Tate was too much overwhelmed to reply.
“But I know one thing,” cried Dotty, setting her heels down firmly; “God won’t blame me. He’ll blame YOU. You go right home, and think how you’ve been acting, Tate Penny! And to-night, when you go to bed, you pray just as hard as you can!”
These words came out in a sudden gust. “Just as hard as you can, Tate Penny, for you’re the one’s been wicked; not me!”
Then, without a word of farewell, the children parted, Tate turning to the left with a puzzled look, as if she really did not know whether she was wicked or not, and Dotty turning to the right, her heart and throat full of choking sobs without any tears.
CHAPTER IV.
DOTTY AND HER MOTHER.
In spite of all Dotty had said about her own innocence, she felt so guilty that she was ready to sentence herself to the “penitential.”
“Well, little one, how have things gone to-day?”