"O, Prudy, I don't want ever to go down again. I don't want ever to see folks, or behave, as long as I live."
"But, Dotty, all these little boys and girls came here just to see us. It is our Christmas party. You'll mortify Mrs. Pragoff. You know how Fly mortified her this morning. Please don't be contrary."
Dotty unrolled herself from the curtain with a triumphant smile.
"You needn't say anything, Prudy Parlin! You got mad your own self, I s'pose you know!"
Prudy's eyes dropped suddenly.
"But, Dotty, why do you want to go back to auntie's to-night?"
"I want to go for something particular. I—" Prudy's mouth was opening for another question. "Because I—-I've swallowed something the wrong way."
"O Dotty, not a pin!"
"No; what you s'pose? Guess I've done something to my windpipe. Wish you wouldn't talk."
Prudy, in spite of her vexation, could not help smiling at Dotty's fierce grimaces, of which she got a vanishing view as the child went into the curtain again.