“Who’s got any to sell?” said she.

“Possibly the minister may have,” said Colonel Allen, laughing.  “You wait till this evening, and very likely he may be here.  Then you can go up to him and say, ‘Please, Mr. Hayden, will you sell me an uncle?’”

“But he’ll cheat me—­he will,” said Dotty, shaking her finger.

“O, no, never fear.  Just try him, and see.  Here’s a sealed envelope which Susy may keep for you till night.”

“And shan’t I have to spend the money in my porkmonnaie?”

“Not a cent of it, chickie.”

Something was going on which was called a wedding; though what a wedding might be, Miss Dimple had no idea, having never attended one in all her life.  But it was something remarkable, no doubt, for the parlors ware glowing with flowers, and everybody was in a flutter.  The three children, dressed in their very best, were allowed to sit up for the whole evening, or, at any rate, as long as they pleased.

It was as lovely out of doors as “a Lapland night.”  The full moon and the gay lamplight tried to outshine one another.

“Do look at that great moon dripping down the juniper tree,” cried Prudy, growing poetical as she gazed.  “Let me tell you, Susy, when the moon is young and little, it makes me think of a smile, and when it’s a grown-up, full moon, it makes me think of a laugh.”

Just as Dotty was beginning to wonder whether she felt sleepy or not, the door-bell rang; and after that it kept ringing every few minutes for an hour.  By that time the fragrant parlors were almost filled with guests.  Everybody had a few kind words for the children, and Prudy listened and answered with timid blushes:  but Dotty Dimple was, as usual, very fearless, and perfectly at ease.

Presently Colonel Allen, and Miss Margaret, and Miss Louise entered the room.  Dotty had been wondering where they were.

“Now,” whispered aunt Louise, “now’s the time to ask Mr. Hayden for that new uncle.”

Dotty stepped briskly up to the minister.

“Here’s a letter for you,” said she, “and it says, ’Will you please sell me an uncle, sir?’”

Mr. Hayden smiled, and asked the little maiden what sort of an uncle she would like.

“A new one,” she replied, bending her head one side, and peeping up in his face like a tame canary, “and a soldier, too, if you’ve got any to sell.”

Mr. Hayden said he certainly had, and laughed when he spoke, though Dotty could not imagine why.  Dr. Gray took her up in his arms, and declared he would like to carry her home in his pocket.  Such an idea!  And Dr. Gray was the man who had cheated her!  When he set her down again she stood on her dignity, and carried her head like a queen.

She had hardly crossed the room, and taken her station beside Prudy, when a hush fell upon the company.  Dotty was inclined to think people had paused in conversation to watch her.  Colonel Allen and aunt Madge were standing together, and Mr. Hayden in front of them.  The guests were looking at them, not at Miss Dotty Dimple!