“Yes, we will, Auntie!” cried Dolly, tumbling into her aunt’s arms for a few caresses before they looked for the carpets.
“Who made the house, Auntie?” said Dick, snuggling into her other arm, and patting her cheek.
“Why, a carpenter, I suppose. Father had it made for me when I was ten years old, and your father was a toddling baby. He used to creep up to it, and pull out the things that he could reach.”
“He looked like Dick. You both have eyes like his, but his hair was in dark ringlets all over his head, like Dick’s is. Now, let’s find the carpets, and fix up the house. Wouldn’t you rather have it down in the playroom?”
“Oh, yes,” said Dick. “It’s pretty hot and dry up here. The playroom is lovely and airy, ’most like outdoors.” He gave a little sigh, and Aunt Rachel remembered that the children were undergoing punishment.
“Aunt Nine didn’t make any other stipulation, except that you were to stay in the house all day, did she?”
“No’m,” said Dick. “And, Auntie Rachel, we’re _awful_ sorry we spoiled the clean clothes.”
“Yes, _terrible_ sorry,” added Dolly, while they both fondled their aunt half-unconsciously.
“You can be the sorriest pair of twins I ever saw, after your mischief is accomplished,” said Miss Rachel. “Why doesn’t your sorriness begin beforehand, I’d like to know?”
“Well, you see,” said Dolly, “we don’t think——”
“That’s just it, you never ‘think.’ Now, I’m going to teach you to think,—somehow; I don’t know how yet, but we’ll manage to make you thinkers somehow.”
“After Aunt Nine goes away,” suggested Dick.
“Yes,” agreed Aunt Rachel, “after Aunt Nine goes away.”
Then they all went down to dinner, the twins holding hands with each other, round Aunt Rachel’s ample waist. As she had an arm round each of their necks, locomotion down the stairways was difficult, but they all accomplished it somehow, and made a triumphal entry at the dining-room door.
Aunt Penninah was already in her chair, and looked up sharply, as if expecting to see a doleful pair of twins.
But the laughing faces proved that, if not enjoying their punishment, the children were, at least, making the best of it, and Aunt Nine sniffed a little, as she asked:
“Oh, having the beautifullest time!” exclaimed Dolly. “We found an old doll’s house, that used to be Auntie Rachel’s when she was a little girl.”