She had lost so much sleep that she did not rise until her father was far away on his journey.

Aunt Maria gave her a late breakfast, which was also to serve for an early dinner.

It was an oyster-stew; and Dotty enjoyed eating it in Mrs.Clifford's room on the lounge.

Katie sat beside her, watching every mouthful, and begging for it the moment it entered the spoon.
"Don't tease so," said Dotty; "your poor cousin is sick; you don't want to take away her soup ?" "Yes, I does," replied Katie, coolly; "I likes it myself," opening her mouth for more.
Dotty gave her an oyster.

The next moment something grated against Katie's teeth, and she picked out the hard substance with her fingers.
Mrs.Clifford happened to see it.
"That is a pearl," said she.
"A pearl, auntie?
Why, isn't that something precious?
Mamma has pearls in a ring." "I will show it to your uncle," replied Mrs.Clifford, turning it over in her hand; "but I think it is a true pearl, only a little discolored by the heat it has undergone in being cooked." "O, I'll have a ring made of it! What funny oysters you do have out West!" "The pyurl is mine," said Katie; "I finded it in my toof." "No, it's mine, darling, for 'twas in my stew." "Well, tenny rate, I want um," said Katie, dancing around the sofa, "_if_ you pees um." "O, no; little bits of girlies don't need it--do they, auntie ?" "I hope," said Mrs.Clifford, smiling, "it will not cost either of you any of those 'falling pearls which men call tears.' It isn't worth crying about." Katie was easily persuaded to give it up.
"You may keep um if you'll let me have two poun's of gold; _two_ poun's to make me a ying." Dotty could not promise the gold; but said Katie should have the next pickled lime she bought with her money; and this answered quite as well.
Just as Dotty was going to her room to put away the choice pearl in a box which stood in her trunk, there was a loud noise.