"But I'm your Princess," said Dot, with dignity, "and while the Queen is away I have the right to rule in this Valley."
"So have I," said Tot.
"Then rule!" shouted the saucy wooden doll. "Rule as the Queen does, and give us music to dance by."
"Yes! yes!" they all cried. "We want to dance!" And they flung their arms over their heads, and leaped and pranced so energetically that the ground was quite strewn with sawdust that leaked out of them.
Dot was much troubled at the noisy demands of the dolls. She had expected a quiet and happy day playing with these pretty creatures, and now, even in the first hour of their awakening, they were proving very troublesome. Tot seemed to enjoy the excitement, however, and stood behind Dot, with his hands in his pockets, smiling gleefully.
While she was thinking what was best to be done, the rag doll Scollops came up to Dot and said:
"Since the music box is locked up, why do you not order out the pewter band to play for them?"
"That is a good idea," she exclaimed, her face brightening. "Go at once, Scollops and tell the musicians to come and play."
While Scollops was on this errand the dolls became more noisy than ever, and one of them tried to knock Tot's crown off. But the boy gave the naughty doll such a strong push that he pushed over a dozen or more that stood behind it.
