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She was enjoying herself in this way one day, when an old gentleman, who lived near, came home to dinner, and saw her.

“What in the world is that hanging out of the colonel’s upper window?” said he, putting on his spectacles. “Bless my soul! that child will kill herself. Hallo, there! little girl; get in this minute!” he called to Poppy, flourishing his hat to make her see him.

“What for?” answered Poppy, staring at him without moving an inch.

“You’ll fall, and break your neck!” screamed the old gentleman.

“Oh, no, I shan’t!” returned Poppy, much flattered by his interest, and hanging out still further.

“Stop that, instantly, or I’ll go in and inform the colonel!” roared the old gentleman, getting angry.

“I don’t care,” shouted Poppy; and she didn’t, for she knew grandpa wasn’t at home.

“Little gipsy! I’ll settle her,” muttered the old man, bustling up to the steps, and ringing the bell, as if the house was on fire.

No one was in but the servants; and, when he’d told old Emily what the matter was, she went up to “settle” Poppy. But Poppy was already settled, demurely playing with her doll, and looking quite innocent. Emily scolded; and Poppy promised never to do it again, if she might stay and play in the big room. Being busy about dinner, Emily was glad to be rid of her, and left her, to go and tell the old gentleman it was all right.

“Ain’t they crosspatches?” said Poppy to her doll. “Never mind, dear: you shall hang out, if I can’t. I guess the old man won’t order you in, any way.”

Full of this idea, Poppy took her long-suffering dolly, and, tying a string to her neck, danced her out of the window. Now this dolly had been through a great deal. Her head had been cut off (and put on again); she had been washed, buried, burnt, torn, soiled, and banged about till she was a mournful object. Poppy loved her very much; for she was two feet tall, and had once been very handsome: so her trials only endeared her to her little mamma. Away she went, skipping and prancing like mad,–a funny sight, for Poppy had taken off her clothes, and she hadn’t a hair on her head.

Poppy went to another window of the room for this performance, because in the opposite house lived five or six children, and she thought they would enjoy the fun.

So they did, and so did the other people; for it was a boarding-house, and all the people were at home for dinner. They came to the windows, and looked and laughed at dolly’s capers, and Poppy was in high feather at the success of her entertainment.

All of a sudden she saw grandpa coming down the street, hands behind his back, feet turned out, gold-headed cane under his arm, and the handsome legs in the black silk stockings marching along in the most stately manner. Poppy whisked dolly in before grandpa saw her, and dodged down as he went by. This made the people laugh again, and grandpa wondered what the joke was. The minute he went in out flew dolly, dancing more frantically than ever; and the children shouted so loud that grandpa went to see what the matter was. The street was empty; yet there stood the people, staring out and laughing. Yes; they were actually looking and laughing at his house; and he didn’t see what there was to laugh at in that highly respectable mansion.

He didn’t like it; and, clapping on his hat, he went out to learn what the matter was. He looked over at the house, up at the sky, down at the ground, and through the street; but nothing funny appeared, for Poppy and dolly were hidden again, and the old gentleman was puzzled. He went in and sat down to watch, feeling rather disturbed. Presently the fun began again: the children clapped their hands, the people laughed, and every one looked over at the house, in what he thought a very impertinent way. This made him angry; and out he rushed a second time, saying, as he marched across the street: