Part 12 (1/2)
”I can't remember such a story,” she said ”I think there must be very few”
”I airl, disappointed ”I wanted very s as they are,” said the little lady cheerfully ”If I don't know h, I know plenty that are so at the beginning, or the middle, or the end; or even more than that”
”Which do you like best?” said the little girl
”Oh, stories with a happy ending! You can forget that the beginning or ”
”Then tell me to-morrow a story that ends happily”
”If you will,” said the little Marionette
CHAPTER VIII
On the morrohen the two irl:
”Good evening I have thought of a story that will please you”
”Then I suppose it ends ht,” she replied ”I a to tell you one that ends as happily as you could wish it to You will, I am sure, be quite satisfied with the conclusion of: 'The Grocer and the Farthing Doll'”
THE GROCER AND THE FARTHING DOLL
Never was there a love affairthan the love affair of the Grocer and the Farthing Doll It puzzled the whole toy-shop; it even puzzled the two lovers themselves
The affair was rather difficult to understand, but I will try to explain it to you as simply as I can
Everyone knew that the Grocer and the Farthing Doll loved each other; the Grocer knew he loved the Farthing Doll, but he did not know that she loved hi Doll knew that she loved the Grocer, but she didn't know if he loved her
So everything was at a stand-still, and none of the other dolls kne to bring the matter to a happy end No one quite liked to interfere And for these reasons: The Grocer was very proud and would take no advice, whilst the Farthing Doll was so sensitive that a single wrong word ain, the Grocer wouldn't ask the Farthing Doll toa proud Toy, he feared the hu ”No” She, on her part, would not say much to help him, lest it should look as if she were forward
It was thus thatthe counter one day, the Farthing Dollby with a sad face
”Well!” she exclai you here!”
”My shop is close by,” he answered ”Don't you reet”
”I'lad of that, for I have every wish to please you,” said the Farthing Doll
”Is that satisfactory?” he asked