of her head at this suggestion; and,
+finally, after many plans Rock went over to the house of the man whom
+Mr. Dallas employed to take care of the garden and stable, and he
+promised to stay on the place to give Bubbles countenance, till the
+others should return.
+
+"I've got a job over there, anyhow," he said, "though I mostly leaves
+about this time, but I can do what I have to do as well now as in the
+morning." Therefore the children felt perfectly safe in leaving Bubbles.
+
+Rock led the way to Mr. Brisk's workhouse. "What I've to show you is in
+here," he said. The girls followed him somewhat timidly, but were
+reassured when Rock drew out a box of shavings where, cuddled up, they
+saw a cat and three little bits of kittens.
+
+"Oh! how cunning," cried Dimple, getting down on her knees. "You little
+tootsy-wootsy, deary things. Aren't they soft? Oh! if we might have
+them. There are three, just one a piece. Rock, don't you believe we
+might have them?"
+
+"We'll go and ask," said Rock, and they ran pell-mell into the house.
+
+"What is the matter?" said Mr. Brisk, starting up lest something were
+wrong.
+
+"We are only going to ask Mrs. Brisk if we may have the kittens," they
+cried, breathlessly.
+
+Mrs. Brisk was standing in the hall, and heard their story.
+
+"Well! Well! Well!" she said. "If old Topple hasn't another lot of
+kittens. Have them? To be sure you may, and welcome, when they are big
+enough to take from their mother."
+
+The girls clapped their hands delightedly and went back to the little
+blind things, who, with their tight shut eyes, were mewing and nosing
+against each other.
+
+"Now let's choose," said Rock, after they had taken them out on the
+grass where it was lighter. "Two black, and one black and white. If you
+girls like the black ones best I'll take the other, or if either of you
+like that best, I'll take one of the black ones."
+
+So, after much talking, Dimple chose a black one, and Florence the black
+and white, while Rock expressed himself delighted with the other black
+one as really what he liked the best.
+
+"I shall name mine Jet," said he.
+
+"And mine I'll name Onyx, and call it Nyxy for short," said Dimple.
+
+"And mine shall be Marble," said Florence.
+
+So that question being decided they left them, "like birds in their
+nest," said Dimple, and started for home, for it was growing late.
+
+"We couldn't carry the kittens home to-night, anyhow," said Florence;
+"but I do hope we can see them often, and that I can take mine home."
+
+She did take it home, and it grew to be a big cat; though before she
+went, the children often laughed to see Rock coming in with the three
+little things in a basket, bringing them over for a visit. He did this
+several times, taking them back to their mother, until one day they came
+to stay.
+
+Although time dragged, eight o'clock did come at last, and the hour
+brought Mrs. Dallas.
+
+"And you are really glad to have me back again," she said, with an arm
+around each little girl, "though you were so glad to have me go. And how
+did the pie turn out?"
+
+"It wasn't good," admitted Dimple, candidly; "so we gave it to an
+organ-grinder."
+
+"What charitable, generous children, to be sure," laughed Mrs. Dallas.
+"By the way, Dimple, I forgot to tell you that possibly the paperhanger
+might be here; he was to come one day this week to paper the upper
+hall."
+
+Dimple looked at Florence and Florence looked at Dimple. "We thought he
+was a crazy man," presently said the latter, in a shamefaced way.
+
+"Crazy! Why, what do you mean?"
+
+"He came to the side door," explained Dimple. "Those were rolls of paper
+on his back, Florence, and we got frightened and wouldn't let him in."
+
+"You silly little geese! I see I must not leave you again."
+
+"But everything else was all right," Florence informed her, "only I
+burned my hand a little. I had almost forgotten it, Dimple."
+
+"Then you don't want me to go away, altogether," said Mrs. Dallas.
+
+"No indeed," said they both, in the most emphatic manner.
+
+"You dearest, loveliest," continued Dimple; "it is too delicious to see
+you again."
+
+"And I didn't dream about the crazy man after all," said Florence, the
+next morning.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+Adrift
+
+
+During this time Mr. Atkinson was not forgotten, and the two little
+girls spent many a happy morning in his beautiful garden, for even the
+small house which Mr. Dallas had built for Dimple, was not proof against
+the attractions Mr. Atkinson's place had to offer. They were careful not
+to venture beyond bounds, and kept in the walks and on the porches, but
+one hot day they wandered down to where a fence marked the limits of the
+place in that direction. Then came a steep bank sloping down to Big Run
+which, a little further on, emptied into the river.
+
+It was a wild, romantic spot and full of charm for the two little girls
+whose fancies pictured all sorts of possible things. The hollows, in the
+scraggy willows bending over the stream, might be the hiding-places of
+nymphs or fairies; yonder soft sward dotted with buttercups and daisies,
+might be the favorite spot for a midnight revel; among those rocks
+queer little gnomes might live. Florence was especially struck with it
+all. She had never been quite so near to such a picturesque spot, and
+now nothing would do but that they should climb the fence and explore
+further.
+
+"There isn't a soul anywhere to be seen," said Florence, "and it will be
+perfectly safe."
+
+"Suppose we should meet a fierce dog," Dimple, a little more cautious,
+suggested.
+
+"Oh, no, we're not likely to at all. Dogs are not going to such a place
+as that, at least, I don't think so. It would be perfectly fine to go
+out on one of those willow trees, and hang our feet over the water."
+
+"Suppose we should slip and fall in."
+
+"Oh, we'll be careful; besides the branches of the trees hang so far
+over the stream that we couldn't fall very far, anyhow, and it is very
+shallow there. We'll only get a wetting and it's such a hot day I
+shouldn't mind if we did. If we should sit there very quietly we might
+see fairies."
+
+"Do you believe there are fairies, really?"
+
+"Why, yes,--I'm not sure. There may be, you know. Wouldn't it be funny
+to see a tiny little being, in a red cloak or a spun-silver robe, come
+out from the hollow of a tree and say, 'Maiden, your wish shall be
+granted'?"
+
+"What wish?"
+
+"Any wish we happen to be making at the time. Come on, Dimple, I am just
+crazy to go." And Florence put her foot on the fence and was soon over,
+Dimple following.
+
+It was not so easy as it seemed, to get out on the trees, and they
+decided not to attempt it, but thought they would wander along the brink
+of the stream, and in doing this they discovered all sorts of wonderful
+things in what Florence called the Fairy Dell: moss-grown rocks from
+which sprung tiny bell-shaped flowers; a circle of wee pink toadstools,
+which indeed seemed fit for the elfin folk; a wild grapevine with a most
+delightfully arranged swing on which the two girls "teetered" away in
+great joy; shining pebbles, bits of rose-colored quartz, a forest of
+plumy ferns, and all such like things, over which the city child
+exclaimed and marveled.
+
+At last they were obliged to cross a little bridge, for the bank became
+higher and higher on that side, and a little further walking showed
+them the river.
+
+"Oh!" Florence exclaimed. "Isn't this fine? I wish we could go out
+rowing. See those girls over there by that funny flat sort of boat. They
+are going to get on it. Come, let us go down and watch them."
+
+They clambered down and were soon on the brink of the river. Two or
+three girls, much older than Dimple and Florence, were pulling a small
+flat barge up on the sands. One of the girls recognized Dimple. "Hallo,
+Eleanor," she cried. "Where did you come from? Don't you want to get on
+with us?"
+
+"Oh, do let us," whispered Florence.
+
+"Are you going out on the river?" asked Dimple.
+
+"No, we are only going to get on this flat boat, and sit here where we
+can get the breeze, and maybe we will fish. We brought some tackle along
+with us. Come, give me your hand. There, you are landed. Come, little
+girl, there is plenty of room." She held out her hand to Florence, who
+eagerly accepted the invitation, and was soon by her cousin's side.
+
+"Isn't it nice?" said Dimple.
+
+"Fine," Florence responded, heartily, as she sat down in the bottom of
+the boat.
+
+"It's rather sunny, though," Dimple remarked.
+
+"Oh, you mustn't mind that. We're going to fish. Don't you want to try
+your luck?"
+
+Dimple looked rather disgustedly at the can of angle-worms and decided
+that she would look on.
+
+"What are you going to do, Libbie?" Dimple's acquaintance inquired of
+one of the other girls.
+
+"I'm going to try to get the boat out where it will float. It's such fun
+to have it bob up and down," replied the girl addressed. She had a long
+pole and was pushing the boat off from the shore. It was fastened to a
+stake, so it could only career around a little, and Dimple's friend
+Callie Spear assured the little girls that it was perfectly secure, and
+so they gave themselves up to their enjoyment.
+
+Both Florence and Dimple felt very proud of being invited to join this
+company of older girls; and, while the latter amused themselves by
+fishing, the two little ones set afloat small chips, freighted with the
+daisies they had gathered, and wondered how far they could go before
+they should upset.
+
+"Wouldn't it be funny if they sailed all the way to the ocean and were
+seen by the people on one of the big steamers. They would wonder how in
+the world the daisy people got out so far." Florence said this as she
+was watching a chip rapidly drifting down stream. Suddenly she became
+aware that the shore was further away than she supposed, and she cried,
+"Oh, how wide the water is! See how far it is to the shore."
+
+The other girls looked up, startled, and to their dismay discovered that
+their boat had slipped its moorings and was fast drifting down the
+river, nearer and nearer to the current of midstream. They looked at
+each other with scared faces, but they did not want to alarm the little
+girls, and so Callie said, with a forced laugh: "Oh, that's all right.
+We'll get in easily enough. Some one will see us from the shore, or a
+boat will come along that can tow us in. It's rather fun to have a
+little adventure." However, she eagerly scanned the shore and the
+water; but no help seemed to be near, and the boat was drifting on and
+on.
+
+Dimple realized that they were moving further and further away from
+home, as she saw the objects on the shore grow smaller and smaller. The
+big tears began to gather in her eyes.
+
+"Don't cry, dear," said Callie, soothingly. "We'll get home all right."
+
+"But suppose we shouldn't. Suppose we should drift on and on down to
+where the steamboats come up, and we should keep going till it got dark,
+and nobody should see us, and we should get run into and drowned. Oh
+dear! I want my mamma, and my papa."
+
+Florence took alarm at this, and, putting her head in Dimple's lap,
+began to cry too.
+
+The older girls were scarcely less frightened, for they knew there was a
+danger in their reaching the rapids, and in being whirled around between
+the rocks, when they would be very likely to upset, even in a boat like
+the one in which they were. They managed, however, to show less fear, in
+their endeavor to calm the younger children.
+
+"Why, we'll get home long before we reach the steamboats," said Emma
+Bradford, cheerfully. "Haven't you seen the river in a freshet? and
+don't you know how it carries all sorts of things along? haystacks, and
+sheds, and even houses with people in them, I've seen, and they are
+always rescued."
+
+Libbie Jackson was looking over the side of the boat. "It is very
+shallow here. We could almost walk ashore," she said.
+
+"We are right over the old ford," said Callie. Suddenly she sprang to
+her feet and began to tear off the skirt of her frock. As soon as she
+was freed from it she began to wave it frantically. "I see some one on
+shore," she exclaimed, excitedly. "All shout as loud as you can, girls;"
+and across the water rang the shrill cry of "Help! Help! Help!"
+
+The man riding along the shore caught sight of the flapping skirt, of
+hats waving frantically, and the cry of "help" came faintly to his ears.
+He stopped his horse and looked around. "Them gals is adrift," he said
+to himself. "Whatever possessed 'em I don't know, but I reckon I'll have
+to see if I can't stop 'em."
+
+He rode to the water's edge and looked across. "We're right at the
+ford," he remarked, as if his horse could understand what he said. "It
+won't hurt you to go out," he continued. "It's a hot day, and you can
+get cooled off good." And the girls in the boat were rejoiced to see the
+horse headed toward them.
+
+"Oh, how lucky that we're at the ford," said Callie, "otherwise the man
+might not venture. See, Eleanor! See, Florence, he can tow us in. Haul
+up that bit of rope, girls, while I put on my skirt."
+
+The man was not long in coming alongside. "What happened ye?" he asked.
+"A lot o' gals like you ain't no business gittin' into such a fix. Whar
+did ye start from, anyhow? How long ye been driftin'?"
+
+They told him how the trouble had occurred, and he replied with, "Humph!
+I reckon ye'd better not try that agin. You're a matter o' five mile
+from home, and the boat don't belong to ye, ye say. How do ye expect to
+git back? And how are ye going to manage about the boat? Do ye know
+whose it is?"
+
+"No, but we can find out," said Callie. "What do you think would be the
+best way to get it home again? Isn't it a dreadful fix to be in? Can you
+suggest any way to help us?"
+
+"I might take it up for ye to-morrow, maybe, but ye'll have to pay for
+it."
+
+"How much would you charge us?"
+
+"Lemme see; a couple of dollars."
+
+The girls looked at each other, and held a whispered consultation which
+resulted in Callie's agreeing to the amount, each girl promising to put
+in her share.
+
+The boat was easily towed to the shore; but here it was wet and
+slippery, and it required considerable agility to get ashore without
+slipping in the soft mud. Every one accomplished it safely but Dimple,
+whose foot slipped, and over she went, full length into the mire. A
+sorry sight she was indeed, when she was picked up; plastered from head
+to foot; face, hands and hair full of the soft ooze. But after she had
+been scraped off, Callie concluded that it would be better to let the
+sun dry her well, before attempting to get rid of the rest.
+
+"About this job," said the man, "it's worth somethin', ain't it? It's
+considerable out of my way, travelin' to the middle of the river;
+besides I've got to look out for that boat, that nobody don't steal it."
+
+"How much do you expect?" asked Callie, meekly. This was getting more
+and more serious.
+
+"A couple of dollars ain't much when ye consider there's five of ye, and
+if I hadn't stopped ye, ye'd be goin' yet. My name's Bill Hart, and any
+one'll tell you I'm safe. Ye needn't be afraid but what I'll bring back
+the boat."
+
+"Well, if you will come to my house, you shall have your money," said
+Callie. "Do you know where Mr. Harley Spear lives?"
+
+"Big white house, left side the main street. Yes, I know. You his gal?"
+
+"I'm his daughter."
+
+"All right. I reckon ye can git home now, can't ye? It's a straight road
+along the river. I must be gettin' on. I'll fetch the boat back
+to-morrow."
+
+The girls saw him disappear, and stood, a most subdued little group.
+Dimple felt herself to be in a very unhappy plight, and dreaded meeting
+any one. How should she get home through the town without being seen?
+She looked very miserable and woe-begone as she thought of all this.
+
+"Well, girls, we'll have to be up and doing," said Callie. "We've a five
+mile walk before us, and it's a pretty hot day, so we'll have to take it
+slowly. You'll have plenty of time to get dried off, before we get
+there, Eleanor, so don't look so unhappy, you poor little midget. Think
+how dreadful it is for me who got you into this scrape. I can never
+forgive myself for it."
+
+"I'll tell you what let's do," said Libbie. "Let Eleanor take off her
+frock, and we'll wash it out in the river, and dry it as we go along.
+We're not likely to meet any one, and it's so hot she'll not take cold
+going without it. We can hold it out between us as we walk along, so it
+will dry before we get home, and it will be clean at least."
+
+Dimple was so grateful for this suggestion that she could have hugged
+Libbie; but she did not know her very well, and only expressed her
+thanks very fervently. At the first opportunity the frock was washed
+out, and really looked much better. "I wish I could do my stockings,
+too," said Dimple, "but I couldn't go barefoot. Mamma wouldn't like me
+to, although I'd like to." So this part of her dress had to remain as it
+was, and the girls took up their line of march again.
+
+"I am so thirsty I don't know what to do," said Callie. "If I don't have
+a drink I'll drop by the way. I hate to think of drinking that warm
+river water; besides, it isn't so easy to get it."
+
+"There's a spring somewhere further along," said Emma Bradford. "If we
+can manage to exist till we reach it, we can rest there. We shall be
+half starved, too, by the time we get home."
+
+"If we only had something to eat we could sit down by the spring till it
+grew cooler, and we'd have a sort of a picnic. Oh, girls, we left all
+our fishing tackle in the boat! I never once thought of it."
+
+"Nor I."
+
+"Nor I."
+
+"Perhaps Bill What's-his-name will bring it back when he comes with the
+boat. We've made a pretty expensive trip of it, as it is, without
+losing our fishing tackle. Think what that four dollars would buy: such
+a lot of ice cream and soda water," said Callie.
+
+"Don't mention such things when we are consumed with thirst, and are so
+warm," said Emma.
+
+"We may have to pay for the use of the boat, too," said Libbie. "I
+suppose we are out at least a dollar apiece, and maybe more. It will
+take all my pin money for a month. No more soda water for a while,
+unless some one treats me."
+
+"I suppose we ought to be thankful to get home at all," Dimple spoke up.
+
+"Yes, when you consider it in that light, we're let off cheaply enough,"
+Callie replied. "Oh, dear, where is that spring?"
+
+"Just beyond that turn," Emma told her. And they toiled on till they
+reached the spot where the cold water bubbled out from a pebbly hollow
+under an old tree.
+
+"We must cool off before we drink," Libbie warned them. "We'll bathe our
+faces and hands, and sit here for a while. We are so overheated we ought
+not to drink right away."
+
+"It's very hard not to," said Callie, "but I suppose you are right."
+
+"I am as hungry as I am thirsty," Libbie remarked. "If we only had one
+biscuit apiece, it would be something."
+
+They had refreshed themselves with the cool spring water, and were idly
+sitting under a tree, when Dimple sprang up, crying, "I see something!"
+And she scrambled up the bank to a ledge beyond. "Girls! girls! here are
+lots of huckleberries," she called.
+
+"Are you sure?"
+
+"Certain sure. I wish you'd see. Come up." And they clambered up to the
+spot to find that she spoke truly: there was a patch of huckleberry
+bushes full of fruit. They set to work with a will and bore their feast
+down to the spring, near which they seated themselves on a fallen log.
+
+"Did you ever taste anything so good?" said Emma. "I never care much for
+huckleberries at home, but I shall never despise them again."
+
+Being refreshed they took up their journey again. Weary and warm they at
+length reached home, glad indeed to see the familiar streets, shady and
+quiet.
+
+"I am going to see you safely in your mother's hands," Callie assured
+Dimple; "for it was my fault that you got into trouble. I had no
+business to tempt you."
+
+"But you only meant it out of kindness," replied Dimple, appreciatively.
+"I think you were very good to want us; and it would have been all right
+if the boat had not floated off that way."
+
+"But we did float off, and I want to explain matters to your mother."
+
+"I'll give you the dollar I have in my bank," said Dimple.
+
+"No, wait till we find out about the other man; the one who owns the
+boat. When he understands that we didn't mean any harm, and that it was
+an accident, perhaps he won't charge for the boat, and then we'll only
+have to pay eighty cents apiece. I don't want to take any money of yours
+if I can help it."
+
+"Oh, but you must. I'm sure mamma will say so."
+
+"Well, we'll see. Just look how nicely your frock has dried. It doesn't
+look bad at all. A little limp maybe, but it's better that than muddy.
+I hope your mamma isn't very much worried. I don't believe it is so late
+after all." And although it seemed to Dimple that she had been days away
+from home, she was surprised to find that it was only about four
+o'clock, when hot and hungry they arrived at home.
+
+Callie made her excuses and apologies as contritely as possible, and
+Mrs. Dallas was so relieved to find that nothing worse had happened,
+that she said very little in the way of reproof to the two runaways.
+
+"You must never go down to the river again, my children," she said;
+"that is, unless papa or I, or some trustworthy person is with you. I
+should have forbidden you to go this time, but you have never ventured
+there before."
+
+"I know, mamma," replied Dimple, "but it was so easy getting there from
+Mr. Atkinson's place, that we were there before we knew it. Was it
+'Didn't think,' mamma?"
+
+"Not exactly. I suppose you hardly realized that you were doing wrong
+since there were older girls with you, and it was more of an accident
+than actual wrongdoing. I think we shall have to keep you at home
+hereafter, for it seems very easy for little folks to get into trouble
+when they are away from their mothers. You have your own garden and your
+own little house to play in, so I think we must set the bounds there,
+and only allow you to go outside our premises by special invitation."
+
+"Not even to Mr. Atkinson's?"
+
+"No, I think not, dear. It is safer for you at home. Mamma has been
+greatly worried and distressed, and I am sure you do not want her to
+pass through such an anxious time again. It is for mamma's sake, dear,
+as well as your own, that she keeps you close to her. Suppose you had
+fallen overboard." She drew the child nearer to her, while her eyes grew
+moist at the thought.
+
+"Dear, dear mamma, I'll never go away again without your leave. I don't
+want to make you unhappy, mamma. I do love you."
+
+"I know you do, darling; but little girls sometimes forget that it is
+more by the doing than by the saying that their mothers are made aware
+of their love. You know papa always tells you that if you really love
+your parents, you will do the things that please them, otherwise, no
+matter how much you say 'I love you,' it doesn't mean anything."
+
+Dimple looked very sober, and Florence, too, listened to all this with a
+very grave face. It had really been a very trying day for the two little
+cousins, and now that they were safe, they realized how uncomfortable it
+had been. Therefore, from that time there never was a question of their
+going outside the gate without permission, and Mr. Atkinson's place was
+no longer visited unless by his express invitation on Saturday
+afternoons.
+
+"I feel as if I had been sort of ungrateful," said Dimple, the next day
+after their rescue. "I just love my home, Florence, and somehow I don't
+feel a bit bad about not going to Mr. Atkinson's. I believe I know
+exactly how the little birdies feel when they get back to the nest,
+after they have been trying to fly. I hope I shall never go so far away
+again, until I am much older." And the two returned contentedly to their
+old playground, only too glad to feel the security of familiar sights
+and sounds.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+Down Town
+
+
+"Don't you want to go down town for me, girls?" said Mrs. Dallas, one
+pleasant morning. "I can't send Bubbles very well."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Dimple. "What are we to get?"
+
+"Several things," replied her mother. "Go and get ready and I will tell
+you."
+
+"May we take Celestine and Rubina?" asked Florence.
+
+"I don't think I would, for you will have packages, and they will be in
+the way."
+
+"Don't let's take them anyhow, Florence," said Dimple. "I was thinking
+this morning that their frocks are too thick for summer." So they ran
+off to get ready.
+
+"Now," said Mrs. Dallas, as they came back, "I want you to go to Fink's
+and get me four yards of trimming like this sample; if they haven't
+exactly like it, the nearest will do. Then I want you to get me four
+lemons. You may go to old Mrs. Wills for those, and if she has any fresh
+eggs you may get a dozen, and--oh, yes, a bottle of vanilla extract. Now
+don't be too long, for I shall want to use some of the things this
+morning."
+
+They promised, and went off without delay. It was a pleasant July
+morning, and they started gaily down the street, which was shaded by
+trees and bordered on each side by pretty cottages, with gardens in
+front.
+
+"There is Mrs. Brown," said Dimple; "let's cross over, Florence, she
+will be sure to stop us if we don't."
+
+"Who is Mrs. Brown?" asked Florence.
+
+"Oh, she's a woman," returned Dimple. "I suppose she is very nice, but
+she is so solemn, and is always telling me that she hopes I will grow up
+to be a comfort to my mother and not a care and burden; and she always
+says it as if there wasn't the least doubt but that I would be a care
+and a burden, and I don't like her. Do you know mamma and Mrs. Hardy
+have been friends for over twenty years, and mamma is Rock's
+godmother?"
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"Mamma told me. I asked her how she came to know Rock's mother, and she
+said she used to know her when she was a little girl like me--and when
+they were young ladies they were great friends. Then mamma was married
+and came here, and Rock's mother was married and went to California.
+When her husband died she came back to Baltimore to live. Here is
+Fink's; we have to go in here."
+
+This was the largest dry goods shop in the town, and the clerks all knew
+Dimple.
+
+"What can we do for you this morning, Miss Dallas?" said one of them,
+leaning over the counter.
+
+"Mamma wants four yards of this trimming," said Dimple, holding out her
+sample.
+
+The man took it, turned it over to examine both sides, and took down a
+box.
+
+"Four yards, did you say?"
+
+"Yes," said Dimple.
+
+He measured it off, saying, "Don't you want some cards? We have some
+just in with a lot of goods."
+
+"I would rather have a box," said Dimple; "for I have a new doll, and I
+want it to put her sashes in."
+
+"You don't object to having both, do you?" said he. "Suppose I put the
+cards in the box. How would that do?"
+
+"Oh, that would be very nice," said Dimple; "you are very kind."
+
+As he went off, she turned to Florence and said in a low tone, "I didn't
+like to ask him for two boxes, but I will give you the cards."
+
+"No matter," said Florence. "I don't care very much for a box."
+
+However, when the man returned he had two boxes with four pretty cards
+in each.
+
+"Thank you so much," said the girls, highly pleased.
+
+"He is a real nice man," said Florence, when they were in the street. "I
+didn't believe he would think of me."
+
+"Yes, I think he is nice," said Dimple; "besides he has known me ever
+since I was a baby; he mightn't be so nice to a stranger."
+
+They next came to a little low brown building with one window. As they
+went in at the door, a small bell over it tinkled and a voice said, "In
+a minute."
+
+While they waited they looked about the shop, which was quite a
+curiosity to Florence. In the window were jars of candy, red and white,
+gingerbread horses, shoestrings, oranges, lemons, and dolls strung along
+in a line, the largest in the middle and the smallest at each end;
+besides these there were tops, whistles, writing paper, pencils, scrap
+pictures, and a variety of other things, all jumbled up together.
+Inside, the glass case and the shelves were full, and from the ceiling
+hung rolls of cotton in tissue paper, toy wagons, jumping-jacks and
+hoops.
+
+"What a funny place," whispered Florence; but just then a funnier old
+woman came in. Her face looked like a withered apple, it was so wrinkled
+and rosy; her eyes were bright and her grey hair was combed back under a
+high white cap. As she came behind the counter, Florence saw that one of
+her hands was very much scarred, and the fingers bent. She wondered what
+had happened to it.
+
+"Well, little Dallas girl, it's you, is it? And how is my pretty with
+her dimples and curls? Hm! Hm! Hm! The little Dallas girl," said the
+old woman.
+
+"Mamma wants four lemons, Mrs. Wills," said Dimple.
+
+"Four lemons; four--four--" said the old woman, going to a box and
+taking them out.
+
+"And she wants to know if you have any fresh eggs?"
+
+"Fresh eggs. Hm! Hm! Fresh eggs. How many? I'll see."
+
+"A dozen if you have them."
+
+"Well, we'll have to go and find them, little girls. Who is the other
+little girl?"
+
+"My cousin," said Dimple.
+
+"A Dallas?"
+
+"No; her name is Florence Graham."
+
+"Graham, Graham. A Dallas and a Graham. Come you two, then, and we'll
+see if we can find any eggs."
+
+They followed Mrs. Wills through the back room into the yard. The room
+they passed through was very clean, and held a stove with a little tin
+kettle on it, a bed with a patchwork quilt, a shining little table and
+several chairs with flowers painted on them.
+
+The yard was quite a curiosity, and seemed to be given up entirely to
+pigeons and chickens, who made a great fuss, flying up on the old
+woman's shoulder and pecking at her; while an old duck waddled solemnly
+after, giving a quack once in a while to let them know she was there.
+
+Mrs. Wills took them to the hen-house, and told them where to look for
+eggs.
+
+As Dimple had been there before, she knew where to look, and they soon
+made up the dozen.
+
+The old duck followed them into the house, and was waddling after them
+into the shop, when Mrs. Wills with a "Shoo! Shoo!" drove her out.
+
+"Now, Dallas girl, and Graham girl," said Mrs. Wills, "does the mother
+need anything else to-day?"
+
+"There was something else," said Dimple, "but I can't think what. Can
+you, Florence?"
+
+"There were four things, I know," said Florence. "But I don't remember
+the fourth."
+
+"A--apples, B--brooms, C--crackers, D--dust-pans," went on Mrs. Wills,
+rapidly, and then paused.
+
+"No; not any of those," said Dimple.
+
+"E--extract," said Mrs. Wills.
+
+"Yes, that's it. You have guessed, Mrs. Wills, vanilla, please."
+
+"E--extract, E--extract," said the old woman, as she hunted in a dark
+corner.
+
+"And C--cocoanut cakes. Red or white?" she asked, opening the case.
+
+"White," said Dimple. "But Mrs. Wills----"
+
+"Tut! Tut! Don't you say it; don't you say it, or I'll take back my
+eggs," she said, as she handed each of the children a cake.
+
+"Thank you, Mrs. Wills. When I'm grown-up I'll make you a great big cake
+and send it to you," said Dimple.
+
+That pleased the old woman mightily, and she nodded good-bye to them,
+saying, "Lemons, eggs and extract," over and over to herself.
+
+"What a ridiculous old woman!" said Florence. "Is she crazy?"
+
+"No," said Dimple. "But she is queer. She is good, though, and mamma
+always buys everything from her that she can, and she feels so bad if I
+don't take the things she offers me that I have to accept them."
+
+"What is the matter with her hand?"
+
+"She burned it trying to save her child from burning."
+
+"Did she save it?"
+
+"No; and that is what makes her so queer. She has never been the same
+since."
+
+"My! how warm it is getting," said Florence. "I am glad we have broad
+brimmed hats. Let's hurry home. There is your Mrs. Brown again."
+
+"Oh, dear!" said Dimple. "Let us turn up this street; it is just as near
+to go home this way." So they turned the corner and reached home before
+Mrs. Brown knew which way they had gone.
+
+"Suppose we watch Sylvy make cake," said Dimple, when they had delivered
+their packages. "She always lets me watch her. And then we can scrape
+the bowl. Don't you like to?"
+
+"I never do at home," said Florence. "Our cook is so cross and mamma
+does not like me to go into the kitchen."
+
+"My mamma doesn't care; she lets me go whenever I please, and sometimes
+I help Bubbles clean knives and do such things, so she can get through,
+and play with me sooner."
+
+"Sylvy, we are coming to watch you make cake; may we?"
+
+"I'm not a carin'!" said Sylvy. "Git 'round on the other side of the
+table."
+
+"See her break the eggs," said Florence. "Could you do it, Dimple? I'd
+be sure to get the yolks all mixed with the whites, and she just turns
+one half into the other as easily."
+
+"I'd be afraid to try," said Dimple; "but when I am a little bigger, I
+mean to make a cake myself. I believe I could now if I had some one to
+tell me."
+
+"I wouldn't try just yet," said Sylvy, briskly beating the whites of the
+eggs to a froth.
+
+"Could you, Sylvy, when you were a little girl?" asked Florence.
+
+"Laws, no. I was nigh as big as I am now, and then I made a poor fist at
+it," said Sylvy, laughing at the recollection.
+
+"What was the matter?" asked Dimple.
+
+"Too much butter and sugar, and not enough flour; it rose up beautiful
+at first and then down it went; when I took it out of the oven it was
+like taffy. I felt plum bad, I tell you; but I did better next time;" so
+saying, she turned her cake into the pans and giving each of the
+children a spoon, bade them take the bowl between them out on the steps,
+and "lick" to their hearts' content.
+
+"You aren't going to make another cake right away, are you, Sylvy?"
+asked Dimple, looking up from her bowl. "And--oh, Florence, see all
+those turnovers. Are you really going to make another cake, Sylvy?"
+
+"Yass, miss, some suveral of 'em."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Yo' ma done tole me to," replied Sylvy, with a smile.
+
+"I'm going to ask her about it. I know she doesn't intend we shall eat
+them all. Perhaps there is going to be a church supper, or a strawberry
+festival, or something. Come on, Florence, let's go and see about it."
+And throwing down their spoons, they went to hunt up Mrs. Dallas.
+
+They found her in the dining-room, making salad dressing, and upon the
+table was a newly-boiled ham, and a quantity of chopped chicken.
+
+"There, now, mamma is doing something about eating, too," exclaimed
+Dimple. "I'd just like to know what it is all for. Won't you tell us,
+mamma? Are you going to have a tea or anything like that?"
+
+"Not exactly like that; but we are going on a picnic."
+
+"Oh! oh! a picnic! Tell us, mamma. Who is going? Are we children to go?"
+
+"Yes. You children, Mrs. Hardy and Rock, the Spears, the Neals, and the
+Jacksons. Mr. Atkinson, too, I think."
+
+"Which Jacksons?"
+
+"Mr. David Jackson's family. Mr. Atkinson is not sure of being here, but
+he hopes to be able to get off."
+
+"Oh, good! Tell us some more, mamma."
+
+"We are going to start early to-morrow afternoon, if it is pleasant. We
+will take supper with us. We are going up the river to the island, and
+have our meal there."
+
+"Fine! fine! Oh, Florence, you have never been to the island, and it is
+just lovely there. I think you are very good to let us go, mamma, after
+our running away in a boat."
+
+"Who ever heard of any one's running away in a boat?" laughed Mrs.
+Dallas. "Now be good children, and keep out of the way, for Sylvy and I
+have a lot to do."
+
+"We'll be good as possible, mamma, but just one more question: are you
+going to take Bubbles?"
+
+"I hadn't thought of it."
+
+"Oh, do, please; she'd be a lot of help, and she'd simply jump out of
+her skin if she thought she would be allowed to go."
+
+"Then we'd better let her stay in her skin. She would be very
+uncomfortable without it, even in this warm weather."
+
+"Please, mamma."
+
+Mrs. Dallas considered for a moment, and then said: "Well, yes, upon the
+whole, I think it would be rather a good plan, but she must not neglect
+her work to-day. If she gets through all that she has to do by the time
+we start she may go, but not otherwise. She will have extra work to-day,
+because Sylvy is more than usually busy."
+
+"May we help her a little bit? We could clean the knives, and shell the
+peas."
+
+"I think that would be very kind if you did."
+
+"And may we tell her?"
+
+"If you like."
+
+The two little girls ran off to where Bubbles was washing out dish
+towels by the kitchen door. "Bubbles! Bubbles! You are going on a
+picnic," cried Dimple.
+
+Bubbles dropped the dish towel she was dousing up and down in the water.
+"Me, Miss Dimple? Me? Who say so?"
+
+"Mamma. There is to be a picnic to-morrow, and you are to go along with
+us. Aren't you glad?"
+
+"Hm! Hm! I reckon I is. All dem cakes an' pies an' good eatin's, an' I
+gwine have some fo' dey gits mashed up an' soft, an' I gwine wait on de
+ladies and gent'mans. Ain't dat fine?" She gave a twist to her towel and
+shook it out with a snap. Then she was overtaken by a sudden fear. "Yuh
+ain't a-foolin' me, is yuh?"
+
+"No, of course not. I wouldn't be so mean as to fool you about such a
+thing. But mamma says you mustn't dawdle to-day. So hurry up and get
+those towels done. Sylvy is going to be awfully busy, so you'll have to
+help her, but we're going to clean the knives for you, and shell the
+peas. Bring them down to the little house; we're going down there. We
+might set the table, too, Florence."
+
+"Thanky, ma'am, Miss Dimple. Thanky, Miss Flo'ence." Bubbles' face was
+beaming, and her slim, black legs went scudding into the house with more
+than their usual agility.
+
+"I shouldn't wonder if Rock were to come over, Florence," said Dimple;
+"then he can help us to shell the peas, so we can have some time to
+play. Rock will want to talk over the picnic, and he will want to see
+how the garden is coming on. I think the pumpkin vine is coming up. I
+can't tell whether it is that or a weed, but Rock will know."
+
+"Rock always thinks of such nice plays; I hope he will come," returned
+Florence; and, indeed, they had hardly established themselves on the
+porch of the little house before the boy's cheery whistle was heard, and
+the three children, after faithfully fulfilling the promise to Bubbles
+to relieve her of some of her tasks, determined to invent a new play.
+
+"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Rock. "We'll dig a cave over here,
+and we'll pretend a company of bandits live in it, and they will
+capture one of your dolls. Then we will go to the rescue."
+
+"Who'll be the bandits?"
+
+"Why, let me see. We'll take sticks of wood; little branches with two
+prongs, like this; they make the legs, you see; and then we'll stick on
+something round for the heads, turnips or onions or something like
+that."
+
+"There aren't any turnips this time of year," returned Dimple, "and
+onions smell so strong. We can get potatoes, though, and they have eyes,
+so I should think they would make very good heads."
+
+Rock laughed. "So they will."
+
+"I'll go and see if mamma will let me have--how many?"
+
+"Oh, half a dozen or so."
+
+Dimple started for the house; then suddenly remembered that she had
+promised not to bother her mother, and she stood still for a moment. But
+the idea of the bandits was too alluring, and so she proceeded to the
+house, putting her head timidly in at the dining-room door, where her
+mother was still busy.
+
+"Mamma," she said, "are potatoes very expensive?"
+
+"No, not very. What a funny question. Did you come all the way in here
+to ask that?"
+
+"No, mamma, not exactly; but do they cost too much for you to give us
+half a dozen for our bandits?"
+
+"For your bandits! What do you mean?"
+
+"Why, we are going to have a lovely play--Rock made it up--and we can't
+have any bandits unless we have heads for them, and I said potatoes
+would do, because they have eyes. May we have half a dozen?"
+
+Mrs. Dallas smiled. "Yes, but you must not ask Sylvy or Bubbles to get
+them for you."
+
+"I'll get them if you will tell me where they are."
+
+"They are down in the cellar. Please, Dimple, don't bother me again. Try
+to play without coming up after things all the time."
+
+"Yes, mamma," Dimple replied, very meekly. "I wouldn't have come this
+time if it had been for anything but the bandits."
+
+Mrs. Dallas let her go, and then called her back, for she had seen a
+little wistful look in the child's face when her mother spoke shortly.
+"Come, kiss me, dear," she said. "I want you to know that you are quite
+welcome to the potatoes. They will make very inexpensive and harmless
+playthings, and I hope your bandits will turn out just as you want them
+to."
+
+Dimple gave her a grateful hug.
+
+"You may stop in the kitchen and get a turnover apiece for you three
+children. Tell Sylvy I said you might."
+
+"Oh, mamma, how dear you are," and the happy little face disappeared.
+
+The six potato-headed bandits proved most venturesome creatures, and
+kept their captive safe from her would-be rescuers, till she was
+redeemed by the payment of a hundred pieces of gold, represented by
+buttercup petals, and the morning passed so quickly that the children
+could scarcely believe it, when Bubbles came--as they had told her to
+do--to tell them it was time to set the dinner-table.
+
+"Shall I fill up the cave?" Rock asked.
+
+"Oh no, we might want to use it again," Dimple decided. "That was such a
+lovely, exciting play, Rock."
+
+"Then we'd better cover up the cave. Some one might step in it, and get
+hurt."
+
+After hunting around, an old battered tin pan was found, which was laid
+over the entrance, but, alas! it was not proof against Bubbles'
+unfairy-like tread, for she stepped on it that very evening, and down
+she went, but, as luck had it, she did nothing worse than scratch her
+toes upon the very rough body of the bandit chief; although, be it
+confessed, he fared worse by the encounter than she did, for he had both
+legs broken beyond hope of saving. The next morning he was carefully
+carried away to a hospital and devotedly nursed by one of Dimple's
+dolls; but he never recovered, though he lingered for several days. His
+funeral was quite a magnificent affair, and he was buried with proper
+ceremonies under the very tree upon which he originally grew.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+The Picnic
+
+
+The children awoke on the morning of the day set for the picnic, to
+view, with anxious eyes, a grey sky.
+
+"Oh, if it should rain, wouldn't it be just too bad for anything," said
+Florence. "I should be so dreadfully disappointed, shouldn't you,
+Dimple?"
+
+"Yes, I am afraid so," returned Dimple, despondently, watching the smoke
+rising from a distant chimney. Then more cheerfully, "See Florence, I
+don't believe it will rain, for that smoke is going straight up. You
+know that is a sign it is going to clear. Maybe it is only misty and not
+cloudy."
+
+This it proved to be, for, as the day advanced, the sun came out and it
+was as beautiful an afternoon as one could wish to see. Therefore very
+gaily they started forth to meet the rest of the party down at the
+river's brink.
+
+"Oh, there's Mr. Atkinson," cried Dimple, catching sight of this
+gentleman's pleasant face, "I am so glad he could come. I wonder if he
+sees us. I hope we can go in his boat, don't you, Florence?"
+
+"Yes, indeed, I do. He sees us. He is waving his hat."
+
+The two little girls ran forward and to their satisfaction were helped
+into Mr. Atkinson's boat with Mr. and Mrs. Dallas and Bubbles as
+fellow-passengers, Bubbles grinning from ear to ear and looking very
+spick and span in a clean pink calico frock and a white apron. A string
+of blue beads adorned her neck; she had added it as a finishing touch to
+her toilet.
+
+The boats pushed off and, after an hour's rowing, the party of
+picnickers landed at a pretty little island in the river. It was covered
+with trees and underbrush, but not so densely as to prevent their
+finding a space big enough for a camping ground where they could build a
+fire and spread their supper.
+
+Most of the party preferred to go out on the river to fish, for some
+fine black bass could be caught here. Dimple, however, preferred to stay
+behind with Mrs. Dallas and one or two of the other ladies, even though
+Mr. Atkinson said he would bait her hook for her, and would lend her his
+finest line and reel.
+
+"I feel so sorry for the poor little earth worms, first, and for the
+fish afterward, that I don't believe I should enjoy it," Dimple said,
+seriously.
+
+"But you can eat a piece of bass after it is cooked, can't you?" Mr.
+Atkinson returned, smiling.
+
+"Yes, if I don't see him caught."
+
+"Your little girl reminds me of those very tender-hearted children, who,
+when they saw the picture of the Christian martyrs, were overcome with
+pity, not for the martyrs, no indeed, but because there was one poor
+dear lion that hadn't any martyr to eat," Mr. Atkinson said to Mr.
+Dallas.
+
+"That was a little extreme, I admit," returned Mr. Dallas, laughing,
+"but we do try to cultivate a humane spirit in our little daughter, and
+you may be sure she will never wear a stuffed bird in her hat when she
+grows older."
+
+Mr. Atkinson nodded in approval. "I'm glad of that," he returned, "and I
+must say I think useless sport is wicked, but when one wants fish for
+food, I think he may be excused the catching. And so, Dimple, it
+resolves itself into your going without the fish or the fishing, does
+it?"
+
+Dimple nodded. She didn't exactly understand, but she supposed he meant
+that if she wanted the fish for supper, she'd better remain where she
+could not see them caught.
+
+Florence, however, had less compunction, and consented to go out in the
+boat, though she wasn't sure whether or not she should want to catch any
+fish. But Rock, like most boys, was very eager for the sport, and hoped
+he would be able to catch the first fish, and also wanted it to be the
+biggest caught.
+
+"May Bubbles and I go anywhere on the island that we want?" Dimple asked
+her mother, after they had watched the boats start off.
+
+Mrs. Dallas, with Mrs. Hardy's help, was putting up a hammock between
+two of the big trees. "I think it will be perfectly safe," she replied,
+after a moment's thought. "The island isn't very big, and you will not
+go too near the water's edge, will you? I can see you from here--I
+suppose in whatever direction you go."
+
+"I will keep away from the water, mamma, although I should dearly like
+to paddle about."
+
+"You can take off your shoes and stockings and paddle right here on this
+bit of shore when you come back from your exploring trip. I can watch
+you then, and shall feel perfectly easy about you."
+
+"Where are the lunch baskets, mamma?"
+
+"Over there behind that tree."
+
+"What is that covered up with that grey blanket?"
+
+"Something Mr. Atkinson brought."
+
+"I didn't see it in our boat. May I peep at it?"
+
+"No, dear, I think I wouldn't. It isn't just the thing to indulge one's
+curiosity about such matters. Mr. Atkinson had it sent up here, and as
+he meant it as a sort of a little secret for you children, it wouldn't
+be polite to try to find it out."
+
+So Dimple with her little maid, walked away, not, however, without
+several backward looks at the grey blanket.
+
+There was not very much to see on the island, after all, for it was a
+small place, and the most interesting discovery they made was a pile of
+big rocks at the upper end of the narrow strip of land. Here they
+established themselves to watch the boats and the fishers.
+
+"I think Rock has caught a fish," exclaimed Dimple, when she had been
+watching for some time. "See, Bubbles, he is hauling in his line as fast
+as he can. There goes the reel again. Oh, I hope if he must catch them,
+that he will catch big ones. See that lovely red flower growing down
+there between the rocks. I wish you would get it for me, Bubbles, and
+then we will go back to where mamma is. I am as hungry as I don't know
+what, and I want to ask mamma for a turnover or a biscuit or something.
+Get me the flower, Bubbles, and I'll watch to see if Rock really did
+catch a fish."
+
+Bubbles promptly obeyed, but she had just stooped to pick the flower
+when she heard a piercing shriek from Dimple. Mrs. Dallas heard it, too,
+and came running in the greatest alarm, to find, when she reached the
+spot, Dimple almost paralyzed with fright, continuing her screams, while
+Bubbles, dancing about, getting more and more excited every minute, was
+valiantly hurling pieces of rock at a large black snake.
+
+"Hyar come anudder," she cried, as a stone went flying through the air.
+"Take dat. Hit yuh, didn't it? Skeer Miss Dimple outen her senses, will
+yuh? Yuh gre't, ugly black crittur!" and rock after rock came with such
+force and precision that the unfortunate snake, in a few minutes, was
+"daid as a do' nail," as Bubbles expressed it.
+
+Dimple clung to her mother, trembling with fright, even after the snake
+was killed.
+
+"Is it dead, really dead? Oh, Bubbles!" she quavered. "What would I have
+done if you hadn't been so brave?"
+
+Bubbles laughed. "Dat wan't no snake to pison yuh," she said. "It
+couldn't hurt yuh. All it could do was to race yuh."
+
+"Don't talk about it," said Dimple, shuddering. "Do let us leave it, and
+go back."
+
+But Bubbles was too proud of her performance to allow it to be set
+aside; so she picked up the snake, and started to carry it back on a
+forked stick.
+
+On the way, however, she too fell into a fright at sight of an innocent
+little land terrapin traveling along with his house on his back. "Don't
+tech it, don't, Miss Dimple," she cried in terror. "Dey has de evilest
+eyes. I wouldn't tech one fer nothin'."
+
+"But you aren't afraid of snakes," replied Dimple, "and these little
+terrapins are much more harmless." Nevertheless Bubbles had in some way
+acquired a superstition about "Bre'r Tarrapin," from Sylvy, who, like
+most colored people, stood in terror of the innocent creatures.
+
+But when the boats returned, the big snake, hanging over the limb of a
+tree, was triumphantly displayed and attested to Bubbles' courage; so
+that she was made very proud by the praise she received for having
+killed it, Dimple generously refraining from saying anything about the
+terrapin.
+
+Although Rock did not catch the first fish, he caught the biggest one,
+and was quite proud of it.
+
+There was a fire built, and the fish, nicely cleaned, were cooked over
+the coals. Florence thought all this delightful. She had never enjoyed
+such an experience, and watched the proceedings with the greatest
+pleasure. Every one was ready to enjoy the supper when it was prepared,
+saying that fish never tasted so good, and that the coffee, made in a
+very ordinary tin coffee-pot, could not be improved.
+
+Dimple whispered to Florence that there was a secret under the grey
+blanket; and that she half suspected what it was, but she didn't intend
+to look. Even a delighted giggle from Bubbles did not cause her to turn
+her head, but when that small hand-maiden, who was bustling about
+waiting on every one, offered her a saucer of ice cream, Dimple
+exclaimed, "I guessed it! I guessed it to myself."
+
+"Guessed what?" said Mr. Atkinson, at her side.
+
+"Guessed that it was an ice cream freezer under the blanket," returned
+Dimple.
+
+"Oho! so you've been trying to find out, have you?"
+
+"No. I didn't try. I only hoped," replied Dimple, gravely. At which Mr.
+Atkinson laughed heartily; just why, Dimple was puzzled to discover.
+
+When the supper was over and the baskets repacked, they played all
+manner of games till the great round moon rose over the river, and then
+they rowed home, singing as they floated along in the silvery moonlight.
+
+Florence and Dimple sat side by side, in a sort of waking dream; and
+Bubbles dreamed too, as was very evident when the boat landed, for she
+was sound asleep, and had to be called and shaken before she knew where
+she was. Then she blundered along behind the others, still so sleepy
+that she forgot to take off her precious blue beads when she went to
+bed, and in the night the string broke; consequently when she awoke in
+the morning she found the beads straggling over the floor and strewing
+the sheets.
+
+"Didn't we have a good time?" said Florence, looking out on the
+moonlight, as she stood at the window in Dimple's room.
+
+"Yes," was Dimple's reply, "all but the snake. I don't like snakes."
+
+But the next evening it was evident that Bubbles still bore the subject
+of snakes in her mind. Mr. and Mrs. Dallas had gone out. Dimple,
+Florence and Bubbles were sitting on the floor by one of the front
+windows.
+
+The air was full of the scent of the honeysuckle, and the katydids were
+contradicting each other in the trees.
+
+"What quarrelsome things they are," said Florence. "Do you suppose they
+will ever find out whether katy did or not? I'd like to know what she
+did, anyhow."
+
+"Or what she didn't," said Dimple. "Bubbles, are you asleep?" giving her
+a shake.
+
+"Thinkin'," said Bubbles, sitting up straight and rubbing her eyes.
+
+"Then what are you rubbing your eyes for?"
+
+"'Cause it's dark. I can't see good," returned Bubbles.
+
+"I declare," Dimple said, "I never know what to do with myself when
+mamma goes out; it seems to me she is very intimate with Mrs. Hardy.
+Florence, suppose you tell a story."
+
+"Oh, I can't," replied Florence. "I never could. I never know what to
+tell about. You tell."
+
+"I don't know any except Cinderella and the Seven Swans, and those.
+Bubbles will have to do it. Go on Bubbles, you've got to tell us a
+story."
+
+"Laws! Miss Dimple," giggled Bubbles.
+
+"You needn't 'laws,' you know you can, for you've often told them to me;
+now begin, right away; it will keep you awake if it doesn't do anything
+else."
+
+"Well," said Bubbles, smoothing down her apron, "oncet they was a
+bummelybee, and a snake, and a bird."
+
+"What kind of a bird?" interrupted Florence.
+
+"Erra--erra--bluebird," said Bubbles.
+
+"All right, go on."
+
+"The snake wanted fur to git the bluebird, and the bummelybee was
+a-flyin, and a-buzzin' so, it made such a 'straction the snake couldn't
+git fixed fur to chawm the bird nohow.
+
+"'Jess yuh quit yo' foolin',' said the snake.
+
+"'I no foolin',' said the bummelybee, 'what's got yuh anyhow?'
+
+"'I ain't had no brekfuss,' said the snake.
+
+"'Well go 'long 'n git it; I'm not a hinderin'.'
+
+"'Yes, yuh is,' said the snake, 'I can't do nothin' fur yo' buzzin'.'
+
+"Then the bummelybee flown off, but he didn't go very fur, he wanted to
+see what the snake was up to. He kinder suspicioned it wasn't up to no
+good, so he jess watched the snake, and bimeby he seen the bluebird come
+up as peart as anythin', and he set down on the limb of a tree."
+
+Here Bubbles stopped to take breath, and then went on,
+
+"Well, he seen the snake a-crawlin' along the grass, a-crawlin',
+a-crawlin', as crafty till it got right in front of the bluebird, and
+the bluebird he jess set and looked, and didn't move, or say nothin'.
+
+"'Hm! hm!' says Mr. Bummelybee, 'hit's time I was a movin',' so he made
+fur the snake and giv' him one sting on the haid, and he jess rolled up
+he eyes, and quirled up ontil the grass; and the bluebird said, 'I'm
+much debliged of you, Mr. Bummelybee. I'm glad to perform yo'
+acquaintance. I was jess about as nigh chawmed as a bird could be.'
+
+"'Don't say no more about it,' said Mr. Bummelybee, and off he flown."
+
+"I didn't know bumblebees could sting," said Florence.
+
+"Law now don't they?" said Bubbles, "mebbe they doesn't, hit might a
+been a wass, wasses sting I know. Come to think of it, hit was a wass."
+
+"Is that all of it?" asked Dimple. "I don't think it is a very long
+story."
+
+"Laws, Miss Dimple, you didn't reckon that was all," said Bubbles,
+loftily. "I laid out to tell more, soon ez my tongue got rested."
+
+"Rest it then, and go on," said Dimple, settling back against a chair,
+with her hands behind her head.
+
+"Well," said Bubbles, going on with her story, "the wass he flown off,
+and the bluebird he flown off, and after a while the bluebird he met a
+squirl. 'Howdy?' says he. 'Howdy,' says the squirl. 'How's all to yo'
+house?'
+
+"'Tollable, thank you,' says the bluebird. 'Ef yuh see a wass come
+along--' Laws, Miss Dimple, I can't get along without'n hit's being a
+bummely," said she, stopping short.
+
+"Well, have it a bummely then," said Dimple. "You don't care, do you,
+Florence?"
+
+"No," said Florence, "have it a bummely if you want to, Bubbles."
+
+"'Well,' says the bluebird, 'ef you see a bummelybee, don't you let
+nobody take his honey from him, fur he's a pertickeler fren' of mine.'
+He was sorter shamed to let on to the squirl how nigh chawmed he was.
+
+"'I promise, cross my heart,' says the squirl, and Mr. Bluebird flown
+off.
+
+"Aftern awhile, up flown Mr. Bummely, and smack behind him comes a
+little boy layin' out to git his honey.
+
+"Mr. Bummely he flown along and went to hide hissef in a big flower.
+That's jess what the boy wanted. 'Now I've got yuh,' says he, but he was
+too forward, fur the squirl clim' down the tree and popped onto the
+boy's haid jess ez he was gwine to take off his hat to ketch Mr.
+Bummely, and Mr. Bummely he flown off, and Mr. Squirl he laugh, and Mr.
+Boy he got mad, and made tracks fur home, and that's all."
+
+The girls laughed, and hearing Sylvy call her, Bubbles went out.
+
+"Isn't she funny?" said Florence. "I never could have made up a story
+like that, could you, Dimple?"
+
+"No," said Dimple, "she tells me the funniest ones sometimes, so mixed
+up, and I laugh till I can scarcely speak, and she sings the most
+absurd songs; she gets the words all twisted, she has no idea what they
+mean. Oh! Florence, I do believe there is a bat in the hall. I hope to
+goodness it won't come in here."
+
+Florence screamed and hid her head under the piano, while Dimple took
+refuge in the same place, and called loudly for Bubbles, who came
+running in with Sylvy after her.
+
+"What's de matter? Where are yuh?" they cried.
+
+"Oh, a bat! a bat!" shrieked Florence, as the creature came swooping in
+from the hall, beating its wings against the wall.
+
+Sylvy, armed with a broom, and Bubbles, with a duster, soon put an end
+to the poor bat, and the girls came out from their hiding-place.
+
+"I suppose it is silly to be afraid of them, but they nearly frighten me
+to death," said Dimple.
+
+"So they do me," Florence said, "and spiders too. Ugh! it makes cold
+chills run down my back to think of one; let's go to bed, Dimple. We can
+undress anyhow, and sit in our nightgowns and talk, if we want to."
+
+This Dimple agreed to, and they went upstairs to their rooms to find on
+the bureau two little white paper packages addressed to "Miss Florence
+Graham," and "Miss Eleanor Dallas."
+
+"Papa did it," said Dimple, "it is just like him; let's see what is
+inside. No, we'll guess. I say chocolates."
+
+"I say burnt almonds: no, marshmallows," said Florence, giving her
+package a little squeeze. "Marshmallows and chocolates," exclaimed
+Florence, as she untied the little pink string and peeped in.
+
+"So are mine," said Dimple. "I don't think we had better eat them all
+to-night, do you? Suppose we count them and take out some for to-morrow.
+One, two, three, twelve chocolates, and sixteen marshmallows. How many
+have you?"
+
+"Thirteen chocolates and fifteen marshmallows," announced Florence.
+
+"Well, let's eat six of them, and put the rest away."
+
+So they were carefully counted out, and the packages retied.
+
+"Now we will undress and sit here in our nightgowns, till we've eaten
+our candy," said Florence.
+
+"Dear me," said Dimple, as the last one disappeared, "I wish we had said
+seven of them."
+
+"Suppose we do say seven."
+
+"Well, suppose we do," and the packages were again untied and again put
+up. They had hardly finished when Mrs. Dallas came in with a telegram in
+her hand.
+
+"Not in bed yet?" said she.
+
+"No, mamma, we have been eating candy. Did you see papa put it on the
+bureau?" said Dimple.
+
+"Yes, and I have a piece of news for you. Your Uncle Heath will be here
+to-morrow."
+
+"Uncle Heath! I am so glad. Is the telegram from him?"
+
+"Yes, it just came, and he will be here to breakfast."
+
+"How long will he stop?"
+
+"Not very long. Now jump into bed and be ready to get up before he
+reaches here."
+
+"Is your Uncle Heath your papa's brother?" asked Florence, when they
+were in bed.
+
+"Yes. Oh! Florence, he is so nice."
+
+"Is he young or old?"
+
+"Not so very old, about forty, I think; he is two years older than
+papa, but he looks older; he has grey hair, a little bit grey, not very,
+and he looks like papa, only he has blue eyes.
+
+"I wonder why he is coming," mused Dimple. "Now I think of it. I heard
+papa say yesterday, 'I am so glad for dear old Heath.' I wonder why.
+Don't grown folks know lots of things, Florence? And we have to just
+guess and wonder till they choose to tell us.
+
+"Never mind, I am going to sleep, and I shall ask him myself to-morrow.
+Just think, Florence, he is in the cars now, and they are steaming
+along, coming nearer and nearer, while we lie still here and sleep.
+Good-night," and she turned over and was soon fast asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+An Uncle and a Wedding
+
+
+Dimple was up betimes the next morning. Creeping quietly out of bed, she
+left Florence sound asleep.
+
+"Mamma," she whispered, softly, as she opened her mamma's door, "what
+time is it? Has Uncle Heath come?"
+
+"It is half-past six," said her mamma, "and Uncle Heath will be here in
+half an hour."
+
+"May I put on my blue frock?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Dimple slipped back, and was not long in dressing. Florence sleepily
+opened her eyes as Dimple was ready to leave the room.
+
+"Oh Dimple, are you dressed?" she said, sitting up in bed. "Has the bell
+rung?"
+
+"No," said Dimple, "but Uncle Heath is coming, you know, and I want to
+meet him. Come down when you are ready."
+
+Florence being wide awake by this time, concluded to get up, and Dimple
+ran downstairs, patting the baluster with one hand as she went.
+
+When she reached the lowest step she was caught up by a pair of arms,
+and found her face close to her Uncle Heath's whiskers.
+
+"Oh! Uncle Heath," she cried, "do let me hug you. I am so glad to see
+you. I'm gladder than anybody."
+
+"I hope not," said her father from the doorway.
+
+"Yes, I am," said Dimple, as her uncle carried her into the parlor, and
+held her on his knee. "Uncle Heath, are you very happy?"
+
+"Indeed, I am," said he, laughing, as did Dimple's papa and mamma.
+
+"Quite a home thrust," said her papa.
+
+"The reason I asked," she went on, playing with her uncle's watch chain,
+"is, that I heard papa say the other day, 'I am so glad for dear old
+Heath.'"
+
+"He has reason to be," responded her uncle. "Dimple, how should you like
+a new aunt and cousin?"
+
+"Oh, uncle! Is it Rock?"
+
+"Well, not Rock altogether," laughed he. "Rock's mother, as well."
+
+"Please tell me, Uncle Heath."
+
+"So I will, little girl. Rock's mother is going to be your grey-headed
+uncle's wife. That makes Rock your cousin, doesn't it?"
+
+"Yes," said Dimple, cuddling up to him, "but you are not grey-headed,
+Uncle Heath, only grey-templed," she said, softly patting each side of
+his face.
+
+"She seems perfectly satisfied," said he, looking at his brother.
+
+"Perfectly," he answered. "You could not have pleased her better."
+
+"But, Uncle Heath," said Dimple, "I didn't know you knew Mrs. Hardy."
+
+"I knew her long ago, when she wasn't Mrs. Hardy, but Dora West. Long
+ago," he repeated, gently stroking her hair.
+
+"Why didn't you marry her then?"
+
+"I wanted to," said he, simply, "but I couldn't. Do you want to be
+bridesmaid, Dimple?"
+
+"Oh, uncle! Could I?"
+
+"Yes, indeed; and Rock groomsman. We are such a young, frivolous couple,
+we couldn't think of having a grown-up young lady for bridesmaid."
+
+Dimple laughed, and sat in supreme content on her uncle's knee till the
+breakfast bell rang.
+
+"Florence, I know all about it," she cried, as Florence came in, "and I
+am going to be bridesmaid, and I know why Uncle Heath is happy, and why
+Rock can be my cousin. Isn't it lovely?"
+
+Florence looked puzzled, but after a clearer explanation agreed with
+Dimple that it was "perfectly lovely."
+
+Rock came over after breakfast, with a message for Mrs. Dallas, and
+Dimple ran out to meet him, crying, "Oh, Rock! your papa is here, and
+you are going to be my cousin, really and truly. Did you know it?"
+
+"Yes, I knew," said he, "and I'm real glad. Where is Mr. Dallas?"
+
+"My Uncle Heath, or papa?"
+
+"Your Uncle Heath."
+
+"He has gone to see your mamma, I think. And oh, Rock! we are going to
+be bridesmaids, you and I. No, I mean I am going to be bridesmaid, and
+you groomsman."
+
+"Yes, and something else I know, too," said Rock. "While mamma goes on
+her wedding trip I am to come here to stay."
+
+"Oh! Rock," exclaimed Dimple, clapping her hands, "that will be lovely,
+too. How long?"
+
+"Three days, I think."
+
+"Won't we have good times?" laughed Dimple, dancing up and down. "Do
+come sit down and talk about it. Are you glad you are going to have my
+Uncle Heath for your papa?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Rock.
+
+"And are you going to live here?"
+
+"No, in Baltimore."
+
+"Oh, dear, that is all that spoils it."
+
+"Never mind," said Rock. "I shouldn't wonder if we were to come here
+summers, and I'll tell you, Dimple, maybe your mother will let you come
+visit us next winter, and I will take you sleighing."
+
+That comforted Dimple somewhat.
+
+"Where is the wedding to be? I never thought to ask," said she.
+
+"At church, at half-past nine Thursday morning. Then we come back to
+your house to breakfast, and mamma and Mr. Dallas go away on the twelve
+o'clock train."
+
+"When you say Mr. Dallas I think you mean my papa," said Dimple. "I wish
+you would call Uncle Heath papa."
+
+"But he isn't my papa yet."
+
+"Well, three days doesn't make much difference, and you need only say it
+to me."
+
+"Well! papa and mamma," said Rock, laughing, "will be back Sunday
+evening, and Monday we all go away."
+
+"Don't talk about that part of it. I don't want to think of it."
+
+Here Dimple's mamma called her, and she went upstairs. "Wait till I come
+back, Rock," she said, as she went out, "I want to talk some more."
+
+"What do you want with me, mamma?" she asked as she entered her mamma's
+room.
+
+"I want to try on your bridesmaid frock."
+
+"Oh, mamma! Is that it?" she exclaimed, as her mamma lifted a soft white
+mull from the bed.
+
+"Yes, and you are to wear a white hat and carry a basket of flowers.
+Isn't it odd that my little daughter should be bridesmaid for some one
+who was once her mamma's bridesmaid, and who used to play with her when
+she was a little girl?"
+
+Dimple laughed at the idea, as she put her arms through the arm-holes,
+and said, "It is all so funny, mamma, that I can't straighten it out at
+all. It is like a fairy tale, and, O! mamma, I look like a fairy in this
+frock. Isn't it lovely? I wish I might go down and show it to Rock and
+Florence."
+
+"Very well, you may, only be very careful not to catch it on anything."
+
+"I will be, mamma," and she danced off to display her finery.
+
+"See, Rock! See, Florence! Don't I look almost like a fairy?" she
+exclaimed, as she went into the library, where they both were sitting,
+each in a big chair.
+
+"Oh! you do look sweet!" they said, and Dimple smiled and blushed at the
+praise, quite delighted with herself; but presently she looked at
+Florence a little gravely, and said:
+
+"Florence, I feel so selfish. Do you care very much that I am to be a
+bridesmaid, and you not?"
+
+"No, indeed, for I am to be bridesmaid when my sister is married,
+anyhow, and I would so much rather see it all than to be right in it."
+
+So Dimple went up to take off her frock quite reassured.
+
+"Mamma, what are you going to wear? White, too?" she asked.
+
+"No, grey, with pink roses; and Mrs. Hardy will wear pale lavender and
+white roses."
+
+"I thought brides always wore white."
+
+"Not always," answered her mamma.
+
+Long before half-past nine on the eventful morning Dimple stood ready,
+slippers, hat and all; her basket of flowers tied with white ribbons on
+the piano; and she felt very grand, indeed, when the carriage, with Rock
+in it, drove around for her. She had been up by daybreak, around to the
+church with flowers, upstairs to see that her bridesmaid toilet was all
+right, down into the kitchen to ask Sylvy for a peep at the wedding
+cake, which, black with fruit inside and white with frosting out, stood
+on the sideboard.
+
+Then there was the table to see, and little helpful things to do for her
+mamma, while she arranged it; flowers to gather, a great bowl of fresh
+roses in the centre.
+
+Then it was such a delight, after she and Florence were dressed, to
+watch her mamma get ready; to see her dainty laces, and hold her
+flowers ready for her to pin on.
+
+At last the great moment really arrived, and she found herself stepping
+up the aisle with Rock, feeling a little embarrassment, though it was a
+very quiet wedding, only a few near friends being present; but she bore
+herself very bravely, holding her flower basket very tightly, and
+keeping time with her slippered feet to the wedding march.
+
+She did not dare even to look at Rock, but kept her eyes steadfastly
+cast down.
+
+She and Rock were the first to get back to the house, and when the new
+Mrs. Dallas reached there, Dimple rushed up to her and gave her a
+frantic hug, calling her "dear Aunt Dora;" then as frantic a hug was
+bestowed upon her uncle.
+
+She danced through the rooms like a will-o'-the-wisp, hardly willing to
+sit at the table long enough to eat anything at all.
+
+When the bridal pair drove away to the depot, a shower of rice and old
+shoes were flung after them by all the children, Bubbles included.
+
+After the house was quiet again, Dimple, Florence and Rock sat talking
+it all over in the parlor.
+
+"Were you frightened when you walked up the aisle?" asked Florence.
+
+"A little; but I thought about looking at my slippers, and didn't see
+the people. Did I look all right?"
+
+"Yes; as lovely as possible, and I never should have thought you were
+frightened. What did you do with the flowers? And, oh Dimple, who had
+the lovely little figure on top of the cake?"
+
+"I know," said Rock. "I heard mamma tell Dimple's mother that the
+bridesmaid ought to have that; and I think so, too."
+
+"Oh!" said Dimple. "I think you ought to have it, Rock."
+
+"No, indeed. That would be a fine way to do, I must say. It is to be
+yours. Mamma said so, and that settles it."
+
+"Well," said Dimple. "But I have so much, it seems to me. Florence,
+isn't it funny for Rock to have a new papa? Everything turns out so
+oddly. Don't you know how provoked we were that day when Bubbles told us
+that mamma was bringing a boy out to see us?"
+
+"And now that boy is your cousin," said Rock.
+
+"Yes; and I am glad, too," replied Dimple, giving his hand a little
+affectionate pat. "I never knew boys could be so nice, till I saw you."
+
+Rock laughed. "That's a pretty big compliment," he said.
+
+"It isn't a compliment; it's the truth."
+
+"And a compliment can't be the truth, I suppose?"
+
+"Why, I don't know. Can it?"
+
+"Of course; though just flattering words aren't always the truth. I've
+heard ladies who came to see mamma say, 'What a sweet child your little
+one is!'" Rock said this very affectedly, and the girls laughed. "And
+you know," Rock went on, "they didn't know a thing about me; they just
+said it to make mamma feel pleased, and that's what I call flattery."
+
+"Oh, yes; I think I see," said Dimple.
+
+The three days that followed were very merry ones for the children. They
+frolicked from morning till night, and did more wonderful things than
+ever they had dreamed of doing before.
+
+Rock was the nicest sort of comrade, and they got along without any
+fusses whatever. Sunday was their last day together, for Florence was
+to go the next day, too, under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Heath Dallas,
+and her trunk was standing, packed, ready to be sent.
+
+"Won't we have a pew full this morning?" said Dimple, at the breakfast
+table. "Five people. Rock, you must sit between Florence and me. I can
+sit next to mamma, and Florence next to papa."
+
+"Oh, no; let me sit by auntie," said Florence.
+
+"Very well," said Dimple. "I can sit by papa just as well, and if I get
+sleepy I can tumble over on him."
+
+Papa laughed and said it was a pleasant prospect for him.
+
+The church windows were open, a soft breeze fluttered the leaves outside
+and the slow rustle of fans fluttered bonnet strings inside.
+
+Dimple leaned her head back against the pew, and looked out at the white
+clouds drifting across the sky, so dreamily and softly; she heard the
+birds singing in the trees, and now and then came back to a
+consciousness of the minister's voice, and she caught a sentence here
+and there; but she could not fix her attention on the sermon at all; she
+was thinking of the dreaded to-morrow that would take her playmates
+away from her. The quiet and solemnity of the place only added to the
+sadness of her thoughts, and as the last hymn was being sung, the tears
+gathered in her eyes and dropped silently down on her book.
+
+Finally she could stand it no longer, but slipped down on her knees,
+buried her face in the cushions, and fairly sobbed.
+
+No one knew what was the matter, and Mrs. Dallas looked distressed,
+fearing she was ill. Mr. Dallas leaned down toward her, and whispered,
+"Are you ill, Dimple?"
+
+But she shook her head, and when the hymn was ended, he drew her close
+to him, and put his arm around her, while she kept her face hidden on
+his shoulder.
+
+No one could tell what ailed her, as every question only brought a fresh
+burst of tears, and she walked home in silence.
+
+It was not until they were in the house, that she could tell what
+affected her.
+
+Then her mother took her on her lap, and she had her cry out there,
+while Florence and Rock, looking much concerned, stood by.
+
+"Tell me, daughter, what ails you," her mother said, pushing back the
+curls from the little tear-stained face.
+
+"It was so solemn--and--I was thinking about everybody's going away
+to-morrow," she said, between her sobs. "Then they sang--'Where friend
+holds fellowship with friend. Though sundered far'--and all that--and I
+couldn't stand it any longer," and the tears still rained down her face.
+
+At this Florence's eyes filled up, and she put her arms around Dimple,
+and they cried together, while it took Mrs. Dallas, Rock, and Mr.
+Dallas, all three, to comfort them.
+
+"You will soon be going to school, Dimple," said her papa, "and then you
+will have ever so many playmates."
+
+"And you are coming to see us next winter," said Rock.
+
+"And you will have mamma left, anyhow," said her mother, hugging her up
+close.
+
+So among them all, the tears were dried; and before dinner was over,
+they were all laughing as joyously as ever.
+
+The only excitement left was to watch for the arrival of Rock's papa
+and mamma, who were to come that evening.
+
+In the meantime, while Rock and Florence were reading, Dimple heard
+Bubbles her Sunday lesson. She always taught her one of the hymns she
+had herself learned, and a Bible verse or two.
+
+Bubbles was not very quick at learning the verses, but delighted in the
+hymns, and sang them with Dimple, with great vigor.
+
+This afternoon, however, it was quite wearisome to Dimple, for her cry
+had given her a headache, and she cut the lesson very short so as to get
+back to Rock and Florence.
+
+"I shouldn't like to be a teacher," she said, throwing herself down on
+the lounge.
+
+"I should," said Florence. "I love my teacher at school dearly; she is
+the sweetest, dearest thing, we girls almost fight over her."
+
+"Do you? How funny," said Dimple.
+
+"Why, yes, we take her flowers, and candy, and big apples and oranges;
+sometimes her desk is full."
+
+"I am afraid I shan't like my teacher," said Dimple.
+
+"Do you know her?"
+
+"Yes, a little; she has been here to tea. She isn't so awful, and I
+should like her, perhaps, if I didn't know I had to go to school to
+her."
+
+"Do you know many of the girls?"
+
+"One or two. You saw that girl who sat in front of us at church, she is
+one."
+
+"You will get used to it real soon," said Rock. "I felt just as you do
+before I went to school, and it is worse for a boy; the other boys just
+go for him, and I had a hard time for the first few weeks, but now I
+like it first-rate."
+
+"It is the getting used to it, that I dread," sighed Dimple; "that has
+to come first."
+
+"No," said Rock, "papa and mamma come first, and it is nearly time for
+them now; let's go on the front porch and watch."
+
+"It is so sunny there," said Dimple.
+
+"Not if we sit at the end. Come on."
+
+So they went out and took up positions at the end of the porch.
+
+"I want to see mamma and Gertrude, and all, awfully," said Florence,
+"but, indeed I hate to leave here," looking around. "I shall miss the
+trees, and flowers, and all the sweet things."
+
+"So shall I," said Rock. "What a good time we have had this summer."
+
+"Yes. Haven't we?" said Dimple, looking sober.
+
+"Don't talk about it any more," said Rock. "It makes my Cousin Eleanor
+feel bad."
+
+This made Dimple smile, and presently they saw coming up the street a
+carriage, which they felt sure would stop.
+
+They all ran down to the gate, and the carriage did draw up by the
+sidewalk, and Rock was the first to open the door of it, and in another
+minute was in his mother's arms.
+
+Then they all went into the house, and made ready for tea.
+
+All that evening Dimple sat with one arm around Florence; and, although
+Rock was so glad to see his mother, he said that he would have Dimple so
+short a time that he must sit by her, and the three children sat on the
+steps, Rock holding Dimple's hand and trying his best to cheer her up.
+
+But a more doleful face than appeared at the breakfast table could not
+be found.
+
+"You must get your Aunt Dora and Florence some nice flowers to take
+with them," said Mrs. Dallas to Dimple.
+
+"My Aunt Dora! How queer that is, mamma. I have been wondering, is he
+Rock Hardy or Rock Dallas?"
+
+"He is Rock Hardy."
+
+"I never will get it straight," she said, as she went to get the
+flowers.
+
+"Uncle Heath," she said, after she had laid the flowers in damp cotton,
+and put them in boxes, "you may be very happy, but I am not, and I wish
+you'd leave Rock with me."
+
+He smiled as he looked down at her, and said, "I can't, dear child, but
+you shall see him often. Baltimore is not very far away."
+
+"Well, I am much obliged to you for making a cousin of him," she said,
+as she turned away.
+
+"Poor little girl," said he to her mother, "she takes this parting very
+much to heart."
+
+"Yes," said her mother, "she has never had any very intimate friends,
+and her cousins have never paid her as long a visit as Florence has this
+time. As for Rock, he is the only boy she has ever liked at all, and he
+is a nice boy. You have quite a model son, Heath."
+
+"Yes, I think so too," said he.
+
+At last the trunks were all off, Celestine was dressed in her traveling
+frock, a grey veil on her hat; the children thought her very stylish.
+
+"Poor Rubina!" sighed Dimple, bravely trying to keep back the tears.
+
+Rock had volunteered to take charge of the two kittens, so Jet and
+Marble were mewing in a basket.
+
+"And poor little Nyxy, you will be lonely too," said Dimple, hiding her
+face in his furry coat.
+
+"You will be sure to write to us, won't you Dimple," said Florence, "and
+tell all about school, and everything."
+
+"I will," said Dimple, choking up.
+
+"Don't cry," said both Rock and Florence, coaxingly.
+
+"No, I will not, I made up my mind not to, because mamma might think I
+didn't love her," answered Dimple, while her tears slowly trickled down
+her cheeks.
+
+At last all was ready,--doll, kittens, and boxes, and the good-byes were
+said. Bubbles and Dimple at the gate waved handkerchiefs as long as they
+could see the carriage.
+
+Then Dimple turned slowly into the house, unable to keep back the
+torrent of tears, and after she went into the library she buried her
+face in the sofa pillow, sobbing aloud; then she felt a pair of arms
+clasp her knees and saw two tearful black eyes looking up into her face,
+while Bubbles' caressing voice said, "Never min', Miss Dimple, I'se
+hyah."
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+MOTOR CYCLE SERIES
+
+Splendid Motor Cycle Stories
+By LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON.
+Author of "Boy Scout Series."
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE MOTOR CYCLE CHUMS AROUND THE WORLD.
+
+Could Jules Verne have dreamed of encircling the globe with a motor
+cycle for emergencies he would have deemed it an achievement greater
+than any he describes in his account of the amusing travels of Philias
+Fogg. This, however, is the purpose successfully carried out by the
+Motor Cycle Chums, and the tale of their mishaps, hindrances and delays
+is one of intense interest, secret amusement, and incidental information
+to the reader.
+
+THE MOTOR CYCLE CHUMS OF THE NORTHWEST PATROL.
+
+The Great Northwest is a section of vast possibilities and in it the
+Motor Cycle Chums meet adventures even more unusual and exciting than
+many of their experiences on their tour around the world. There is not a
+dull page in this lively narrative of clever boys and their attendant
+"Chinee."
+
+THE MOTOR CYCLE CHUMS IN THE GOLD FIELDS.
+
+The gold fever which ran its rapid course through the veins of the
+historic "forty-niners" recurs at certain intervals, and seizes its
+victims with almost irresistible power. The search for gold is so
+fascinating to the seekers that hardship, danger and failure are
+obstacles that scarcely dampen their ardour. How the Motor Cycle Chums
+were caught by the lure of the gold and into what difficulties and novel
+experiences they were led, makes a tale of thrilling interest.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+GIRL AVIATORS SERIES
+
+Clean Aviation Stories
+By MARGARET BURNHAM.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP.
+
+Roy Prescott was fortunate in having a sister so clever and devoted to
+him and his interests that they could share work and play with mutual
+pleasure and to mutual advantage. This proved especially true in
+relation to the manufacture and manipulation of their aeroplane, and
+Peggy won well deserved fame for her skill and good sense as an aviator.
+There were many stumbling-blocks in their terrestrial path, but they
+soared above them all to ultimate success.
+
+THE GIRL AVIATORS ON GOLDEN WINGS.
+
+That there is a peculiar fascination about aviation that wins and holds
+girl enthusiasts as well as boys is proved by this tale. On golden wings
+the girl aviators rose for many an exciting flight, and met strange and
+unexpected experiences.
+
+THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE.
+
+To most girls a coaching or yachting trip is an adventure. How much more
+perilous an adventure a "sky cruise" might be is suggested by the title
+and proved by the story itself.
+
+THE GIRL AVIATORS' MOTOR BUTTERFLY.
+
+The delicacy of flight suggested by the word "butterfly," the mechanical
+power implied by "motor," the ability to control assured in the title
+"aviator," all combined with the personality and enthusiasm of girls
+themselves, make this story one for any girl or other reader "to go
+crazy over."
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+MOTOR MAIDS SERIES
+
+Wholesome Stories of Adventure
+By KATHERINE STOKES.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE MOTOR MAIDS' SCHOOL DAYS.
+
+Billie Campbell was just the type of a straightforward, athletic girl to
+be successful as a practical Motor Maid. She took her car, as she did
+her class-mates, to her heart, and many a grand good time did they have
+all together. The road over which she ran her red machine had many an
+unexpected turning,--now it led her into peculiar danger; now into
+contact with strange travelers; and again into experiences by fire and
+water. But, best of all, "The Comet" never failed its brave girl owner.
+
+THE MOTOR MAIDS BY PALM AND PINE.
+
+Wherever the Motor Maids went there were lively times, for these were
+companionable girls who looked upon the world as a vastly interesting
+place full of unique adventures--and so, of course, they found them.
+
+THE MOTOR MAIDS ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
+
+It is always interesting to travel, and it is wonderfully entertaining
+to see old scenes through fresh eyes. It is that privilege, therefore,
+that makes it worth while to join the Motor Maids in their first
+'cross-country run.
+
+THE MOTOR MAIDS BY ROSE, SHAMROCK AND HEATHER.
+
+South and West had the Motor Maids motored, nor could their education by
+travel have been more wisely begun. But now a speaking acquaintance with
+their own country enriched their anticipation of an introduction to the
+British Isles. How they made their polite American bow and how they were
+received on the other side is a tale of interest and inspiration.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+BOY INVENTORS SERIES
+
+Stories of Skill and Ingenuity
+By RICHARD BONNER
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE BOY INVENTORS' WIRELESS TELEGRAPH.
+
+Blest with natural curiosity,--sometimes called the instinct of
+investigation,--favored with golden opportunity, and gifted with
+creative ability, the Boy Inventors meet emergencies and contrive
+mechanical wonders that interest and convince the reader because they
+always "work" when put to the test.
+
+THE BOY INVENTORS' VANISHING GUN.
+
+A thought, a belief, an experiment; discouragement, hope, effort and
+final success--this is the history of many an invention; a history in
+which excitement, competition, danger, despair and persistence figure.
+This merely suggests the circumstances which draw the daring Boy
+Inventors into strange experiences and startling adventures, and which
+demonstrate the practical use of their vanishing gun.
+
+THE BOY INVENTORS' DIVING TORPEDO BOAT.
+
+As in the previous stories of the Boy Inventors, new and interesting
+triumphs of mechanism are produced which become immediately valuable,
+and the stage for their proving and testing is again the water. On the
+surface and below it, the boys have jolly, contagious fun, and the story
+of their serious, purposeful inventions challenge the reader's deepest
+attention.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+BORDER BOYS SERIES
+
+Mexican and Canadian Frontier Series
+By FREMONT B. DEERING.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE BORDER BOYS ON THE TRAIL.
+
+What it meant to make an enemy of Black Ramon De Barios--that is the
+problem that Jack Merrill and his friends, including Coyote Pete, face
+in this exciting tale.
+
+THE BORDER BOYS ACROSS THE FRONTIER.
+
+Read of the Haunted Mesa and its mysteries, of the Subterranean River
+and its strange uses, of the value of gasolene and steam "in running the
+gauntlet," and you will feel that not even the ancient splendors of the
+Old World can furnish a better setting for romantic action than the
+Border of the New.
+
+THE BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN RANGERS.
+
+As every day is making history--faster, it is said, than ever before--so
+books that keep pace with the changes are full of rapid action and
+accurate facts. This book deals with lively times on the Mexican border.
+
+THE BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS.
+
+The Border Boys have already had much excitement and adventure in their
+lives, but all this has served to prepare them for the experiences
+related in this volume. They are stronger, braver and more resourceful
+than ever, and the exigencies of their life in connection with the Texas
+Rangers demand all their trained ability.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+BUNGALOW BOYS SERIES
+
+LIVE STORIES OF OUTDOOR LIFE
+By DEXTER J. FORRESTER.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE BUNGALOW BOYS.
+
+How the Bungalow Boys received their title and how they retained the
+right to it in spite of much opposition makes a lively narrative for
+lively boys.
+
+THE BUNGALOW BOYS MAROONED IN THE TROPICS.
+
+A real treasure hunt of the most thrilling kind, with a sunken Spanish
+galleon as its object, makes a subject of intense interest at any time,
+but add to that a band of desperate men, a dark plot and a devil fish,
+and you have the combination that brings strange adventures into the
+lives of the Bungalow Boys.
+
+THE BUNGALOW BOYS IN THE GREAT NORTH WEST.
+
+The clever assistance of a young detective saves the boys from the
+clutches of Chinese smugglers, of whose nefarious trade they know too
+much. How the Professor's invention relieves a critical situation is
+also an exciting incident of this book.
+
+THE BUNGALOW BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES.
+
+The Bungalow Boys start out for a quiet cruise on the Great Lakes and a
+visit to an island. A storm and a band of wreckers interfere with the
+serenity of their trip, and a submarine adds zest and adventure to it.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+MOTOR RANGERS SERIES
+
+HIGH SPEED MOTOR STORIES
+By MARVIN WEST.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE MOTOR RANGERS' LOST MINE.
+
+This is an absorbing story of the continuous adventures of a motor car
+in the hands of Nat Trevor and his friends. It does seemingly impossible
+"stunts," and yet everything happens "in the nick of time."
+
+THE MOTOR RANGERS THROUGH THE SIERRAS.
+
+Enemies in ambush, the peril of fire, and the guarding of treasure make
+exciting times for the Motor Rangers--yet there is a strong flavor of
+fun and freedom, with a typical Western mountaineer for spice.
+
+THE MOTOR RANGERS ON BLUE WATER; or, The Secret of the Derelict.
+
+The strange adventures of the sturdy craft "Nomad" and the stranger
+experiences of the Rangers themselves with Morello's schooner and a
+mysterious derelict form the basis of this well-spun yarn of the sea.
+
+THE MOTOR RANGERS' CLOUD CRUISER.
+
+From the "Nomad" to the "Discoverer," from the sea to the sky, the scene
+changes in which the Motor Rangers figure. They have experiences "that
+never were on land or sea," in heat and cold and storm, over mountain
+peak and lost city, with savages and reptiles; their ship of the air is
+attacked by huge birds of the air; they survive explosion and
+earthquake; they even live to tell the tale!
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+DREADNOUGHT BOYS SERIES
+
+Tales of the New Navy
+By CAPT. WILBUR LAWTON
+Author of "BOY AVIATORS SERIES."
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON BATTLE PRACTICE.
+
+Especially interesting and timely is this book which introduces the
+reader with its heroes, Ned and Herc, to the great ships of modern
+warfare and to the intimate life and surprising adventures of Uncle
+Sam's sailors.
+
+THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ABOARD A DESTROYER.
+
+In this story real dangers threaten and the boys' patriotism is tested
+in a peculiar international tangle. The scene is laid on the South
+American coast.
+
+THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON A SUBMARINE.
+
+To the inventive genius--trade-school boy or mechanic--this story has
+special charm, perhaps, but to every reader its mystery and clever
+action are fascinating.
+
+THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON AERO SERVICE.
+
+Among the volunteers accepted for Aero Service are Ned and Herc. Their
+perilous adventures are not confined to the air, however, although they
+make daring and notable flights in the name of the Government; nor are
+they always able to fly beyond the reach of their old "enemies," who are
+also airmen.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+FRANK ARMSTRONG SERIES
+
+Twentieth Century Athletic Stories
+By MATHEW M. COLTON.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 60c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+FRANK ARMSTRONG'S VACATION.
+
+How Frank's summer experience with his boy friends make him into a
+sturdy young athlete through swimming, boating, and baseball contests,
+and a tramp through the Everglades, is the subject of this splendid
+story.
+
+FRANK ARMSTRONG AT QUEENS.
+
+We find among the jolly boys at Queen's School, Frank, the
+student-athlete, Jimmy, the baseball enthusiast, and Lewis, the
+unconsciously-funny youth who furnishes comedy for every page that bears
+his name. Fall and winter sports between intensely rival school teams
+are expertly described.
+
+FRANK ARMSTRONG'S SECOND TERM.
+
+The gymnasium, the track and the field make the background for the
+stirring events of this volume, in which David, Jimmy, Lewis, the "Wee
+One" and the "Codfish" figure, while Frank "saves the day."
+
+FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER.
+
+With the same persistent determination that won him success in swimming,
+running and baseball playing, Frank Armstrong acquired the art of "drop
+kicking," and the Queen's football team profits thereby.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+OAKDALE ACADEMY SERIES
+
+Stories of Modern School Sports
+By MORGAN SCOTT.
+Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 60c. per vol., postpaid
+
+
+BEN STONE AT OAKDALE.
+
+Under peculiarly trying circumstances Ben Stone wins his way at Oakdale
+Academy, and at the same time enlists our sympathy, interest and
+respect. Through the enmity of Bern Hayden, the loyalty of Roger Eliot
+and the clever work of the "Sleuth," Ben is falsely accused, championed
+and vindicated.
+
+BOYS OF OAKDALE ACADEMY.
+
+"One thing I will claim, and that is that all Grants fight open and
+square and there never was a sneak among them." It was Rodney Grant, of
+Texas, who made the claim to his friend, Ben Stone, and this story shows
+how he proved the truth of this statement in the face of apparent
+evidence to the contrary.
+
+RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE.
+
+Baseball is the main theme of this interesting narrative, and that means
+not only clear and clever descriptions of thrilling games, but an
+intimate acquaintance with the members of the teams who played them. The
+Oakdale Boys were ambitious and loyal, and some were even disgruntled
+and jealous, but earnest, persistent work won out.
+
+OAKDALE BOYS IN CAMP.
+
+The typical vacation is the one that means much freedom, little
+restriction, and immediate contact with "all outdoors." These conditions
+prevailed in the summer camp of the Oakdale Boys and made it a scene of
+lively interest.
+
+THE GREAT OAKDALE MYSTERY.
+
+The "Sleuth" scents a mystery! He "follows his nose." The plot thickens!
+He makes deductions. There are surprises for the reader--and for the
+"Sleuth," as well.
+
+NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE.
+
+A new element creeps into Oakdale with another year's registration of
+students. The old and the new standards of conduct in and out of school
+meet, battle, and cause sweeping changes in the lives of several of the
+boys.
+
+Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price.
+
+HURST & COMPANY--Publishers--NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sweet Little Maid, by Amy E. Blanchard
+
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