others seem to love her ever and ever so much!" mused Annabel. "It
must be because she is so kind."

Both new dolls were silent for a while, thinking deeply.

"How do you feel?" Thomas finally asked.

"Very much ashamed of myself!" answered Annabel, "And you, Thomas?"

"As soon as Raggedy Ann awakens, I shall tell her just how much ashamed
I am of myself and if she can, I want her to forgive me!" Thomas said.

"The more I look at her, the better I like her!" said Annabel.

"I am going to kiss her!" said Thomas.

"You'll awaken her if you do!" said Annabel.

But Thomas climbed out of bed and kissed Raggedy Ann on her painted
cheek and smoothed her yarn hair from her rag forehead.

And Annabel-Lee climbed out of bed, too, and kissed Raggedy Ann.

Then Thomas and Annabel-Lee gently carried Raggedy Ann and put her in
her own bed and tenderly tucked her in, and then took their seats in the
two little red chairs.

After a while Annabel said softly to Thomas, "I feel ever and ever so
much better and happier!"

[Illustration]

"So do I!" Thomas replied. "It's like a whole lot of sunshine coming
into a dark room, and I shall always try to keep it there!"

Fido had one fuzzy white ear sticking up over the edge of his basket and
he gave his tail a few thumps against his pillow.

Raggedy Ann lay quietly in bed where Thomas and Annabel had tucked her.
And as she smiled at the ceiling, her candy heart (with "I LOVE YOU"
written on it) thrilled with contentment, for, as you have probably
guessed, Raggedy Ann had not been asleep at all!

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

RAGGEDY ANN AND THE KITTENS

Raggedy Ann had been away all day.

Marcella had come early in the morning and dressed all the dolls and
placed them about the nursery.

Some of the dolls had been put in the little red chairs around the
little doll table. There was nothing to eat upon the table except a
turkey, a fried egg and an apple, all made of plaster of paris and
painted in natural colors. The little teapot and other doll dishes were
empty, but Marcella had told them to enjoy their dinner while she was
away.

The French dolly had been given a seat upon the doll sofa and Uncle Clem
had been placed at the piano.

Marcella picked up Raggedy Ann and carried her out of the nursery when
she left, telling the dolls to "be real good children, while Mamma is
away!"

When the door closed, the tin soldier winked at the Dutch-boy doll and
ha