the conversation ran on between the three girls in the parlor until
dinner was nearly ready, when Mrs. Hicks, Maud's aunt, called her and
she went home.

After dinner, Esther and Olive were washing the dishes in the kitchen
and talking over George's narrow escape, when Esther suddenly made up
her mind to tell her sister what she was about to do when Jane's rather
unexpected return from the shop put an end to their conversation. So
after having put all the dishes away in the pantry, she told Olive if
she would promise not to tell anybody, not even Dan, she would tell her
something that must be kept a secret, because if it became known it
might make people nervous and could do no good.

"Very well," replied Olive, "wait until I get my sewing, then we will go
into the parlor, you can tell me all about it, and I promise that I
won't tell."

So they went into the parlor. Esther sat in the rocking-chair and Olive
on the sofa.

"Well, Olive," said Esther. "Now don't laugh, for it is about a dream."

"A dream!" exclaimed Olive. "A dream! go on, let me hear it."

"Well," began Esther, "last night I sat for two hours on the front step
looking at the stars. After I came in I went down into the cellar in my
stocking feet and drank about a pint of butter-milk and a large rat ran
between my feet; then Jane and I went to our room, shut the door, said
our prayers and went to bed, and in a short time we both fell asleep,
and I dreamt that when I got up in the morning every thing and every