The first thing you will see is the conservatory, and then a stone house." "My right hand," thought Dotty; "that's east; but which is my right hand ?" She always knew after she had thought a moment.

It was the one which did not have the "shapest thumb;" that is, the _misshapen_ one she had pounded once by mistake, instead of an oilnut.
"O, yes, papa! See the flowers! the flowers! And only to think they don't know who's coming! P'rhaps they're drinking tea, or gone visiting, or something." The Cliffords were not at tea.

Grace and Cassy were reading "Our Boys and Girls" in the summer-house, with their heads close together; Horace was in the woods fishing; Mr.Clifford at his office; his wife in her chamber, ruffling a pink cambric frock for wee Katie, rocking as she sewed.
As for Katie, she was marching about the grounds under an old umbrella.
It was only the skeleton of an umbrella--dry bones, wires, and a crooked handle.

Through the open sides the little one was plainly to be seen; and Mr.Parlin thought she looked like that flower we have in our gardens, which peeps out from a host of little tendrils, and is called the "lady in the bower." Hearing a carriage coming, the "lady in the bower" rushed to the gate, flourishing the black bones of the umbrella directly in the horse's face.
"Dotty has camed! She has camed!" shouted the little creature, dropping the umbrella, falling over it, springing up again, and running with flying feet to spread the news.
Nobody believed Dotty had "camed;" it seemed an improbable story; but Grace and Cassy had heard the wheels, and they ran through the avenue into the house to make sure it was nobody but one of the neighbors.
"Why, indeed, and indeed, it _is_ Dotty; and if here isn't Uncle Edward too!" cried Grace, tossing back her curls, and dancing down the front steps.

"Ma, ma, here is Uncle Edward Parlin!" "I sawed um first! I sawed um first!" screamed little Flyaway, thrusting the point of the umbrella between Dotty's feet, and throwing her over.
"Can I believe my eyes!" said Mrs.Clifford's voice from the head of the stairs; and down she rushed, with open arms, to greet her guests.
Then there was so much kissing, and so much talking, that nobody exactly knew what anybody else said; and Katie added to the confusion by fluttering in and out, and every now and then breaking into a musical laugh, which the mocking-bird, not to be outdone, caught up and echoed.
It was a merry, merry meeting.
"You dee papa bringed you--didn't him, Dotty ?" said Katie, flying at her cousin with the feather duster, as soon as Grace had taken away the umbrella, and pointing her remarks with the end of the handle.
"You's Uncle Eddard's baby--that's what is it." "O, you darling Flyaway!" said Dotty, "if you _wouldn't_ stick that handle right _into_ my eyes!" "I's going to give you sumpin!" returned Katie, putting her hand in her pocket, and producing a very soft orange, which had been used for a football.