The Lonesomest Doll
selves, as on that happy day when they became acquainted.
So Clotilde, like Nichette herself, grew strong, fat, and rosy in the sunshine and the fresh air and the neighborhood of love. Her eyes were no longer sad, but sparkled like the rainbow drops on the edge of the fountain. For she knew that every one loved her more and more each day, and that there was nothing which her people would not do for her sake. And she hoped to grow up a wise, kind queen who would rule them in the very best way, so that her kingdom should become famous among Kings and Princes for its prosperity and peace. And the Wise Men knew that her hope was to be fulfilled.
“It is good to be a queen, nowadays,” she would say, with her arm around Nichette’s neck and with Mignon on her lap. And Mignon, in the tattered satin dress which the Queen loved best of all, because it reminded her of that exciting night,—Mignon would say as the Queen hugged her tight, “Mamma, Mamma, Mamma!” while in her heart she thought, “It is good to be a queen’s doll, nowadays. Oh, could I ever really have been the lonesomest doll?”
