exclaimed, in a subdued but triumphant voice: "Oh! by the hokey I've
done her, and for that you must suffer, Lilly darlin'. Come now, you
jumpin' jewel you, that was born wid a honey-comb somewhere between,
that purty chin and beautiful nose of yours--throth it must have a
taste, for who the dickens could, refuse the _Cannie Soogah_, and before
Lilly, who, by the way, was nothing, loath, could put herself in an
attitude of defense, he had inflicted several smacks upon as pretty a
pair of lips as ever were pressed.

"Upon my word; now, Mr. Magrath, you're very impudent," she replied, "I
wonder you're not ashamed, you great strong man you, to be kissing girls
in this manner, whether they will or not. Look at the state you have my
hair in; you're very rude, Mr. Magrath, and I'm really angry with you;
you've broken one of my side-combs, too; you're a great rude man, so you
are."

"Broke your side-comb, did I? Well, then, you couldn't be in better
hands, darlin', here's a pair I make you a present of, and maybe they
won't set you all off to pieces; here, darlin', wear these for my sake."

"But are you making me a present of these beauties, Cannie?"

"Troth an' I am, Lilly darlin', and wish they were betther for your
sake--what's that I said? a present! oh the sorrow bit, I must have my
payment--aisy now, darlin', my own sweet Lilly; there now, we're clear."

"Upon my word, Mr. Magrath, I don't know what to say to you, but you're
such a great strong fellow, that a poor weak girl like me is but a child
in your arms; are these real tortoise-shell though?"

"You may swear it; do you think I'd offer you anything else? But now
listen, my darlin' girl, take this shawl, it's 'worth five-and-twenty
guineas at least, troth, poor thing! it wasn't since their marriage it
was bought; take it, I say, and go up widout sayin' a word, and lay
it just where it was before, and if she seems surprised on findin' it
there, tell her you suppose I forgot it, or if she won't believe you,
and that all fails you, say that the _Cannie Soogah_, although she
knows nothing about him, is a man that's undher great obligations to her
family, and that he only tuck that method of payin' back a debt to her
that he honestly owed to them, for, afther all, isn't she one of them?"

Lilly shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears, at the manly and
modest generosity of the pedlar.

"Little you know then, Mr. Magrath, the load you have taken off my
dear m