I fink they put Hollis in jail!" "In jail!" exclaimed Mrs.Gray, throwing up her hands.
"He stealed, Hollis did," added Katie, solemnly.
"Hush, Katie, hush!" whispered Dotty Dimple, seizing the child by the hand and hurrying her away.

Mrs.Gray followed the children to the door.
"What does she mean, Dotty! what can she have heard ?" "She doesn't mean anything, ma'am," replied Dotty, beginning to run; "and she hasn't heard anything, either." Dotty's behavior was so odd, that Mrs.Gray's curiosity was aroused.

For the moment she quite forgot her anxiety about her little Charlie, who had been missing for some time.
"What made you say Horace stole ?" said Dotty, as soon as they were out of hearing.
"Hollis did," answered Katie, catching her breath; "he stealed skosh seeds out of gampa's razor cupbard." "What did Horace want of squash seeds ?" "He eated 'em; I sawed him!" "There, you're the funniest baby, Katie Clifford! Now you've been and made Mrs.Gray think your brother's carried to jail." This was not quite true.

Mrs.Gray had no idea Horace had been taken to jail; but she did fancy something had gone wrong at Mrs.Parlin's.

She put on her bonnet and ran across the road to Mrs.Gordon's to ask her what she supposed Horace Clifford had been doing, which Dotty Dimple did not wish to hear talked about, and which made her run away when she was questioned.
"I can't imagine," said Mrs.Gordon, very much surprised.