k on the mattress, but instead of
doing so she fell back on the floor with it in her arms. Over went the
table, and this upset the whole contents of the water-pitcher over my back.
Good gracious! how it scared me! It was pitch dark and I could not tell
what had happened, so I screamed--screamed as if I was being murdered.
Imagine our feelings when the door opened, and in walked Mr. and Mrs.
McDonald, carrying a candle and a poker. Oh! I thought I should die with
shame. They thought that robbers had broken into the house and were
carrying us off, so they ran with the poker to our rescue. It took them
some time to comprehend the true state of affairs, then Mr. McDonald
disappeared in a twinkling. The girls here came running up to see what was
the matter, and they soon tossed the bed and bed-clothes out of the way,
and got some dry garments for poor shivering me. Beatrice escaped with a
lump on her head as big as an egg. I had no outward bruises to speak of,
but I felt bad enough without any; but the water-pitcher had the handle
broken off, and the bed-clothes and feather-bed had to be dried
out-of-doors for days after. Oh, dear! I did feel so ashamed; such a scrape
I never got into before or since. So take my story to heart, and do not
lose your senses if you do fall out of bed," and Gertrude laughed as she
took up her candle and followed the rest from the room, leaving Dexie and
Elsie to the mercy or comfort of their big feather-bed.

CHAPTER XXV.

There was a full breakfast table the next morning, for the young visitors
determined to fall into the ways of the family as much as possible, so
decided to be "early birds" along with the rest.

During the meal, Mr. McDonald suggested the various ways they might pass
the day enjoyably; but when he had exhausted the resources of pleasure
that occurred to his mind, Dexie smilingly said,

"You are very kind, Mr. McDonald, to place so many pleasures within our
reach, but it would not be right to spend the whole day in that way."

"What way would you prefer to pass the day?" said Lizzie, with a smile.

"Well, first, I should like to help wash the dishes, then I should like to
be set to work at anything else that I can do in a passable manner."

"Dear me! is that what you call enjoying yourself, Miss Dexie?" said
Maggie. "I fancy you would not like dish-washing, if you had to do it all
the time."

"Well, perhaps a full day's task of dish-washing would be rather tediou