n the
stump; but she was soon able to walk, and shortly the royal pair arrived
at the castle, which was, in plain language, a wooden house painted
white.

"So you have come at last," said Mrs. Gray, from the door-way. "They
don't milk very early at your house--do they?"

"No, ma'am, not so _very_."

"Have you seen anything of my little Charlie?"

"No, ma'am, not since a great while ago,--before supper."

"How is your grandfather?"

"Pretty well, thank you, ma'am."

"No, gampa isn't," said Katie, decidedly; "he's deaf."

"And what about your Aunt Maria? Didn't I see her go off in the stage
this morning?"

"Yes, 'm," replied Dotty, determined to give no more information than
was necessary.

"She's gone off," struck in Katie; "gone to Dusty, my mamma has."

"Ah indeed! to Augusta?" repeated Mrs. Gray, thoughtfully. "Any of your
friends sick there?"

"No, ma'am," replied Dotty, scowling at her shoes.

"She's gone," continued Katie, gravely, "to buy me Free Little Kittens."

Mrs. Gray smiled. "I should think your mother could find kittens enough
in this town, without going to Augusta. I thought I saw Horace on the
top of the stage, but I wasn't sure."

Dotty made no reply.

"Hollis was," cried Katie, eagerly; "he goed to Dusty too. I fink they
put Hollis in jail!"

"In jail!" exclaimed Mrs. Gray, throwing up her hands.

"He stealed, Hollis did," added Katie, solemnly.

"Hush, Katie, hush!" whispered Dotty Dimple, seizing the child by the
hand and hurrying her away. Mrs. Gray followed the children to the door.

"What does she mean, Dotty! what can she have heard?"

"She doesn't mean anything, ma'am," replied Dotty, beginning to run;
"and she hasn't heard anything, either."

Dotty's behavior was so odd, that Mrs. Gray's curiosity was aroused. For
the moment she quite forgot her anxiety about her little Charlie, who
had been missing for some time.

"What made you say Horace stole?" said Dotty, as soon as they were out
of hearing.

"Hollis did," answered Katie, catching her breath; "he stealed skosh
seeds out of gampa's razor cupbard."

"What did Horace want of squash seeds?"

"He eated 'em; I sawed him!"

"There, you're the funniest baby, Katie Clifford! Now you've been and
made Mrs. Gray think your brother's carried to jail."

This was not quite true. Mrs. Gray had no idea Horace had been taken to
jail; but she did fancy something had gone wrong at Mrs. Parlin's. She
put on her bonnet and