Six tiny chairs stood around the room, besides two sofas, and a rocking chair. Near the bed was a handsome stuffed arm-chair, in which Miss Dolly herself was seated.
Miss Dolly was a very pretty young lady. She had a wax head, with glass eyes, and real hair. She was clothed in a white muslin dress, trimmed with satin ribbon. It was rather a cool dress for Christmas; but I suppose Flora thought she ought to look like a bride at this time, though it was winter.
Her cousin Sarah had never seen Miss Dolly or her mansion house before, and she was so pleased that she danced with delight. She had to take up Miss Dolly herself, and examine every article of her dress. Then she picked up every article in the room and looked at it. Not content with this, the bed had to be pulled to pieces, and re-made, so that she could see every part of it.
Henry Vernon, being a boy, was, of course, above taking an interest in dollies and baby-houses. But he could not help being pleased with the pretty room in which Miss Dolly lived. He looked at the bed, the sofas, and the chairs, and said some smart things about dolls and baby-houses in general.
He then turned his attention to the rocking-horse, the tin steamboat, and other wonderful things that were in the play room. Frank showed him all the toys, hoops, rattles, and “things” he had. By the time he had finished, and the girls had put Miss Dolly’s room to rights, Flora called the meeting to order by hinting that she had something to say.
All were ready to hear her; but poor Flora was so wild over her great plan, that she could hardly say what she wished. She had been thinking of something for a long time, and she almost trembled for fear the others would not like her plan.
“Do you know what I have been thinking about these three weeks?” said she, her pretty face red with excitement.
“How should we know?” replied Henry, with a laugh.
“Was it about a sleigh ride?” asked Sarah.
“No; nothing of that kind.”