Part 8 (2/2)
”Dear heart, Oh dear heart, I love you!” she wept
”Well, well, so do many others,” he answered ”It isn'this bicycle he rode away
”Don't you see you arehim terribly conceited?” said the Little China Doll ”It is absurd of you Try to be more sensible”
”I love him so, I love him so!” sobbed the Little Dancer ”My heart is broken”
On the morrow the Bicycle-man appeared as usual
”It is all settled,” he said ”I hope to s, before the week is out I fear e will be a disappointment to many a lady”
The Little Dancer made no reply: she was too heart-broken to utter a sound
”Are you not going to wish me happiness?” he asked
But the Little Dancer still spoke not She danced faster and faster as the tears fell from her eyes
The Bicycle-
”Your silence is a sad want of manners,” he said ”Uncivility is far from attractive”
Still the little Dancerso bitterly
”Well, good-day,” he said ”It is very evident that you did not pay the extra twopence for ,” said the Little China Doll to the Little Dancer ”You are not in a fit state to dance You will kill yourself”
”I _et, or till I die,” she answered--sobbing
And then she danced faster, _faster_, FASTER, till she went at quite a furious rate Her little feet went to and fro so quickly you could hardly see them
The China Doll implored the poor Little Dancer to stop, but she did not heed her She continued dancing, dancing, dancing all through the day, all through the evening, and far into the night Till, at last, so within her went--_Snap_!
And she fell flat on the ground, and the gay little tune stopped suddenly The clockithin her had broken She had danced herself to death!
The nextis put off--” he began Then he saw the lifeless form of the Little Dancer, and he turned pale
”You have killed her by your vanity,” said the China Doll severely ”If you had stayed away she would have forgotten you But you _would_ come because it pleased your conceit to hear her say she loved you, and to hear her lament because you did not love her She has danced herself to death in her despair Alas! Alas! My poor friend!”
”I really believe I loved her after all,” said the Bicycle-ht a to be said or done,” said the China Doll ”The poor Little Dancer is dead It is too late! Go and marry the Doll of the Red House”
”I don't want to _now_,” he answered ”Henceforwardfor the Little Dancer who broke her heart because ofwith my back to the handle, and with my hands behind me It will be a most absurd position, but it will serve as a punishht my poor little sweetheart”