The Lonesomest Doll
at the doll and hugging her close. “Does your mamma kiss you often like that?”
“Every night and every morning and sometimes in between,” returned Nichette proudly. “Often in between when I am very good.”
The Queen gave a sudden sigh, and the tears began to roll down her cheeks. “I never had any mother to kiss me,” she said. “Oh, how I wish I could have a real mother-kiss once, just once, Nichette!”
Nichette was busy thinking. It was growing dark, and she began to realize that she must be going home, though she hated to leave her new friend the Queen and the dear doll, no longer lonesome. Suddenly she clapped her hands and turned to Clotilde eagerly. “Oh, I have a plan!” she cried. “Would you really like to have a mother kiss you good-night, Queen?”
The Queen nodded wonderingly.
“Then this is what we will do. It is nearly dusk and I must go home. Father will punish me when he finds out what I have done, but I don’t care. Dear Queen, you shall come home with me; I will hide you somewhere, and when