About noon
The yard was fairly green and black and blue and yellow with umbrellas . They wept at the sight , but they could not think of any way out of the difficulty . The people themselves might have suggested one , had they known the real cause ; but they did not dare to tell them how they were responsible for all the trouble ; they seemed so angry . About noon Nan spied their most particular friend , Dame Elizabeth , coming . She lived a little way out of the village . Nan saw her approaching the gate through the rain and mist , with her great blue umbrella and her long blue double cape and her poke bonnet ; and she cried out in the greatest dismay : `` O , mother , mother ! there is our dear Dame Elizabeth coming ; she will have to stop too ! ''