You see, an angry doll is not what you are accustomed to, and you are always apt to be a little frightened at something that is quite strange.
But just as it was beginning to be difficult to move forward, because of the crowd, Peggy suddenly caught sight of something that took her mind off what was happening. This was the shiny black hat and yellow robe of Mr. Noah on the edge of the crowd, and not only that, but the brown coat and merry face of her own old Teddy. She had been so occupied with all the curious and interesting things that had been happening since she had come off the ark that she had had no time to think about Teddy, or to wonder what he was doing. But evidently he had made great friends with Mr. and Mrs. Noah, and was going about with them.
Well, Teddy was peering between the heads of the people to see what was happening, and directly he caught sight of Peggy he pushed his way through the crowd, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Noah. All of them were tall and strong, and although there were some complaints from the dolls they elbowed aside, such as, “Now then, where do you think you are going?” and “Mind who you’re shoving, can’t you?” the three of them quickly got through.
“Now then, Mr. Man,” said Teddy to the Lord Chancellor, “where are you taking my young mistress off to?”
“Why, they’re taking them off to prison!” said an indignant voice from the crowd, and it was repeated by several other voices, equally indignant. “They’re taking them off to prison.”
The Lord Chancellor held up his hand. “Now then, my good people,” he said, “don’t disturb yourselves, I do pray and beg of you. It’s the King’s orders, you know, and you can really hardly call it going to prison. They are going to be his Majesty’s guests for a little time in the House of Cards. There’s a glorious view from there, and they will get very good food. You see, we’ve just been buying pot-plants to brighten up their apartments for them. Here they are. The guards are carrying them. You can see them for yourselves. Do please let us get on. The ladies want their tea.”
The Lord Chancellor seemed to attach great importance to the pot-plants, and they did make some impression on the crowd, because they could all see them, and there was no doubt about them at all. They made way for the Lord Chancellor to go on for a few steps, followed by his charges.
But Teddy wasn’t at all satisfied. “Here, wait a minute, Mister,” he said. “What are you taking my young mistress to prison for? That’s what I want to know. And, why bless me! here’s Wooden, too, and Lady Grace, and Wooden’s mother and aunt. I say, this won’t do at all, you know. Are they all going to prison?”
“Oh, yes, but only—well, you might almost call it for a little fun,” said the Lord Chancellor. “It’s more like a first-class hotel than a prison, you know. And—and—well, look at the pot-plants! You can see for yourself!”
“Oh, blow the pot-plants!” said Teddy; and Peggy did not object to the vulgarity of the expression, as he spoke as if he really meant to do something. “What are they going to prison for?”