“So many people seem to be telling them now,” said Lady Grace sadly. “It is very dreadful.”
“But Teddy didn’t tell a story,” said Peggy. “He only thought that Mr. Emma would say that, and told Colonel Jim so.”
Wooden’s aunt, who was already very busy with her tea, slapped her knee, and said, with a mouth full of bread and butter, “There now! Didn’t I say the very same thing? I was the only one as stuck up for Teddy. I said he wouldn’t tell a lie, because I knowed he wouldn’t.”
“You didn’t say what Peggy says he told Colonel Jim,” said Wooden’s mother. “Are you sure he said that, dear?”
“Yes,” said Peggy stoutly. “That is what he must have said.”
“Well, I am sure I am very glad to hear it,” said Wooden, with a sigh of relief. “I know you wouldn’t tell a story, dear, and if you say that is what Teddy said, of course he said it. I am very glad he didn’t tell a story, as I shouldn’t like to think ill of him. I suppose you couldn’t tell us what Rose really said, could you? I have never liked her, but you did exchange her for me over there, and I have always felt sorry for her, because the exchange was such a good thing for me. I should like not to think badly of her, if I could.”
“Rose has told nothing but stories,” said Peggy decisively. “She is really wicked, and when Queen Rosebud comes to the throne again I hope she will do something to her. I am very glad I did exchange her for you, dear Wooden, especially now I know what she is really like.”
“Perhaps if she had stayed with you she might not have been so wicked,” said Wooden; and Peggy thought this was a great compliment from a doll, because in some ways they are better than human beings. Of course they have not so many temptations to be naughty, but I am not sure that they don’t resist the temptations that they do have better than a good many humans. Rose was quite an exception, and as for Selim, he wasn’t a proper doll at all, and had spent his active life in being so harried about a chess board, with hectoring Queens, and heavy Castles, and sliding Bishops, and hopping Knights, and perky little Pawns always giving him check, and he not able to move more than one square at a time, that perhaps it was no wonder that he would do anything to get into a position in which he could really act like a King. However, I am far from excusing his abominable behaviour at this particular time, and think that Peggy was quite right in hoping that he would come to be soundly punished for it.
When they had nearly finished their tea, footsteps and voices were heard coming up the stairs, and to their surprise the Lord Chancellor came into the room, followed by Mr. Emma.
The Lord Chancellor looked annoyed, and Mr. Emma looked frightened. Peggy guessed at once that this was because the Lord Chancellor had found out about Mr. Emma giving her his keys.