shesaystome,`Martha,tha&39;sbroughtmethywageslikeagoodlass,an&39;I&39;vegotfourplacestoputeverypennybusinessregistrationinhongkong,butI&39;mjustgoin&39;totaketuppenceoutofittobuythatchildaskippin&39;-rope,&39;an&39;sheboughtonean&39;hereitis."Shebroughtitoutfromunderherapronandexhibiteditquiteproudly.Itwasastrong,slenderropewithastripedredandbluehandleateachend,butMaryLennoxhadneverseenaskipping-ropebefore.Shegazedatitwithamystifiedexpression."Whatisitfor?"sheaskedcuriously."For!"criedoutMartha."skippin&39;-ropesinIndia,forallthey&39;vegotelephantsandtigersandcamels!Nowondermostof&39;em&39;sblack.Thisiswhatit&39;sfor;justwatchme."Andsheranintothemiddleoftheroomand,takingahandleineachhand,begantoskipapartmentsforrenthongkong,andskip,andskip,whileMaryturnedinherchairtostareather,andthequeerfacesintheoldportraitsseemedtostareather,too,andwonderwhatonearththiscommonlittlecottagerhadtheimpudencetobedoingundertheirverynoses.ButMarthadidnotevenseethem.TheinterestandcuriosityinMistressMary&39;sfacedelightedher,andshewentonskippingandcountedassheskippeduntilshehadreachedahundred."Icouldskiplongerthanthat,"shesaidwhenshestopped."I&39;veskippedasmuchasfivehundredwhenIwastwelve,butIwasn&39;tasfatthenasIamnow,an&39;Iwasinpractice."Marygotupfromherchairbeginningtofeelexcitedherself."Itlooksnice,"shesaid."Yourmotherisakindwoman.DoyouthinkIcouldeverskiplikethat?""Youjusttryit,"urgedMartha,handinghertheskipping-rope."Youcan&39;tskipahundredatfirsmassagecushion,butifyoupracticeyou&39;llmountup.That&39;swhatmothersaid.Shesays,`Nothin&39;willdohermoregoodthanskippin&39;rope.It&39;sth&39;sensiblesttoyachildcanhave.Letherplayoutinth&39;freshairskippin&39;an&39;it&39;llstretchherlegsan&39;armsan&39;givehersomestrengthin&39;em.&39;"ItwasplainthattherewasnotagreatdealofstrengthinMistressMary&39;sarmsandlegswhenshefirstbegantoskip.Shewasnotverycleveratit,butshelikeditsomuchthatshedidnotwanttostop.