120
"I should like to hear about her" 121
"Claribelle was a haughty doll" 123
"The Rag Doll was a pushing person" 125
The Driver begins to sing 127
"Then she swept away" 131
"The Driver got up with dignity" 133
"He loved but drove away" 135
Proud Claribelle is penitent 138
"The two met as usual" 139
The Grocer meets the Farthing Doll 140
"They walked away hand in hand" 143
"She handed him a joint of beef" 147
"Supposing I said 'Yes' and you said 'No '" 149
"They were happy ever after" 152
"Molly ran away content" 155
"The little Marionette lay on the ground" 156
"They had just finished their dance" 160
"I begin to understand--nerves" 165
The General rides off to the nearest chemist 167
The Clown dances a double-shuffle 169
"You are not crying, dear, are you?" 171
"She rocked to and fro silently" 175
The Marionette fell asleep quite happily 177

CHAPTER I

All sorts of toys were to be found in that toy-shop. It was truly a place
to please any child! A little girl, who had come to stay there with her
aunt--the owner of the shop--and her little cousin, was always to be
found amongst the toys; she was forever picking up and admiring this
one, stroking that one, nursing another. All her spare moments were
spent in the shop.

It so happened one evening that she wandered in after the shutters were
put up, and the place was deserted. She paused before the spot where
she was accustomed to find her favorite doll, a little lady Marionette,
who, when wound up, danced gayly in company with her partner, a very
fine gentleman.

They were both very prettily dressed. The little lady Marionette wore a
beautiful white silk dress brocaded with pink roses, whilst her partner
had on a blue velvet coat, knee breeches, white silk stockings, and
diamond shoe buckles. Their clothes were really very grand!

And they danced so gayly, too.

"Just as if they like dancing with each other!"