loved the Princess dearly and would not have her worried for the world, they all put on their cheerfulest expressions and talked of everything else 'cept clocks and things beginning with "G."
"Let's have a tea party," said one of the Dutch dolls suddenly. "A tea party—a tea party! Hurrah for a tea party!" cried everybody delightedly. It takes so little to make Cozytown people happy that even so small a thing as a tea party throws them into a whirl of excitement. "Peachiferous!" exclaimed the knitted doll gentleman, rolling his eyes rapturously. As for the rest, they seized hands—or paws, as the case might be—and danced merrily around in a circle with the Princess in the centre till they all tumbled over from exhaustion.
"May I have the honor?" said the pink rabbit at last, offering the Princess his arm. Dinah and the knitted doll followed (there are no social distinctions in Cozytown). A Dutch doll and a Teddy bear came next, and all the other Cozytown folk brought up merrily behind them, a wooden soldier band tooting away for dear life. "Do you feel quite restored?" said the knitted gentleman to Dinah. "All but a scorchness in my feet and a dampness in mah haid!" replied the good-natured cook, giving herself a shake. By this time they had come to the Dutch doll's cottage, which was next to the Princess' very own. "Now wait here," she cried, tripping up the steps, "until I ring the bell!" Her sister Hepzibah went in with her, while the rest of the company either sat on the porch or walked about the garden. It was the quaintest, old-fashioned garden you can imagine. Hollyhocks and poppies, bachelor buttons and mignonette—and all of them were doll size. Miss Amanda and Miss Hepzibah lived by themselves and more excellent housekeepers were not to be found in all of Cozytown. Miss Amanda's angel cake, and Miss Hepzibah's cookies were the pride of the town; so you can imagine with what impatience all of them waited to be bidden to the feast.
