why , was this resplendent dolly hung up there to be stared at by thirteen of her kindred ? Was she a criminal , the sight of whose execution threw them flat upon their backs in speechless horror ? Or was she an idol , to be adored in that humble posture ? Neither , my friends . She was blonde Belinda , set , or rather hung , aloft , in the place of honor , for this was her seventh birthday , and a superb ball was about to celebrate the great event . All were evidently awaiting a summons to the festive board ; but such was the perfect breeding of these dolls , that not a single eye out of the whole twenty-seven -LRB- Dutch Hans had lost one of the black beads from his worsted countenance -RRB- turned for a moment toward the table , or so much as winked , as they lay in decorous rows , gazing with mute admiration at Belinda . She , unable to repress the joy and pride which swelled her sawdust bosom till the seams gaped , gave an occasional bounce as the wind waved her yellow skirts , or made the blue boots dance a sort of jig upon the door . Hanging was evidently not a painful operation , for she smiled contentedly , and looked as if the red ribbon around her neck was not uncomfortably tight ; therefore , if slow suffocation suited her , who else had any right to complain ? So a pleasing silence reigned , not even broken by a snore from Dinah , the top of whose turban alone was visible above the coverlet , or a cry from baby Jane , though her bare feet stuck out in a way that would have produced shrieks from a less well-trained infant . Presently voices were heard approaching , and through the arch which led to a side-path came two little girls , one carrying a small pitcher , the other proudly bearing a basket covered with a napkin . They looked like twins , but were not , for Bab was a year older than Betty , though only an inch taller . Both had on brown calico frocks , much the worse for a week 's wear ; but clean pink pinafores , in honor of the occasion , made up for that , as well as the gray stockings and thick boots . Both had round , rosy faces rather sunburnt , pug noses somewhat freckled , merry blue eyes , and braided tails of hair hanging down their backs like those of the dear little Kenwigses . `` Do n't they look sweet ? '' cried Bab , gazing with maternal pride upon the left-hand row of dolls , who might appropriately have sung in chorus , `` We are seven . '' `` Very nice ; but my Belinda beats them all . I do think she is the splendidest child that ever was ! '' And Betty set down the basket to run and embrace the suspended darling , just then kicking up her heels with joyful abandon . `` The cake can be cooling while we fix the children . It does smell perfectly delicious ! ''
said Bab , lifting the napkin to hang over the basket , fondly regarding the little round loaf that XXXXX inside .
Do celebrate complain cried fix gaped lay skirts smell smiled