"What!"
Something in Hester's dismayed face brought the prancing feet to a sudden stop.
"It—it's a doll, is n't it?" the child stammered.
Hester's hands grew cold.
"A—a doll!" she gasped.
Penelope nodded—the light gone from her eyes.
For a moment the woman was silent; then she threw back her head with a little shake and laughed forcedly.
"A doll!—why, child, it's as much nicer than a doll as—as you can imagine. It's a piano, dear—a pi-a-no!" she repeated impressively, all the old enthusiasm coming back at the mere mention of the magic word.
"Oh!" murmured Penelope, with some show of interest.
"And you're to learn to play on it!"