"
"It isn't dear!" burst forth Mollie, indignantly. "I hate it!--but
I'll never give it up!"
"Of course not," Mr. John said. "Then I presume you are all ready to
part with Helena."
"I'll go and get her," said Mollie.
No one saw the parting in the play-room. It was quickly over, and she
was back by the fence.
"Give her to Bessie," said Mollie, putting Helena and her wardrobe
into Mr. John's arms. Bessie was one of his many nieces.
"To Bessie!" said he. "Where you can feel that she is away on a visit;
where you know that she will be petted and cared for; where you can
see her occasionally. If you are sincere in this matter, Mollie, send
her off where you can no longer care to think of her. Our ash-man
would be very glad to carry her home to his little girls."
Mollie's hands made a wild dive toward Helena as a vision of the
little grimy man who crept into their areas for ashes rose before her.
"Decide now," said Mr. John. "Take your doll and be Mollie Kelly
again, or be a boy and give her to the ash-man's children without a
pang.
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