Part 10 (1/2)

”I have not the slightest fear as to the ladies' decision,” he boastfully relass I see how i but one opinion By the by, a ht I was sauntering about ht up againstyour pardon, I' to find ht eye, ht' 'Very flattering,' I said, 'but I'd prefer you not to tread on e!” the Butcher jeered ”The Polar Bear has never been able to see clearly since the shopwoman's baby poked out both his eyes Your story is a little far-fetched, hed the Clown, as the Hanso a little silly, turned his head aside and pretended to sneeze

”I've a piece of news for you,” said the Baker; ”another surprise The ladies have ht they have only taken a week to decide They have but one opinion, and the Clown has been instructed to deliver it to you to-ive your orders Ito hear it”

”Let come ill,” vaunted the Hansom-driver ”_I_ fear no crowd The more Toys to witness my moment of triumph, the better”

And it was in this fra, he drove to the Butcher's shop, outside of which a large croas gathered

”Well,” he said with a smile to the Cloho headed the croell, and what is the ladies' opinion about my beauty?”

”The ladies have decided,” said the Clown, nodding his head and speaking very rapidly, ”the ladies have all decided--mind you, _all_ decided--that you _are_ a hansom man And so say I”

The Hansom-driver climbed down from his seat

”Shake hands,” he said ”One doesn't find a fellow of sense like you every day”

The Clown shook hands, then turned a sorinned from ear to ear

”Handsome,” he said slowly, ”but _without_ the _d_ and the _e_ Mark that, my child No _beauty, but a hansoo away?”

For the Hanso up his horse, was driving off as fast as he could

CHAPTER VII

”That was very funny,” said the little girl; ”it h,” said the Marionette--”except the Hansoht be excused for not doing so”

”He _was_ a vain thing,” said the little girl

”He was,” the Marionette agreed ”However, we ood points after all He was not bad-tempered, for example, like poor Claribelle, who at one time was quite unbearable, and h in the end, poor creature, she became, it is true, an altered character”

”'Poor Claribelle!' Who was she?”

”A young lady doll whose bad tereat sorrow

”I should like to hear about her,” said the little girl

The little Marionetteto tell you,” she remarked ”The story of this poor, proud creature hty and fanciful young lady Yes, you shall hear to-rave voice that befitted the tale, she told the story of ”Proud Claribelle”