CHAPTER I A MYSTERIOUS DOG

t.Allwereevidentlyawaitingasummonstothefestiveboardbutsuchwastheperfectbreedingofthesedolls,thatnotasingleeyeoutofthewholetwenty-seven(DutchHanshadlostoneoftheblackbeadsfromhisworstedcountenance)turnedforamomenttowardthetable,orsomuchaswinked,astheylayindecorousrows,gazingwithmuteadmirationatBelinda.She,unabletorepressthejoyandpridewhichswelledhersawdustbosomtilltheseamsgaped,gaveanoccasionalbounceasthewindwavedheryellowskirts,ormadethebluebootsdanceasortofjiguponthedoor.Hangingwasevidentlynotapainfuloperation,forshesmiledcontentedly,andlookedasiftheredribbonaroundherneckwasnotuncomfortablytighttherefore,ifslowsuffocationsuitedher,whoelsehadanyrighttocomplain?Soapleasingsilencereigned,notevenbrokenbyasnorefromDinah,thetopofwhoseturbanalonewasvisibleabovethecoverlet,oracryfrombabyJane,thoughherbarefeetstuckoutinawaythatwouldhaveproducedshrieksfromalesswell-trainedinfant. Presentlyvoiceswereheardapproaching,andthroughthearchwhichledtoaside-pathcametwolittlegirls,onecarryingasmallpitcher,theotherproudlybearingabasketcoveredwithanapkin.Theylookedliketwins,butwerenot,forBabwasayearolderthanBetty,thoughonlyaninchtaller.Bothhadonbrowncalicofrocks,muchtheworseforaweek'swearbutcleanpinkpinafores,inhonoroftheoccasion,madeupforthat,aswellasthegraystockingsandthickboots.Bothhadround,rosyfacesrathersunburnt,pugnosessomewhatfreckled,merryblueeyes,andbraidedtailsofhairhangingdowntheirbackslikethoseofthedearlittleKenwigses. "Don'ttheylooksweet?"criedBab,gazingwithmaternalprideupontheleft-handrowofdolls,whomightappropriatelyhavesunginchorus,"Weareseven." "VerynicebutmyBelindabeatsthemall.Idothinksheisthesplendidestchildthateverwas!"AndBettysetdownthebaskettorunandembracethesuspendeddarling,justthenkickingupherheelswithjoyfulabandon. "Thecakecanbecoolingwhilewefixthechildren.Itdoessmellperfectlydelicious!"saidBab,liftingthenapkintohangoverthebasket,fondlyregardingthelittleroundloafthatlayinside. "Leavesomesmellforme!"commandedBetty,runningbacktogetherfairshareofthespicyfragrance.Thepugnosessniffeditupluxuriously,andthebrighteyesfeasteduponthelovelinessofthecake,sobrownandshiny,withatipsy-lookingBinpie-cruststaggeringdownoneside,insteadofsittingproperlya-top. "Maletmeputitontheverylastminute,anditbakedsohardIcouldn'tpickitoff.WecangiveBelindathatpiece,soit'sjustaswell,"observedBetty,takingthelead,asherchildwasqueenoftherevel. "Let'ssetthemround,sotheycanseetoo,"proposedBab,going,withahop,skip,andjump,tocollectheryoungfamily. Bettyagreed,andforseveralminutesbothwereabsorbedinseatingtheirdollsaboutthetableforsomeofthedearthingsweresolimptheywouldn'ts