"Buried alive," Horace said, "with gravestones at her head and feet."
"I'm all of a _personation_," gasped the child. "My mamma never did me so, Hollis. She gave me little tinty tonty pills,--sugar clear through,--not the big ones Miss Fixfix eats."
"Well, lie still, Topknot, and don't roll towards me."
For an hour or two Fly lay gasping; then she said, softly,--
"Yes, dear; but don't be afraid of the good God."
"I didn't, Hollis, if I wasn't naughty. When I'm good I'm willin' He should look."
"Yes, Hollis; I _solomon_ promised I wouldn't go ou' doors; but that new Miss Fixfix, she let me gwout, athout nuffin on my head, 'n' I got a awful cold."
"I know it, Hollis. I was defful sorry all the time. I ate ollinges, too; so for course I got the sore froat."
"I'm glad you told me, Fly; now I know what ails you. But you mustn't ever disobey again."
"Yes, um," said Fly, rolling towards her brother, and crying till the tears ran down on the flannel which was bound around her neck. A few moments after she whispered,--
"Now I don't feel any 'fraid, Hollis; I've telled God. I feel better, 'n' I'm willin' He should look."
"Well, then, dear, that's right--go to sleep."
"And now, Hollis, do you s'pose He'll send my spirrick back to me?"
"What are you talking about, Topknot? Your spirit's in your body, child. Go to sleep."
"No, it isn't in my body, too! I want my nice good little spirrick to come back," murmured the child. "Auntie said 'twould stay to me if I's good."
Fly was thinking of her unseen guardian angel.
It was a troubled night for Horace. Fly waked him no less than three times, to ask him if she had the measles.
"No, child, no; don't wake me for that again."
"Well, you ought to not go to sleep 'fore I do. You're a fast boy, Hollis!"
Morning came, and Fly was rather languid, as might have been expected after such a night.
"I don't see," mused Mrs. Fixfax, "where she caught this dreadful cold, unless it was your keeping the room so hot yesterday, children."
Fly hid her face in her brother's back hair, for she was riding pickaback down stairs.
"And can we go to see that Poland lady?" said Dotty.
"If you asked _me_, I answer, No," said Horace, bluntly. "At any rate, Fly mustn't stir a step out of the house to-day."