imes
before.

She did not see Jennie alone for one moment. Grandma Parlin did.
"Jennie," said she, taking her into the parlor to show her a new
shell, "are you going with our little girls, to-morrow, to sell rags?"

"I don't know, ma'am, I'm sure," replied Jennie, looking hard at the
sofa. She longed to make an open confession, and get rid of the
troublesome money, but had not the courage to do it without some help
from Dotty.

"O, dear," thought she, "I feel just as wicked with that money in my
bosom! Seems as if she could hear it crumple. If Dotty would only let
me talk to her first!"

But Dotty continued as unapproachable as the Pope of Rome. Eight
o'clock came, and the two unhappy little girls went slowly up stairs
to bed. Dotty, in her lofty pride, tried to make her little friend
feel herself a sinner; while Jennie, ready to hide herself in the
potato-bin for shame, was, at the same time, very angry with the
self-satisfied Miss Dimple. She was awed by her superior goodness, but
did not love her any the better for it. Why should she? Dotty's
goodness lacked

"_Humility_, that low, sweet root,
From which all heavenly virtues shoot."

"Here, Miss Parlin," said Jennie, angrily, as she took off her dress;
"here it is, right in my neck. I should have gone and given it to your
grandmother, ever so long ago, if you hadn't acted so!"

Dotty pulled off her stockings.

"I 'spose you thought I was going to keep it. Here, take your old
money!"

"You did mean to keep it, Jane Sidney Vance," retorted Dotty, as
fierce as a thistle; and finished undressing at the top of her speed.

The money lay on the floor, and neither of the proud girls would pick
it up. Jennie, who always prayed at her mother's knee, forgot her
prayer to-night, and climbed into bed without it. But Dotty, feeling
more than ever how much better she was than her little friend, knelt
beside a chair, and prayed in a loud voice. First, she repeated the
"Lord's Prayer," then "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild," and "Now I lay
me down to sleep." She was not talking to her heavenly Father, but to
Jennie, and ended her petitions thus:--

"O God, forgive me if I have done anything naughty to-day; and please
forgive _Jennie Vance, the wickedest girl in this town_."

Then the little Pharisee got into bed.

CHAPTER VIII.

"WHEELBARROWING."

"The wickedest girl in this town!" Jennie's eyes flashed in the dark
like a couple of fireflies. At f