race,
would have gone to her with all sorts of promises--anything for peace.

"She's an outrageous little tyrant, Prue. She ought to have a sound
whipping."

"O, Horace," said Prudy, quite shocked; "she can't help her temper; she
has to be humored."

"Poh! that's just what ails her! Been humored to death."

"But, Horace, can't we change our play, somehow? It never will do for
me to try to order her about."

"Nonsense, Prue! But if you're going to be so fussy, you might keep
boarding-house, and have her for lady boarder."

Prudy's brow cleared.

"Just what'll suit her, Horace! A lady boarder is so fashionable,--like
the one they had at Mrs. Penny's,--always washing out laces. Now I'll go
tell Dotty."

Just then Miss Dimple appeared at the door with an uncertain smile.

"I--I--thought--"

"O, how kind of you to come back to us, my Lady Magnifico!" cried
Horace, bowing himself double. "Your landlady was afraid you objected to
your boarding-place."

"You see," said Prudy, eagerly, "we are making believe I keep boarders.
I've 'seen better days,' or something of that kind, as they say in
story-books--O, seems to me my husband died."

"Yes; I saw his death in the papers," said Dotty, briskly; "so you don't
want me for your hired girl--do you?"

Then she thought, "How glad I am I came back! It's always better to be
humble!" and added aloud, with a fine-lady drawl,--

"No, mim; it's not the style I've been subject to. I was _necessiated_
to leave you, mim, because I can't eat out of anything but gold
teaspoons."

"That sounds so like Mrs. Pitkin Smith!" said Prudy, laughing. "She used
to board at Mrs. Penny's, Horace. Come, let's go and dress in our
costumes. I'll be Mother Hubbard; and Horace, you go into uncle's
dressing-room and see what you can find."

[Illustration: Little Miss Fly.]

CHAPTER III.

BORROWED JEWELS.

"Of course I must take the best things," said Dotty; "for I'm to have
the best part."

So she chose a blue poplin dress, a pink sash, a scarlet bow, and a
green pin. The dress was half a yard too long, and she caught it up in
front with some artificial flowers she found in a box. Her head she
surmounted with an old chignon, which bobbed back and forth, as she
walked, like a pedler's pack.

"O, see, Prudy," said she; "here is auntie's jewel cabinet. What cunning
little sliding drawers!"

"Don't open it; don't touch it, Dotty. I saw auntie look it up in her
safe once; but I