glance explained the whole mystery.

But by this time there seemed to be no further cause for anxiety with
regard to Dotty. She gathered herself together, sat upright, and began
to scold.

"'Twas blazing a-fire, mamma. He lighted it to plague me--Johnny did."

"I'm ever so sorry, auntie," said Percy, and his regretful face said as
much as his words.

"Johnny scared me to death," broke in Dotty; "and then he pumped water
on me all over--Johnny did."

"I'll never do so again," said Percy, shamed by the look of reproach in
his uncle's face.

"See that you remember your promise, my boy. You have run a great risk
to-night."

No one supposed, at the time, that Dotty had received a serious injury;
but she did not sleep off the effects of her fright. She was remarkably
pale next morning, and declined her breakfast. She had not been well for
some time, but she had not trembled as now at the opening and shutting
of a door. It was plain that her nerves had been quite unstrung.

Days passed, and still she did not seem quite like herself. Her father
told the family physician she was not well, and asked what it was best
to do with her. The doctor said he thought she only needed time enough,
and she would recover her "tone."

"I have an idea," said Mr. Parlin to his wife some days after this. "If
you approve, I believe I'll take the child West with me, next time I go
there on business. I took Prudy once, and it is no more than fair that
the other children should have their turn."

"We will see," said Mrs. Parlin; and so it was left. The subject was
never mentioned before Dotty; but here is what Prudy said of it in her
journal:--

"_Sept. 5th._--I think my little sister Dotty will go out West to
see aunt Maria, &c.; but anybody mus'n't ever tell her of it. She is
very pale, they poured so much water over her that night, and she
thought it was a yellow ghost.

"I _told_ her it was very, very wrong to sit in Angeline's lap and
hear her talk so. We mus'n't believe anything for certain except
Bible stories.

"She has had temper, and shook Ada Farley. But that was before she
was frightened by the ghost, so she couldn't get her breath; and she
won't do it again. Finis."

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