The games went on as usual, and were quite as amusing to the guests as if they had not been very poor ones indeed. Susy and Prudy need not have feared that the little people would not have a good time; the "surprise party" was a perfect success, and Dotty's ill-humor made no one unhappy but her sensitive sisters. Meanwhile the wretched child was lying on the pantry floor, thinking very confused thoughts. "I wish I was dead. No I don't. I'm too wicked. But I wasn't any wickeder 'n that girl. She said Susy Parlin had a bad sister. What made her say that? She knew I'd hear. I'm glad I shook her. No, I'm sorry. It was murder--the Bible says so. Johnny murdered too--murdered me. He called me a 'cross party.' That was a story. Johnny's wickeder 'n ever _I_ was. "Prudy thought I ought to be a baby. Percy thought so. He said, 'I devise you to let that child alone.' I'm going to let _him_ alone! All the time! Did I want to fall off that yardstick, right into the tolly-blow? "There's Prudy: she can be good; it doesn't hurt her. It hurts _me_ to be good; it tires me all up. "And here it is, as dark as a pickpocket." (Dotty raised her head and took a survey.) "Why, the moon can't get here, nor the sun. Is this down cellar? No, I didn't see any stairs. Where did I go to when I came? I walked right on the floor. What floor? Was it the dining-room, or was it out doors? I didn't look at it to see. "This is a 'cuddy.' There's ever so many 'cuddies' in this house to hide in. I've gone and hid. Nobody'll ever find me. My father'll say, 'Why, where's that child?' And my mother'll say, 'I don't know.' And they'll hunt all over the house; and I shall keep my head in my apron, and won't say a word. "Then Prudy'll say, 'O, my darling sister Dotty! How sweet and good she was!' "And they'll think I'm dead! And Susy'll cry out loud, and tell Percy, and he'll say, 'O, how sorry I am I said "I devise you to let that child alone"!'" Dotty sighed as she pictured to herself Percy's conscience-stricken face. "And that girl that called me a bad sister--how _she'll_ feel! And Johnny--I guess Johnny won't say 'cross party' any more! "Grandma--why, grandma'll read the Bible. And O, such a time! "That Angeline girl will remember how she rocked that darling Dotty, and told me stories." Dotty was seized with a sudden shivering. The stories came back to her mind vividly. If Angeline had told her simple little tales of every-day life, Dotty might have forgotten them; but, like all children, she had an active imagination, and anything marvellous or horrible made a deep impression. The current of her thoughts was changed as soon as she remembered those unknown ghosts of Angeline's description.