"It's of no consequence to you if she does, or if she doesn't, Dotty Dimple. What right have you with that cabinet, I should like to know? Shut it right up this minute. O please do, Dotty."
Dotty's contrary spirit began to rise. She opened every one of the drawers, and poured out the glittering jewels. Of course Fly was on the spot in a twinkling; but Prudy caught her, and playfully pinned her little arms down to her sides; so her prying fingers had no chance to do mischief.
"Didn't auntie tell us to dress up in her old finery?" said Dotty, thrusting the watch into her girdle.
"Old finery, Dotty Dimple!"
"And isn't this old? 'You're welcome to whatever you can find;' that was just the words she said, Prudy Parlin."
"O, how many ways there are for people to do wrong if they want to!" cried Prudy, in despair. "When you do get started, Dotty—Will you, or will you not, put up those things? If you don't, it's my duty to call Horace, and—"
"'Fore I'd be a tell-tale!" said Dotty, slipping off half a dozen rings in haste. "There, I won't wear but just two—one on each thumb. Who wants the old watch? Tick's all out of it. You don't know, Prudy, how tight those rings fit. I could wear 'em on my forefinger, but I shan't, you make such a fuss."
Prudy answered by a look of unutterable contempt.
"I suppose," said she, speaking with a vehemence quite unusual to her—"I suppose you know auntie's jewels are worth more money than father has in the world! If you lose one of them, I don't know who's going to pay for it; that's all."
Dotty looked amazed, but answered coolly,—