nursery door,
and motioned with her finger for Dotty to come out.

"What is it?" said Dotty, when they were both shut into the china
closet; "don't you want my sister Prudy to know?"

Jennie replied, in a great flutter, "No, no, no. You musn't tell a
single soul, Dotty Dimple, as long as you live, and I'll give you
half."

"Half what?"

Jennie produced the money from her bosom, feeling, I am glad to say,
very guilty. "Out o' those saddle-bag pockets out there," added she,
breathlessly; "true's the world."

"Why, Jennie Vance!"

"One had a raisin in and a button, and nobody but me would have
thought of looking. You wouldn't--now would you? My father says I've
got such sharp eyes!"

"H'm!" said Dotty, who considered her own eyes as bright as any
diamonds; "you took the saddle-bag right out of my hand. How do you
know I shouldn't have peeked in?"

Jennie did not reply, but smoothed out the wrinkled notes with many a
loving pat.

"What did grandma say?" asked Dotty; "wasn't she pleased?"

"Your grandmother doesn't know anything about it, Dotty Dimple; what
business is it to her?"

Jennie's tone was defiant. She assumed a courage she was far from
feeling.

Dotty was speechless with surprise, but her eyes grew as round as
soap-bubbles.

"The pockets don't belong to her, Dotty, and never did. They never
came out of any of her dresses--now did they?"

Dotty's eyes swelled like a couple of bubbles ready to burst.

"Jennie Vance, I didn't know you's a thief."

"You stop talking so, Dotty. She was going to sweep everything into
the rag-bag--now wasn't she? And this money would have gone in too, if
it hadn't been for my sharp eyes--now wouldn't it?"

"But it isn't yours, Jennie Vance--because it don't belong to you."

"Now, Dotty--"

"You go right off, Jennie Vance, and carry it to my grandma this
minute."

The tone of command irritated Jennie. She had not felt at all decided
about keeping the money, but opposition gave her courage. Her temper
and Dotty's were always meeting and striking fire.

"It isn't your grandma's pockets, Miss Parlin. If it was the last word
I was to speak, it isn't your grandmother's pockets!"

"Jane Sidney Vance!"

"You needn't call me by my middle name, and stare so at me, Dotty
Dimple. I was going to give you half!"

"What do I want of half, when it isn't yours to give?" said Dotty,
gazing regretfully at the money, nevertheless. Three dollars! Why, it
was a small fortune