"What?" demanded Cornelius, with more curiosity than thoughtfulness.
Elsie flashed him a look that meant, "How can you?" for Cornelius had been able to throw aside his own helps to walking. Then she answered triumphantly, "Playing with dolls—for one thing!"
"Dolls!" echoed Cornelius, laughing "Ho, ho! Dolls!"
"Well, I don't care, they are! Ain't they, Miss Lucy?"
"What is it, Elsie?" smiled the nurse across from her desk. "I was n't noticing."
"Dolls—ain't dolls more fun that playing ball?"
"That depends," answered Miss Lucy. "Cornelius or Moses would no doubt enjoy a game of ball better than the prettiest doll that ever was made; but you and Leonora and Corinne, for instance, would be unusual little girls if you did n't like dolls best."
Elsie and Cornelius faced each other with good-natured laughter.
"But I hain't got any doll," lamented Leonora.
"Nary a ball!" declared Cornelius, striking his reast dramatically. "So we're even!"