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Elleney had only recently been added to the group; she spoke of the head of the house as "me a'nt," but she was in truth no relation to the kindly soul who had taken compassion on her destitute condition, being a niece of the late Mr. McNally's first wife. Perhaps no other woman in the world would thus have admitted her to a circle already somewhat inconveniently large; but, as Mrs.
"Sure somebody had to mind the shop," returned Elleney. Then her little pink and white face dimpled all over with smiles. "Have ye chose yet, Mr. Brian?" said she. "Bedad, I think I have," quoth Brian, gazing at her admiringly. Elleney clapped her hands. "Oh dear, is it Juliana?" "It's not Juliana, then," said he. "Is that the big one with the top-knot? Sure, what sort of taste d'ye think I have?"
Nanny's right," cried Mrs. McNally, relaxing. "Go fetch the toast, Elleney, and give Mr. Pat Rooney his marchin' orders at the same time." "What am I to say?" inquired Elleney, her eyes round with alarm above cheeks that were still crimson. "Bid him get out of that," returned her aunt, laughing. Elleney took up her tray, and went away with a lagging step.
"Oh," said Elleney, looking up with those big astonished eyes of hers, "is it Mr. Brennan?" "It's that same," responded Brian cheerfully. Elleney jumped up, knocking over her pail in her agitation, and wiped her little damp hands on her apron. "Me a'nt is in the shop," she said hurriedly. "If ye'll walk inside I'll call her in a minute." "A-ha!" said Mr. Brian, "you're one o' the nieces, are ye?
Bridget looked up now, with a sniff, as Elleney began with great haste to hand the eggs about the table. "You've been long enough over it, anyhow," she remarked. "Mary and me was wonderin' whether 'twas milkin' the cow ye were or bakin' the bread." "An' she hasn't brought the toast yet," grumbled Mary, drawing up her chair. "It's very near done," returned Elleney eagerly.
"You're a very good boy when you don't let your wits go wool-gatherin'. As for my niece, she's no notion of encouragin' any nonsense have ye, Elleney?" Elleney's long lashes were downcast, and she nervously twisted her apron. "Sure ye haven't, dear?" said her aunt persuasively. "Tell the poor foolish fellow that ye haven't, an' then he'll be puttin' it altogether out of his head."
"In the name o' goodness, Pat Rooney," she cried, in a voice that trembled as much with anger as with fear, "get up this minute! It's outrageous altogether outrageous!" "Never fear, Miss Elleney, asthore!" cried Pat triumphantly, baring his arms the while for action. "Run away out o' this while I tache him manners! The dirty spalpeen! He'll not have it all his own way, anyhow.
Me poor dada is gone where he's out of his throubles, please God; an' amn't I too well off myself here in this grand place, with me a'nt an' everywan so kind to me? Ye ought to be ashamed o' yourself, Elleney, to go cryin' an' frettin' when it's down on your knees ye should be, thankin' God. Hurry up now, an' on with your clothes an' get the breakfast!
I'll tell ye what, Miss Elleney, I'll just stop here in the chimbley corner, an' if they does be wantin' any more toast I'll have it made for them afore you can turn round." "Oh no, Pat," cried Elleney in alarm. "That wouldn't do at all. Me a'nt bid me tell ye me a'nt said " "Well, what did she say, miss, dear?" inquired Pat, as she faltered. "She wasn't best pleased," stammered the girl.
I'll call me a'nt." "An' what would ye do that for? It's the truth I'm tellin' ye, darlint. The very first minute I seen ye on the doorstep the heart leapt out o' me breast. You're my choice, mavourneen, though I don't so much as know your name yet." Elleney gazed at him timidly. He was a pleasant-looking young fellow, and his eyes were very kind.
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