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had to take her to an old magician who lived in a tower, and every time she said a horrid word a toad hopped right out of her mouth. ROSE

Encouragingly. Yes, and what then, Annie ? ANNIE

Oh, Mummy. You don't mean that I'm that little girl - am I ? Looking up at her mother. Do you, Mummy ? ROSE

Annie, I am afraid we are all little girls like that,

and it takes us a long while to grow up and learn not to say things that hurt people. ANNIE

Oh, Mummy. I try so hard, 'deed I do, because I want to grow up and be just like you, and I

don't want the horrid toads following me round like they did that little girl, everywhere she went, and sitting and looking at her ROSE

I'm afraid, Annie, that all of us make mistakes

sometimes. We can't help it. ANNIE

Oh, Mummy- you never said anything horrid, did you ? You couldn't. ROSE

Gently. Annie, I'm only really aa little girl like you, and I