Parlin, taking Flyaway
by the hand.

"Yes, we ladies is ready," replied she. So this was the end of their
visit at the Institute.

After they had gone away, the little blind girls said to one another,--

"What nice children those are! Which is the prettiest, Alice or Katie?"

For they always spoke of people and things exactly as if they
could see them.

CHAPTER IV.

A SPOILED DINNER.

Next morning, Dotty Dimple and her father started for Maine. Flyaway did
not like this at all. Her cousin had been so pleasant and so entertaining
that she wished to keep her always.

"What _for_ you can't stay, Dotty Dimpwil?"

"O," said Dotty, tearing herself away from the little clinging arms, "I
must go home and get ready for Christmas."

"No, you musser," persisted Katie; "we've got a Santa Claw in _our_
chimley; you musser go home."

"It isn't for Santa Claus at all, darling it is for my papa and mamma's
wedding. To stand up, so they can be married over again. Now kiss me, and
let me go."

"Her's goin' home to Kismus pie," remarked Katie, as she took her
mournful way with her mamma to the house where they were visiting. She
did not know what a wedding might be, but was sure it had pies in it.

"There goes a right smart little girl," said Horace, with a sweep of his
thumb towards the Cleveland cars. "If it wasn't for Prudy, I should like
her better than any other cousin I have in the world."

"She is an engaging child," replied his mother, "and really seems to be
outgrowing her naughty ways."

Thus, you see, Dotty Dimple, in coming away from Indiana, had left in the
minds of her friends only "golden opinions." Perhaps she was rather
overrated. Everything had gone well with her during her visit; why should
she not be pleasant and happy? I am inclined to think there was the same
old naughtiness in her heart, only just now it was asleep. We shall see.

Nothing remarkable occurred on the homeward journey, except that Mr.
Parlin bought some gold-fishes in Boston, and carried them home as a
present to Mrs. Read. They travelled one night in a sleeping-car, and by
that means reached Portland a day earlier than they were expected.

Dotty hardly knew whether to be glad or sorry for this. There was a great
deal to be said on both sides of the question. She had anticipated the
pleasure of being met at the depot by Susy and Prudy, and now that was
not to be thought of; but it would be delightful to give the family a