"Well, now, that's so funny!" said Florence, twitching the folds of
Queen Mab's dress into place; "for the very reason I like my doll, is
because she _isn't_ alive. I wouldn't have been you, Susy Parlin, when
you had your last canary bird, and let him choke to death."

"O, no, Flossy, I didn't let him choke: I forgot to put any seed in the
bottle, and he stuck his head in so deep, that he smothered to death."

"I don't know but smothering is as bad as choking," said Florence; "and
now your new bird will be sure to come to some bad end."

"You're always saying hateful things," exclaimed Susy, a good deal
vexed. "I like Grace Clifford ten times as well, for she's a great deal
more lady-like."

"Well, I suppose I can go home," said Florence, with a rising color;
"you're such a perfect lady that I can't get along with you."

"O, dear," thought poor Susy, "what does ail my tongue? Here this very
morning I said in my prayer, that I meant to be good and patient."

Florence began to put on her cloak.

"Cousin Flossy," said Susy, in a hesitating voice, "I wish you wouldn't
go. I didn't mean to tell that I liked Gracie best; but it's the real
honest truth, and if I should take it back, 'twould be a lie."

This was not making matters much better. Florence put on her hood, and
tied it with a twitch.