After dinner, the Doctor went upstairs with them to see Gene's purchases. The young girl spread the pretty little dresses on Mary's bed. There was a soft, white, cloth one braided with pale blue; a dark blue cashmere trimmed with tiny, white pearl buttons; several dainty white frocks of summer material, besides ginghams, lawns, and dimities in blue and white plaids, checks, and stripes.
"They are just lovely, Gene, lovely!" cried Mary.
"Yes, indeed, Gene, you have shown very good taste in making your choice."
"Thank you, Doctor. I was not sure whether you and Mary would care for the little dark blue dress, as she seems to have nothing but white and pale blue ones. It may be worn with a white guimpe as a change from the blue silk one that goes with it."
Gene began to return the things to their boxes, and the Doctor, in response to a sign from Mary, followed the child into the hall and to his own room.
"You don't mean to tell me you made that, Goldilocks!"
"I did! I did! All except tying the ribbons. The edges of the ruffles are not very even, so will you please trim them a little?"
"Leave them just as they are. The whole frame looks like a big hollyhock, and the uneven places make it more natural. The petals of a flower are not all exactly even, you know."
"Then let us wrap it up and put it away. Where can we hide it so Gene won't see it?"
"How about the bottom drawer of my dresser? There is a large flat box in there that we shall lay it in."