she met Mary
Rose's eyes, filled with a great hunger for merry-go-rounds, she
laughed softly and told Mr. Jerry that, of course, she wouldn't take a
dare, she never had and she never would, and she thought she'd choose
the giraffe because his long neck gave a rider so much to cling to.

It was not easy for Mary Rose to choose a mount. Each animal seemed so
very desirable that she sighed as she finally selected an ostrich for
the same reason that she had taken the black pony. "I haven't seen a
single person ride him and I expect he feels neglected."

But when they mounted the merry-go-round Miss Thorley stepped into a
gay little sleigh drawn by two fat polar bears. After he had seen Mary
Rose properly astride the neglected ostrich Mr. Jerry took the seat
beside Miss Thorley.

"I promised Mary Rose that I wouldn't let you fall out," he said, as if
that could be the only reason he would ride beside her.

Much to Mary Rose's amazement, Miss Thorley was satisfied with one
ride, although Mr. Jerry very handsomely offered them a turn on each
animal. Mary Rose could not resist such an invitation and one by one
she rode on a giraffe, a camel, and a lion.

"Mercy, mercy, Mary Rose!" Miss Thorley said at last. "You must stop.
Your head will be completely turned. And we must go home."

"Won't you ride back with me?" asked Mr. Jerry. "I have the car. If
you will, we have time for a sundae first."

Mary Rose's heart all but stopped beating as she waited for Miss
Thorley to say they would. It didn't seem possible that anyone, even
an independent woman, could refuse such an alluring invitation. But
grown-ups were queer. Mary Rose had found that out long, long ago.
She did not hesitate for even the fraction of a second when Miss
Thorley turned and left the decision to her. A moment later they were
in the ice cream parlor that was like a cool green cave after the heat
and the light outside.

Mary Rose chose a chocolate sundae and she giggled as she looked at the
rich brown sauce. "When I was little, nothing but a baby," she said,
"I thought that it was the yellow in the eggs I ate that made my hair
yellow. Do you suppose if I ate lots and lots of chocolate, I'd ever
have hair as brown as Miss Thorley's. Isn't it beautiful, Mr. Jerry?"

"Very beautiful!" Mr. Jerry agreed as heartily as she could wish.

Miss Thorley flushed uncomfortably under the admiration of Mr. Jerry
and Mary Rose. "Mary Rose," she said hurri