ll
those fine ones near the door."

"All but the ones with china heads; I make only bodies for the heads.
The china heads come from France and cost me dear. But they are good
bodies, as you can see, my dears; with joints where joints should be,
and with feet and hands of soft kid. 'Tis some work, I do assure you,
young ladies, to stitch fingers and toes as fingers and toes should be
stitched," and Mistress Mason looked very serious indeed. "And as for
making dolls with kid-covered heads, and then painting their faces and
giving a good expression to eyes and mouths, I do feel that it's almost
beyond me. I do indeed!"

The little old lady trotted briskly across the shop and unfastening
several dolls from the line held them toward her visitors. "Now here is
Lady Melissa Melvina," and Anne saw that on each of the white cards was
written the name belonging to the doll on whose sleeve the card was
pinned. "Lady Melissa Melvina is all kid," went on Mistress Mason,
"head, body, feet and fingers; and every stitch she wears is of the
best. She's worth twenty shillings. But----!" and Mistress Mason made an
impressive pause and shook her head. "Could I get that amount? No. So,
though 'tis far too little, you may have her for ten shillings six," and
she smiled as if she were really bestowing a gift upon them.

"We did not come to buy a doll, Mistress Mason, although I'm sure Anne
would like greatly to have so fine a doll as this; but we want to
purchase a book," said Rose.

The little old woman was evidently disappointed. "A book, indeed," she
responded. "I know not what is coming to people. Everybody, even the
very children, are asking for books. We can hardly keep our shelf neatly
filled, and I have half a mind not to keep them. Many a person who
should buy a stout pair of shoes puts the money in books," and she shook
her head as if not understanding such folly.

"'Tis for a present," responded Rose, as if to excuse their purchase,
"to a lady who lives in the country and is much alone."

"I see; well, maybe such folk find company in reading," said the
shopkeeper. "Here is a book may please her," and she took up a thin
volume and opened it. "'Tis a book of verse, but 'tis well thought of. I
see but little sense in verse myself; but, for verse, this reads well:

"'Great conquerors greater glory gain
By foes in triumph led than slain,'"

she read, and went on to a second couplet:

"'Ay me! What perils do e