In response to her advice, he clambered over and seated himself upon the mantel.
"Oh! oh!" she expostulated in alarm, lest the shelf should fall beneath his weight.
As that catastrophe did not occur, he coolly shifted his position, made a teasing grimace at her, and when she turned away slipped down and resumed his gymnastic exercises.
There was nothing else on the top story to excite Annie's surprise, but she was glad when Lucy secured the box and led the way downstairs.
II.
"When the little friends were again in their accustomed play corner,
Lucy, with much satisfaction, displayed her present.
"Your Aunt Mollie must be awful nice!" exclaimed Annie. "How lucky you are! Three more dresses for your doll! Clementina has not had any new clothes for a long time. I think that red silk dress is the prettiest, don't you?"
"I haven't quite decided," answered Lucy. "Christabel looks lovely in it; but I think the blue one is perhaps even more becoming."
They tried the various costumes upon Lucy's doll, and admired the effect of each in turn.
"Still, I like the red silk dress best," said Annie.