Part 2

Leaving Jean in the next room, Grannie Dawson opened the door, and in walked--Farmer Martin and his big collie! So big and shaggy was that collie-dog, and yet so very quiet and gentle, that no child, even timid little Jean, could be afraid of him. The Merivals knew him well, and used often to pet and tease him when they went to the farm to see Mrs. Martin, and the farmer had now called at Grannie Dawson's cottage to ask whose child it was who seemed so afraid of his dog.

So the wolf was only dear old Cheviot, who had recognised Jean, and wanted to be patted. Oh, how relieved she was, and how much ashamed of herself!

When Jean had recovered herself a little, kind Farmer Martin carried her home in his arms, Cheviot trotting on before, wagging his tail and looking over his shoulder at her, as if to apologise for frightening her so.

It was quite dark when they reached the Vicarage, and some of the family had come home, and were wondering where Jean could be. The farmer told her story, and, to her surprise, she was petted and made much of by all.

But she had had a serious fright; her nerves were shaken, and she was not at all well for some days. The Merival children began to see that what they had laughed at as 'Jean's nonsense' was very real to her. They left off teasing and laughing at her, and encouraged her instead, for each of them wondered, in their heart of hearts, if they themselves could have shown such true courage as little Jean showed when she did what she was so much afraid of because she thought it right.

Jean was always nervous, but she left off being afraid of 'wolves,' for each time she heard her new pet name of Red Riding-hood she remembered what that terrible wolf had turned out to be.

*Lilla's Doll Show.*

Lilla had more dolls than she knew what to do with.

Some were sitting in chairs, some lying in cradles, and one was seated in a perambulator.

'I have more dolls than any other little girl has,' said she, as she held three in her arms. 'I have been counting them, and I have fifteen large dolls, and ten small ones, and twelve very small ones, and then there are the little china dolls in the bath and in the china cradles. To think of one little girl having so many dolls, mother! Sometimes I think I have too many. And there is no one but myself to play with them. I wish I knew what to do with them all.'

Mrs. Lee stroked Lilla's curly hair.

'Well, said Mrs. Lee, 'there are some very good little girls at the school in the village, and I am sure it would be a great treat to them to see all your dolls. And I want to give them a treat, so I will ask them to come here, and you shall arrange all your dolls and playthings in the nursery for them to look at. Don't you think that will be a very good plan?'

Lilla clapped her hands.

'Oh, how very nice that would be!'

And she and her mother dressed the dolls in their best clothes, and placed them all round the nursery.

'How pretty they look!' said Lilla; 'I think the little girls will like them. And may I give them some dolls to take home?'

'You may do as you please,' said Mrs. Lee, 'for they are your own dolls.'

So the little girls came--six of them; and they all said, 'Oh!'

'What a lot of dolls!' said one little girl; 'more dolls than there are at the shop.'

After the show Mrs. Lee gave the children some tea and plumcake; and then Lilla handed each of them a doll.

How pleased were the six little girls when they found they were each to have a doll! And all of them said that Miss Lilla's doll show was the best treat they had ever had.

*Selina and her Doll.*

'I should like to have a large wax doll of my own,' said Selina; 'large enough for me to make clothes for, with buttons and strings, to fasten and unfasten: I should play with it all day, and undress it at night, and put it in a cradle. It should have eyes to open and shut, and I should shut them at night, and then it would seem to be asleep. How nice it would be!'

Selina was sitting in the garden talking to herself, and did not think that any one heard her; but her mother had come into the garden and heard what her little girl was saying.

'You have two or three dolls, Selina,' said she.

'Yes, mother, but they are small ones, and I want a very large one. And my dolls have brown hair and black eyes, and I want a doll with blue eyes and light hair, and one that can open and shut its eyes, like Cousin Bella's.'

And Selina looked up at her mother.

'Mother, will you buy one for me?'

'I am afraid that I cannot buy one for you. I have not so much money as your Aunt Sarah has to spend upon dolls and playthings.'

Selina was silent for a moment, then she said,--

'Yes, I know that. Mother, I do not care about the large doll. I will make some new clothes for my small ones, and try to think that they are large.'

'That is a good child,' said her mother; 'and perhaps some day I shall be able to get a larger one for you.'

So Selina tried to think no more of her Cousin Bella's large doll, and her mother gave her a piece of muslin to make a frock for one of her own dolls, and some blue ribbon for a sash.

Selina sewed away merrily, and she and her mother talked over a letter that had come from her father, who was in France, and who said he hoped to be home again in a day or two.

'And tell Selina that I have got a box for her, with a present inside.'

'I wonder what it is?' said Selina.

She had not long to wait, for two days after they had had the letter, her father came. They were very glad to see him, and he was very glad to see them. And for a little time Selina forgot all he had said about a present. But her father said,---

'Well, Selina, you have not asked about your present.'

'Oh dear no! I had quite forgotten,' said Selina. 'What is it?'

'That you must find out,' said her father.

So Selina had the box opened.

'Oh, mother, mother! look, look! It is the most beautiful doll I have ever seen--more beautiful than Cousin Bella's, and it has light hair and blue eyes, and is as large as a baby.'

'I bought it in Paris,' said her father. 'They make very wonderful dolls there--dolls that can speak; and this doll that I have bought for my little Selina can say "Mamma" and "Papa."'

How pleased was Selina with her doll! Her father showed her how to press the doll to make it speak, and all Selina's little friends came to see the wonderful French doll that could say 'Mamma' and 'Papa.'

* * * * * * * *

_A NEW BOOK FOR GIRLS_

*MOLLY*

*A. C. HERTFORD*

EDINBURGH & LONDON OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER

_A NEW BOOK FOR GIRLS AND BOYS_

*COMRADES TRUE*

*By ELLINOR DAVENPORT ADAMS*

*ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDITH SCANNELL*

EDINBURGH & LONDON OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER

*LIST OF BOOKS IN THIS SERIES*

Adventures of King Clo A Princess in Disguise A Stranger in the Tea The King's Counsellor Poor Cock Robin Nellie at the Cave The House that Jack Built Fighting a Goose, and other Stories Kitty's Picnic Charley's Pussies The Girl without Shoes Aillie's Prayer The Rescue The Lieutenant's Daughters The German Pastor Dick Ennis How to be Beautiful Little Henry The Little Woodman Clive's Conquest Daring Dot Minnie Fenian's Wrong-doing Fanny Garden Henry and Eliza Sing a Song of Sixpence Mary, Mary, quite Contrary Where the Sky Falls The Highland Chairman Little Patience Mary Grant Mary and Archie Graham The Military Blacksmith Fanny's Old Frock The First Christmas Tree

EDINBURGH & LONDON OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER _And all Booksellers_

MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH