the
sly taking care of babies. She loves babies and babies always love
her. Delia'll go to her from my mother any time and as for Betsy
Hale--Rosie's the only one who can do anything with her."

But a whole week passed. And then one day, to Maida's great delight,
the tinkle of the bell preceded the entrance of Rose-Red.

"Let me look at your tops, please," Rosie said, marching to the
counter with the usual proud swing of her body.

Seen closer, she was even prettier than at a distance. Her smooth
olive skin glistened like satin. Her lips showed roses even more
brilliant than those that bloomed in her cheeks. A frown between her
eyebrows gave her face almost a sullen look. But to offset this, her
white teeth turned her smile into a flash of light. Maida lifted all
the tops from the window and placed them on the counter.

"Mind if I try them?" Rosie asked.

"Oh, do."

Rosie wound one of them with an expert hand. Then with a quick dash
forward of her whole arm, she threw the top to the floor. It danced
there, humming like a whole hiveful of bees.

"Oh, how lovely!" Maida exclaimed. Then in fervent admiration: "What
a wonderful girl you are!"

Rosie smiled. "Easy as pie if you know how. Want to learn?"

"Oh, will you teach me?"

"Sure! Begin now."

Maida limped from behind the counter. Rosie watched her. Rosie's
face softened with the same pity that had shone on the frightened
little dog.

"She's sorry for me," Maida thought. "How sweet she looks!"

But Rosie said nothing about Maida's limp. She explained the process
of top-spinning from end to end, step by step, making Maida copy
everything that she did. At first Maida was too eager--her hands
actually trembled. But gradually she gained in confidence. At last
she succeeded in making one top spin feebly.

"Now you've got the hang of it," Rosie encouraged her, "You'll soon
learn. All you want to do is to practice. I'll come to-morrow and
see how you're getting on."

"Oh, do," Maida begged, "and come to see me in the evening sometime.
Come this evening if your mother'll let you."

Rosie laughed scornfully. "I guess nobody's got anything to say
about _letting me_, if I make up my mind to come. Well, goodbye!"

She whirled out of the shop and soon the scarlet cape was a
brilliant spot in the distance.

But about seven that evening the bell rang. When Maida opened the
door there stood Rosie.

"Oh, Rosie," Maida said joyfully, throwing her arms about he