the little girl once
said to her aunt.

"You are a fanciful child, Molly," answered the woman, laughing.

"All the same, I believe I am right," replied the little girl.

This evening, however, they were not to be found in their accustomed
place. The little platform on which they danced was there, but the dolls
themselves were gone!

The little girl looked round the shop much bewildered.

"Where _can_ they be?" she said.

At last she saw the little lady Marionette sitting on the right hand
counter, with her back against the Noah's Ark.

"Well, how funny!" exclaimed the little girl aloud. "How have _you_ got
there?"

"Walked, of course," answered the little Marionette in a sweet little
voice.

The little girl's astonishment at this reply was very great. So great
that it kept her silent.

"You seem rather surprised," said the little Marionette. "Why?"

"Why, I never knew you could talk!" she exclaimed, recovering a little
from her surprise. "Or any other toy, either," she added.

"Life is full of surprises," remarked the little Marionette; "especially
in the toy-shop."

"I wish you would tell me all about it," said the little girl, becoming
bolder. "If toys can walk and talk, why don't children know it?"

"Because, although they have known many toys, yet they are very ignorant
regarding their habits," she answered. "_That_ is the reason.

"At the same time," she continued, "as it is, generally speaking, only
when mortals are not present that we _can_ move and speak freely, this
ignorance is, perhaps, partly excusable."

"But how long will you be able to go on talking to me?"

"That I can't tell you. I can only say that our power of talking to a
Mortal--a power which comes but once in the lifetime of every
toy--generally lasts from a fortnight to three weeks."

The little girl clapped her hands.

"You will be able to talk to me, then, every day that I am here!" she
exclaimed with pleasure. "I am only going to stay with my aunt and my
cousin for twelve days longer."

She paused a moment, then added:

"How I should like you to tell me some stories of toys--a new story
every day, you know. Couldn't you do that?"

The little Marionette looked doubtful.

"Before I attempt anything of the sort, I shall have to consult Father
Christmas--the well-known and much-esteemed patriarch. As he is the Head
of our Society, I should like to do nothing without his advice and
sanction."

The little girl sighed