little
weak-minded. She had often helped Johnny out of his predicaments,
receiving in return plenty of kisses and sugar-plums.

But who was going to help Dotty? She did not know where to look for dry
garments; for, since her mother went away, her own clothes, and those of
her two sisters, had been tossed together in sad confusion. She did not
like to go to Susy, for Susy would probably scold; and Dotty, just now,
was so uncomfortable, and her nerves had been so terribly racked, that
she thought she could bear anything better than to be blamed.

"O, dear! where in this world was Prudy?"

She fidgeted about, trying to find she knew not what. Then she
remembered she had herself locked the trunk, to hide away some almond
candy from the other girls. Where she had put the key she did not know.

The dinner-bell rang, and still Prudy did not appear.

"I believe she does it _to purpose_," thought Miss Dimple, pulling out
the bureau drawers in great haste, and scattering their contents right
and left.

"Seem's if I should freeze, but I don't s'pose she cares. I don't want
any dinner. If Prudy'd bring me up a piece of pudding, I'd eat it; but
she won't, nor pie either."

By this time Dotty had nearly forgotten that all her misery was the
result of her own misconduct. She would remember it by and by with
renewed shame; but, just now, she had somehow shifted the blame upon
innocent Prudy, forgetting that that dear little sister did not even
know she was in the house.

"And I sha'n't eat any supper," continued the shivering Dotty. "I wonder
how many dinners and suppers 'twould take to starve folks to death?
Prudy said she loved me; but if she does, why don't she come up here,
and get me some clean clothes?"

Meanwhile, at the dinner-table down stairs, there were three places
empty. Mrs. Eastman had gone to Cumberland, and Susy told her father
that Johnny and Dotty were away somewhere at play. It was such a
careless household, and the meals were so irregular, that Mr. Parlin had
several times missed Dotty at table. He did not pay any more attention
than usual to her absence to-day, but thought, with a feeling of
relief,--

"Her mother will soon be at home, and then I shall feel very much easier
about Alice and the other children."

If Mr. Parlin had only known that Dotty was shivering up stairs in wet
clothes, he might not have lingered so long over his ice-cream. As it
was, he chatted leisurely with Mr. Eastman, put on