Dotty, “I thought Mathilde chose a funny place
to talk about it -- Lucia's own house.”

Betty smiled. Could Dotty be curious, too?
“Thanks, Dotty. Yes, it isn't usually done,
talking about your hostess -- or talking about
people who have just been entertaining you. If
I _knew,_ I should scarcely give any information
to Mathilde or anybody else. I'm having such
a lovely visit and I'm sure the more we know
Lucia the better we'll like her. And isn't it
great of Countess Coletti to take such an in-
terest in 'good works?' Oh, yes, Selma, I'll
bring you that pattern in just a minute. I think
Peggy Pollard is using it now.”

Betty did not try to do any sewing herself.
She would finish her doll at home. But Lucia,
whose doll had not been brought downstairs,
came to ask her if she should display it.

“I'm afraid the girls will think I'm trying to
show off if I do, but several of them have asked
me where my doll is and I had to tell them I
had one. I shouldn't have gotten such an --
elaborate one, I suppose; but I did not think
and I always choose what I think is the
prettiest. What do you think, Betty?”

“I think that you must decide for yourself,
Lucia. It does seem a perfect shame that they
should not see that pretty thing!”

[[111]]

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