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_.