All sorts of toys were to be found in that toy-shop. It was truly a place to please any child! A little girl, who had come to stay there with her aunt--the owner of the shop--and her little cousin, was always to be found amongst the toys; she was forever picking up and admiring this one, stroking that one, nursing another. All her spare moments were spent in the shop.
It so happened one evening that she wandered in after the shutters were put up, and the place was deserted. She paused before the spot where she was accustomed to find her favorite doll, a little lady Marionette, who, when wound up, danced gayly in company with her partner, a very fine gentleman.
They were both very prettily dressed. The little lady Marionette wore a beautiful white silk dress brocaded with pink roses, whilst her partner had on a blue velvet coat, knee breeches, white silk stockings, and diamond shoe buckles. Their clothes were really very grand!
And they danced so gayly, too.
"Just as if they like dancing with each other!" the little girl once said to her aunt.
"You are a fanciful child, Molly," answered the woman, laughing.
"All the same, I believe I am right," replied the little girl.
This evening, however, they were not to be found in their accustomed place. The little platform on which they danced was there, but the dolls themselves were gone!
The little girl looked round the shop much bewildered.
"Where can they be?" she said.
At last she saw the little lady Marionette sitting on the right hand counter, with her back against the Noah's Ark.
"Well, how funny!" exclaimed the little girl aloud. "How have you got there?"
"Walked, of course," answered the little Marionette in a sweet little voice.
The little girl's astonishment at this reply was very great. So great that it kept her silent.
"You seem rather surprised," said the little Marionette. "Why?"
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