The King, Queen, Princesses and their servants go to the Highlands for a holiday. When the train is delayed on its journey by heavy snowfalls, the princesses meet young Jeannie McGregor, who takes them to her home to visit and have tea. The princesses discover that Jeannie's only doll is a old rag one, so they promise to send her a new one 'with real curls and eyes that open and shut and that can say "Ma-ma" if you press it' (p. 89). Some weeks later, Jeannie makes a torrid trip in the snow to get her doll from the post office, but she becomes lost.