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 lay inside . `` Leave some smell for me ! '' commanded Betty , running back to get her fair share of the spicy fragrance . The pug noses sniffed it up luxuriously , and the bright eyes feasted upon the loveliness of the cake , so brown and shiny , with a tipsy-looking B in pie-crust staggering down one side , instead of sitting properly a-top . `` Ma let me put it on the very last minute , and it baked so hard I could n't pick it off . We can give Belinda that piece , so it 's just as well , '' observed Betty , taking the lead , as her child was queen of the revel .
`` Let 's set them round , so they can see too , '' proposed XXXXX , going , with a hop , skip , and jump , to collect her young family .
Bab Betty Jane frocks pug right shrieks side-path splendidest week