Jennie scouted the idea of their not looking well enough and bore off the bag of pieces in triumph, and a happy trio was soon established on the porch, work-bags in evidence and dolls carefully placed out of danger. Edna, who had been taught by her Aunt Elizabeth Horner to be very systematic, proposed that they first select their materials. "This white stuff will do for their underclothes," she told the others. "I'll put that aside and then you each choose what you want for frocks. Dorothy must choose first because they are her dolls."
"Then you choose second because you are company," said Jennie.
"We'll take turns, then," said Edna. "You can choose first when it comes to your dolls and Dorothy can be second, then when it comes to mine I will choose first, you can be second and Dorothy can be third." This was considered a very just arrangement and Dorothy began to turn over the pieces for her first choice.
"I think I should like this pretty piece of blue silky stuff," she said, "and I will dress the doll with the [137]middle colored hair; I think it will be becoming to her."
"Then I will take this little speckly piece for the doll with the lightest hair. She can have a pink sash and will look too sweet."
Jennie decided upon a thin bit of yellow for her doll of decidedly brunette type and they set to work.
"I can cut out for mine and then you two can cut yours exactly the same," Edna told them, "for the dolls are all the same size and it will be very easy." But the cutting out had scarcely begun before it was time for dinner and the dolls had to be put away till later in the evening when all should gather around the big table in the living-room.
However, after dinner it was found that the larger package had arrived, so of course this had to be opened, and what with talking over this and admiring that, it was bedtime before anyone knew it. But the dolls were all carried upstairs and were set a-row where the children could see them first thing in the morning. The bag of pieces was lugged along, too. "For we might want to get up early and work before breakfast," said Jennie with industrious intent.
But the breakfast hour arrived before the children were out of bed, so tired were they from their trip, and the row of staring dolls was given little attention in the haste to get dressed. After breakfast the piece bag was dragged out again. Emma's work was taken by one of the other servants and [138]the morning long hands and tongues were busy, so that by lunch time the three little dolls appeared nicely clad, and one of Edna's and one of Jennie's were nearly ready. To dress nine children was quite a task even for three little girls, especially as the children increased in size as the work progressed and though a skirt for a doll six inches long required but few stitches, when it came to one twice the size the fingers grew very tired.
"Suppose you don't do any more doll clothes to-day," said Mrs. Ramsey noticing the weary sighs. "You have done a fine morning's work, and to-morrow you can start in again. I think this afternoon you'd better take the pony and do some errands for me, and I will make a fair exchange by helping you with the dolls to-morrow."