Prudy Keeping House | Page 6

that one, Prudy,
because she loves him better now than she did when he gave her this
one; ever so much better."
"It's of no consequence to you if she does, or if she doesn't, Dotty
Dimple. What right have you with that cabinet, I should like to know?
Shut it right up this minute. O please do, Dotty."
Dotty's contrary spirit began to rise. She opened every one of the
drawers, and poured out the glittering jewels. Of course Fly was on the
spot in a twinkling; but Prudy caught her, and playfully pinned her little
arms down to her sides; so her prying fingers had no chance to do
mischief.

"Didn't auntie tell us to dress up in her old finery?" said Dotty,
thrusting the watch into her girdle.
"Old finery, Dotty Dimple!"
"And isn't this old? 'You're welcome to whatever you can find;' that
was just the words she said, Prudy Parlin."
"O, how many ways there are for people to do wrong if they want to!"
cried Prudy, in despair. "When you do get started, Dotty--Will you, or
will you not, put up those things? If you don't, it's my duty to call
Horace, and--"
"'Fore I'd be a tell-tale!" said Dotty, slipping off half a dozen rings in
haste. "There, I won't wear but just two--one on each thumb. Who
wants the old watch? Tick's all out of it. You don't know, Prudy, how
tight those rings fit. I could wear 'em on my forefinger, but I shan't, you
make such a fuss."
Prudy answered by a look of unutterable contempt.
"I suppose," said she, speaking with a vehemence quite unusual to
her--"I suppose you know auntie's jewels are worth more money than
father has in the world! If you lose one of them, I don't know who's
going to pay for it; that's all."
Dotty looked amazed, but answered coolly,--
"Of course I always knew that! Auntie has about as nice things as the
governor's wife."
She was sure she was very humble, since swallowing her pride like a
pill; but somehow she was determined not to take off those rings.
"Prudy needn't speak so sharp to me! I didn't care about wearing 'em in
the first place; but now I'll do it to show her what's the use to preach!"
Prudy, having done her duty, said no more, but proceeded to look over
her auntie's wardrobe in search of a dress.

"I s'pose she thinks I'm the awfulest girl," mused Dotty, fluttering in
and out of the closet. "I s'pose she's thinking about that rag-bag last
summer--how Jennie Vance no business to take those three dollars out
of the saddle-bag pockets! Grandma said, 'You're welcome to all you
can find.' Well, but that didn't mean for Jennie to steal! Prudy needn't
go to thinking this is the same kind of a thing, for it isn't. I guess
stealing is pretty different from borrowing."
Dotty viewed herself in the glass with secret satisfaction. She really
looked like a Fourth of July fantastic; but we do not see ourselves as
others see us.
"She won't be the least help to me about the house," thought Prudy,
with a feeling of envy. "I shall have every single thing to do; and I
declare I don't know what to get for dinner."
She chose the worst looking wrapper her aunt's wardrobe afforded, and
a gingham apron with pockets. Quite good enough for a woman
keeping house without a servant. And as she had decided to call herself
Mother Hubbard, she made an ample cap, by folding a "pillow-sham,"
and putting two of its ruffled edges around her face for a double border.
Then, with green spectacles at her nose, a bunch of keys at her waist,
and a pair of high-heeled slippers on her feet, she went to the door, and
called for Fly.
"Fly! Why, isn't she in there?" responded Horace, appearing on the
landing, "You didn't think I had her with me--did you?"
As Prudy wisely remarked, "How many ways there are for people to do
wrong if they want to!"
Seeing her betters disagree, little Fly had taken her turn at pouting.
"They don't say nuffin' 'bout fixin' me up. Goin' to let me go to the
party in my old clo'es? Wisht auntie'd tookened me with her. Might
just's well not! Might a' worn soft slippers, and not 'sturbed Uncle
'Gustus!" Fly wafted herself to the top of the bureau, and gazed down
on the girls in stern displeasure. But she might as well have scowled at

empty air, for no notice was taken of her. Dotty was giving an extra
touch to her chignon, and Prudy trying on her cap. "Hark! What's that?"
It was the street-cry away off in the backyard--"Fine fresh oranges."
"Guess