Part 16 (1/2)
”How dried up the river looks!” said Dotty.
”That is because the draymen have taken so much water out of it, little cousin. Haven't you seen them going by with barrels?”
”I shouldn't think the mayor'd 'low them to do it, Horace; for some time there won't be any river left.”
”It's too bad to impose upon you,” said Horace, laughing; ”I was only joking.” Dotty drew herself up with so much dignity that she nearly fell backward into the fire.
Good-natured Horace repented him of his trifling.
”Look down in the water, Dotty, and see if there is anything there that looks like an eel?”
Dotty did not move.
”Don't go to being vexed, chickie; you're as bright as anybody, after all.”
Dotty smiled again.
”There,” said Horace, ”now we'll begin not to talk. We'll not say a word, and next thing we know, we'll catch that eel.”
But he was mistaken. They knew several other things before they knew they had caught an eel. Horace knew it was growing late, and Dotty knew it made her sleepy to sit without speaking.
”Enough of this,” cried Horace, breaking the spell of silence at last.
”You may talk now as much as you please. I've had my line out two hours.
They say 'in mud eel is;' but I don't believe it.”
”Nor I either.”
But at that very moment an eel bit. Horace drew him in with great satisfaction.
Dotty gave a little start of disgust, but had the presence of mind not to scream at sight of the ugly creature, because she had heard Horace say girls always did scream at eels.
”He will know now I _am_ as bright as anybody; as bright as a boy.”
They started for home, well pleased with their evening's work.
”Did you notice,” asked Dotty, ”how I acted? I never screamed at that eel once.”
”You're a lady, Dotty. I don't know but you might be trusted to go trouting. I never dared take Prudy, she is troubled so with palpitation of the tongue.”
A proud moment this for Dotty. More discreet than Sister Prudy. Praise could no farther go!
An agreeable surprise awaited her at Aunt Maria's.
”Please accept with my love,” said Grace, giving her a tiny box.
Dotty opened the box, and found, enveloped in rose-colored cotton, a beautiful gold ring, dotted with a pearl.
”I was the thief, Cousin Dotty. I hope you will excuse the liberty I took in going to your trunk.”