Cricket and Eunice were across the stepping-stones in a moment, and flew to meet the children.
“What do you mean?” they cried, while Mary Ann left Baby Craig in his carriage to join them.
“She falled in,” repeated Zaidee, breathlessly.
“And we didn’t pote her wiv a stit,” struck in Sylvie, virtuously.
“But who pulled her out?” asked Eliza.
“Nobody pulled her out, ’Liza. She’s all in the water.”
“Now! In the water now? Is she drowned?” cried the others, horrified.
“I dess her’s drownded dead,” said Sylvie, cheerfully. “But me didn’t pote her, truly. Her dust fell in.”
“I sawed her fall in,” put in Kenneth. “It was all deep.”
“And she kicked in the water,” added Helen, “and by ’n’ by she sailed up to the top, just like the kitties.”