But it's no matter, sir; I don't think I'm afraid,--or only a little speck," added she, in a lower whisper; for, though anxious to be polite, she did not mean to tell anything but the "white truth." The little girl's gentle ways won the soap-boiler's heart at once.
"What's your fathers name, little dear ?" inquired he, as they went clattering through the streets.
"His name is Mr.Edward Parlin .-- But O, I don't see a single thing of Dotty!" "Dotty! Why, who is Dotty ?" asked the man, turning about, and gazing at his little passenger with a look of curiosity.
"Why, Mr.--, why, _sir_, don't you know ?" replied the child, struck with a sudden fear that her strange companion was a crazy man.

"O, my stars! don't you know what you took me up for?
Didn't you hear?
My little sister ran off the piazza." Then Prudy repeated the words aloud, slowly and on a high key, anxious this time to make her meaning very clear.
"She--ran--off--the--piazza, with a pink dress on, sir, and not a speck--of--a--hat.

And I was stirring jelly on the stove, and never knew it till she was lost and gone.

And we're all hunting,--me, and--mother, and--all.

I thought you knew, sir; but if you didn't I guess I'd better get out!" The good-natured soap-man shook with laughter.