Part 11 (1/2)
”Halloa! Miss Moppet,” said her papa. ”Are you off? What's the matter with that dolly? Do you have to walk her to sleep?”
”Oh, no. She's very good, but she's going to sleep with me, because it's the last night she'll be here.”
Marty tried to reply steadily, but her voice trembled.
”Ah!” said her papa sympathizingly. ”Where is she going?”
”I'm going to give her to Jennie.”
Of course Mr. Ashford had heard all about Jennie. He approved of her being helped, but did not like to see Marty in distress, and he noticed her eyes were full of tears.
”It is a shame for the child to give away playthings she is fond of,” he said to his wife.
”I didn't tell her to give it,” replied Mrs. Ashford. ”It was her own notion.”
”Here, Marty,” said her father, putting his hand in his pocket, ”you keep that doll yourself and I'll give you some money to get Jennie another one.”
”Oh! no, papa,” said Marty earnestly. ”Thank you ever so much, but I want to give Jennie a doll all myself, and I've quite made up my mind to give her this one. I thought it over a whole day--didn't I, mamma? You mustn't s'pose I don't _want_ to give Laura Amelia to Jennie, because I do, but you know such things make one feel a little sad for a while.”
”I presume they do,” said Mr. Ashford, smiling as he lifted both Marty and the doll to his knee. ”How many dolls have you?”
”Seven, counting the two little china ones.”
”Well, that's a pretty numerous family for one small girl to care for. I guess you can spare Lucy Aurelia.”
”Lucy Aurelia!” Marty laughed heartily. ”O papa, what is the reason you never can remember my dolls' names?”
”I don't see how you can remember them yourself.” Then as he kissed her goodnight he said,
”I am glad my little girl is learning to be kind to the poor and friendless.”
The next day there was some prospect that Marty would not get to Jennie's after all, as Mrs. Ashford could not very well go with her and would not let her go alone. Marty was preparing to be dreadfully disappointed, but her mother said, ”Wait until after lunch and we will see what can be done.”
Just then there was a tap at the door, and a tall, dark-eyed, smiling young lady entered.
”Why, here's Cousin Alice!” exclaimed Marty, and the warm welcome the visitor received from them all showed what a favorite she was.
”I've come to stay to lunch if you will have me,” she announced, throwing her wrap and gloves on the couch. Marty immediately invited her to stay for ever, and Freddie began building a wall with his blocks all around her chair so that she could not possibly get away.
”Alice,” said Mrs. Ashford, after there had been a good deal of talk and play, ”I am going to ask you to do something for me.”
”I shall be only too happy to do it, Cousin Helen,” said Miss Alice in her bright way. ”You have only to speak.”
”Marty wants to do an errand down near the old postoffice this afternoon. I don't like to have her go into that part of the town by herself, and I can't go with her. Would you be willing to go with her?”
”Most certainly,” was the cordial reply.
”Oh! that will be splendid,” cried Marty.
Then both she and her mother proceeded to tell their cousin all about Jennie, after which Marty dressed the doll and packed its clothes in a box.