ke a
pill; but somehow she was determined not to take off those rings.

"Prudy needn't speak so sharp to me! I didn't care about wearing 'em in
the first place; but now I'll do it to show her what's the use to
preach!"

Prudy, having done her duty, said no more, but proceeded to look over
her auntie's wardrobe in search of a dress.

"I s'pose she thinks I'm the awfulest girl," mused Dotty, fluttering in
and out of the closet. "I s'pose she's thinking about that rag-bag last
summer--how Jennie Vance no business to take those three dollars out of
the saddle-bag pockets! Grandma said, 'You're welcome to all you can
find.' Well, but that didn't mean for Jennie to steal! Prudy needn't go
to thinking this is the same kind of a thing, for it isn't. I guess
stealing is pretty different from borrowing."

Dotty viewed herself in the glass with secret satisfaction. She really
looked like a Fourth of July fantastic; but we do not see ourselves as
others see us.

"She won't be the least help to me about the house," thought Prudy, with
a feeling of envy. "I shall have every single thing to do; and I declare
I don't know what to get for dinner."

She chose the worst looking wrapper her aunt's wardrobe afforded, and a
gingham apron with pockets. Quite good enough for a woman keeping house
without a servant. And as she had decided to call herself Mother
Hubbard, she made an ample cap, by folding a "pillow-sham," and putting
two of its ruffled edges around her face for a double border. Then, with
green spectacles at her nose, a bunch of keys at her waist, and a pair
of high-heeled slippers on her feet, she went to the door, and called
for Fly.

"Fly! Why, isn't she in there?" responded Horace, appearing on the
landing, "You didn't think I had her with me--did you?"

As Prudy wisely remarked, "How many ways there are for people to do
wrong if they want to!"

Seeing her betters disagree, little Fly had taken her turn at pouting.

"They don't say nuffin' 'bout fixin' _me_ up. Goin' to let me go to the
party in my old clo'es? Wisht auntie'd tookened me with her. Might
just's well not! Might a' worn soft slippers, and not 'sturbed Uncle
'Gustus!" Fly wafted herself to the top of the bureau, and gazed down on
the girls in stern displeasure. But she might as well have scowled at
empty air, for no notice was taken of her. Dotty was giving an extra
touch to her chignon, and Prudy trying on her cap. "Hark! What's that?"

It was the s