Page:The mislaid uncle (IA mislaiduncle00raym).pdf/52

 Rudanthy did not answer, but as Josephine laid her flat upon the carpet, to remove her travelling cloak, she immediately closed her waxen lids, and her little mother took this for assent.

"Oh, you sweetest thing! How I do love you!"

There followed a close hug of the faithful doll, which was witnessed by a trio of colored men from a rear door, where they stood, open-eyed and mouthed, wondering what in the world the master would say when he returned and found this little trespasser upon his hearth-*stone.

When Rudanthy had been embraced, to the detriment of her jute ringlets and her mistress' comfort, Josephine curled down on the rug before the grate to put the doll asleep, observing:

"You're so cold, Rudanthy. Colder than I am, even. Your precious hands are like ice. You must lie right here close to the fire, 'tween me and it. By and by Uncle Joe will come and then—My! Won't he be surprised?