[Enter Tibbie at the first sound of Sally's
voice. Turns up the light, draws back the
curtain in front of the dolls, and kneels
before them. Takes up the bride with a
reverent hand, and after long contemplating
her, kisses her very seriously and tenderly.
Then moves the dolls about to
bring those she has chosen closer together.
Tibbie [meditatively]. I can't play they are a family, there are too many all the same age and all girls. I will play they are a hundred girls in an orphan asylum—a very rich orphan asylum—and that I am the superintendent. To-morrow I'm going to give each a beautiful doll for a Christmas present. This little girl's name is Rosa. That one is Nellie. That one is Katie. That one is Sue. And Mary. And Jennie. And Ethel, and Victoria, and Blossom, and Violet, and Pansy, and Goldenlocks, and Cherrylips—— Oh, dear, I know I can never name them all. There surely ain't enough names to go around and I'd just have to make up names for them. Kirry, Mirry, Dirry, Birry! These don't sound like anything. I wonder what they do every day in orphan asylums. They must have school and learn lessons, I guess. I'll be the teacher, now. Miss Snowdrop! [Tibbie assists the dolls to move, and answers for them in a squeaking little voice.] "Yes, ma'am." Spell knot. "N-o-t." Not at all, my dear. Sit down again, my dear. Miss Lily; stand up, miss, and see if you can do any better this morning. Miss Pansy, I see you putting your foot out to trip poor Miss Blossom. Don't you do that again, child, or I shall have to stand you in the corner. Why, Rosy, how red your cheeks are! Don't you feel well? "No, ma'am." Never mind, don't cry. I must take you to the doctor's right away. Come, my dear. [Goes to dresser and looks in glass.] Good-morning, doctor. "Good-morning, ma'am" [in a deep voice]; "you've got a sick child there, I see." Yes, doctor, this is a young lady from the orphan asylum, and she says she's got a bad pain in her face. "Yes, yes. I see, I see. Well, we'll give her something to cure those red cheeks right up. Just come here, miss." [Tibbie, as the doctor, powders the doll's cheeks very gently.] Very well. Good-by, doctor. "Good-by, ma'am. If she isn't better in fifteen minutes, let me know." Now, my dear, you needn't go back to school. The orphans might catch it. I'd like to rock you in my arms, but the superintendent is too busy.... Oh, dear, I don't like to be a superintendent. I think I'll have you for my little girl [draws forward a low rocker and carefully turns down light], and get you some nice little sisters [gathers a dozen dolls], and then rock you all to sleep. [Settles comfortably in the chair.] It's bedtime, and you must be rocked and loved a little. Now, sh! Sh! Sh! Sh! What's that, Mamie? Sing to you? Very well. [Sings.] Rosie, what are you crying for now? You want me to rock faster? All right, I will. [Rocks faster. Rosie continues to cry, and the rocking soon becomes furious. In the excitement one doll slips unnoticed to the floor.] There, that's better. Now, children, do go to sleep.... Mother is sleepy herself. [Rocking becomes slower and slower, and at last stops entirely. Tibbie falls asleep.... Enter Sally.]
Sally. Lively, Tibbie! Miss Catherine has got back. We must be packing off home. I declare I lost sight of the time. There's just no one like a fireman to be entertaining, I do declare. Mrs. Bonnet won't be long coming now. [Turns up light, sees Tibbie rubbing her eyes, and the dolls all disarranged. Blankly.] Law! do you suppose we can get them to look as they did? I hope t' Heaven she didn't know which went next to which. Do you remember, Tibbie, where they all belonged?
Tibbie. Yes, the bride went here. The rosebuds here. The purple and gray here. I can put them all back, every one.
Sally [cheerfully, again]. No one'll ever know in the world they've been disturbed. [Draws off to get general effect. Dives for the last doll, which Tibbie sleepily hands up from the floor.]
Sally [in a ghastly whisper]. Tibbie! look at its head! [Tibbie gazes in a puzzled way. The face is crushed. Sally groans.] Oh, Tibbie! now what'll we do!
Tibbie [truthfully, lifting a very pale face]. I didn't do it! I was just as careful! She was one of my daughters. I had her in my lap, rocking her to sleep with the others; she slipped off my lap—there were too many for one lap, I guess—but I didn't step on her. Sure, Sally,—sure as I live, I didn't step on her!
Sally. Oh, law! You must have rocked on her. Oh, Tibbie, what'll I do? Here, give her to me.... No, she can't never be fixed. I wonder if I can cover her up, here. [Moves the dolls about tentatively.] But what's the good? They'll count them, and there'll be the mischief of a fuss. Oh, Tibbie—— [reaching the end of her good-nature] ——why did I ever think of bringing you here? Now look at all the trouble you've brought on me, when I thought you'd be so careful! And I told you and told you till I was hoarse. And here you've ruined all! [Drops into a chair before the wreck. Tibbie, not daring to meet Sally's eyes, stands motionless and speechless.] I declare I don't know what to do! I wish I'd never seen 'em! I wish there'd never been any Christmas! Oh, it's a great job, this! Tibbie, you've done for me this time!
[Enter Catherine.
Catherine. Hurry, and get off, now, Sally.