In spite of their mother's warning frown, the three young Eastmans
laughed, while Susy and Prudy, who had kinder hearts and better manners,
drew down their mouths with the greatest solemnity.

"I ain't going to speak another word," cried the persecuted little
traveller, setting down her goblet, and hitting it against her plate till
it rang again.

"_Error!_" called out Florence from the other side of the table; "there's
no such word as _ain't_."

This was too much. Dotty had smarted under these cruel blows long enough.
She hastily arose from the table, and rushed out of the room.

"Florence and Percy, you are both very thoughtless," said Mrs. Eastman,
reprovingly.

Mrs. Parlin looked deeply pained, as she always did when her little
daughter gave way to her temper; but she made no allusion to the subject,
and tried to go on with her dinner as if nothing had happened.

Dotty ran into the front yard, threw herself on the ground, and buried
her face in a verbena bed.

There! it wasn't of any use; she couldn't be good; it wouldn't last! When
she had just come home, and had so many things to tell, and supposed
everybody would be glad to see her and hear her talk,--why, Percy and
Florence must just spoil it all by laughing. O, it was too bad!

"I wish I hadn't come! I wish I'd been switched off!" sighed Dotty,