"All right," agreed the Calico Clown, with a smile, as he softly
banged his cymbals together. "I'll see if I can think of a joke."

The Bold Tin Soldier and his men stopped marching to listen to what
the Calico Clown might say. The Candy Rabbit raised his big ears up
straighter, so that he would miss nothing. The Lamb on Wheels gave
herself a shake, seemingly so the kinks would come out of her woolly
coat, and the Monkey on a Stick swung by his tail.

"Yes, I'll tell you a joke," said the Calico Clown. "It is a sort of
riddle. Listen, and see if any of you can answer it."

"The Sawdust Doll was very clever at answering riddles," said the Bold
Tin Soldier. "I wish she were here now."

"But she isn't," said the Candy Rabbit. "I liked that Sawdust Doll
very much, but she has gone away."

"Yes, some lady bought her for a little girl's birthday," came from
the Monkey on a Stick. "You are right, Tin Soldier, that doll was very
clever at answering the riddles the Clown used to ask."

"Well, if you don't all stop talking now, how am I going to tell this
joke?" asked the Calico Clown crossly. "Now, who is a--"

"I wonder if the Sawdust Doll will come back and see us once again, as
she did before?" asked the Lamb on Wheels, not paying much attention
to what the Calico Clown said. "Don't you remember, Tin Soldier, how
she once came back to us, after she had been sold and taken away?"