"You can't think how dreadful it is, Dotty, to grow up and not know anything!"
Dotty turned a short corner. Pusheen had a fall; down came the little cab, kitty and all.
"To grow up and not know anything," continued Prudy. "O, it's enough to break anybody's heart!"
"Be you goin' to cry?" said Dotty, in a soft voice, kneeling, and peeping up into Prudy's eyes, with some curiosity.
Prudy was obliged to smile but hid her face in the sofa-pillow, and hoped Dotty did not see her. She found she must hit upon some other plan. Dotty could not be made to feel the terrors of growing up a dunce.
"Now, little sister," said she, "if you'll let me be your teacher, and keep school here in the nursery—"
"O, hum! A little gell keep school! Would you send me to the bottom of the foot?"
"O, no! I'll do something for you—let's me see!"
"Well, what?" cried Dotty, her eyes sparkling like blue gems; "what'll you do for me, Prudy?"
Prudy thought a minute. Meanwhile the muffled kitty slowly freed herself from the shawl, and slyly leaped to the top of the bureau, out of reach of her little mistress.