“You can’t trust much to what boys say, especially such harum-scarum fellows as Ed Johnson,” added Mr. Fox.  “I shouldn’t wonder, now, Grimes, if he and that Piper boy got their tempers up, and tried to spite you, for ordering them out of the shop.  They were troublesome, and he had to speak sharp,” added Mr. Fox, addressing Mr. Parlin again.

“That’s so!” exclaimed Mr. Grimes.  “You take three little chaps, and have ’em meddling with your nails, and sticking scraps of iron into the coals, and it makes a man cross—­or it frets me, and I told ’em to quit.”

“Saucy little rogues,” chimed in Mr. Fox, anxious for the honor of his workman.

“As for my striking the pony,” continued Mr. Grimes, “I might have patted him once or twice with the handle of the hammer.  I often do that; but my blows wouldn’t kill a fly.”

After a little more conversation Mr. Parlin was satisfied that no real cruelty had been used towards Wings.  Susy’s heart rose like a feather.

“Always wait till you hear both sides of a story!” said Mr. Parlin, as he and his daughter walked home.

“Just the words mother said this very day,” cried Susy, skipping lightly over the paving-stones.  “It’s so queer you and mother should both talk so much alike.”

CHAPTER VIII.

THE WATER-KELPIE.

It was nearly time for vacation.  As the children were to start on the next Monday for Willow-brook, their mother allowed them to spend their last Wednesday afternoon with their cousin Florence.  It fell to Prudy’s lot to dress her little sister.

“I’m ever so glad,” said Dotty, “that the barber snipped off my kyurls.  Don’t you think I do look like a boy, now, Prudy?  You may call me Tommy, if you want to; I’m willin’.”

“There, now,” she exclaimed, when her toilet was made, “say me my lesson; please to, Prudy.”

“O, I forgot all about that” replied the little teacher, uneasily.  “Susy ’ll be done practising in half an hour, and I thought I’d just have time to make my doll’s boots,—­finish them, I mean.  Can’t you wait till Saturday, Dotty?”

“O, my suz, Prudy Parlin!  When I get to be a great sister to you, I won’t treat you so.  I want to get my letters all smooth done to-day,—­don’t want to wait till Sat’day.”

At any other time Prudy would have been gratified to see Dotty show so much eagerness.

“Be kind to thy sister,” hummed the gentle little teacher.  “Yes, I will.  I’m always glad after I’ve been kind.  Nothing makes me love Dotty so well as to try to please her!”

“Now,” said she, calling her school to order, “you’ve learned as far as S, which I think is doing finely, all alone, with nobody to help us.  This next letter stands, you see, for a top.  What is it we drink out of cups?”

“I don’t get anything but milk, and that’s in a mug,” replied Dotty in an injured tone.