and the toy man also cut away some splinters of new wood that stuck
out.

"Now to paint your leg, and you will be finished," said Mr. Mugg.

The smell of the paint and varnish, as it was put on him, made the
Nodding Donkey think of when he had first come to life in the workshop
of Santa Claus. He was feeling quite young and happy again.

"There you are!" cried Mr. Mugg, as he once more set the Donkey on the
shelf for the paint and varnish to dry. And this time the Donkey was
allowed to be among the other toys, though he was not for sale.

That night in the store, when all was quiet and still, the Nodding
Donkey shook his head and spoke to the China Cat, who was not far away.

"Well, you see I am back here again," said the Nodding Donkey.

"Have you come to stay?" asked the China Cat. "You can't imagine how
surprised I was when I saw you brought in! But what has happened?"

Then the Donkey told of his accident, and how he had been mended.

"Your leg looks all right now," said the China Cat, glancing at it in
the light of the one lamp Mr. Mugg left burning when he closed his
store.

"Yes, I am feeling quite myself again," said the Donkey. "But I am not
here to stay. I must go back to Joe, the lame boy."