`` My dolly ; do you want to see her ? '' asked Jamie , who had been much impressed by the tale of adoption he had overheard . `` Yes ; I 'm fond of dollies , only do n't tell the boys , or they will laugh at me . '' `` They do n't laugh at me , and they play with my dolly a great deal ; but she likes me best '' ; and Jamie ran away to produce his pet . `` I brought my old doll , but I keep her hidden because I am too big to play with her , and yet I ca n't bear to throw her away , I 'm so fond of her , '' said Rose , continuing her confidences in a whisper . `` You can come and play with Jamie 's whenever you like , for we believe in dollies up here , '' began Aunt Jessie , smiling to herself as if something amused her . Just then Jamie came back , and Rose understood the smile , for his dolly proved to be a pretty four-year-old little girl , who trotted in as fast as her fat legs would carry her , and making straight for the shells , scrambled up an armful , saying , with a laugh that showed her little white teeth , `` All for Dimmy and me , for Dimmy and me ! '' `` That 's my dolly ; is n't she a nice one ? '' asked Jamie , proudly surveying his pet with his hands behind him and his short legs rather far apart a manly attitude copied from his brothers . `` She is a dear dolly . But why call her Pokey ? '' asked Rose , charmed with the new plaything . `` She is such an inquisitive little body she is always poking that mite of a nose into everything ; and as Paul Pry did not suit , the boys fell to calling her Pokey . Not a pretty name , but very expressive . '' It certainly was , for , having examined the shells , the busy tot laid hold of everything she could find , and continued her researches till Archie caught her sucking his carved ivory chessmen to see if they were not barley sugar . Rice paper pictures were also discovered crumpled up in her tiny pocket , and she nearly smashed Will 's ostrich egg by trying to sit upon it . `` Here , Jim , take her away ; she 's worse than the puppies , and we ca n't have her round , '' commanded the elder brother , picking her up and handing her over to the little fellow , who received her with open arms and the warning remark , `` You 'd better mind what you do , for I 'm going to ` dopt Pokey like Rose did Phebe , and then you 'll have to be very good to her , you big fellows . '' '' ` Dopt away , baby , and I 'll give you a cage to keep her in , or you wo n't have her long , for she is getting worse than a monkey '' ; and Archie went back to his mates , while Aunt Jessie , foreseeing a crisis , proposed that Jamie should take his dolly home , as she was borrowed , and it was time her visit ended . `` My dolly is better than yours , is n't she ? 'cause she can walk and talk and sing and dance , and yours ca n't do anything , can she ? ''
asked XXXXX with pride , as he regarded his Pokey , who just then had been moved to execute a funny little jig and warble the well-known couplet , '' ` Puss-tat , puss-tat , where you been ? ' '
Archie Dimmy Jamie Jessie Phebe Rice Rose Will chessmen plaything