now," said Johnny to Dotty, as they went
home, dripping like a pair of sea-bathers.

"Nor don't you tell mine, nor Susy, nor Prudy, neither."

"We shall have to make up some kind of a story," added Johnny,
reflectively. "I don't know but we reached over too far after
sea-shells, didn't we, and fell into the bay? _You_ did (say), and I got
in after you, and pulled you out by your hair."

"Why, Johnny!"

"Well, then, you didn't; _I_ fell in, and you pulled _me_ out--by the
boots; only my boots would have come off, though, they're so big!"

"O, Johnny Eastman!"

Dotty had stopped short in the road, and was looking at her cousin with
an expression of mingled pity and scorn.

"Then make up something better to suit yourself."

"I don't make up stories, I just hope I don't," returned Dotty,
squeezing the skirt of her dress indignantly.

"But," said Johnny, "they'll know it wasn't all rain-water."

"Then I shall tell the whole, whole truth," exclaimed Miss Dimple,
setting her feet down so firmly that the water made a gurgling noise in
her boots. "I'll tell how you boys teased us girls to go."

"O, ho, Dot Dimple! that's as much of a story as pulling out by the
hair! _I_ didn't want you to go. I tried to stop it."

"Yes, I know it, and that was why I went," said Dotty, gravely! "I
wasn't going to have you say I mus'n't! If you'd been _willing_, I
shouldn't have gone a step."

By this time they had reached Mr. Eastman's gate.

"You tell if you dare!" said Johnny. And, after that, Dotty never
thought any longer of trying to conceal a single item of their
remarkable adventure. Since Johnny had dared her, she would _certainly_
tell.

CHAPTER VII.

TELLING OF IT.

Dotty saw her father through the window. She had not supposed it was
dinner-time. Her head, which she had just been tossing so proudly, was
suddenly lowered, and she entered the house with "faint-footed fear,"
and stole noiselessly up stairs, leaving wet tracks on the elegant
carpet. She did not wish to meet her father while she was in such a
plight.

"O, Prudy!" she called out, "something has happened!"

But Prudy was not within hearing. Angeline had given her permission to
peel the potatoes for dinner, and she was now in the kitchen, quite
unconscious of her little sister's forlorn situation. Hatless Johnny had
crept around by the back door, and put himself under the care of Jane,
the chambermaid. Janey was very kind-hearted, and withal a