Dilly thought of just one thing she could do. A last kiss on Arabella's face, and then—"Rover!"
The cry sounded so sharp and strange that Rover turned his head. S-w-i-s-h! Right down at his side there swooped such a queer-looking doll as Rover, with all his varied experience, had never seen. He made a dash for it.
Dilly darted past him, and, gathering up the dolls, laid them in the hall, and shut the door. Her apron was over her face when she went down the walk, but a strange, crunching sound told her what had happened to her doll.
Mildred found Dilly at home a few minutes later, folding away a little, ragged doll's cap, and drenching it with tears.
Mildred put her arms around Dilly's neck. "Oh, Dilly," she said, "it was so beautiful of you! Aunt Lou saw it all from the window. I'm so 'shamed to think how I've treated you. Do you think you could forgive me? If you could I'd love you all my life."
Dilly forgave her, and, all in her ragged dress, went home with Mildred. Every little girl kissed her, and she stopped to tea.
Not long after, a beautiful doll came to Dilly. It was Mildred's gift, and all the little girls who were at the party helped to dress it.
Dilly loves it dearly, and though it will never take the place of the dear, double-faced doll, she is very happy, for Mildred is her loyal friend.
—Selected.