ful doll, the child
tripped away by the side of her companion, looking the brightest and
happiest of her kind.

I pondered long upon this circumstance; how long I cannot say, for dolls
are unable to measure time, they can only date from any particularly
striking epochs. For instance, we can say, 'Such an affair happened
before I lost my leg;' or, 'Such an event took place before my new wig
was put on;' but of the intricate divisions known to mortals by the
names of hours, days, months, &c., we have no idea.

However, I meditated on the kind little sister during what appeared to
me a long but not tedious period, for I was gratified at gaining some
insight into the qualities proper to distinguish the human race.
Readiness to show kindness, and a preference of others' interests to her
own, were virtues which I easily perceived in the little girl's
conduct; but one thing perplexed me sadly. I could not understand why a
doll would not have answered her kind intentions as well as a paint-box;
why could she not have bought the doll which she admired so much, and
have given _that_ to her brother.

My thoughts were still engaged with this subject, when a boy approached
the stall. Boys were new characters to me, and I was glad of the
opportunity to observe one. He did not bestow a look on the dolls and
other toys, but asked for a box of carpenter's tools. The shopkeeper
dived into some hidden recess under the counter, and produced a
clumsy-looking chest, the merits of which I could not discover; but the
boy pronounced it to be 'just the thing,' and willingly paid down its
price. I followed him with my eyes as he walked about with his great box
under his arm, looking from side to side, till he caught sight of
another boy rather younger than himself, advancing from an opposite
corner.

'Why, Geoffrey,' exclaimed my first friend, 'where have you been all
this time? I have been hunting every where for you.'

Geoffrey did not immediately answer, his mouth being, as I perceived,
quite full. When at last he could open his lips, he said, 'Will you have
a cheesecake?'

'No, thank you,' replied his friend. 'We must go home to dinner so soon,
that you will scarcely have time to choose your things. Where _have_ you
been?'

'At the pastrycook's stall,' answered Geoffrey; 'and I must go back
again before I can buy any thing. I left my five shillings there to be
changed.'

The boys returned together to the stall, and I saw its mistre