The children clustered at the window to see him set out on this momentous errand , and he often looked back waving his umbrella at them , till he vanished round the corner , with a reassuring pat on the pocket out of which dear Do and Flo popped their heads for a last look at their sweet home . `` Now let us take out poor old Lucinda and Rose Augusta to play with . I know their feelings were hurt at our leaving them for the new dolls , '' said Maggie , rummaging in the baby-house , whither Margery soon followed her to reinstate the old darlings in the place of the departed new ones . `` Safely off , '' reported Mr. Plum , when he came into tea , `` and we may expect to hear from them in a week or two . Parcels go more slowly than letters , and this is Aunty 's busy season , so wait patiently and see what will happen . '' `` We will , '' said the little girls ; and they did , but week after week went by and nothing was heard of the wanderers . We , however , can follow them and learn much that their anxious mothers never knew . As soon as Flora and Dora recovered from the bewilderment occasioned by the confusion of the post office , they found themselves in one of the many leathern mail bags rumbling Eastward . As it was perfectly dark they could not see their companions , so listened to the whispering and rustling that went on about them . The newspapers all talked politics , and some of them used such bad language that the dolls would have covered their ears , if their hands had not been tied down . The letters were better behaved and more interesting , for they told one another the news they carried , because nothing is private in America , and even gummed envelopes can not keep gossip from leaking out . `` It is very interesting , but I should enjoy it more if I was not grinding my nose against the rough side of this leather bag , '' whispered Dora , who lay undermost just then . `` So should I , if a heavy book was not pinching my toes . I 've tried to kick it away , but it wo n't stir , and keeps droning on about reports and tariffs and such dull things , '' answered Flora , with a groan . `` Do you like travelling ? '' asked Dora , presently , when the letters and papers fell asleep , lulled by the motion of the cars . `` Not yet , but I shall when I can look about me . This bundle near by says the mails are often sorted in the cars , and in that way we shall see something of the world , I hope , '' answered Flora , cheering up , for , like her mamma , she was of an enquiring turn . The dolls took a nap of some hours , and were roused by a general tumbling out on a long shelf , where many other parcels lay , and lively men sent letters and papers flying here and there as if a whirlwind was blowing . A long box lay beside the dolls who stood nearly erect leaning against a pile of papers .
Several holes were cut in the lid , and out of one of them was thrust a little black XXXXX , as if trying to get air .
ears gossip letters mails mamma motion news nose parcels window