Miss Isabella. Here, what are you doing? get up, do, and stop your noise! [For Minnie couldn't help a long-sounding o—h! when her doll flopped down. So Maggie made the young lady catch hold of Mr. Morris's shoulder straps and help twitch him on the sofa again, to go on with his proposal.]
Mr. Morris. Will you marry me, Miss Isabella? I'm such a nice young man—you don't know—and we'll live in a real pretty house.
Miss Isabella. No, I can't marry you till after you have come to dinner; mamma said so.
Mr. Morris. Well, then, I must wait; but only say that you will have me.
Isabella. Oh, yes!
At this point the children laid down the dolls and broke into such a merry trill of laughter, that it would have done anybody's heart good to hear them. It seemed so funny to have the dolls making love in this fashion, they couldn't help it. As soon as they were sober again, the play went on thus:
Mr. Morris. Well, Miss Isabella, I b'lieve I must go now; I've got an old sister at home, who will scold me if I don't come back. Can't you 'vite her too? She has a pretty bad time, poor thing! 'cause she is so oldy that she is kept on a shelf till she's all dusty. Her wig is dreadful fuzzy, and some of it comes out and stands up at the top. But I'll dust her well and stick a pin in her wig to keep it on, and make her look real nice, if you'll only ask her.
Isabella. Well, I guess she can come; but she must have a new dress for the wedding.
Mr. Morris. Yes, she shall, certainly. Good-by, Miss Isabella. I'm going down town pretty soon, so your father can ask me to come.
Miss Isabella. Oh yes, do! I want you to come velly much.