relate their general history, and as I don't know which of
them to ask first, I must call upon them collectively."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]




CHAPTER X.

THE MARBLES AND THEIR PROCEEDINGS.


"We are of what may be styled republican principles," said a large China
Marble, rolling out of the heap. "Of all the speakers who have already
come forward, the Kite, Doll, and yourself, for instance, are simple
individuals. The Tea-things are a large family, under the rule of their
mother, the Teapot; a kind of domestic despotism. The Noah's Ark might
represent a constitutional or limited monarchy, where the Ark is a sort
of governing or holding together of the rest of the members. And so they
have all very properly, as representatives, related their own peculiar
history. But _we_ Marbles are a republic, and therefore can't quite tell
all our story as one, because several kinds or classes of us wish to
tell their own separate tale."

"I daresay this is all very clever, and very true," replied the Ball,
suppressing a yawn; "but I don't quite understand all you have said.
However, let that pass; the only question before us is, how the
proceedings are to be arranged in this manner. I think, as President of
our party, I can hardly allow all of you to relate a distinct story,
because there are several other people who are waiting in their turn,
and it is due to them, as well as fair to the rest, not forgetting those
who have gone before, that we should not spend all our time in hearing
separately half a dozen members of your party."

"But we have no story to tell as a body," urged a Bright Glass Marble;
"if you won't hear us separately, we have no whole adventure to relate
worth mentioning."

The Ball, somewhat puzzled, consulted gravely with the rest; and after
whispering in one corner with the Kite, and in another with the Rocking
Horse--after having failed in obtaining any opinion from the Doll, who
was too languid to care much about the matter, and having skilfully
evaded the Humming Top, who had more to say on the subject than any one
cared to hear--he once more took his place, and gave his decision
thus:--

"After a consultation and council with several distinguished members of
our party, I am happy to tell you that we are willing to allow three of
you to relate your separate stories, on the distinct understanding that
they do not exceed, in their united length, the narrations that have
gone before."

On behalf of his companions, the China Marble who had first spoken,
willingly agreed to the terms, and called upon the Bright Glass Marble
to speak first. And so the small green glassy thing rolled smoothly
forward, looking like a little curled-up snake, and began to speak.

"I am not going to relate to you the usual pursuits and habits of a
common Marble! I am not made like them of mere earth or clay, but of
glass--bright shining glass--the result of a marvellous combination of
different things by the aid of chemical skill and knowledge. These
delicate threads that you can perceive winding gracefully and
symmetrically through me are of Venetian origin, and the mode of making
them--once a trade secret--was first discovered in that "city of an
hundred isles." I was not baked in a hot oven, as my humbler brethren
are, but melted and cleared again and again in a far fiercer heat, until
my nature became refined and purified, and my clear colour green as the
sea which glides like a glittering network through and round Venice.

"Nor was all this trouble taken with me only that I might become a mere
child's toy, like these dingy, earthen globes; no! I was designed to
become a member of a charming party, who lived in separate apartments,
on a large mahogany board, and our party was elegantly called for that
reason by the French name of _Solitaire_! Some of my family were
crimson, some blue, some striped like sea-shells, some flaked with gold,
but all beautiful.