I don't know what she told me, grandma; I've forgot!" "Then, my dear, she did not say you brought too little milk ?" Dotty winced.

"No, grandma, she never." "Ruth," said Mrs.Parlin, "you are sure you have always measured the milk in that largest quart, and thrown in a gill or two more, as I directed ?" "O, yes, ma'am, I've never failed." "Then I'm sure I cannot understand it," said Mrs.Parlin, her gentle face looking troubled.
"Unless the children may have spilled some," remarked Mrs.Clifford.
"Dotty, have you ever allowed little Katie to carry the pail ?" "No, Dotty don't; her don't 'low me care nuffin--there now!" cried Katie, very glad to tell her sorrows.
"She's so little, you know, Aunt 'Ria," murmured Dotty, with her hand on the door-latch.
There was a struggle going on in Dotty's mind.

She wished very much to run away, and at the same time that "voice" which speaks in everybody's heart was saying,-- "Now, Dotty, be a good girl, a noble girl.

Tell about drinking the milk under the acorn tree." "But I needn't," thought Dotty, clicking the door-latch! "it won't be a fib if I just keep still." "Yes, it will, Dotty Dimple!" "What! When I squeeze my lips together and don't say a word ?" "'Twill be _acting_ a fib, and you know it, Alice Parlin! I'm ashamed of you! Take your fingers out of your mouth, and speak like a woman." "I will, if you'll stop till I clear my throat .-- O, Grandma," cried Dotty, "I can't tell fibs the way Jennie Vance does! 'Twas we two did it, as true as you live!" "Did what, child?
Who ?" "The milk." "I don't understand, dear." Dotty twisted the corner of her apron, and looked out of the window.
"Drank it--Katie and me--under the acorn tree." "Yes, she did," chimed in Katie; "and 'twasn't nuffin but moolly's cow milk, and her 'pilled it on my shoe!" Grandmamma really looked relieved.
"So this accounts for it! But Dotty, how could you do such a thing ?" "I telled um not to," cried Katie, "but her kep' a-doin' an' a-doin'." "Ruthie gives too much measure," replied Dotty, untwisting her apron--"'most two quarts; and when Katie and I ask for some in our nipperkins, Ruthie says, 'No,' she must make butter.

I was just as thirsty, grandma, and I thought Mrs.Gray never would care; I did certainly." "Yes, gamma, we fought Mis Gay would care; did cerdily!" "My dear Dotty," said Mrs.Parlin, "you had not the shadow of a right to take what belonged to another.