"'The hay-field,' said the rake.

"'The shrubbery,' said the hoe.

"This difference of opinion produced a quarrel, which in turn seemed to
affect the general behaviour of the toys, for a disturbance arose which
the Jack-in-a-box vainly endeavoured to quell. A dozen voices shouted
for a dozen different punishments, and (happily for me) each toy
insisted upon its own wrongs being the first to be avenged, and no one
would hear of the claims of any one else being attended to for an
instant. Terrible sentences were passed, which I either failed to hear
through the clamour then, or have forgotten now. I have a vague idea
that several voices cried that I was to be sent to wash in somebody's
pocket; that the work-basket wished to cram my mouth with unfinished
needlework; and that through all the din the thick voice of my old
leather ball monotonously repeated:

"'Throw her into the dust-hole.'

"Suddenly a clear voice pierced the confusion, and Rosa tripped up.

"'My dears,' she began, 'the only chance of restoring order is to
observe method. Let us follow our usual rule of precedence. I claim the
first turn as the prisoner's oldest toy.'

"'That you are not, Miss,' snapped the Dowager; 'I was in the family
for fifty years.'

"'In the family. Yes, ma'am; but you were never her doll in particular.