name was.

"Oh, I'm not 'Miss' anybody;" she said; "I'm Nelly; but we go to the
seashore in summer 'most always."

"Can't you dress up in your uniform, and show us how you look at
school?" said Jimmy.

"Yes, if you like;" here I remembered that the key of my room was in
Aunt Elsie's pocket, and had to say, "but I can't get into my room now;
I was locked in, and Aunt Elsie has the key."

"How do you come to be here, then?" said Nelly; "why, dear me, just look
at the counterpane hanging out of the window; how funny!"

"Why, that's the way I got out!" I said; and so I told them all about
"The Castle Spectre," and "Lord Alonzo Algernon" Spooneyman, and we got
into such a perfect _gig_ of laughter, that we nearly rode off in it!
(Now, don't say that's not a good joke, or I'll not tell another word of
my story.)

Just then out came Poddles, looking as surprised as ever; and Nelly
exclaimed, "Oh, there's that funny old dog! what do you call him?"

"His name is Poddles!" said I; "_I_ christened him."

"What a queer name!" said Jimmy; "let's take him into our house and see
what Gipsey and he will do!"

"Good!" said I. So, without remembering that plaguey white spread, I cut
over the piazza railings with Poddles under one arm, and we all three
rushed up stairs together.

They had such a famous play room, with a splendid swing, and a
teetertorter, and ten-pins, and I don't know what beside; and there was
the nattiest little dog! but you know him, that "toy-terrier" of theirs.
Poddles looked a greater fright than ever beside him; so, to pay him
off, we put that wretched Pod into a basket, tied it fast to the swing,
and swung him up to the ceiling. It frightened him half to death, and
serve him right, for being so ugly! after which he and Gipsey went to
sleep in a big rocking chair, as friendly as possible. Then I gave Nelly
a splendid swing, "ran under," and cracked my cocoanut three times,
beside making my arms ache like everything; but I didn't care, she was
such a dear little thing.

Afterward Jimmy went and got a great plateful of rosy apples; and just
as we were eating them, and having such fun, up came one of our girls,
and said that "Miss Brandlaw wanted Master Tom right home!" Wasn't it
hateful? But, of course, I had to go; so I bundled Poddles under my arm
again, bid them good-by, and walked off with Mary; but I poked her ribs
and set Poddles at her all the way, which was some comfort.

I expected a scoldi