CHAPTER XXXII

WHO STOLE MARY MARIE’S CLOTHES

MARY FRANCES stepped into the sewing room. She had Mary Marie’s trunk under her arm.

“Oh, did you finish the cute little muff and tippet, and work bag, your Seamstress-ship?” asked Fairy Lady.

“Yes, indeed,―I’ll show them to you,” said Mary Frances, lifting the lid of the trunk.

“Oh, mercy!” she cried, “Oh, dear! Oh, my! Oh―oh!”

“Why, what’s the matter?” asked Fairy Lady and Scissors Shears in one breath.

“Why,―they’re gone! They’re gone! They’re gone―the trunk is empty! Who could have stolen them? Ou―ou―! Ou! Ou!”

“They’re gone!” sobbed Scissors Shears.

“They’re gone!” cried Emery Bag.

“They’ve went!” said Tommy Pin Cushion.

“What―shall―I―do? What―shall―I―do? What―shall―I―do?” sobbed Mary Frances.

“What was in there?” asked Fairy Lady.

“Oh, that sweet little kimono and Mary Marie’s bath robe, and―her―her―everything―they were all in the trunk. Last night, when I finished her tippet, I put that in. I’m sure I did! I wanted to show them all to Mother, and now, I won’t have them. Oh, dear! Mary Marie has on her nightie―that’s all that’s left of her lovely, lovely things!”

“Perhaps you didn’t put them in the trunk,” suggested Scissors Shears; “one can be mistaken about such things.”

“I feel certain―sure,” said Mary Frances, “but I’ll go look in my room again.”

* * * * *

“I’m so sorry,” said Fairy Lady, “I didn’t think she’d mind so. We don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

“What shall we do?” asked Scissors Shears. “We don’t dare tell her until the last lesson―the King said―”

As Mary Frances neared the door she heard voices; but when she stepped in, all was still. She was crying as hard as ever.

“No,” she sobbed, “they’re not there! They are all gone!”

Then suddenly remembering how everyone had stopped talking, she began to be curious.

“Why!” she said, “can it be possible that you know anything about them?”

They all looked guilty and waited for Fairy Lady to answer.

“Listen, little Lady Seamstress,” said Fairy Lady, “you will find them all again!”

Mary Frances began to dry her tears.

“Will I? Will I, dear, dear Fairy Lady? Why,―how? They are not gone forever?”

“No,” smiled Fairy Lady, “they are not―they are yours; and we will help you find them. We don’t quite know where they are now; but if―

“Little Marie has lost her clothes, And can’t tell where to find them; Let them alone, and they’ll come home, With all their buttons behind them.”

“Oh, thank you, my dear friends,―when will that be?” cried Mary Frances, brightening up.

“Not until to-morrow. Come early if you can―we think we will get word from the Thimble King to-morrow; but we must wait.”

“Is it a secret? Oh, I’m so relieved!” said Mary Frances, “and Mary Marie will be all right in this warm weather in only her nightie;―but I can borrow one of Angie’s dresses! I forgot!―I’ll go put it on her.”