Part 10 (2/2)

PROUD CLARIBELLE

Claribelle was a very haughty doll She was very beautiful, with great brown eyes and a mass of dark hair that fell to her waist She had fine clothes, too; a pink silk dress, a large straw hat tris and bronze shoes, and round her neck a string of pearls, which were the envy of every lady doll in the toy-shop

She held her head very high indeed, and would not speak to this doll because it was ”frumpish,” or that doll because it was not in the same set as herself The China Doll she really could not be on intimate ter seen walking with a cracky person! Also, sheDoll A very good, worthy person, no doubt, but really she and a doll worth a farthing could not possibly haveDoll, she was a pushi+ng person At a tea-party at which they had both been present, she had asked Claribelle if she didn't think that skirts were fuller To think of discussing clothes with a creature of rags! The idea was really too comical!

It was thus, and in this proud spirit, that Claribelle talked about the other and more modest Toys There were, indeed, very few that she would take the slightest notice of As a matter of fact, when she walked down the counter she held her nose so much in the air that it was very rarely she saw anyone She did not care in the least whether she trod on other people's toes or not

Froained more admiration than love There was, however, one as truly devoted to Claribelle This was the Driver of the Wagon, as always of the opinion that beneath her haughty ed to be married, and with true affection he often spoke to her about her haughty manner to the other Toys

On such occasions Claribelle tossed her head and flew into a passion, often sulking for hours afterwards Yet, although she so sorely tried the Driver's patience, he continued to love her And when all other ood temper, for he had a beautiful tenor voice

He was a little proud of his voice, and used to practise every night, partly because he loved hted to show his devotion to Claribelle by singing her little love-songs in a well-trained enial nature, so that you would have thought it was hardly possible to quarrel with him But Claribelle's pride not seldom caused a dispute between theument without any reason

It was thus one day that a quarrel arose which ended in the on, when the Driver, re Doll, proposed that he and Claribelle should go thither

”What!” she exclai creature!

_Certainly_ not!”

”I, at least, o, sooner or later,” the Driver replied

”Why?” she asked much displeased

”Because did I not call,” answered he kindly but fir in courtesy to a lady who has never shownbut the uto to-day”

”I do not wish you to go at all,” she said ”But I see it is quite sufficient for , for you to do it”

And after this she sulked and said she did not love hi he had just learnt, and he deterood tean:

”'Oh, down in Alabairl, And thought--'”

But he got no further, for here Claribelle interrupted hi eyes

”Well, you _have_ dark eyes, you know,” he said pleasantly, hoping to make her smile ”Beautiful dark eyes, too”