That done, mamma gave them leave to pack the clothes belonging to Miss Bessie Margaret Marian, and Miss Margaret Colonel Horace Rush Bradford, in another box; saying that since she did not feel as if she could do without her own little daughters, she would not ask them to leave the whole of their large family behind, and thought the dolls might prove a great diversion when they were tired, or perhaps shut up in some hotel on a rainy day.
They were busy deciding what dresses should be taken and what left, when Mrs. Norris came round to see Mrs. Bradford for a few moments, bringing Lily with her; and while the ladies talked in one room, the little girls chattered away in the other, Belle coming in about the same time.
“Oh!” said Lily, “is your mamma going to let you take your large dolls? my mamma will only let me take a tiny, weeny one that can go in a travelling-bag.”
“I wouldn’t take any then,” said Belle. “I’m going to take my largest, biggest one of all.”
“Not Belle Maggie Bessie?” questioned Maggie.
“Yes: Belle Maggie Bessie!” repeated Belle, in a tone of determined obstinacy and snappishness, which showed that the subject was a sore one with her.
“But your papa said last night that you could not take her, ’cause such a large doll would be too much trouble,” said Bessie.
“Well, anyhow, I’m going to: he said I could this morning,” answered Belle.
“Then you cried and cried and bothered him, till he said yes: I know you,” said Maggie, reproachfully.