fun; an' yer reckon ef I'm jes _sorter_ sorry, an' jes _toler'ble_
'pent, that'll do?"

"I don't know about that," said Diddie; "but _I'm_ right sorry, and I'll
tell papa for all of us."

[Illustration: "WELL, MY INVICE IS DIS."]

The children went at once to the library, where Major Waldron was
found reading.

"Papa," said Diddie, "we've ben very bad, an' we've come ter tell yer
'bout it."

"An' the Jay Bird, he tol' the deb'l," put in Dumps, "an' 'twan't none
er his business."

"Hush up, Dumps," said Diddie, "till I tell papa 'bout it. I wouldn't
say my lesson, papa, an' Miss Carrie locked me up, an' the chil'en
brought me my dinner."

"'Tuz me," chimed in Tot. "I b'ing 'er de _besses_ dinner--take an' jam
an' pud'n in de p'ate. Aunt Mawy durn turn me."

"Hush, Tot," said Diddie, "till I get through. An' then, papa, I climbed
out the winder on the step-ladder, an' I--"

"Dilsey an' Chris got the ladder," put in Dumps.

"HUSH UP, Dumps!" said Diddie; "you're all time 'ruptin' me."