She fidgeted about, trying to find she knew not what. Then she remembered she had herself locked the trunk, to hide away some almond candy from the other girls. Where she had put the key she did not know. The dinner-bell rang, and still Prudy did not appear. "I believe she does it _to purpose_," thought Miss Dimple, pulling out the bureau drawers in great haste, and scattering their contents right and left. "Seem's if I should freeze, but I don't s'pose she cares. I don't want any dinner. If Prudy'd bring me up a piece of pudding, I'd eat it; but she won't, nor pie either." By this time Dotty had nearly forgotten that all her misery was the result of her own misconduct. She would remember it by and by with renewed shame; but, just now, she had somehow shifted the blame upon innocent Prudy, forgetting that that dear little sister did not even know she was in the house. "And I sha'n't eat any supper," continued the shivering Dotty. "I wonder how many dinners and suppers 'twould take to starve folks to death? Prudy said she loved me; but if she does, why don't she come up here, and get me some clean clothes?" Meanwhile, at the dinner-table down stairs, there were three places empty. Mrs. Eastman had gone to Cumberland, and Susy told her father that Johnny and Dotty were away somewhere at play. It was such a careless household, and the meals were so irregular, that Mr. Parlin had several times missed Dotty at table. He did not pay any more attention than usual to her absence to-day, but thought, with a feeling of relief,-- "Her mother will soon be at home, and then I shall feel very much easier about Alice and the other children." If Mr. Parlin had only known that Dotty was shivering up stairs in wet clothes, he might not have lingered so long over his ice-cream. As it was, he chatted leisurely with Mr. Eastman, put on his hat, and walked away, saying to Susy, in a low voice, as he passed her in the hall,-- "My daughter, while I am so busy, and your mother is gone, I wish you would pay more attention to your little sister Alice. I am really afraid she is running wild." "Yes, sir," replied Susy, with a swift pang of conscience; for she now recollected that it was seldom she even knew where Dotty was, her mind being wholly absorbed by play and fancy-work. At this moment Johnny appeared, fresh from a bath, and dressed in a clean suit. "Where is Dotty?" asked Susy, rather surprised by Johnny's tidy array. "Dot? O, she's in the house somewhere. She came home when I did." Johnny spoke very carelessly. He was anxious that no one should suppose anything unusual had occurred. Susy and Prudy went up stairs in search of their missing sister. They found her in her own room, sitting down disconsolately in the middle of the floor. "Why, Dotty Dimple, where have you been? How _did_ you get so wet?" No answer. "Have you been trying to swim?" laughed Prudy, going up and stroking her forehead.