Mehitable took her doll out of the carriage with a motherly air, and sat down on the door-step with it in her lap.
"How much longer you goin' to play with dolls?" inquired Hannah Maria.
"I don't know," replied Mehitable, with a little shamed droop of her eyelids.
"You can't when you get a little bigger, anyhow. Is that a new dress she's got on?"
"Yes; Aunt Susy made it out of a piece of her blue silk."
"It's handsome, isn't it? Let me take her a minute." Hannah Maria took the doll and cuddled it up against her shoulder as she had used to do with her own. She examined the blue silk dress. "My doll had a real handsome plaid silk one," said she, and she spoke as if the doll were dead. She sighed.
"Have you given her away?" inquired Mehitable, in a solemn tone.
"No; she's packed away. I'm too old to play with her, you know. Mother said I had other things to 'tend to. Dolls are well 'nough for little girls like you. Here, you'd better take her; I've got to finish my sewin'."
Hannah Maria handed back the doll with a resolute air, but she handed her back tenderly; then she sewed until she reached the pin. Mehitable rocked her doll, and watched.
When Hannah Maria reached the pin she jumped up. "I'm comin' back in a minute," said she, and disappeared in the house. Presently Mehitable heard the dishes rattle.