"Glad we lost our marbles?"

"Not exactly, dear, but I knew it would happen. You see, as the Toyman
said, it's always kinder and more fun, too, to play games 'in fun.' If
you play anything 'for keeps,' the one who loses is always hurt and
feels badly. Supposing you had played with Johnny Cricket, now, and
had won all his marbles--how would you feel?"

She didn't need to say any more. They understood.

But after supper the Toyman called the boys into the woodshed. They
sneaked out quietly and he whispered to them,--

"Just wait till tomorrow."

"What's going to happen tomorrow?"

And the Toyman gave that old answer of his which was so like him,--

"Wait an' see."

Well, the Toyman had to go to town "tomorrow," which was much sooner
than he had expected earlier in the week. And when he came back his
pockets chinked right merrily. They were as full of marbles as on his
first trip back from town.

They were very beautiful, too, but somehow Marmaduke loved the first
blue croaker and the bright agate and the little gray mig best of all.