My dear old doll! I was such a shy little thing that I seldom dared to open my lips, and never dared to open my heart, to anybody else. It almost makes me cry to think what a relief it used to be to me when I came home from school of a day to run upstairs to my room and say, "Oh, you dear faithful Dolly, I knew you would be expecting me!" and then to sit down on the floor, leaning on the elbow of her great chair, and tell her all I had noticed since we parted. I had always rather a noticing way--not a quick way, oh, no!--a silent way of noticing what passed before me and thinking I should like to understand it better. I have not by any means a quick understanding. When I love a person very tenderly indeed, it seems to brighten. But even that may be my vanity.

My dear old doll! I was such a shy little thing that I seldom dared to open my lips, and never dared to open my heart, to anybody else. It almost makes me cry to think what a relief it used to be when I came home from school, to run upstairs to my room and say, "Oh, dear faithful Dolly, I knew you would be expecting me!" and then to sit down and tell her all I had noticed since we parted. I had always rather a silent way of noticing what passed before me and thinking I should like to understand it better. I have not a quick understanding. When I love a person very tenderly, it seems to brighten. But even that may be my vanity.
