It was a real fight. The confusion was so great that it was impossible to tell who was beating whom. Vanka tried to separate the fighters, but it ended in his beating anybody and everybody who came within his arm's reach. And as he was the strongest, his guests came off pretty badly.
"Help! Help! Heavens' help!" cried Petrooshka, loudest of all, trying to strike the Doctor.
"They are murdering Petrooshka! Help! Help!"
Slipper was the only one who escaped the fight. She crept under the couch just in time. She closed her eyes in fear. Rabbit, seeking safety, hid inside Slipper.
"Where are you going?" grumbled Slipper.
"Keep still! They might hear us and then both of us would get it," pleaded little Rabbit, peeping through the tiny hole in Slipper's toe. "What a rascal that Petrooshka is! He beats everyone and shouts loudest of all. He's a fine guest, I must say! You know I hardly got away from Wolf. My! it's horror, just to think of it! Just see Duckling with her tiny legs up. Poor thing! She must be dead."
"How foolish you are, little Rabbit," said Slipper. "All the dolls have fainted and so has Duckling."
They fought and fought and fought until Vanka drove away all the guests except the Dolls.