“They will like to have me with them,” she said to herself. “Poor little dots, they always like big girls to notice them, and didn’t they make a fuss about Miss Forest last night! Well, Nan is fond enough of me, and little children find out so quickly what one is really like.”
Hester walked boldly into the group. The little dots were all as busy as bees, were not the least lonely, or the least shy, and very plainly gave the intruder to understand that they would prefer her room to her company. Hester was not proud with little children—she loved them dearly. Some of the smaller ones in question were beautiful little creatures, and her heart warmed to them for Nan’s sake. She could not stoop to conciliate the older girls, but she could make an effort with the babies. She knelt on the floor and took up a headless doll.
“I know a little girl who had a doll like that,” she said.
Here she paused and several pairs of eyes were fixed on her.
“Poor dolly’s b’oke,” said the owner of the headless one in a tone of deep commiseration.
“You are such a breaker, you know, Annie,” said Annie’s little five-year-old sister.
“Please tell us about the little girl what had the doll wifout the head,” she proceeded, glancing at Hester.
“Oh, it was taken to a hospital, and got back its head,” said Hester quite cheerfully; “it became quite well again, and was a more beautiful doll than ever.”
This announcement caused intense wonder and was certainly carrying the interest of all the little ones. Hester was deciding that the child who possessed the headless doll had a look of Nan about her dark brown eyes, when suddenly there was a diversion—the play-room door was opened noisily, banged-to with a very loud report, and a gay voice sang out—
“The fairy queen has just paid me a visit. Who wants sweeties from the fairy queen?”