Mabel's mishap

On a dreary rainy afternoon, a restless young girl named Mabel watches the drops slide down her window while her makeshift troupe of paper dolls sits in a circle on the sill. Bored and yearning for a companion, she invents an imaginary twin, Belle, and pretends the two of them are playing together. Her mother watches with amused patience as Mabel’s imagination turns the simple toys into a lively performance, even suggesting they use a looking‑glass to observe the pretend sister’s antics.

When the rain eases, Mabel drifts from room to room, first tapping on the piano, then discovering a box of bright water‑colours in her father’s study. She grabs an old, picture‑filled book and begins to splash it with vivid hues, giving the faded engravings new costumes. The sudden sound of an auctioneer’s chant from across the street catches her ear, sparking a fresh curiosity that pulls her toward the bustling street, eager to see what the sale might hold.