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had to take her to an old magician who lived in a tower, and every time she said a horrid word a toad hopped right out of her mouth. ROSE
Encouragingly. Yes, and what then , Annie ? ANNIE
Oh , Mummy. You don't mean that I'm that little girl - am I ? Looking up at her mother. Do you , Mummy ? ROSE
Annie, I am afraid we are all little girls like that,
and it takes us a long while to grow up and learn not to say things that hurt people. ANNIE
Oh, Mummy. I try so hard, 'deed I do, because I want to grow up and be just like you, and I
don't want the horrid toads following me round like they did that little girl, everywhere she went, and sitting and looking at her ROSE
I'm afraid , Annie, that all of us make mistakes
sometimes. We can't help it. ANNIE
Oh, Mummy- you never said anything horrid, did you ? You couldn't. ROSE
Gently. Annie, I'm only really aa little girl like you, and I
