"You can just ask Katy to lend you her dolly. We won't hurt her a mite, you know. We will use her just as if she were made of glass."
Nellie did not know what to say. She did not like to ask Katy to let her play with Lady Jane, for she knew how careful her sister was of her fine lady. And she did not like to tell Flora her thoughts, lest she should think her sister was selfish. She did not like to have any one think hard of her sister.
"We must have Lady Jane. I don't see how we can get along without her," added Flora, a little puzzled by the silence of Nellie.
"I don't like to ask Katy," said Nellie, at last.
"Why not? She will let you have her. Of course she will let you have her," added Flora, warmly.
"I don't think she will. You know we might break her neck, or lose off her legs or arms; or we might dirty her white silk dress."
"But we will be very careful. Let us go and ask her. It won't do any harm to ask her, you know. She can't do any more than refuse."
Nellie did not like to be refused, and she tried to prevent Flora from going any farther in the matter. She was sorry to have it appear that her sister was selfish, and she thought more of this than she did of being refused.
Flora said so much that at last she thought Katy might let her have the doll, and they ran down stairs to the sitting room, to have the matter settled.
"Will you lend us your dolly, Katy?" asked Nellie, and the tones of her voice showed how doubtful she was of the result of the question.