When the family had finally finished eating, there was still considerable batter left; Janie begged for some cakes for herself. Dinah consented, and so Janie and Miss Dollie sat down to eat, taking care to save some cakes for Dinah.
It certainly was bliss to watch the butter melt on those beautiful brown cakes, and to pour the golden syrup from the syrup cup, which had come all the way from Boston only last Christmas.
“Aren’t they delicious?” said a piping voice.
Janie jumped up and almost dropped the syrup cup. She had been so busy over those darling cakes, that she had almost forgotten about her doll sitting opposite her at table.
“O you precious thing! I never can get used to hearing you talk. How many times I have played tea-party here with you, and had to do all the talking myself!” and she ran round and gave her another hug. “Let’s go and tell papa and mamma about the breakfast,” she added; but as they stepped outside they found the family peeping in at the window.
“Isn’t it fun, mamma? And did you see the cunning pancakes? The mamma doll is actually going shopping because my knives won’t cut meat. The baby was really crying, and I must go up and see her,” she rattled on, without giving them time to reply, and then ran up the stairway with the big doll tripping after her.
Stopping at the door of the bed-room, she clasped her hands in rapture, for mamma doll was giving baby a bath. It was kicking up its weenty heels, and gurgling and cooing just like a real baby. While mamma was scrubbing, suddenly baby grabbed the end of the wash-cloth. Of course, it cried when she took it away, and then it stopped to listen, for mamma had wound up the little music box.
So the bath went on till baby was all clean down to its little toes, which mamma kissed and folded tenderly in the blanket. Then she dressed it and laid it in its cradle.