“A thimbleful of fresh cobwebs, Long-Legged Spinner!” said the little old woman, in a businesslike way.
Then the big Black Spider moved his legs faster than a cat can wink her eyes, and in a few seconds the fresh cobwebs were spun.
“That is very nice,” said the little old woman. “Here’s a fat Bluebottle for you.”
The big Black Spider seized the Fly and ran nimbly to the ceiling again. The Fly buzzed and buzzed in a pitiful way, and Sweetest Susan thought to herself, “Oh, what should I do if that was poor me!”
Then the little old woman hunted in her satchel until she found a piece of mutton suet, and with this and the fresh cobwebs she quickly stopped the hole in Rag-Tag’s back. This done, she went around and doctored each one. She glued more hair on the China Doll. She fixed the nose of the Jip-jap Doll. She gave a new blue eye to the Brown Doll.
“There!” she exclaimed when she had finished, “I think you look a little more like yourself now. But you would look a great deal better if you had any clothes fit to wear. Now pay attention! What is the name of this horrible giantess that drags you about and beats you so?”
“It’s no giantess, Granny,” replied Rag-Tag. “It’s a little girl, and sometimes she’s very, very good.”
“Hush!” cried the little old woman. “Speak when you are spoken to.”
“She is a giantess, Granny,” said the Brown Doll. “She’s taller than that chair yonder.”
“Where is she now?” the little old woman asked fiercely.