Candace sailed through the doorway with ample satisfaction with everything and herself in particular.
"Whar's little Miss?" she demanded, her turban nodding in all directions, and her black eyes rolling from side to side.
"There, Candace," said some one, "over in the corner with Jasper."
"Oh! I see her," said Candace, waddling over to them. "Well, now, Phronsie, seein' you couldn't come to me for somethin' I made 'xpressly fer you, w'y, Candace has to come to you. See dat now, chile!"
She unrolled the parcel, disclosing the wonderful doll adorned with Candace's own hair, and "Ole Missus' ruffles," then stood erect, her bosom swelling with pride and delight.
"O my goodness me!" exclaimed Alexia, tumbling back after the first and only glance, and nearly overturning Cathie who was looking over her shoulder. "Polly Pepper, O dear me!" Then she sat down on the floor and laughed till she cried.
"Hush—hush!" cried Polly, running over to her, "do stop, Alexia, and get up. She'll hear you, and we wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world. Do stop, Alexia."
"O dear me!" cried Alexia gustily, and holding her sides while she waved back and forth; "if it had been—a—respectable doll, but that—horror! O dear me!"
"Stop—stop!" commanded Polly, shaking her arm.
But Alexia was beyond stopping herself. And in between Candace's delighted recital how she combed "de ha'r to take de curl out," and how "ole Missus' ruffles was made into de clothes," came the peals of laughter that finally made every one in the room stop and look at the girls.