Page:Avon Fantasy Reader 05.djvu/33

RV 33 (Rh) the privilege of sitting between Rose and Alathea, and dominating the rest of the family.

Janey's sympathies were all for Eric, who was for her the embodiment of English manhood; mine were on the side of his opponent, who came out as usual successful.

Eric jacketless, was left to face the rigour of our English winter in his shirt-sleeves.

Now that all his male rivals had been defeated, I expected that we should see an end to Sambo's ambition.

No such thing occurred. In an altogether unchivalrous manner, he began to wage war on Rose, the oldest and most beautiful of Janey's dolls, who was the only possessor of that much prized accomplishment of falling into a trancelike sleep whenever she lay down.

When Christmas came, Sambo was the first to be served, the first to be dressed, and the last to be put to bed.

And Janey hated him.

For the next three months nothing noteworthy took place with regard to Janey and her dolls. For a large part of the lime I was away from home and saw little of my niece.

On my return, Mary called my attention to a new development.

"I really believe that Janey is growing out of her childishness at last," she said. "She is putting away some of her dolls: she really ought to be content with fewer."

Six weeks later, the numbers were reduced to one.

It was Sambo who remained.

Though Janey had carried out the change on her own initiative, she became low-spirited, and I have no doubt shed many tears in private. So much I had expected. What surprised me was the fact that she showed no signs of transferring her affection to the one remaining member of her family.

It was true that Sambo was always with her, in the house and out of doors. He had meals by her side and slept at the bottom of her bed at night. But it was not because she cared for him; I began to think she was actuated by fear.

One afternoon I wanted Janey, and she was not to be found in nursery or garden; I searched the house in vain and was beginning to despair, when I remembered the attics. The attics were out of bounds owing to an unrailed stair that led up to them, but I was none the less successful.