Part 7 (1/2)

”Is it--can it be--the doll?” they all cried, and their hearts nearly stopped beating with excitement.

”Now,” Jinny exclaimed.

They all pressed forward. All six pairs of eyes were fixed on Jinny's lap, but not a sound was heard. A blank look of disappointment fell over every face. Red-Head, poor Red-Head had done his best, but oh, what a mistake! He had bought a _dressed_ doll, and as ten and sixpence, which was all he had got for the mug, will not go very far in such articles, it can be imagined that dolly herself, notwithstanding the gorgeousness of her attire, fell short, lamentably short, of the poor princesses'

expectations.

”She's only china, and her hair's a put-on wig,” said Agatha, with tears in her eyes.

”Her clothes don't even take off and on, and they're not a bit like a little girl's clothes,” said Elspeth.

Ginevra said not a word; her face told of nothing less than despair.

”And poor darling Jinny has sold her mug to buy it with--all to please us. I found it out, but it was too late to stop it,” said Helen. ”Jinny darling, we must like her, we _will_--any way she'll be better than nothing. We'll make her new clothes, and then perhaps she won't look so vulgar,” whereupon, Helen setting the example, all the five princesses fell upon Jinny's neck and hugged and kissed her and each other amidst their tears.

”And we mustn't tell Red-Head,” said Jinny; ”he'd be _so_ disappointed.

He did his best. I never thought of saying she wasn't to be dressed.

He's going away to-morrow, and of course they wouldn't change the doll after he comes back. Besides, she _is_ better than nothing, surely?”

Christmas Eve--the six princesses sat on the window-sill looking out on the fast-falling snow. Dolly--partially denuded of her gorgeous attire, but looking rather woe-begone, if less self-satisfied and vulgar, for new clothes ”to take on and off,” and of irreproachable good taste, are not to be fas.h.i.+oned by little fingers in a day--was reposing in b.u.t.ter-ball's fat arms. They ”took turns” of her, as was the fairest arrangement under the circ.u.mstances of six little girls and only one doll; and, true to the sound philosophy of her being ”better than nothing,” a certain half-contemptuous affection for her had taken the place of the first dislike.

Suddenly--rat-tat-tat at the front knocker.

”The postman,” said Helen. ”_Possibly_ there may be a Christmas card for us.”

It was for ”us,” but it was not a card. No; a letter, addressed outside to Helen as the eldest, but inside beginning ”My six dear little nieces.”

”From Aunt Ginevra,” Helen exclaimed; ”and oh, she is coming home at last. And oh, oh, just fancy, we are all to go to live with her.

And--and----”

”Read it aloud,” said Jinny quickly. But Helen was all trembling with excitement. Jinny seized it and read.

Delightful news truly for the six imprisoned princesses!

”She _must_ be nice,” said Jinny; ”she writes so sweetly. And what can the presents be that she says she is sending us for Christmas?”

Agatha looked over her shoulder.

”I have chosen what I think would have pleased me most when I was a little girl. The box is sent off by express from Paris, where your uncle and I are resting for a few days, so that you may have it by Christmas.

And before the new year begins, my darlings, I hope to be at last with you.”

Rat-tat-tat again. The railway van this time. Such a big box comes up to the nursery. Dear, dear, what a business to get it opened. How the six pairs of eyes s.h.i.+ne, how the six pairs of hands tremble with eagerness as each undoes her own specially marked parcel. And oh, the cries of delight at last! What could be lovelier, what more perfect, than the six exquisite dolls, each more beautiful than her sisters!

”Real wax, real hair, real everysing,” cries Princess Baby.

”One suit of clothes ready, taking off and on ones, and lots of stuff to make more,” adds b.u.t.ter-ball.