"You will have to ask the floor-walker," replied Julia.

She did so, but he said she must wait until evening; he could not make
any exceptions. So she was obliged to control her impatience.

Scarcely five minutes afterward a crash was heard. The equilibrium of
the rack of dolls had been disturbed, and the whole collection was
dashed to the floor. Fortunately, only three or four of the dolls were
broken; but, alas! among them was the one Katy had set her heart upon
giving to her sick sister.

The commotion brought her to the scene at once. Poor Katy! She did
not burst out crying, as Julia expected; but just clasped her hands and
stood looking at the wreck of the doll, with an expression of hopeless
disappointment, which would have seemed ludicrous, considering the
cause, had it not been so pathetic. It aroused the ready sympathy of
Julia.

"Don't feel so bad, midget!" she whispered, picking up the pieces.
"See: only the head is spoiled. There's another with the feet knocked
off. I'll get permission to take the two dolls up to the toy-mender's
room, and have the head of the other put on your doll; that will make
it as good as new."

When order was restored, she made her request of the floor-walker.

"All right," he answered. "It will cut down the loss by ninety-seven
cents; so you may have it done, if they can spare the time upstairs.
That is an awkward corner, anyhow; it will have to be left free in