“Don’t you tell a soul,” whispered Tess.

“What’s a soul?” asked Sammy.

“It’s a person,” Tess informed him. “Don’t you dare tell anybody, will you?”

“Tell ’em what?” Sammy wanted to know.

“What I’m going to tell you and Dot now.”

“All right, I won’t tell,” promised Sammy.

“Cross your heart!”

This rite was performed rapidly.

“You, too, Dot!”

“Can’t I tell even my Alice-doll?”