The Doll and Her Friends | Page 9

vigor after
passing a little time in my refreshing company. She often showed her
tasks to me, and discussed their difficulties. I think she repeated the
multiplication-table to me nearly a hundred times, while I sat on the
Tutor's Assistant waiting for the recurrence of the fatal words, 'Seven
times nine.' Day after day she could get no farther; but as soon as she
came to 'Seven times nine,' I was turned off the book, which had to be
consulted for the answer.
At last, one day she came running into the room in great glee,
exclaiming, 'I have done the multiplication-table. I have said it quite
right, sixty-three and all. I made no mistake even in dodging. And you
helped me, my darling Lady Seraphina. I never could have learned it
perfect if you had not heard me say it so often. And now, look at your
rewards. Margaret has made you a bonnet, and Willy has made you an
arm-chair.'
Beautiful, indeed, was the bonnet, and commodious the arm-chair; and
I wore the one and reclined in the other all the time Rose was learning
the French auxiliary verbs être and avoir. I flattered myself I was of as
much use in them as in the multiplication-table; but I do not recollect
receiving any particular recompense. Indeed, after a little time, it would
have been difficult to know what to give me, for I possessed every
thing that a doll's heart could wish, or her head imagine. Such a variety
of elegant dresses as Rose made for me would have been the envy of all
my old friends in the bazaar. I had gowns of pink satin and white satin;

blue silk and yellow silk; colored muslins without number, and
splendid white lace. Bonnets enough to furnish a milliner's shop were
mine; but I was not so partial to them as to my gowns, because they
tumbled my hair.
I believe a good many of my possessions were presents from Margaret
to Rose on account of perfect lessons; but in course of time, I ceased to
superintend Rose's studies. Margaret said that I interrupted the course
of history; and the mama said that Rose was old enough to learn her
lessons without bringing her play into them, and that I must be put
away during school hours.
Though I did not think that the fault was altogether mine, I quite
acquiesced in the wisdom of this decree; for during Rose's last
reading-lesson she had stopped so often to ask me which I liked best,
Lycurgus or Solon, Pericles or Alcibiades, &c., that Margaret was
almost out of patience. And though I made no answer, and had really
no choice at all between the characters, I felt that I rather hindered
business.
I was therefore now left to myself for several hours in the morning; but
I found ample and pleasant employment in surveying the comforts and
beauties of my habitation. For I was not forced to perform the part of an
insignificant pigmy in the vast abodes of the colossal race of man: I
possessed a beautiful little house proportioned to my size, pleasantly
situated on a table in the furthest corner of the schoolroom, and
commanding an extensive view of the whole apartment.
I must describe my house at full length. It had been originally, as I
heard, a mere rough packing-case; but what of that? The best brick
house in London was once but clay in the fields; and my packing-case
was now painted outside and papered inside, and fitted up in a manner
every way suitable for the occupation of a doll of distinction.
My drawing-room was charming; light and cheerful, the walls papered
with white and gold, and the floor covered with a drab carpet worked
with flowers of every hue. Rose worked the carpet herself under the
directions of Margaret, who prevailed on her to learn worsted-work for

my sake. So there, again, how useful I was! From the ceiling hung a
brilliant glass chandelier, a birthday present from Edward to Rose; and
the mantel-piece was adorned by a splendid mirror cut out of a broken
looking-glass by Willy, and framed by his hands. I cannot say that
Willy ever seemed to care for me personally, but he took considerable
interest in my upholstery, and much of my handsomest furniture was
manufactured by him. He made my dining-room and drawing-room
tables; the frames of my chairs, which were covered with silk by
Margaret; my sofa, and my four-post bedstead; and it was he who
painted the floor-cloth in my hall, and the capital picture of the Queen
and Prince Albert which hung over the dining-room chimney-piece. I
had a snug bed-room, containing a bed with pink curtains, a
toilette-table, with a handsome looking-glass, pincushion, and