"Oh, I don't know. Is it a parcel?"
"Yes, it is a brown paper parcel; but what is in it? That is one guess. Now guess again."
"Is it a wax doll with curly hair?"
"No, not quite so large as that."
"Not so large? then is it a small thing? I have lost my thimble, and I've broken my china cup, so perhaps you have brought me one. Stop, stop; I have not had my third guess yet. Let me see: I gave my skipping-rope to Sally Brown. Oh, Phil, is it a skipping-rope?"
Philip laughed.
"Yes," said he, "it is a skipping-rope with fine painted handles. It is the prettiest I could find in the shop."
And Philip opened the parcel.
"Oh, what a beauty!" said Maud; "it is far prettier than mine was. And what nice rope! Oh, Phil, how good of you!"
"Well, now let me see if you can skip with it," said Philip, giving it into her hands.