"Whom do you think they're all for?" Evelyn asked, gayly. "Guess."
I held her closer by the hand and gazed about me. I was very fond of dolls. I had never had enough. I believed that once or twice I had mentioned the fact. I drew a long breath. Just suppose—
"They're for orphans," Evelyn cried, quickly. "You know what orphans are, don't you, Rhoda? They are poor children who haven't any mothers or fathers to buy them dolls! It's a very sad thing to be an orphan."
I glanced about me again. The queen was very beautiful.
"Will they be good to them?" I questioned, wistfully.
I had heard of people whipping dolls! And once a little boy had drowned a doll! His sister's! It was dreadful!
"Oh, I'm sure this doll is going to be spoiled," Evelyn answered, with her hand on the queen.
I looked from her to the great doll with shy admiration. They both had the same fair hair, and the same pink cheeks and the same gray eyes. Their faces were just like flowers.
"I think her name is Evelyn, too," I said.
I had always thought that Evelyn liked me, but that day I was sure of it. We had a long talk in a big chair about all the things which I wanted for Christmas. She said that I was surely to come Christmas morning and see the orphans get their dolls. Somebody named Santa Claus would be there. I had heard of Santa Claus before, but only in a general sort of a way. He seemed to be a very kindly sort of person who gave away dolls by the hundred, sometimes to orphans, and sometimes just to little girls who needed them. It was a question how much you had to need them.