"If it was for a boy, Miss Hecla; but Miss Ivy ain't a boy. You'd a deal better get her a doll."
"Well, I can—of course—only she's got dolls, and she hasn't got soldiers. I think boys' toys are much the nicest. Wouldn't she like a tin train?"
"If I was you, I'd choose a doll, or else a nice box of toys. You might get a box of bricks, Miss Hecla; or else a sort of farmyard; or a map of them squares, with pictures on their sides, that's got to be put together."
"But I want a lot of things; not only one thing. That's so stupid. I want it to be a real s'prise packet. Don't you know? I mean to get a ninepence-three-farthings toy, and two penny toys, and two threepenny toys, and one thing for sixpence, and one thing for a shilling. And there's an extra farthing that's got to come in somewhere. And I'm going to tie them all up in parcels, and then I shall put them into my dear red and white basket, and heaps of moss with them—we've got to get the moss, Elisabeth. And then I shall give it all to her, and the basket too. Won't she be pleased? I know where to get the moss."
"You'll have to make haste, or there won't be time."
"Of course I shall make haste."
But when she found herself in the shop, it was no such easy matter. Making haste seemed impossible. Such a wealth of delightful things lay all around; and the nice shopwoman took so much trouble, bringing boxes and games and dolls from top shelves and out of the back room, that Hecla was bewildered. She stood with glowing eyes, alike fascinated and puzzled, giving a skip of approval at each new production, but quite unable to choose.
There were exquisite dolls, and splendid carts, and lovely horses, and magnificent trains, and a mail-cart which could be wound up to go, and a mouse that would run, and games without end, and boxes of treasures past description. But most of these were beyond her means. She had a great leaning towards boys' toys, for she liked whatever she knew that Chris would approve. Yet Elisabeth's objections had weight; and Elisabeth held to it that nothing could be more appropriate than a doll.
"If I was you, Miss Hecla, I'd get one of them nice china dolls, and a chair and table for the doll to use," she said. "Miss Ivy loves dolls, and she hasn't got a china one."
"Is it for little Miss Ivy?" asked the woman. "Poor little dear! I hope she ain't any the worse for her fall in the river."