.

"This difference of opinion produced a quarrel, which in turn seemed to
affect the general behaviour of the toys, for a disturbance arose which
the Jack-in-a-box vainly endeavoured to quell. A dozen voices shouted
for a dozen different punishments, and (happily for me) each toy
insisted upon its own wrongs being the first to be avenged, and no one
would hear of the claims of any one else being attended to for an
instant. Terrible sentences were passed, which I either failed to hear
through the clamour then, or have forgotten now. I have a vague idea
that several voices cried that I was to be sent to wash in somebody's
pocket; that the work-basket wished to cram my mouth with unfinished
needlework; and that through all the din the thick voice of my old
leather ball monotonously repeated:

"'Throw her into the dust-hole.'

"Suddenly a clear voice pierced the confusion, and Rosa tripped up.

"'My dears,' she began, 'the only chance of restoring order is to
observe method. Let us follow our usual rule of precedence. I claim the
first turn as the prisoner's oldest toy.'

"'That you are not, Miss,' snapped the Dowager; 'I was in the family
for fifty years.'

"'In the family. Yes, ma'am; but you were never her doll in particular.
I was her very own, and she kept me longer than any other plaything. My
judgment must be first.'

"'She is right,' said the Jack-in-a-box; 'and now let us get on. The
prisoner is delivered unreservedly into the hands of our trusty and
well-beloved Rosa--doll of the first class--for punishment according to
the strict law of tit for tat.'

"'I shall request the assistance of the pewter tea-things,' said Rosa,
with her usual smile. 'And now, my love,' she added, turning to me, 'we
will come and sit down.'

"Where the go-cart vanished to I cannot remember, nor how I got out of
it; I only know that I suddenly found myself free, and walking away
with my hand in Rosa's. I remember vacantly feeling the rough edge of
the stitches on her flat kid fingers, and wondering what would come
next.

"'How very oddly you hold your feet, my dear,' she said; 'you stick out
your toes in such an eccentric fashion, and you lean on your legs as if
they were table legs, instead of supporting yourself by my hand. Turn
your heels well out, and bring your toes together. You may even let
them fold over each other a little; it is considered to have a pretty
effect among dolls,'

"Under one of the big trees Miss Ro