SALLY [_after a pause, in a solemn whisper_]. Murder!
SALLY. Was it the front door or the back door?
TIBBIE. I dunno, Sally. [SALLY _picks herself up, and casts a hurried glance on the dolls and about the room, to see if things are nearly as she found them, then turns down the light. Leads_ TIBBIE _to bedroom door._]
SALLY [_glancing at clock_]. It ain't late. It ain't a bit later than I supposed. It can't be her! It might be Mrs. Bonnet, though, getting home before Catherine, who's got the key. I shouldn't want her to catch you here for the whole world. Look here, Tibbie. You stand in here till I find out who it is, and if it's Mrs. Bonnet, you'll have to stay hidden till I find a good chance to come and smuggle you down. [_Pushes_ TIBBIE _through door, and exit by other door._ TIBBIE _very cautiously pokes her head out and looks around._]
TIBBIE. What's that scratching? I know there's a mouse here somewhere. Go right away, mousie. There's nobody in here. Go right away!
SALLY [_without. Her voice calm, and pleasant with a kind of company pleasantness_]. Tibbie! It's all right. It's just a friend dropped in for a moment. You can play a little longer. Turn up the light carefully. But remember what I told you.
[_Enter_ TIBBIE _at the first sound of_ SALLY'S _voice. Turns up the light, draws back the curtain in front of the dolls, and kneels before them. Takes up the bride with a reverent hand, and after long contemplating her, kisses her very seriously and tenderly. Then moves the dolls about to bring those she has chosen closer together._
TIBBIE [_meditatively_]. I can't play they are a family, there are too many all the same age and all girls. I will play they are a hundred girls in an orphan asylum--a very rich orphan asylum--and that I am the superintendent. To-morrow I'm going to give each a beautiful doll for a Christmas present. This little girl's name is Rosa. That one is Nellie. That one is Katie. That one is Sue. And Mary. And Jennie. And Ethel, and Victoria, and Blossom, and Violet, and Pansy, and Goldenlocks, and Cherrylips---- Oh, dear, I know I can never name them all. There surely ain't enough names to go around and I'd just have to make up names for them. Kirry, Mirry, Dirry, Birry! These don't sound like anything. I wonder what they do every day in orphan asylums. They must have school and learn lessons, I guess. I'll be the teacher, now. Miss Snowdrop! [TIBBIE _assists the dolls to move, and answers for them in a squeaking little voice._] "Yes, ma'am." Spell knot. "N-o-t." Not at all, my dear. Sit down again, my dear. Miss Lily; stand up, miss, and see if you can do any better this morning. Miss Pansy, I see you putting your foot out to trip poor Miss Blossom. Don't you do that again, child, or I shall have to stand you in the corner. Why, Rosy, how red your cheeks are! Don't you feel well? "No, ma'am." Never mind, don't cry. I must take you to the doctor's right away. Come, my dear. [_Goes to dresser and looks in glass._] Good-morning, doctor. "Good-morning, ma'am" [_in a deep voice_]; "you've got a sick child there, I see." Yes, doctor, this is a young lady from the orphan asylum, and she says she's got a bad pain in her face. "Yes, yes. I see, I see. Well, we'll give her something to cure those red cheeks right up. Just come here, miss." [TIBBIE, _as the doctor, powders the doll's cheeks very gently._] Very well. Good-by, doctor. "Good-by, ma'am. If she isn't better in fifteen minutes, let me know." Now, my dear, you needn't go back to school. The orphans might catch it. I'd like to rock you in my arms, but the superintendent is too busy.... Oh, dear, I don't like to be a superintendent. I think I'll have you for my little girl [_draws forward a low rocker and carefully turns down light_], and get you some nice little sisters [_gathers a dozen dolls_], and then rock you all to sleep. [_Settles comfortably in the chair._] It's bedtime, and you must be rocked and loved a little. Now, sh! Sh! Sh! Sh! What's that, Mamie? Sing to you? Very well. [_Sings._] Rosie, what are you crying for now? You want me to rock faster? All right, I will. [_Rocks faster. Rosie continues to cry, and the rocking soon becomes furious. In the excitement one doll slips unnoticed to the floor._] There, that's better. Now, children, do go to sleep.... Mother is sleepy herself. [_Rocking becomes slower and slower, and at last stops entirely._ TIBBIE _falls asleep.... Enter_ SALLY.]