THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS. 43

sultana, now to a Swiss peasant; one day to a cap-
tain in the British army, another day to an Indian
rajah. One young lady liked to make her dolls per-
sonate celebrated characters; and when she visited
us, most distinguished guests graced my table. I
have had the honour of receiving the Queen and
Prince Albert themselves; the Duke of Wellington,
Sir Walter Scott, and Miss Edgeworth, have all
dined with me on the same day, and Robinson Crusoe
came in the evening’. y

But it was at these social meetings that I be-
came most fully aware of the liability of dolls to
loss of limbs. I never remember giving a party at
which the guests could boast of possessing all their
legs and arms. Many an ingenious contrivance hid
or supplied the deficiencies, and we were happy m
spite of our losses; still, such was the case: and I
saw that dolls, however beloved and respected, could
not last for ever.

For some time after my accident I had no par-
ticular adventures. I lived in peace and plenty, and
amused myself with watching the family. They
were all amiable and easy to understand, except
Geoffrey ; but he was a complete puzzle to me, and
it was long before I could make out why he was so
different from the rest.

The others all seemed to. like to help and please