Dotty Dimples Flyaway | Page 5

come down out the chimley and tell the other bodies to carry 'em home. 'Cause it's the holy Sabber-day,--and that's what is it."
Flyaway's airy brain went dancing round and round. She slid away from Horace's shoulder, spread her little length upon the seat, closed her wondering, tired eyes, and sailed off to Noddle's Island. A fly, buzzing in from out doors, had long been trying to settle on Flyaway's restless nose. He never did settle: Horace kept guard with a palm-leaf fan, and "all the other bodies" in the pew sat as still as if they had been nailed down; so anxious were they to keep the little sleeper safely harbored at Noddle's Island.
"Such a relief!" thought aunt Louise, venturing to look up once more.
Flyaway did not waken till the last prayer, when Horace held her fast, lest she should make a sudden rush upon a speckled dog, which came trotting up the aisle.
On the steps they met Ruth, with wild eyes and face tied up in a scarf, hunting for Flyaway. Mrs. Parlin, she said, was going up the hill, so frightened that it would make her "down sick."
When grandma got home, all out of breath, she found Flyaway looking very downcast. Her heart was heavy under so many scoldings. "O, Katie," said grandma, "how could you run away?"
"I didn't yun away," replied Flyaway, thrusting her finger into her mouth; "I walked away!"
"There, if that isn't a cunning baby, where'll you find one?" whispered brother Horace to Prudy. "Grandmother can't punish her after such a 'cute speech."
But grandmother could, and did. She took her by the little soft hand, led her to the china closet, and locked her in.
"Half an hour you must stay there," said she, "and think what a naughty girl you've been!"
"Yes um," said Flyaway, meekly, and wiped off a tear with the hem of her frock.
But the moment she was left alone, her quick, observing eyes saw something which gave her a thrill of delight. It was a jar of quince jelly, which had been left by accident on the lower shelf.
"'Cause I spect I likes um," said she, serenely, after eating all she possibly could.
At the end of half an hour grandma came and turned the key.
"Have you been thinking, dear, and are you sorry and ready to come out?"
"Yes, um," replied the little culprit, with her mouth full, and feeling very brave as long as the door was shut between her and her jailer. "Yes, um, I've thought it all up,--defful solly. But you won't never shut me up no more, gamma Parlin!"
"Katie Clifford!" said grandma, sternly; and then she opened the door, and faced Flyaway.
"'Cause--'cause--'cause," cried the little one, in great alarm; "you won't shut me up, 'cause I won't never walk away no more, gamma Parlin!"
Mrs. Parlin tried hard not to smile; but the mixture on Flyaway's little face of naughtiness, jelly, and fright, was very funny to see.
The child noticed that her grandmother's brows knit as if in displeasure, and then she remembered the jelly.
"I hasn't been a-touchin' your 'serves, gamma," said she.
Mrs. Parlin really did not know what to do,--Flyaway's conscience was so little and folded away in so many thicknesses, like a tiny pearl in a whole box of cotton wool. How could anybody get at it?
"Gamma, I hasn't been a-touchin' your 'serves," repeated the little thief.
"Ah, don't tell me that," said grandma, sadly; "I see it in your eye!"
"What, gamma, the 'serves in my eye?" said Flyaway, putting up her finger to find out for herself. "'Cause I put 'em in my mouf, I did."
Mrs. Parlin washed the little pilferer's face and hands, took her in her lap, and tried to feel her way through the cotton wool to the tiny conscience.
The child looked up and listened to all the good words, and when they had been spoken over and over, this was what she said:--
"O, gamma, you's got such pitty little wrinkles!"
CHAPTER III.
RUNNING AWAY TO HEAVEN.
About ten o'clock one morning, Flyaway was sitting in the little green chamber with Dotty Dimple and Jennie Vance, bathing her doll's feet in a glass of water. Dinah had a dreadful headache, and her forehead was bandaged with a red ribbon.
"Does you feel any better?" asked Flyaway, tenderly, from time to time; but Dinah had such a habit of never answering, that it was of no use to ask her any questions.
Dotty Dimple and Jennie were talking very earnestly.
"I do wish I did know where Charlie Gray is!" said Dotty, looking through the open window at a bird flying far aloft into the blue sky.
"You do know," answered Jennie, quickly; "he's in heaven."
"Yes, of course; but so high up--O, so high up," sighed Dotty, "it makes you dizzy to think."
"Can um see we?" struck in little Flyaway, holding to Dinah's