The Bell Girl X

 

 But what they heard surprised and delighted them both. It was a delicate, melodious  sound which was so beautiful that everyone in the park looked up and smiled. Then holding her friend’s  hand, and with her hips swaying gently from side to side, she walked out of the park to start her new life and hopefully live happily ever after.

 

                                                                                             THE END

The Bell Girl lX

 

This happened several times over the next few weeks. Eventually the bell girl realised that next time they met in the park she would have to explain herself even though it might mean losing her dearly beloved friend. However, much to her surprise, when she had finished her story, the lady leaned across and kissed her gently. Naturally the bell girl could hardly contain herself and she knew that any moment they would hear the loud, discordant clanging which she had tried so long to suppress.

The Bell Girl Vlll

 

 

After several uneventful years a beautiful lady started coming in to the shop on a Tuesday morning and she complimented the Bell Girl on her delicate porcelain skin. They became friends and had lunch together in the park every day and talked about books and fed the ducks and picked blackberries. Then one day the lady asked if the Bell Girl like to join her for supper? Much as she would like to have done so, her friend declined.

The Bell Girl Vll

By the time her elderly parents died the bell girl was a young woman. She tried very hard to live a very quiet life so as not to upset anyone and found a job in the library where there was very rarely any excitement. Through a combination of meditation and deportment lessons she managed to keep the clanging to a minimum. So much so that the townsfolk forgot that she was a bell girl at all

The Bell Girl Vl

"The answer is simple!" said the third doctor and instructed the  old man to make a very slim porcelain dress for their daughter which would not leave room for the clanger to swing so wildly. The Bell Girl too liked this idea as narrow skirts were more fashionable. But, after a week or so, her legs were black and blue with bruises and she was unable to walk properly any more. With regret she put on her bell shaped dress again.

The Bell Girl V

When a boy called to ask the Bell Girl to a dance the clanging noise reached such a crescendo that the couple decided it was time to consult someone else.

The second doctor thought about the problem for some time, then he suggested stuffing the Bell Girl's skirt with wool. to muffle the noise, This she did because she loved her parents. But, after a while it made her feel fuzzy and she became tired and listless. Eventually. when the Bell Girl had grown very thin, the stuffing was removed.