future."

At noon Julia snatched a few moments from the short interval allowed
her to get her lunch, and hurried up to the toy-mender's quarters. She
prevailed upon him to have the doll repaired in the course of an hour
or two; he promised to do so, and it was sent back to her early in the
afternoon.

That day Katy's duties, fortunately for her peace of mind, brought her
frequently into the vicinity of the doll counter. Now she hastened to
it, in a quiver of excitement, to witness the success of the process.
When the cover was taken off the box, her cheeks crimsoned with
indignation and her eyes blazed, as she turned inquiringly to Julia.

"Indeed, Katy, it is none of my doings," protested the salesgirl;
though the result of the experiment was so funny she had not the heart
to laugh. The doll with the beautiful blue buckles on her shoes had
now a mop of darky wool, and a face as black as the ace of spades.

Julia's quick wit at once jumped at the correct conclusion regarding
the apparent blunder. The toy-mender's two thoughtless apprentices had
played a joke upon the little cashgirl.

"It is only the nonsense of those rogues upstairs. I'll take the doll
back and tell them they must fix it to-night, or I'll complain of them
for their fooling at this busy time," she announced, energetically; for
she noted the twitching around the corners of Katy's mouth,
notwithstanding the child's brave effort at self-control.

Katy went off partially comforted.