lesson by heart, for
Dotty was obliged to keep very quiet all day. The thorn had been removed
from her foot, but the healing must be a work of time; and more than
that, her throat was quite sore.

It seemed as if Susy and Prudy would never come; and when at last their
cheerful voices were heard ringing through the house, it was a welcome
sound indeed. They had brought some oranges for Katie and Dotty, with
sundry other niceties, from Aunt Martha's.

"Did you know," said Dotty, "I haven't had any breakfast to-day? I've
lost one meal, and I never shall make it up as long as I live; for I
couldn't eat two breakfasts, you know."

"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Aunt Louise, laughing; "if you'll
wake me up at twelve o'clock some night, I'll rise and prepare a
breakfast for you, and that will make it all right."

Dotty looked at her auntie as if she did not know whether to take her in
earnest or not.

"I've been sick at home all day, Prudy," said she; "and I s'pose
_you've_ been having a good time."

"Splendid! And Lightning Dodger brought us home."

"Who's Lightning Dodger?"

"Why, Aunt Martha's horse; don't you know? They call him that because
they say he goes so fast the lightning don't have time to hit him."

"O, you don't believe it--do you?" cried Dotty; "I guess that's
poetry."

"Little sister," replied Prudy, speaking in a low voice, "don't say
'poetry' ever again. There's something about it that's very queer. I
thought I knew how to make poetry, but they all laugh at me, even
grandma."

Dotty looked greatly surprised.

"Yes," continued Prudy, with a trembling voice; "I can rhyme verses and
jingle them; but there's something else I don't put in, I s'pose, that
belongs there. Some time I'll look in the big dictionary and see what it
is."

"Is Prudy telling about the party?" asked Susy, from the corner.

"What party?" cried Dotty, dancing on her well foot.

"There, now, don't feel so happy, darling, for you can't go; its a
family party, and Cousin Lydia wrote she hadn't room for the two
youngest; that's you and Flyaway."

Dotty looked as if she had received a blow. True, she knew nothing about
Cousin Lydia, who lived twenty miles away; but if that individual was
going to have a party, of course Dotty wished to go to it.

"Uncle John is going, all _his_ wife and children," said Prudy; "and I
don't see why Dotty can't."

Uncle John was Aunt Martha's husband, and "all _his_ wife and children"
m