50 THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS.

and as Rose had set me no lessons, I reposed com-
fortably in my arm-chair by a blazing fire of black
and red cloth, from the glare of which I was shel-
tered by a screen. My dog sat at my side, my
cat lay at my feet, and I was as happy as a doll
could be.

Suddenly the silence was broken by a sound as
of a turkey gabbling in the hall; presently this
changed to a duck quacking on the stairs; then a
cock crew on the landing-place, and a goose hissed
close to the schoolroom-door. I guessed but too
well what these ominous sounds portended, and my
heart sunk within me as the door burst open, and
my dreaded enemy banged into the room. |

“ Why, they are not come home yet!”’ exclaimed
he; “so my talents have been wasted. I meant to
have made them bid me not make every different
noise. When they said, ‘ Don’t hiss,’ I would have
crowed ; and when they said, ‘ Don’t crow,’ I would
have quacked, or barked, or bellowed, or mewed, till
I had gone through all the noises I know. Now I
have nothing to do.”’

He walked to the window and looked out.

“What a stupid street it is!” said he. “ If
my uncle had not taken away my squirt, I would
squirt at the people.”

' Then he yawned, and sauntered to the bookcase.