in bandages and her right hand holding a book which she was
reading.

As the girls entered she threw the book on the floor and smiled at
them pleasantly.

"Walk right in," she said, "and take seats if you can find any.
Hoopsy Topsy, get off that chair this minute and give it to the
ladies! Dibbs, you lift Plumpy out of the other one, quick! There!
Now you girls set down and rest yourselves! Did you bring them
baskets for us? Lawsee! What a good woman Mis' Sherwood is, to be
sure! Now ain't that just like her! She's so kind and gen'rous-
hearted that she makes it a pleasure fer folks to get all scalted
with hot water! Ella, you fly round and empty them baskets so's
the young ladies can take them home again. But you set a while,
girls, and visit."

"Are you much hurt, Mrs. Dunn?" asked Marjorie. "And how did it
happen?"

"Hurt! Land sakes, I guess I am! Why, the hull kittle of boilin'
water just doused itself on my hand and foot!"

"That's why Ma didn't rise to greet you," explained the Elegant
Ella, and again Molly had hard work to keep her face straight as
she noted the girl's comical efforts at etiquette.

"Aw, you keep still, Ella," said her mother; "you ain't got no
call to talk to the young ladies."