"I dislike particularly not to be polite."
"O, auntie, you will be 'tic'ly polite," cried little Echo. "Please let me go, too; I won't make no noise."
"How long do you think you'll have to stay, auntie?" said Prudy.
"I cannot tell, dear. These attacks are usually short, and I think quite likely your uncle can come home to-morrow night; but he may not be able till next day."
"How he'll feel if he can't be here to Christmas!" said Dotty; "and so much greens and things in the windows!"
"Yes; and how we shall both feel to know our little friends are keeping house by themselves!"
"Keeping house? O, may we keep house!" exclaimed Prudy, her eyes suddenly brightening.
"Why, yes, my child; you may be the lady of the mansion, if that is what you mean, and Horace the lord."
"But may I cook the dinners, and not ask Mrs. Fixfax? Because I really do know a great deal, Aunt Madge. You'd be surprised! I can cook cake, and pie, and biscuit, and three kinds of pudding. Please, this once, let me manage things just as I want to."
"Just as we want, you mean," said Dotty. "I can make gingerbread as well as you can."