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He's a lying ould thing himself, any way!" "Why, Annorah?" "Ye may well open yer eyes. Did he not tell me last Sunday that you, miss, with your sweet voice and comforting ways, were jist a temptation placed in me way, by the ould inimy himself?" "I, Annorah? What does he know of me?" "Nothing at all, savin' that ye are a saint, and he an ould " "Stop, stop, Annorah.
Annorah was evidently much interested in her young charge, and felt the most unbounded sympathy in her sufferings. Annie spoke first. "Please draw my couch nearer the window, Annorah. That will do. Now, sit down on this low stool, and tell me how long it is since you left Ireland." "It's two years, miss, coom April." "So lately? Then you remember all about the old country?" "Remember!
But the next vessel brought the bad news for us, and we forgot the glimmer of hope we had; for it was our own father dear who was dead o' the cholera." "Poor Annorah!" exclaimed Annie pityingly. "Poor indade!
"Not exactly. He says I spake better English, and that shure it is because I live where it is well spoken." "What did you say to that?" "I said. 'True, your riverence." "I'm afraid that is hardly the truth, Annorah. If anything has improved your language, it is your reading." "To be shure. But is it not because I am with those who spake English well, that I'm learning to read?
Not a trifle in her calculations were the wages of Annorah, who came regularly every Saturday evening to add her contribution to the family fund. "It's a good child she is gettin' to be, and a pleasant-tempered one, too," said Mrs. Dillon to herself; "it's made over intirely, she is, our Lady be praised!"
Great was the uproar in Biddy Dillon's cottage when it was found that Annorah was not coming to make her usual Saturday evening visit to her mother.
"I'm ower knowin' for that, miss," replied Annorah, with a glance which betrayed that she was rather suspicious of Annie's good intentions. "It's a mighty pity that readin' was contrived at all, for it's the books that makes the black heretics o' us.
'Let alone the books and the readin', said Father M'Clane to me last evening, 'and confess to me faithfully all that ye hear in the grand Protestant family, an' all will go well wi' ye, Annorah, says he, 'now and for evermore." Annie laughed pleasantly.
It's only that all my relatives, and the praste, and the Catholic neighbours, are waiting for me to come home, to bring me back to the ould Church by force. An' Phelim, poor boy, came to tell me to keep away. It's worse he'll be for the damp air; and it's angry they'll be for my staying away." "Ah! Annorah, my dear nurse, I was afraid that rougher times awaited you.
"At least, let me thry it for once," urged the girl, whose Irish sympathies were powerfully awakened by her young mistress's evident suffering; "jist for once, darlin'." Annie offered no further resistance, and, as Annorah bore her light form carefully up and down the room, experienced a feeling of relief that inspired her with warm gratitude toward her uncouth attendant.
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