"O, some white tea, in a cup, you know, with sugar. They let me have it every little once in a while."
"Milk and water, I suppose," said aunt Martha. "Can't you wait till dinner, my dear?"
"But the girls can't wait," replied Prudy; "they want it now."
"O, it's for the girls, is it?"
"Yes, but when they've washed the apron I can drink the rest—with white sugar in."
"The apron!" said aunt Martha, "what apron?"
"O, nothing but Susy's. I told grandma I'd be good, and I did be good; it wasn't me spilled the ink."
"Ink spilled?" cried aunt Martha, and she stopped beating the turnip.
"O, I ain't goin' to tell!" cried Prudy, beginning to tremble; "I didn't, did I? they won't 'low me to tell."
Aunt Louise, passing through the kitchen, caught some of the last words, and rushed up stairs, two steps at a time.