Part 12 (2/2)

”Yes, sir; shut it right up tight.”

”n.o.body in it, at all?”

”No, only the men and women. Prudy's gone, and Dotty Dimple's gone, and I'm gone.”

”Only the men and women, she says. That must be the servants. So the house must be open, pa. At any rate, I shall take her. Say by-bye, my pretty, and we'll be starting.”

Fly was very glad to go, but Maria clung to her fondly, and Bennie ran after her almost to Broadway, where Mrs. Brooks took a Fifth Avenue stage. She knew Colonel Allen's house very well, for she had seen it more than once, while it was in process of building. That was two or three years ago, when her husband was well, and the family lived very comfortably on Thirty-third Street. She sighed as she thought how different it was now. Mr. Brooks would never be able to work any more; they hardly had food enough to eat, and poor Maria had lost her eyesight.

”Here we are, little Katie,” said she.

But the child did not wait to be helped out; she danced down the steps, and would have flown across the street, if Mrs. Brooks had not caught her.

”I see it--I see it; my auntie's house. But there isn't n.o.body to it.”

The man who met them at the door was so surprised and delighted to see Fly, that he forgot his manners, and did not ask Mrs. Brooks in.

”Bless us, the baby's found!” cried he, and ran to spread the news.

Aunt Madge was walking the parlor floor, and Horace sitting on the sofa, as rigid as the marble elf Puck, just over his head. Prudy and Dotty had joined hands, and were crying softly on the rug. As the police had been notified of Fly's loss, all the family had to do was to wait. A servant was at the nearest telegraph office, with a horse and carriage, and at the first tidings would drive home and report.

The words ”The baby's found” rang through the house like a peal of bells. In an instant Flyaway Runaway was clasped in everybody's arms, and wet with everybody's tears.

”Thought I'd come back,” said the little truant, peeping up at her agitated friends' with some surprise; ”thought I'd come back and get my skipt!”

Then they exclaimed, in chorus,--

”Topknot _shall_ have her skipt! The blessed baby! The darling old Fly!”

And Dotty wound up by saying,--

”Why, you see, we thought you's dead!”

Flyaway, who had at first been very much astonished at the fuss made over her, now looked deeply offended.

”Who said I's dead? What--a--drefful--lie!”

”O, n.o.body said so, Fly; only we thought p'rhaps you was; and _what_ would we do without you, you know?”

”Why, if I's dead,” said Fly, untying her bonnet strings, ”then the funy-yal would come round and take me; that's all.”

”We are most grateful to you,” said Aunt Madge, turning to Mrs. Brooks, ”for bringing home this lost child; but do tell us where you found her.”

Then Mrs. Brooks related all she knew of Fly's wanderings, the little one putting in her own explanations.

”I didn' be lost,” said she sharply. ”I feel jus' like frettin', when you say I's lost. 'Tis the truly truth; I's walking on the streets, and a naughty woman, she's got my hangerfiss--had ashes roses on it.”

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