I 'll settle her , '' muttered the old man , bustling up to the steps , and ringing the bell , as if the house was on fire . No one was in but the servants ; and , when he 'd told old Emily what the matter was , she went up to `` settle '' Poppy . But Poppy was already settled , demurely playing with her doll , and looking quite innocent . Emily scolded ; and Poppy promised never to do it again , if she might stay and play in the big room . Being busy about dinner , Emily was glad to be rid of her , and left her , to go and tell the old gentleman it was all right . `` Ai n't they crosspatches ? '' said Poppy to her doll . `` Never mind , dear : you shall hang out , if I ca n't . I guess the old man wo n't order you in , any way . '' Full of this idea , Poppy took her long-suffering dolly , and , tying a string to her neck , danced her out of the window . Now this dolly had been through a great deal . Her head had been cut off -LRB- and put on again -RRB- ; she had been washed , buried , burnt , torn , soiled , and banged about till she was a mournful object . Poppy loved her very much ; for she was two feet tall , and had once been very handsome : so her trials only endeared her to her little mamma . Away she went , skipping and prancing like mad , -- a funny sight , for Poppy had taken off her clothes , and she had n't a hair on her head . Poppy went to another window of the room for this performance , because in the opposite house lived five or six children , and she thought they would enjoy the fun . So they did , and so did the other people ; for it was a boarding-house , and all the people were at home for dinner . They came to the windows , and looked and laughed at dolly 's capers , and Poppy was in high feather at the success of her entertainment . All of a sudden she saw grandpa coming down the street , hands behind his back , feet turned out , gold-headed cane under his arm , and the handsome legs in the black silk stockings marching along in the most stately manner . Poppy whisked dolly in before grandpa saw her , and dodged down as he went by . This made the people laugh again , and grandpa wondered what the joke was .
The minute he went in out flew dolly , dancing more frantically than ever ; and the children shouted so loud that XXXXX went to see what the matter was .
Emily Poppy boarding-house crosspatches feet fire grandpa house left right