ame? Och, it's a
good man and a holy is Father M'Clane, say what ye will, miss."

"I have not called him otherwise," said Annie, much amused by the
Irish girl's warmth. "I only asked you, or tried to ask you, if he
would be likely to require you to tattle and to be a tell-tale, if he
were so good as you describe him?"

"It were jist putting before me eyes the maneness of the man. Is that
nothing at all, and he a praste?"

"Well, well, Annorah, we will say no more about him now. I am tired,
and must rest. You won't mind being still a while?"

"Poor little thing!" said Annorah; "ye're pale as a lily. Is there a
dhrap o' anything ye would like, and then slape a bit?"

"I will try to sleep."

"But ye cannot kape still. The pain is shure too great. Let me carry
you about a little."

"No, no; it would tire you," said Annie, who in her spasm of pain
really longed for so novel a method of changing her position.

"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.

"Ye're light as down, honey," said Annorah, as she met Annie's
anxious, inquiring look.

Satisfied at last that she was really no heavy burden, the weary
invalid soon dropped asleep, with her head on the Irish girl's
shoulder. Mrs. Lee opened the door and looked in.

"Whist!" said Annorah, in a low, impatient whisper. "Kape quiet, will
ye, and let the poor lamb slape!"

Mrs. Lee hardly knew whether to be amused or provoked as she, the
mistress of the house, obeyed Annorah's imperative gesture, and
withdrew softly from the apartment.

CHAPTER III.

ANNORAH LEARNS TO READ.

In a very few days Annie was intrusted to the sole care of her young
Irish nurse, who served her with the most affectionate attention. Mrs.
Lee often came to sit with her suffering child, but Annorah alone
performed the tender offices of the sick-room. Rough and uncouth as
she was, she readily adapted herself to the services required; and no
power on earth could have persuaded her that Annie could be so well
taken care of by any one else.

"It naded a dale o' contrivance, to be shure," she said to her mother
one afternoon, when, Annie being asleep, she