old them, they had no trouble at all in disposing of
their wares. Marjorie concluded that half the population of Cambridge
must be small children, so eager did the ladies seem to buy dolls.

At many of the houses they were cordially invited to come in and partake
of some refreshment, for the whole town seemed bent on entertaining the
peddlers. But the Maynard children preferred not to accept these
invitations, as they were not well enough acquainted, and as for Bertha
Baker, when she was invited in to a house, she would reply bluntly, "No,
I don't want to go in."

Midget and King looked at her in astonishment, for they were not
accustomed to hear children talk like that.

When the cart full of dolls had been about half sold, the children saw a
little girl coming toward them with an empty express wagon.

"Hello, Bertha," she said, "what are you selling?"

"Dolls," said Bertha, shortly, and the Maynard children waited, expecting
that Bertha would introduce the stranger.

But Bertha didn't, and only said, "Come on," to her own companions, and
started on herself.

"Wait a minute," said King, who was growing rather tired of Bertha's
company, and was glad to meet somebody else. "I say, Bertha, introduce
us to your friend."

"She's Elsie Harland," said Bertha, ungraciously, and evidently
unwillingly.

But King took no notice of Bertha's unpleasant manner. "How do you do,
Elsie?" he said, in his frank, boyish fashion. "This is my sister,
Marjorie, and I am Kingdon Maynard. Can't I help you pull your wagon?
I see you've sold all your things."

"Yes; I only had post-cards to sell," said Elsie, "and the people bought
them in such big bunches that now they're all gone. So I thought I'd like
to go around with you, and help sell your dolls." She looked inquiringly
at Bertha, who replied, "I s'pose you can, if you want to, but I should
think you'd go home."

"Don't go home," said Marjorie, cordially; "come along with us, and we'll
all sell dolls together."

"She can't sell our dolls," said Bertha, snappily, and this so irritated
King that he couldn't help speaking out.

"Bertha Baker," he said, "if you don't behave yourself, and act more
pleasant, I'll put you in the cart, and sell you for a doll!"

This so surprised Bertha that she stared at King, wonderingly, but the
other girls laughed, and then they all went on together.

Bertha made no further objections, and Marjorie could see that she did
try to be a little m