They had to resort to the brook in the woods behind the Cotton house . But it was full of trout , and they had a glorious time that morning -- at least the Cottons certainly had , and Davy seemed to have it . Not being entirely bereft of prudence , he had discarded boots and stockings and borrowed Tommy Cotton 's overalls . Thus accoutered , bog and marsh and undergrowth had no terrors for him . Dora was frankly and manifestly miserable . She followed the others in their peregrinations from pool to pool , clasping her Bible and quarterly tightly and thinking with bitterness of soul of her beloved class where she should be sitting that very moment , before a teacher she adored . Instead , here she was roaming the woods with those half-wild Cottons , trying to keep her boots clean and her pretty white dress free from rents and stains . Mirabel had offered the loan of an apron but Dora had scornfully refused . The trout bit as they always do on Sundays . In an hour the transgressors had all the fish they wanted , so they returned to the house , much to Dora 's relief . She sat primly on a hencoop in the yard while the others played an uproarious game of tag ; and then they all climbed to the top of the pig-house roof and cut their initials on the saddleboard . The flat-roofed henhouse and a pile of straw beneath gave Davy another inspiration . They spent a splendid half hour climbing on the roof and diving off into the straw with whoops and yells . But even unlawful pleasures must come to an end . When the rumble of wheels over the pond bridge told that people were going home from church Davy knew they must go . He discarded Tommy 's overalls , resumed his own rightful attire , and turned away from his string of trout with a sigh . No use to think of taking them home . `` Well , had n't we a splendid time ? '' he demanded defiantly , as they went down the hill field . `` I had n't , '' said Dora flatly .
`` And I do n't believe you had -- really -- either , '' she added , with a flash of insight that was not XXXXX be expected of her .
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