THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS. 21

them again, I would gladly have squeezed myself
into as. small compass as the baby doll in the
walnut-shell, in order to make room for them once
more.

One thing, however, was satisfactory: dolls
certainly had their use. Seven had been bought,
and therefore why not an eighth? I had been sink-
ing almost into a state of despondency, but now my
hopes revived and my spirits rose. My turn might
come.

And my turn did come. Every circumstance of
that eventful day is deeply impressed on my me-
mory. I was as usual employed in making remarks
upon the passing: crowd, and wondering what might
be the use of every body I saw, when I perceived
the lady and the little girl who had been almost my
first acquaintances among the human race. As they
approached my stall, I heard the mama say, “ Have
you decided what to buy with the sixpence ?”

“Oh yes, quite,” answered the child ;*““ I am
going to buy a siapenny doll.”

The words thrilled through me; her eyes seemed
fixed on mine, and the sixpence was between her
fingers. I imagined myself bought. But she con-
tinued: “ I think, if you don’t mind the trouble, I
should like to go round the bazaar first, to see which
are the prettiest.”