Annie’s mother lived next door, but all Mrs. Parlin knew of her, was what she could see and hear from her own windows; and that little was not very agreeable.  She saw that Mrs. Love joy dressed in gaudy colors, and loaded herself with jewelry; and she could hear her scold her servants and children with a loud, shrill voice.

The two ladies had never exchanged calls; but Annie, it seemed, had few playmates, and she clung to Susy with such a show of affection, that Mrs. Parlin could not forbid her visits, although she watched her closely; anxious, as a careful mother should be, to make sure she was a proper companion for her little daughter.  So far she had never known her to say or do anything morally wrong, though her manners were not exactly those of a well-bred little girl.

This afternoon, when the new game was broken up by the entrance of Annie, the children began the play of housekeeping, because Prudy could join in it.  Susy found she enjoyed any amusement much more when it pleased the little invalid.

“I will be the lady of the house,” said Annie, promptly, “because I have rings on my fingers, and a coral necklace.  My name is Mrs. Piper.  Prudy,—­no, Rosy,—­you shall be Mrs. Shotwell, come a-visiting me; because you can’t do anything else.  We’ll make believe you’ve lost your husband in the wars.  I know a Mrs. Shotwell, and she is always taking-on, and saying, ‘My poor dear husband,’ under her handkerchief; just this way.”

The children laughed at the nasal twang which Annie gave to the words, and Prudy imitated it to perfection, not knowing it was wrong.

“Well, what shall I be?” said Susy, not very well pleased that the first characters had been taken already.

“O, you shall be a hired girl, and wear a handkerchief on your head, just as our girl does; and you must be a little deaf, and keep saying, ‘What, ma’am?’ when I speak to you.”

“And I,” said Florence, “will be Mr. Peter Piper, the head of the family.”

“Yes,” returned Annie, “you can put on a waterproof cloak, and you will make quite a good-looking husband; but I shall be the head of the family myself, and have things about as I please!”

“Well, there,” cried Flossy, slipping her arms into the sleeves of her cloak, “I don’t know about that; I don’t think it’s very polite for you to treat your husband in that way.”

Flossy wanted to have the control of family matters herself.

“But I believe in ‘Woman’s Rights,’” said Annie, with a toss of the head, “and if there’s anything I despise, it is a man meddling about the house.”

Here little Dotty began to cause a disturbance, by sticking a fruit-knife into the edges of the “what-not,” and making a whirring noise.

“I wouldn’t do so, Dotty,” said Susy, going up to her; “it troubles us; and, besides, I’m afraid it will break the knife.”

“I don’t allow my hired girl to interfere with my children,” said Annie, speaking up in the character of Mrs. Piper; “I am mistress of the house, I’d have you to know!  There, little daughter, they shan’t plague her; she shall keep on doing mischief; so she shall!”