Mama, ever obliging, hastily condemned two or three sunburnt hats and
ancient pairs of shoes, to be added to the bundle for Miss Hacket's
distribution, and let herself be hauled off to act audience.
'But where's Dolly?' she asked, as she looked at the assemblage on the
stairs.
'Bolted into her room, like a donkey,' said Wilfred, the last clause
under his breath.
'Indeed, mamma, we did ask her, and gave her the choice between wolves
and bears,' said Mysie.
'Unfortunately she is bear without choosing,' said Gill.
'A sucking of her paws in a hollow tree,' chimed in Hal.
'Hush! hush!' said Lady Merrifield, looking pained; 'perhaps the choice
seemed very terrible to a poor only child like that. We, who had the
luck to be one of many, don't know what wild cats you may all seem to
her.'
'She never will play at anything,' said Val.
'She doesn't know how to,' said Mysie.
'And won't be taught,' added Wilfred.
'But that's very dreadful,' exclaimed Lady Merrifield. 'Fancy a poor
child of thirteen not knowing how to play. I shall go and dig her
out!'
So there came a gentle tap at the closed door, to which Dolores
answered--
'Can't you let me alone? Go away,' thinking it a treacherous ruse of
the enemy to effect an entrance; but when her aunt said--
'Is there anything the matter, my dear? Won't you let me in?' she was
obliged to open it.
'No, there's nothing the matter,' she allowed. 'Only I wanted them to
let me alone.
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