"There, now," said Dotty, "you are knitting, Miss Polly; and it's so lonesome all round the house, with mother not coming till to-morrow, that I should think you might tell—well, tell an anecdote."
"I don't know where to begin, or what to say," replied Polly, falling into deep thought.
"I just believe she does sigh at the end of every needle," mused Dotty; "I'm going to keep 'count. That's once."
"Please, Miss Polly, tell a nanny-goat," said Flyaway, dancing around the room. "Please, Miss Polly, and I'll kiss you a pretty little kiss."
"Twice," whispered Dotty.
"Well, I'll tell you something that will pass for an anecdote, on condition that you call me aunt Polly; that name warms my heart a great deal better than Miss Polly."
"Three!" said Dotty aloud. "We will, honestly, if we can think of it, aunt Polly.—Four."
"Le'me gwout for the sidders, first," said busy Flyaway.
"There, aunt Polly, you forgot it that time! You sprang up quick to shut the door, and forgot it."
"Forgot what?"