"Yes, Dumps, you know we promised," said Diddie, "and so we must go when
Mammy tells us."

Dumps, finding herself overruled, had to yield, and they all went back
to the house, talking very animatedly of the quarter folks and their
plays and dances.




CHAPTER XI.

DIDDIE IN TROUBLE.


Diddie was generally a very good and studious little girl, and therefore
it was a matter of surprise to everybody when Miss Carrie came down to
dinner one day without her, and, in answer to Major Waldron's inquiry
concerning her, replied that Diddie had been so wayward that she had
been forced to keep her in, and that she was not to have any dinner.

Neither Major nor Mrs. Waldron ever interfered with Miss Carrie's
management, so the family sat down to the meal, leaving the little girl
in the schoolroom.

Dumps and Tot, however, were very indignant, and ate but little dinner;
and, as soon as their mamma excused them, they ran right to the nursery
to tell Mammy about it. They found her overhauling a trunk of old
clothes, with a view of giving them out to such of the little negroes as