"But be careful not to let her eat too many, or she will have to be put to bed like your old Selma, and I shall have to play doll's-doctor again."
"Oh, no, uncle; I will eat some with her myself; bring them soon, pray do."
Meanwhile Heim had been observing Ernestine, who stood mute at a little distance.
"Well, what does our little Ernestine say to this wonderful new child?"
"Oh, uncle," Angelika complained, "she called it a lump of leather."
Heim looked gravely at Ernestine. "So young, and already such a skeptic! Only twelve years old, and take no pleasure in dolls? Poor child!"
Ernestine was silent. The words "Poor child" fell like molten lead into an open wound. Heim gave back the doll to Angelika. "Come here, Ernestine." She approached him shyly.
"What have you been doing? you look as if you had a guilty conscience?"
"Well, she has, Uncle Heim," Angelika interposed; "for she said, a little while ago, that it was silly to love any one; and that is very wrong!"
"Did you say that?" asked Heim astonished.