"I guess you better not," he said with conviction. "But why not?" asked Leslie in amazement. "Well for 'bout fifty reasons," replied Mickey. "You see Lily is a poor kid, and her back is bad. That doll is so big she couldn't dress it without getting all tired out; and what's the use showing her such dresses, when she can't have any herself. She's got the best she ever had, and the best she can have right now; so that ain't the kind of a doll for Lily--it's too big--and too--too gladsome!" "I see," laughed Leslie. "Well Mickey, you show me what would be the right size of a doll for Lily. I'll get another, and dress it as you say. How would that do?" "You needn't!" said Mickey. "Lily is happy now." "But wouldn't she _like_ a doll?" persisted Leslie. "I never knew a girl who didn't love a doll. Wouldn't she _like_ a doll?" "'Most to death I 'spect," said Mickey. "I know she said she cried for the one her granny sold, 'til she beat her. Yes I guess she'd _like_ a doll; but I can get her one." "But you can't make white nighties for Lily to put on it to take to bed with her, and cunning little dresses for morning, and a street dress for afternoon, and a party dress for evening," tempted the girl. "Lily has been on the street twice, and she never heard of a party. Just nighties and the morning dress would do, and there's no use for me to be sticking. If you like to give away dolls, Lily might as well have one, for she'd just--I don't know what she would do about it," conceded Mickey. "All right," said Leslie. "I'll dress it this afternoon, and tomorrow you can come for it in the evening before you go home. If I am not here, the package will be ready. Take the ribbons now. She'd like them for her hair." "Her hair's too short for a ribbon," said Mickey. "Then a headband! This way!" said Leslie. She opened a box and displayed a wonderment of ribbon bands, and bits of gay colour. "Gee!" gasped Mickey. "I couldn't pick up that much brightness for her in a year!" "You save what you find for her?" asked Leslie. "Sure!" said Mickey. "You see Miss, things are pretty plain where she is, so all the brightness I can take her ain't going to hurt her eyes. Thank you heaps. Is there going to be any answer to the letter?" "Why I haven't read it yet!" cried the girl. "No! A-body can see that some one else is rustling for your grub!" commented Mickey. "That's so too," laughed Leslie. "Darling old Daddy!" "Just about right is he?" queried Mickey, interestedly. "Just exactly right!" said Leslie. "Gur-ur-and!" said Mickey. "Some of them ain't so well fixed! And he that wrote the note, I guess he's about as fine as you make them, too!" "He's the finest man I ever have known, Mickey!" said the girl earnestly. "Barring Daddy?" suggested Mickey. "Not barring anybody!" cried she. "Daddy is lovely, but he's Daddy! Mr. Bruce is different!" "No letter?" questioned Mickey, rising.