"Why, what is the matter, my dear?" asked Aunt Jo, who came along, just then. "Has anything happened? Did Alexis hurt you?" for she saw the big dog standing near Rose, and thought perhaps, in his play, he might have scratched the little girl.
"No, it wasn't the fault of Alexis," said Rose, "though he did bump into me and make me let go of the string. But I ought never to have taken the balloons."
"The balloons?" asked Aunt Jo, not exactly understanding at first.
"Yes," said Rose. "They're gone. I made an airship of 'em for my doll, and—there she goes!"
She pointed up into the air. Aunt Jo saw the toy balloons, tied to the handle of the basket, and they were getting smaller and smaller.
"Oh, my dear little girl!" said she. "And you have taken all the balloons! That's too bad!"
And Rose cried harder than ever. Really she had not done just right, but of course she had not meant to spoil the fun of her brothers and sisters, and lose their toys. But she had.
Pretty soon Russ, Laddie and the others came from having watched William get the automobile ready.
"Where are our balloons?" demanded Laddie, not seeing them tied to the fence.
"They're gone," said Aunt Jo softly, as she put her arms around Rose.