For answer, Dotty took a pair of rubber overshoes out of Zip’s mouth.

“Grandma says to put ’em right on, or you’ll catch the hookin’ cough; the boat’s wet.”

“There, now,” said Susy, putting on the rubbers, “I’ve forgot the basket for those Jack-in-the-pulpit roots.  Didn’t grandma send it up?”

“No, she sended up me,” replied Dotty; adding, quickly, “and I’m goin’ where you go, you know; and if you don’t go anywhere, I’m goin’ there, too.”

“That’s just the way it is with you, Dotty Dimple; always coming when I don’t expect you.”

“Prudy coaxed me to,” said Dotty, with one of her sweetest smiles and deepest dimples.

“Coaxed you?”

“Well,” faltered Dotty, “she wanted to come her own self.  She said she wished I’d stay to home,—­so, of course I camed!”

“I’ll tell you how it is,” said Susy, thoughtfully.  “That queer old Abner’s nowhere to be seen.  I suppose he’s in the cornfield, or the meadow, or the barn.  It’s after five; and what will aunt Martha think?  I could row across the river well enough by myself, if you’d only run home; you’re such a bother!”

“O, my darlin’ sister Susy!  I won’t do nothin’ but just sit still.  Who’s your precious comfort?”

“Well, I don’t know but I’ll take you, then.  Come, little Miss Trouble, jump into the boat.”

So Dotty Dimple, being what Mr. Allen had called a “child-queen,” had her own way, as usual.

“Why, where’s the paddles?” said Susy.  “The men must have hid them.  Dear me, I can’t stop to hunt; and here it is five o’clock long ago!  O, I’ll take this good smooth shingle, I declare!  I guess it washed ashore on purpose; it’s almost equal to a paddle.—­Now we’ll go, all so nice,” continued Susy, fearlessly dipping the chance-found shingle into the water.

“O, my suz,” said Dotty, clapping her hands, which had any amount of dimples on the backs; “we’re goin’!”

“Of course we’re going!” said Susy, proudly.  “What did you expect?  I can do five times as well with a shingle as Lonnie can with a paddle.  What do you suppose aunt Martha’ll say?  ’Bravo! those are smart children, to be rowing all alone, by themselves’!”

“O, Susy, what a hubble-bubble we make in the water!  Look at the bubbles winkin’ their eyes!  See those pretty wrinkles, all puckered up in the water!”

“I see them,” said Susy, steadily plying her shingle; “but why don’t you sit still?  You’ll tip us both over, as sure as this world; and if we get drowned I guess grandma’ll scold!  I shall be the one to have all the blame.”

“O, dear,” said Dotty, reeling about from side to side, “the boat’s dizzy!  My head’s goin’ to tip into the water.  But don’t you cry, Susy; you catch hold of me, and I shan’t go!”

Susy was suddenly seized with mortal terror.

“Dotty Parlin, I’ll never take you anywhere again, as long as I live!  You sit as still as ever you can, and fold your hands; fold them both!”