She hasn't tried any but that. Sometimes
she says it quite nicely, but sometimes she's very stupid, and I have to
scold her." Amy had quite recovered her spirits by this time.
"Are these the only dolls you have?"
"Oh, please don't call them _that!_" urged Amy. "It hurts their feelings
dreadfully. I never let them know that they are dolls. They think that
they are real children, only sometimes when they are very bad I use the
word for a punishment. I've got several other children. There's old
Ragazza. My uncle named her, and she's made of rag, but she has such bad
rheumatism that I don't play with her any longer; I just give her
medicine. Then there's Effie Deans, she's only got one leg; and Mopsa
the Fairy, she's a tiny one made out of china; and Peg of
Linkinvaddy,--but she don't count, for she's all come to pieces."
"What very queer names your children have!" said Elsie, who had come in
during the enumeration.
"Yes; Uncle Ned named them. He's a very funny uncle, but he's nice. He's
always so much interested in my children."
"There's papa now!" cried Katy; and she ran downstairs to meet him.
"Did I do right?" she asked anxiously after she had told her story.
"Yes, my dear, perfectly right," replied Dr. Carr. "I only hope Amy was
taken away in time. I will go round at once to see Mrs. Ashe and the
boy; and, Katy, keep away from me when I come back, and keep the others
away, till I have changed my coat."
It is odd how soon and how easily human beings accustom themselves to a
new condition of things.
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