cking a pebble out of her shoe, and did not start at
once.

"Ah!" said aunt Louise, drawing on her gloves, "I see Prudy isn't
going to mind me."

"Well, don't you see me getting up out of my chair?" said Prudy.
"There now, don't you see me got clear to the door?"

"O dear," said poor aunt Louise to her sister, "what shall I do all
this long day with three noisy children? I'm afraid some of them will
get drowned, or run over, or break their necks. You see if something
awful doesn't happen before we get back."

"O, I hope not," replied sister Madge, laughing. "I think there is
nothing so very wicked about our little nieces."

"Here is your parasol, auntie," said Prudy, coming back. "I know who I
love best of any body in this house, and it ain't the one that's got
her bonnet on--it's a-r-n-t, aunt, M-i-g, Madge."

"Well, you ought to love your aunt _Mig_, all of you," said aunt
Louise, laughing, "for I do believe she thinks you children are as
lovely as little white rose-buds.--Come, are you all ready? Then run
along, and I'll follow after."

"O, I'm so glad I'm alive!" cried little Prudy, hoping on one foot; "I
do hope I shall never die!"

"I just mean to be careful, and not get a speck of dirt on my clean
apron," whispered Susy to Grace. "Aunt Madge ironed it this morning."

They had such a pleasant walk through the streets of the beautiful
village, in the "sunshine, calm and sweet!" Grace thought the trees
met overhead just as if they were clasping hands, and playing a game
of "King's Cruise" for every body to "march through."

When they had almost reached aunt Martha's house, aunt Louise stopped
them, saying,--

"Now, tell me if you are going to be good children, so I shan't be
ashamed of you?"

"Why, yes, auntie," said Grace, looking quite grieved and surprised.

"O, auntie," said Susy, "did you think we were going to be naughty?"

"No, you'll mean to be good, I dare say," answered aunt Louise,
speaking more kindly,--"if you don't forget it. And you'll be a nice,
dear little girl, won't you, Prudy?"

"I don't know," said Prudy, coolly.

"Don't _know_? Why, do you think I should have taken you visiting if I
hadn't supposed you'd try to be good?"

"Well, I didn't say I wouldn't," said Prudy, with some dignity, "I
said 'I don't know,' and when I say that, I mean '_yes_.'"

"Well, I'm sure I hope you'll do the very best you can," sighed aunt
Louise, "and not make any body crazy."

By this time the