Percy, having nothing better to do, took his little cousin on his shoulders, danced her about the hall and through the house, and finally tossed her backward into a pile of shavings. Dotty sprang up, shook off the shavings, and ran after Percy, laughing so boisterously that Angeline said to the chambermaid,—
"I know of one person that will be glad when Mrs. Parlin gets back."
"And I know of another," replied Janey. "The child behaved like a lady when she first came; but what can you expect in this house with those boys?"
"How's that bird?" said Percy, as he and Dotty raced through the kitchen. "Can he stand on both legs yet?"
"Yes, indeed! He could stand on three legs if he had 'em. He's most well—I must go and 'tend to him."—("I wonder what's going to happen that's bad," thought she, as she fed the bird in her own chamber with cream biscuit. "I hope it isn't a fire!")—"Why, Johnny Eastman, I shouldn't think your mamma'd let you scream so loud!"
"Then you must hear the first time. Come, let's go out and have some fun; mother's gone to Cumberland."
As if Johnny did not have fun all day, and every day, whether his mother was at home or abroad!
"Prudy," said Dotty, "good by, for Johnny 'n' I are going down to the beach to get some shells."
Prudy looked up from her writing.
"Don't go near the water," said she; then throwing her arms about her little sister, she sang,—