“Don’t what?” asked Hank.
“Please don’t choke her that way. All her sawdust might come out. It did once. I’ll just hang her up to dry. Poor Alice-doll!” murmured the little girl, as she clasped her toy in her arms.
“Were you almost drowned?” and she cuddled her doll still closer in her arms.
“Don’t hold her so close to you, Dot,” cautioned Ruth. “She’ll get you soaking wet.”
“I don’t care!” muttered Dot. “I’ve got to put dry clothes on her so she won’t catch cold.”
“And that’s just what I don’t want to have to do for you—change your clothes again to-day,” went on Ruth. “You can love your doll even if you don’t hold her so close.”
“Well, anyhow I’m glad she didn’t drown,” said Dot.
“So’m I,” remarked Tess. “I’ll go and help you change her. I’m glad we didn’t bring Almira and her kittens along, for they look so terrible when they’re wet—cats do.”
“And I’m glad we didn’t have Sammy and Billy Bumps here to fall in!” laughed Agnes. “Goats are even worse in the water than cats.”
“Well, aren’t you going to help me fish any more?” asked Hank, as the two little girls walked away, deserting their poles and lines.