Of course Fly was on the spot in a twinkling; but Prudy caught her, and playfully pinned her little arms down to her sides; so her prying fingers had no chance to do mischief.
"Didn't auntie tell us to dress up in her old finery ?" said Dotty, thrusting the watch into her girdle.
"Old finery, Dotty Dimple!" "And isn't this old?
'You're welcome to whatever you can find;' that was just the words she said, Prudy Parlin." "O, how many ways there are for people to do wrong if they want to!" cried Prudy, in despair.

"When you _do_ get started, Dotty--Will you, or will you not, put up those things?
If you don't, it's my duty to call Horace, and--" "_'Fore_ I'd be a tell-tale!" said Dotty, slipping off half a dozen rings in haste.

"There, I won't wear but just two--one on each thumb.
Who wants the old watch?
Tick's all out of it.

You don't know, Prudy, how tight those rings fit.

I could wear 'em on my forefinger, but I shan't, you make such a fuss." Prudy answered by a look of unutterable contempt.
"I suppose," said she, speaking with a vehemence quite unusual to her--"I suppose you know auntie's jewels are worth more money than father has in the world! If you lose one of them, I don't know who's going to pay for it; that's all." Dotty looked amazed, but answered coolly,-- "Of course I always knew that! Auntie has about as nice things as the governor's wife." She was sure she was very humble, since swallowing her pride like a pill; but somehow she was determined not to take off those rings.
"Prudy needn't speak so sharp to me! I didn't care about wearing 'em in the first place; but now I'll do it to show her what's the use to preach!" Prudy, having done her duty, said no more, but proceeded to look over her auntie's wardrobe in search of a dress.
"I s'pose she thinks I'm the awfulest girl," mused Dotty, fluttering in and out of the closet.