ogether with them, and the dollies used to do every thing that
any body could do.

Miss Fanny used to visit a great deal, in spite of her dirty, ragged
clothes; so did Miss Lucy, with two holes in her head, and Miss Mary,
with her broken leg, and Miss Susie, with her broken neck. All of them
used to go a-visiting, except Miss Dinah, and she, being a black girl,
had to do the sweeping and tend the door.

These ladies were all of them so bashful that they would not speak in
company, and Katy and Nellie had to do all the talking for them.

But they used to "make believe" the dollies talked, and this did just as
well. They used to say just such things as the ladies did who called on
Mrs. Green, and never left without being urged to stay longer, and also
to call again; which they always promised to do.

On the whole, they were very wonderful dollies; at least they were until
Lady Jane came, and she was such a fine lady, with her white silk dress
and her _real_ hair, that none of them could shine after that.

[Illustration: "Lend us your Dolly."]

II.

One day Flora Lee came to see Nellie Green, and to spend the afternoon
with her. It was in the month of November, and the weather was too cold
to permit them to play in the garden; so they said they would have a
good time in the house.

Katy Green had to go away, and could not play with them. Nellie was
very sorry for this, for she not only liked to have her sister with her,
but she also wanted the company of Lady Jane.

She told Flora how sorry she was, and they agreed that it was too bad
Katy had to go away, for she was older than they, and could help them a
great deal in their plays. Besides, they wanted one fine lady among the
dollies, for they had a certain play which required just such a person.

"I wish I had brought Miss Dolly with me. I guess she is fine enough,"
said Flora.

"I wish you had," replied Nellie; "but as you have not, we can't help it
now. I dare say Miss Fanny will do."

"I'll tell you what you can do, Nellie."

"What?"

"You can just ask Katy to lend you her dolly. We won't hurt her a mite,
you know. We will use her just as if she were made of glass."

Nellie did not know what to say. She did not like to ask Katy to let her
play with Lady Jane, for she knew how careful her sister was of her fine
lady. And she did not like to tell Flora her thoughts, lest she should
think her sister was selfish. She did not like to have any one t