United States or Uruguay ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It was evidently a matter of consideration in that little head of Katty's how she should receive us. We settled the point by each of us giving her some hearty kisses, which I don't think offended her much, though she did wipe her cheeks after the operation, and we very soon became fast friends.
For Katty's illness still continued, and had grown rather serious. "Sure, no," said the old man; "Katty's just pretty middlin'. But it's waitin' I've been the len'th of the mornin', till 'twould turn broad daylight, before I'd be disturbin' of you, ma'am, to tell you the quare sort of a joke they're after playin' on me down yonder."
And Father Philemy, maybe it's myself didn't put the thrick upon you in the Maragy More, about Katty's death ha, ha, ha! Jack M'Craner, yer health all yer healths, and yer welcome here, if you war seven times as many. Briney, where are you, ma bouchal? Come up and shake hands wid yer father, as well as another come up, acushla, and kiss me.
Patrick Mulcahy, while talking over the funeral, and the sad events which had led to it, was asked for by the young lad, Katty's brother. "'Well, Andy, lad, what's wanting now? Is your sister feeling better, avick? "'Yes, sir; and she sint me, your riverence, to see wud ye come down and marry her to Lanty Casey the night. "'Are your wits gone ashaughran, ye gomeral?
Phaddhy's sagacity, however, was correct; for, a short time after this conversation, Father Philemy, when collecting his oats, gave him a call, laughed heartily at the sham account of Katty's death, examined young Briney in his Latin, who was called after his uncle, pronounced him very cute, and likely to become a great scholar promised his interest with the bishop to get him into Maynooth, and left the family, after having shaken hands with, and stroked down the heads of all the children.
The tone in which these words were spoke could not fail in at once reaching the poor woman's heart. She wept as much from gratitude as the gloomy alternative involved in Katty's benevolent offer. "God bless you," she exclaimed, "but I trust in the Almighty, there may be hope and that they won't be wanted. Still, how can I hope when I think of the way he's in?
"Thrue for you, sir," says Phaddhy; "but as to going wanst a month, I'm afeard, your Rev'rence, if it would shorten my timper as it does Katty's, that we'd be bad company for one another; she comes home from confession, newly set, like a razor, every bit as sharp; and I'm sure that I'm within the truth when I say there's no bearing her."
For no tidings came from the absentees, nor were any heard of them, while Katty's fever ran so high that it seemed likely her grandfather would be at small further charges on her account a prospect which, however financially sound for a capitalist of five shillings or under, none the less filled his soul with grief.
Breakfast was now laid in Katty's best style, and with an originality of arrangement that scorned all precedent. Two tables were placed, one after another, in the kitchen; for the other rooms were not sufficiently large to accommodate the company. Father Philemy filled the seat of honor at the head of the table, with his back to an immense fire.
"Yes, Katty; I am ready at any moment," was the reply; which caused the whites of Katty's eyes to appear for a second between the lids and the irids. There had been only one applicant for the place, who had come while we had not quite irrevocably fixed our plans. Mother swerved for a moment; she came in and told us what the girl said.