clothes. Only these poor things do so want new ones. Oh! how I
should like to dress them again just as they used to be dressed,
and have the house all made just as it used to be when it was new."

"That old Racketty-Packetty House," said Cynthia, losing her
breath.

"If it were mine I should make it just like Grandmamma's and I
should love it more than any doll's house I have. I never--never--
never--saw anything as nice and laughing and good natured as these
dolls' faces. They look as if they had been having fun ever since
they were born. Oh! if you were to burn them and their home I--I
could never forgive you!"

"I never--never--will,--your Highness," stammered Cynthia, quite
overwhelmed. Suddenly she started forward.

"Why, there is the lost doll!" she cried out. "There is Lady Patsy.
How did she get into Racketty-Packetty House?"

"Perhaps she went there to see them because they were so poor and
shabby," said the little girl Princess. "Perhaps she likes this
one," and she pointed to Peter Piper. "Do you know when I picked
him up their arms were about each other. Please let her stay with
him. Oh!" she cried out the next instant and jumped a little. "I
felt as if the boy one kicked his leg."

And it was actually true, because Peter Piper could not help it and
he had kicked out his ragged leg for joy. He had to be very careful
not to kick any more when he heard what happened next.