behold. Both her dimples were buried out of sight, and she had as many
wrinkles in her forehead as grandma Head. Johnny danced about the room,
holding before her eyes the bone of contention, then drawing it away
again in the most provoking manner.

"If you act so, Johnny Eastman, I won't have you for my bridegroom."

"And I won't have you for my bride--so there!"

The moment these words were spoken, the angry children were frightened.
They had not intended to go so far. It had been their greatest pleasure
for several weeks to think of "standing up" at a wedding; and they would
neither of them have missed the honor on any account. But now, in their
foolish strife, they had made it impossible to do the very thing they
most desired to do. They had said the fatal words, and were both of them
too proud to draw back. There was one comfort. "The wedding will be
stopped," thought Dotty; "they can't be married 'thout Johnny and me."

The guests were all assembled. It was now time for the bridal train to go
down stairs and have the ceremony performed. As the children left the
chamber, uncertain what to do, but resolved that whichever "stood up,"
the other would sit down, Johnny seized a bottle of panacea which stood
on the mantel, and wet the corner of Dotty's handkerchief.

"There is some sirup worth having," said he; "stronger than yours. Rub
it in your eyes, and see if it isn't."

The boy did not mean what he said, or at any rate we will hope he did
not; but Dotty, in her haste and agitation, obeyed him without stopping
one moment to think.