indow open; they had easily got in by it and gone up to Biddy's big room on the first floor. They were to sleep together in Biddy's small bed

old bacon and taters-eh? I went down to the larder and got a good few early this morning. I pu

ery," answ

l in that cave; and when you were away talking to the lady Banshee I did have a time of it. I thought that awful Andy was going to murder me. I had a sort of feeling that he was getting closer and c

said Nora; "and I am a little cold, too. I to

g, and then you'll lose your beautiful straight figure. I

om was lit by a small dip candle, which was pla

of everything at Cronane just now. We're as poor as church mice; it's horrid to be so desperately poor as that. But, hurrah for the cold taters and bacon! W

it," said Nor

can do is to get right into bed. Why, you're shivering, and your teeth are chatteri

; and I'll take a little of your potheen-very, very weak, if you'll mix it for me-and I'll have some of the bacon and potatoe

into bed. I'll pile the blanket

blankets, which she pulled expeditiously from under the bed. "They always stay here in the summer," said Biddy. "That's to keep them aire

be too hot," said Nora;

le bacon and cold potatoes, and pr

home in the boat in my wet things. I wish I had taken a p

ks of bacon and eating her cold potatoes with extreme relish. "Oh! it's hungry I am;

come," said No

and waves her hand. It's awful to see her if you don't belong to her; but to those who belong to her she is tender and sweet, like a mother, they say; and her breat

d standing up to my knees in the water. I suppose I did wrong to go; but that's done and over now

ight blankets until she found them intolerable, had then tossed most of them off, and fallen into deep slumber. In the morning she looked much as us

yself to your father if you'll b

really go home

and that's the truth; and don't go fo

eal friends," said Nora a little sadly. "I m

hy. "I thought you would help Biddy and me to pick black currants. There are quarts and quarts of 'em in th

n at the shore, and I want to go a bit of the way back

e; "not a bit of good, not worth her keep, I tell her. Why shouldn't she stay at home and help her mother?

's out I'm going now. I have enough on my own should

le, and the next mom

untry. When I was young, and lived at my own home in Tipperary, we had full and plenty. There was a bite and a sup for every stranger who came to the door, and no one talked of mon

is year they say we're going to have a splendid crop," said Nora.

give a lot if Biddy could change places with you-that is, in appearance, I mean. She's not a cr

ing black currants and making jam, and staining my fingers, it's not to be thought of. Come along out,

n the afternoon Nora returned to O'Shanaghgan. Te

black shadows under your eyes. You know, of course,

t very reason I have come back so punctual

out on the bed. Be sure you see that all my handkerchie

new you ha

ot used them yet. I shall want every bit of decent clot

mother,

ng a bit at my going; you'll have to comfort

as ever been," said Nora a little fiercely. "

oung man. He turned on his heel, called a small fox-terrier, who went by th

r father. He was standing on the steps; and, coming down, he lifted her bodily

I have missed you," he sa

to him. She was tremblin

you," she answered.

d staring there, Peter Jones." The Squire said these latter words on account of the fixed stare of a pair of bright black eyes like

ould not have all those fine airs. But there, I have no right to talk against your mother to you, child; and of course she is y

o round and look at the new calf and the

iles and jokes once more. "The mother doesn't know you hav