THE young ladies had a reception this afternoon, and a charming
occasion it was. The guests were invited for four o’clock, and when I
came in at five the party was in full swing.
Clare was the hostess,—lovely Clare, with her innocent blue eyes and
gentle, unchanging smile. The nursery was transformed into a bower of
beauty, and Clare was standing by a chair, holding out her hand with a
gracious gesture of welcome. Alida received with her, and she looked
charming, too, only she was so much smaller that she had to be stood
up on a box to bring her to a level with Clare’s shoulder. Alida is a
remarkable doll, because she can open and shut her eyes without lying
down or getting up; and Betty sat on the floor behind her and pulled
the strings, so that she waved her long eyelashes up and down in the
most enchanting manner.
All the dolls were in their best clothes, except Jack the sailor, who
cannot change his suit, because it is against his principles; and I
must say they made a pretty party. The tea-things were set out on the
little round table, all the best cups and saucers, and the pewter
teapot that came from Holland, and the gold spoons; and there was _real
cocoa_, and jam, and oyster crackers, and thin bread and butter.
Rosalie Urania presided at the tea-table, and poured the cocoa with
such grace that no one would have suspected her of being helped a
little by Juliet (Juliet is not a doll), who was hidden behind the
table.
“Will you have a cup of cocoa?” asked Rosalie, sweetly, as Mr.
Punchinello approached her with his most elegant bow.
“With pleasure, lovely maiden!” was the courtly reply. “From your hands
what would not your devoted Punchinello take?”
He bowed and smiled again (indeed, he was always smiling), while
Rosalie, blushing (it was a way she had), lifted the pewter teapot, and
deftly filled one of the pretty cups.
“He’ll take a licking from my hands if he doesn’t look out!” growled
Jack, the sailor, who is jealous of Punchinello, and loves Rosalie
Urania.
“Hush, you rude creature!” whispered Alida, giving Jack a little push.
Clare is quite sure that Alida only meant the push as a gentle rebuke
to Jack, and a warning to keep quiet, and not let his angry passions
rise; but Clare always stands up for Alida. However it was, Jack
tottered, staggered forward, and fell against Mr. Punchinello, knocking
that smiling gentleman over on the table, and upsetting the teapot all
over Rosalie Urania’s pink silk gown. Such a confusion as arose then!
Rosalie fainted, of course. Jack picked himself up, and looked black as
thunder. Alida shut her eyes, and kept them shut (she said it was from
horror, but it may have been because Betty forgot to pull the opening
string), but Clare and Mr. Punchinello did nothing but smile, which was
a proof of their exquisite breeding.