The Charity lady hesitated a
moment. "If Lois can stand that rattle-ty-banging, she can stand sight
and sound of us. Let's go in," she said and she opened the door.
Anne's eyes went straight to the mantel-piece. Honey-Sweet was not
there. Anne looked down at the pallet, where Lois lay asleep. No
Honey-Sweet there. The child's questioning, appealing eyes turned to
Lois's mother.
Mrs. Callahan dropped her face in her apron. "I wouldn't 'a' had it
happen for the world!" she sobbed. "Not for all the world."
"What is the matter, Mrs. Callahan?" inquired Miss Margery.
"Where's Honey-Sweet?" asked Anne.
"I wouldn't 'a' had that doll ruint for nothin'," wailed Mrs. Callahan.
"Honey-Sweet? ruined?" stammered Anne.
"What has happened to Anne's doll, Mrs. Callahan? Will you please
explain at once?" Miss Margery was at her sternest.
"Peggy done it--and she's cried herself 'most sick. 'Twas yestiddy. I'd
gone to take home some sewin'. Peg she's been possessed to show that
doll to the Flannagan children. Bein' as I was gone and Lois 'sleep, she
slipped out. And while they were all mirationin' over the doll's shoes
and stockin's, that low-down Flannagan dog grabbed the doll and made off
with it.
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