She listened meekly when, dismissing Tom, Aunt Charlotte took them into her room and to use her own words, gave them a talking to.
“What do you suppose Mrs. Rice thinks? Why our lawn might be a barnyard,—she actually thought it was snow!”
In spite of her repentance this made Caro smile, and her aunt shook her head solemnly, saying “I don’t know what to do with you Caroline; I am ashamed of you!”
“But I’m truly sorry Aunt Charlotte.”
“If you are I don’t see why you laugh. Now I believe Marjorie is sorry,” and Miss Barrows looked with approval at that tearful maiden.
As if this were not disgrace enough for one household, Trolley after he had recovered from the feathers made his way into the kitchen and stole one of the birds the cook was preparing for supper.
Caro found him at dusk sitting in solemn majesty before the hall fire, quite as if nothing had happened.
“Trolley,” she said, getting down beside him on the rug, “do you know you have been naughty too?”
He rubbed his head against her hand in a manner that said as plainly as words, “Pet me.”
“Did you get a spanking, Trolley? I don’t know what Aunt Charlotte is going to do to me. You are so nice and soft; you are a great comfort.” As Caro made a pillow of him Trolley broke into a loud purr.