fully.

"No; not to me," she repeated.

The Clown looked at her with sympathy.

"Shall I tell you a good story?" he asked. "Quite one of my best?"

"You are very kind," said the little Marionette. "I think, though, I
would rather hear it another time, if you do not mind."

"Not at all," answered the Clown as he danced away, jingling his bells
as he went. "_I_ don't mind, I'm not easily hurt. But take my advice, if
the situation is not a jest in itself make a jest dove-tail into the
situation. Good-bye, my little friend. Cheer up."

"Cheer up!" repeated the little lady. "But it is not easy. I shall have
to wait until the half-hour is over before I can do that."

After this she lay on the counter quietly, without taking notice of
anything or anyone. And the other Toys, seeing she wished to be left to
herself, did not disturb her.

By and by, the time when the Toys are able to talk and move about passed
by, and they all became still once more: just as you are accustomed to
see them. And people passed in and out, and to and fro, but the little
lady Marionette lay unobserved--alone and unhappy in her corner of the
counter.

"The half-hour is very long," she said. "Will it ever end? My heart is
very heavy...."

The little Marionette made a long pause.

"Go on, if you please," said the little girl.

But the little lady remained silent.

"_Do_ go on," repeated her small friend.

Yet she never answered.

"What is the matter with you?" asked the little girl impatiently.

She looked closely at the Marionette as she spoke.

Why, were those tears she saw, or was it only the light shining upon
the little lady's glass eyes? Glass eyes shine very easily, it is true.
Still, supposing she _were_ crying and wanted to be comforted? She would
ask her.

"You are not crying, dear, are you?" said the little girl.

The little Marionette gave a great sigh.

"Perhaps," she replied gently.

"What is it about?" asked the little girl with much sympathy.

Then all at once she understood.

"I believe," she exclaimed, "you have been telling me a story about
yourself! It all happened to you to-day, while I was away, didn't it?"

The little lady rubbed two tiny wax hands across her two glass eyes.
"You have guessed rightly," she said in a little faltering voice.

"Oh, I am sorry!" said her little friend with great sympathy. "I have
been out all the afternoon, so I never heard Auntie say she was going to
send you and your p