“And have a stove put in it,” said Miss Selina. “And put up a bench,” said Miss Sarah. “And some cocoa-nut matting on the floor,” said Miss Selina. “Linoleum,” said Miss Sarah. “Cocoa-nut matting,” said Miss Selina. “And we could call it the Dolls’ Hospital,” said Miss Sarah. “Infirmary,” said Miss Selina. “I prefer Hospital,” said Miss Sarah. “Infirmary,” said Miss Selina. “Dr. Bannister, house surgeon, attends daily from ten till one.” “It would be the prettiest and kindliest occupation,” said Miss Sarah, “as well as a useful one.” “That’s the whole point of it,” said Miss Selina. And that is how—five or six years ago—the Miss Bannisters’ brother came to open the Dolls’ Infirmary. But he did not stop short at mending dolls. He mended all kinds of other things too; he advised on the length of tails for kites; he built ships; he had even made fireworks. Roy walked into Dormstaple at about one o’clock, very tired and hot and dusty and hungry; and a little later, after asking his way more than once, he stood on the doorstep of the Miss Bannisters’ house. The door was opened by old Mary, and as the flavor of roast fowl rushed out, Roy knew how hungry he was. “I want to see the Miss Bannisters’ brother,” he said, “please.” “You’re too late,” was the answer. “Come to-morrow morning. Mr. Theodore never sees children in the afternoon.” “Oh, but I must,” Roy almost sobbed. “Chut, chut!” said old Mary, “little boys shouldn’t say must.” “But when they must, what else is there for them to say?” Roy asked. “Chut, chut!” said old Mary again. “That’s imperent! Now run away, and come to-morrow morning.” This was too much for Roy. He covered his face with his hands, and really and truly cried—a thing he would scorn to do on his own account. While he stood there in this distress a hand was placed on his arm, and he was drawn gently into the house. He heard the door shut behind him. The hand then guided him along passages into a great room, and there he was liberated. Roy looked round; it was the most fascinating room he had ever seen. There was a long bench at the window with a comfortable chair before it, and on the bench were hammers and chisels and all kinds of tools. A ship nearly finished lay in one place, a clockwork steamer in another, a pair of rails wound about the floor on the cocoa-nut matting—in and out like a snake—on which a toy train probably ran, and here and there were signals. On the shelves were colored papers, bottles, boxes, and wire. In one corner was a huge kite, as high as a man, with a great face painted on it. Several dolls, more or less broken, lay on the table. All this he saw in a moment. Then he looked at the owner of the hand, who had been standing beside him all the while with an amused expression on his delicate, kind face. Roy knew in an instant it was the Miss Bannisters’ brother. “Well,” said the Miss Bannisters’ brother, “so when one must, one must?” “Yes,” Roy said, half timidly.