l catch yer death a' cold," said Fly.

"I just wisht I could," said Jane. She sat down on the floor by the
window.

"I'll just sit here till I die," she said, "an' then I'll go to hell."

Fly and Honeybird began to howl. The boys came in from the
dressing-room.

"What's the matter?" said Mick.

"I'm goin' to hell," said Jane; "I can't help it. I don't want to go,
but Fly makes me fight. She's sendin' me to hell, an' I'll just sit
here till I'm dead."

Mick begged her to get back into bed. Fly and Honeybird sobbed and
shivered. "Don't go to hell, Jane," they pleaded; "get into bed, an'
we'll niver make ye cross any more."

But Jane shook her head. "I'm goin'; I can't help it," she said.

Patsy looked at her.

"Let her go if she wants to," he said, "I'm goin' to sleep." He went
back into the dressing-room. Jane looked after him, and then began to
laugh.

"I declare to my goodness I'm an ould divil myself," she said, "makin'
ye all miserable." She got up, and kissed them all.

"An I'll make Bloody Mary a bustle in the mornin'," she said as she got
into bed.

"I think I'd rather have a ruff," said Honeybird.

Next Sunday Mr Rannigan was at church. When he gave out his text Jane
looked at him. "Brethren, it is my duty to preach the simple gospel,"
he began, and Jane opened the Bible at Nebuchadnezzar.

CHAPTER IV

A DAY OF GROWTH

Fly sat on the wall in the wood at the back of the garden simmering
with excitement. Two wonderful things had happened to her, each of
which by itself would have been enough to make her happy for a week.
First, she had got a letter in the morning addressed to herself. She
was so pleased that she did not think of opening it till Jane took it
from her. The inside, however, was still more delightful. Somebody
called Janette Black said she had a little present for Fly, and was
bringing it to Rowallan that afternoon. Lull said Miss Black was Fly's
godmother. She used to live at Rose Cottage years ago, but for a long
time she had been away in Dublin. Fly was too much excited to eat her
breakfast. The others as they watched her dancing round the room could
not help being a little bit envious at her good fortune. They had
never heard of anybody before, except Cinderella, who had had a visit
from a godmother. Their godmothers were all dead, or away in England.
Fly in her happiness had a pang of regret that she could not share this
delightful relative with th