, in a mournful brown bonnet, the front of which, as Prudy said,
was "making a courtesy." Miss Polly was, however, in as good spirits as
usual, and had come to keep house with Ruth, and help take care of the
children for this day and the next.

Till the last minute Prudy and Dotty walked the piazza, their arms
about each other's waist.

"I s'pose," said Dotty, sullenly, "when you are at that old Cousin
Lydia's, having good times, you won't think anything about me and Katie,
left here all alone."

"Why, little sister!"

"Maybe," continued Dotty, "the ducks will hatch while you're gone. I saw
the white hen flying over the fence with one of those eggs in her
mouth."

"A piece of the shell?"

"O, no, a whole egg, right in her bill," replied Dotty, who supposed she
was telling the truth. "And you know those big strawberries that cost a
cent apiece, Prudy; you'll be sorry you couldn't be here to help eat 'em
in cream."

Perhaps Dotty hoped, even at this last moment, that Prudy would be
induced to stay at home. If so, she was doomed to be disappointed.

"Well," said Prudy, "I'm glad you'll have such nice times, Dotty."

"O, it won't be nice at all. Something will happen; now you see if it
don't," said Dotty, determined to be miserable.

After the two carriages, with the horses "Deacon" and "Judge," had
driven off, and grandpa had given his last warning about fire, and
Horace and the girls had waved their handkerchiefs for the last time,
Dotty proceeded to the kitchen to see if she could find anything
wherewith to make herself unhappy. Ruth stood by the flour-board
kneading bread, and cutting it with a chopping-knife in a brisk, lively
way. Polly sat by the stove sighing and rubbing silver.

"Dear me, child, what are you doing with my starch?" said Ruth as she
saw Dotty with the bowl at her lips, and a sticky stream tickling down
her apron.

"Starch?" cried Dotty, in disgust; "and you never told me, Ruthie! How
did I know it wasn't arrow-root?"

"You see, Polly," said Ruth in a discouraged tone, "just what we are to
expect from these children to-day. Next thing we know, that morsel of a
Katie will be running away. They are enough to try the patience of Job
when they both of them set out to see what they _can_ do. And if Jennie
Vance comes, the house will be turned upside down in five minutes."

Ruth might have known better than to complain to Polly, who always had
something in her own experience which was wors