But why call her Pokey ?" asked Rose, charmed with the new plaything.
"She is such an inquisitive little body she is always poking that mite of a nose into everything; and as Paul Pry did not suit, the boys fell to calling her Pokey.

Not a pretty name, but very expressive." It certainly was, for, having examined the shells, the busy tot laid hold of everything she could find, and continued her researches till Archie caught her sucking his carved ivory chessmen to see if they were not barley sugar.

Rice paper pictures were also discovered crumpled up in her tiny pocket, and she nearly smashed Will's ostrich egg by trying to sit upon it.
"Here, Jim, take her away; she's worse than the puppies, and we can't have her round," commanded the elder brother, picking her up and handing her over to the little fellow, who received her with open arms and the warning remark, "You'd better mind what you do, for I'm going to 'dopt Pokey like Rose did Phebe, and then you'll have to be very good to her, you big fellows." "'Dopt away, baby, and I'll give you a cage to keep her in, or you won't have her long, for she is getting worse than a monkey"; and Archie went back to his mates, while Aunt Jessie, foreseeing a crisis, proposed that Jamie should take his dolly home, as she was borrowed, and it was time her visit ended.
"My dolly is better than yours, isn't she?
'cause she can walk and talk and sing and dance, and yours can't do anything, can she ?" asked Jamie with pride, as he regarded his Pokey, who just then had been moved to execute a funny little jig and warble the well-known couplet, "'Puss-tat, puss-tat, where you been ?' 'I been Lunnin, to saw a Tween."' After which superb display she retired, escorted by Jamie, both making a fearful din blowing on conch shells.
"We must tear ourselves away, Rose, because I want to get you home before sunset.

Will you come for a drive, Jessie ?" said Dr.Alec, as the music died away in the distance.
"No, thank you; but I see the boys want a scamper, so, if you don't mind, they may escort you home, but not go in.

That is only allowed on holidays." The words were hardly out of Aunt Jessie's mouth when Archie said, in a tone of command, "Pass the word, lads.