“Seraphina was my very first doll, the only child I ever had until Grandpapa gave me all the rest,” Phronsie sent a smile over to the old gentleman in the corner, “and she’s in Mamsie’s big bureau in the bedroom now.”
“I’m going to see,” declared all three children at once, hopping up.
“Oh, no! you mustn’t,” said Phronsie; “not till this cushion is done. Then, if you’re very good, I’ll show her to you.”
“We’ll be just as good,” they all cried, “as we can be,” and running back to sit down on the floor again at her feet. “Do go on,” said Elyot.
“You see, I wanted Seraphina to be just as nice as Polly kept things; and so I was scrubbing her with soap and water one day, when Polly called out, ‘O Phronsie! the big dog’s out here that scared the naughty organ-man; and the boy;’ and before she could wipe my hands and my face, for you see I’d got the soap all over me too, I ran to see them, and Jasper kissed me, and got the soft soap all in his mouth.”
“Ugh!” cried King, with a grimace.
“Yes, that’s just the way Japser looked, and that’s what he said too!” said Phronsie, going on with the recital.
“Who was Japser?” demanded Barby.
“Why, he was our Popsie,” said Elyot, who had heard the story many times. “Now do stop talking, Barby. Well, go on,” he begged, turning back to Phronsie.
“And I couldn’t say Jasper,” said Phronsie, “and then sometimes we called him Jappy.”