Then, when our crockery was arranged on the shelf at the back, a stool set in the middle for a table, our two small green chairs placed one at either end, and a good many nails driven into the “walls” to serve as hooks,—­then we gave a party.  The dolls were invited, of course, and their invitations Katy wrote on her slate.  To be sure, the letters looked a good deal like Jack and Jill,—­climbing up hill and tumbling down again,—­still the dolls understood us.  There were no little girls invited, because little girls couldn’t have squeezed in, unless they were willing to be hung up, like the extra dollies.

But oh! wouldn’t they have liked to go?  We had ice-cream, just made of vanilla, cream-candy, and water,—­delicious!  Then there was a whole tea-potful of chocolate-tea, which was a chocolate-cream drop scraped fine and mixed with water.  Do just try it sometime.  Thimble-biscuits, too, and holes with cookies round them.  I never expect to be as happy again as I was when I dropped the curtain at half-past four precisely, and lighted the chandelier, which I forgot to say was a candle cut in two, stuck in cologne-bottles of different shapes and colors.

We well knew—­for didn’t we go out twice to look?—­how splendidly the light streamed through the two windows and the eight holes.  Why, the chickens knew it, too, on their perches, for they opened one sleepy eye after another, solemnly changed legs, and dozed off again.  Those long rays of light, playing truant, ran down the lane and flashed into the very eyes of naughty Billy Quinn, who was going home from a visit, whistling, and with his hands in his pockets.

Of course the dolls arrived promptly, and took off their shawls in the best bedroom, which was that convenient shelf that was turned into anything on short notice.  The baby-dolls had to go early to bed under the table, and you can imagine how much pleasanter it is to say, “Bed-time, children!” than to have it said to you.  Mrs. Green was a perfect little Mrs. Herod in her treatment of her children.  Indeed, their yells under punishment were heart-rending; but when she was only dear Katy she was tender as one of those cooing doves.

So we ate up the ice-cream, and turned the tea-pot upside down to squeeze out the last drop of chocolate-tea.  Mrs. Green was just doing this very thing when the most dreadful event happened.  Crash!—­bang!—­clatter!—­the whole world had turned upside down.  Out went the lights, and everything fell together in a dismal heap; but whether up or down nobody could tell.  There was a splash of cold, cold water in my face as the wash-bowl and pitcher fell and crashed beside me.  Katy lay with her small nose buried in the butter-plate. The house had tumbled over!!

For a few seconds not a sound was heard, but then there was a half-stifled burst of laughter, which quickly died away as some thickly shod feet scampered down the alley.  Yes, the beautiful house was tipped over, and the tea-party put out, as an extinguisher is slipped over a candle, or a hat clapped upon a butterfly.  Inside, there was a confused heap, with legs uppermost,—­table-legs, chair-legs, little legs clad in white stockings, and, mixed hopelessly up with these, the dolls, the dishes, the candles.