"What can it be?" said Mother. "Ah! Geoffrey has caught him. Now we shall see what it was."
But Geoffrey came back into the room with the reddest of cheeks and the emptiest of hands.
"What had the dog got, Geoffrey?" asked Mother. "Mollie, what is the matter?"
Certainly Mollie's conduct was peculiar. She was making signs to Geoffrey, pointing out of the window, opening her mouth, and shaking her head.
"T-t-t—" stammered Mollie, and then there was a knock at the front door.
"Who can that be?" said Mother.
A voice was heard in the hall, a voice they all knew.
"Uncle Percy himself," cried Mother; "then, Mollie, he must have brought your doll."
Uncle Percy came into the room and was welcomed warmly by Mother, but very quietly by the children. As soon as they could they slipped out of the room and made their way into the garden. "We shall have to tell now," said Mollie. "Where did you put it?"
"I threw it behind the laurel-bush," said Geoffrey. "I suppose I had better get it."