They opened their eyes, and went up to the lodge, but while they were still knocking at the door Mrs Bogue's big yellow carriage came round the corner of the avenue. Inside the carriage was the old lady herself. Fly gave a howl of delight. The children ran forward, and the carriage pulled up.
"There ye are alive an' well," said Fly joyfully. "Och, but I'm glad to see ye."
Mrs Bogue's wizened face expressed no pleasure at seeing Fly.
"Of course I'm well; I always am," she said in a thin, high voice.
"Ye were dead this mornin', though," said Honeybird.
"Dead! who said I was dead?" Mrs Bogue demanded indignantly.
"Lull tould us that iverybuddy said ye died last night," said Fly; she was still smiling with delight.
Mrs Bogue turned to her niece. "Do you hear that, Maria? That is twice they have had me dead. I don't know what the world is coming to. They won't give people time to die nowadays."
"We'll give ye any amount a' time, Mrs Bogue," said Fly earnestly; "we want ye to live as long as iver ye can please."
"It's quare an' nice for us when ye're alive," said Honeybird. Mrs Bogue looked at them sharply. Both faces were beaming with happiness.