ork out his purposes.

Hycy, having bade him good night at the hall-door, returned again to the
parlor, and called Nanny Peety--"Nanny," said he, "which of the Hogans
did you see to-day?"

"None o' them, sir, barrin' Kate: they wor all out."

"Did you give her the message?"

"Why, sir, if it can be called a message, I did."

"What did you say, now?"

"Why, I tould her to tell whichever o' them she happened to see first,
that St. Pether was dead."

"And what did she say to that?"

"Why, sir, she said it would be a good story for you if he was."

"And what did she mean by that, do you think?"

"Faix, then, I dunna--barrin' that you're in the black books wid him,
and that you'd have a better chance of gettin' in undher a stranger that
didn't know you."

"Nanny," he replied, laughing, "you are certainly a very smart girl,
and indeed a very pretty girl--a very interesting young woman, indeed,
Nanny; but you won't listen to reason."

"To raison, sir, I'll always listen; but not to wickedness or evil."

"Will you have a glass of punch? I hope there is neither wickedness nor
evil in that."

"I'm afraid, sir, that girls like me have often found to their cost too
much of both in it. Thank you, Masther Hycy, but I won't have it; you
know I won't."

"So you will stand in your own light, Nanny?"

"I hope not, sir; and, wanst for all, Mr. Hycy, there's no use in
spakin' to me as you do. I'm a poor humble girl, an' has nothing but my
character to look to."

"And is that all you're afraid of, Nanny?"

"I'm afear'd of Almighty God, sir: an' if you had a little fear of Him,
too, Mr. Hycy, you wouldn't spake to me as you do."

"Why, Nanny, you're almost a saint on our hands."

"I'm glad to hear it, sir, for the sinners is plenty enough."

"Very good, Nanny; well said. Here's half a crown to reward your wit."

"No, no, Mr. Hycy: I'm thankful to you; but you know I won't take it."

"Nanny, are you aware that it was I who caused you to be taken into this
family?"

"No," sir; "but I think it's very likely you'll be the cause of my going
out of it."

"It certainly is not improbable, Nanny. I will have no self-willed,
impracticable girls here."

"You won't have me here long, then, unless you mend your manners, Mr.
Hycy."

"Well, well, Nanny; let us not quarrel at all events. I will be late out
to-night, so that you must sit up and let me in. No, no, Nanny, we must
not quarrel; and if I have got fond of you, h