," said Dotty. "Hasn't this been the
queerest day!"

"You said you's goin' to take me to aunt Marfie's; why didn't you?"

"O, we did; we took you, you know."

"Dotty Dimpul, I shouldn't think you'd make any believe."

"I'm not 'making any believe'--am I, Prudy?"

"No, Fly, she isn't. We pulled you along,--don't you remember?--and
you hung back, and said, 'I _am_ so tired.'"

"I don't 'member," said Flyaway, slowly and sadly. "I shouldn't think
_you'd_ make any believe, Prudy."

"We'll ask your mamma, then; she tells the truth. Aunt 'Riah, didn't
we take Flyaway to aunt Martha's this morning, and didn't you go there
too?"

"Certainly," said Mrs. Clifford; "but it wasn't much of a visit,--was
it, darling!--when you slept most of the time, and didn't have a
mouthful of dinner?"

Flyaway sighed heavily, and looked at her mother. "O, mamma! mamma!"

"What is it, dear?"

"O, mamma," repeated she, sorrowfully, "why did you say those words?"

"What words, darling?"

"Those naughty, naughty words, mamma." Flyaway's gentle eyes were
afloat. She crossed the room, and knelt by Mrs. Clifford's chair,
looking up at her with an expression of anguish.

"That man, he wasn't in the lions' den, that prayed so long and so
loud, mamma."

"Well, dear."

"_He_ telled a wrong story to me, mamma."

"My darling baby," said Mrs. Clifford, catching Flyaway in her arms,
"do you think your own dear mother is telling you a wrong story this
minute?"

"'Cause, 'cause, mamma, I didn't go to aunt Marfie's!"

"Yes, you did, my precious daughter; but you were asleep and dreaming.
We brought you home in the carriage, and you didn't know it. Can't you
believe it because I say so?"

Flyaway made no reply except to curl her head under Mrs. Clifford's
arm, like a frightened chicken under its mother's wing. Mrs. Clifford
looked troubled. She was afraid the little one could not be made to
understand it. Horace came to her aid.

"Hold up your head, little Topknot, and hear brother talk. Once there
were three little girls, and they all travelled round with a
wheelbarrow. By and by they came to a man's house on wheels."

"Yes," said Flyaway, starting up; "I 'member."

"And the wee girl, with dove's eyes--"

"O, O, that's me!"

"She couldn't keep still, and couldn't get any picture."

"No, _tin-tybe_; 'cause--'cause--"

"And all the while there was something in the man's house they kept
breathing into their noses, and it made them