She had boasted that she never told a lie; she had "preached" to Jennie Vance; and now, behold, what had she been doing herself! The child was full of good resolutions to-day, but she began to find that her strongest purposes did not hold together any longer than her gingham dresses.
Her foot was so lame and swollen that she made believe the staircase was a hill, and slid down it accordingly.

As she hobbled by the parlor door, she saw her Aunt Maria seated on the sofa sewing.

It must be very late, she knew.

Little Flyaway, who had been chasing the cat, ran to meet her, looking very joyful because her cousin had overslept herself.
"It's half past o'clock," said she, clapping her little hands; "half past o'clock, Dotty Dimple!" Dotty felt quite ashamed, but her grandmother assured her that although it was nearly ten o'clock, she was perfectly excusable.

She seated her in an easy chair, and gave her a cracker to nibble; for Dotty said she was not hungry, and did not care for breakfast.
There was one thought uppermost in the little girl's mind: she must ask her grandmother's forgiveness.