When he did so he found the old lady sitting up in bed. She smiled at Bert and said:
“Are there any birds up in the attic? Seems to me, Bert, I heard birds fluttering around up there.”
The noise made by Flossie and Freddie had been very loud, so loud that Nan had heard it away downstairs. But the deaf old lady had thought it was only the twittering of birds. Bert wanted to laugh, but he did not. He just said:
“No, there weren’t any birds, Aunt Sallie. It was just Flossie and Freddie playing with a chair.”
“Oh, you say Flossie cut Freddie’s hair? She shouldn’t do that! She might cut him or herself with the scissors. Besides, she is such a little girl she can’t cut his hair straight. Flossie shouldn’t cut hair. Moreover, I never knew that hair-cutting made so much noise.”
“No, no!” explained Bert. “Nobody was cutting hair. I said Flossie and Freddie were playing with a chair!”
“Oh! Chair!” repeated Mrs. Pry. “You should speak a little more plainly, Bert, my dear. Don’t mumble your words. But how are Flossie and Freddie, anyhow? I haven’t seen them all day.”
“They’re out in the hall now,” explained Bert. “They’d like to see you if you’re not too sick.”
“Bring them in, Bert. I’m feeling a little better now. Nan is a good nurse. The hot flatiron she brought me helped the lumbago in my back. Bring the children in.”
Flossie and Freddie looked curiously at Aunt Sallie. They had never before seen her in bed, and as she sat up, propped against the pillows with a blanket around her and a cap on her head, Flossie exclaimed: