Part 6 (2/2)

”Mary Selina Trewin,” said Geoffrey, ”it isn't there.” And though they searched and hunted they couldn't find any trace of the ugly doll.

”Oh, dear,” said Mollie, ”what are we to do?”

This time she began to cry really.

”Well, you are a queer girl,” said Geoffrey; ”you nearly cried when it came, and now you really cry when it is gone.”

”But what will Uncle Percy say?” said Mollie.

”Well, the only thing to do,” said Geoffrey, ”is to tell Mother all about it.”

”Oh, Geoffrey,” said Mollie, ”we may find it.”

But Geoffrey was quite decided. ”Snap must have eaten the old thing up.

Come along.”

The children found their Mother and Uncle Percy sitting by the fire talking busily. What they were saying neither Mollie nor Geoffrey heard; they were too busy to listen, for on the table lay an open cardboard box, and in the box lay a lovely doll--blue eyes, pink cheeks, golden hair, dressed in the prettiest of dresses and cleanest of pinafores.

”Oh!” said Mollie.

”Oh!” said Geoffrey.

”There you are, young people,” said Uncle Percy. ”Yes, Mollie, that is the doll I promised you. Do you think you will like it?”

”But the other?” said Geoffrey.

”Oh, you heard what we were saying, did you, young man?” said Uncle Percy. ”Well, I'm sorry I sent the wrong parcel, but Mother will send it back as soon as----”

”But she can't send it back,” said Mollie.

”Snap has eaten it,” said Geoffrey.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”What?” cried Uncle Percy.

And then, of course, out came the whole story. They were scolded, they were punished, they were comforted and kissed, and Mollie went to bed that night hugging Evelina, the rosy-cheeked beauty, very tightly.

And the other! Uncle Percy said it didn't matter; he had only bought it to play a joke on someone. Mother and Mollie and Geoffrey and Jane and everybody hunted everywhere for it, but they didn't find it. A few days later a letter came from Bessie asking ”Geoffrey and Mollie to come to tea with the King of the Cannibal Islands.”

”The gardener found him in the garden,” said Bessie, as Geoffrey and Mollie stared at Bessie's new doll. ”Someone must have thrown him away, for he was ragged and torn; but Mother mended him, and, though he's queer, I like him the best of all my dolls.”

”He is curous,” said Geoffrey.

”I think I will call him Kurus, the King of the Cannibal Islands,” said Bessie.

Mollie and Geoffrey were not very cheerful that afternoon, but Bessie did not notice it; she was so pleased with Kurus.

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