“We will have the story,” replied Miss Ruth, “because I shall go out to see Alice to-morrow, and if she would like, I will tell it to her there.”
“Please begin now, then,” urged Betty.
“But first I want to show you what I have for the Club to work upon,” said Miss Ruth, beginning to undo the wrappings of a large, flat pasteboard box which stood upon the table.
“O, goody!” cried Betty, who had been eying the box with lively curiosity.
“Paper dolls!” exclaimed Elsa, clasping her hands in rapturous delight, as the box-cover came off.
“What beauties!” Betty said, dancing a quick-step in her excitement.
There were twelve sets of dolls, all fully dressed, and with extra costumes, ready to be painted.
“All those dresses,—all the hats, too, to be painted,” said Elsa, in great glee.
“What fun! What fun!” cried Betty, whirling around like a lively top, while Miss Ruth took from the box a large tin case of water-colour paints and several brushes, and placed them upon some sheets of blotting-paper which already covered the polished mahogany table.
Betty had just been out to the kitchen for some water,—at Miss Ruth’s suggestion and to grim-faced Sarah’s great delight,—and she was filling the paint saucers when she glanced up at the sound of loud sleigh-bells and cried out: “Why! there is Alice!”