While the children were eating the Leprecauns asked them many questions
"What time do you get up in the morning?"

"Seven o'clock," replied Seumas.

"And what do you have for breakfast?"

"Stirabout and milk," he replied.

"It's good food," said the Leprecaun. "What do you have for dinner?"

"Potatoes and milk," said Seumas.

"It's not bad at all," said the Leprecaun. "And what do you have for
supper?"

Brigid answered this time because her brother's mouth was full.

"Bread and milk, sir," said she.

"There's nothing better," said the Leprecaun.

"And then we go to bed," continued Brigid.

"Why wouldn't you?" said the Leprecaun.

It was at this point the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath knocked on the tree
trunk and demanded that the children should be returned to her.

When she had gone away the Leprecauns held a consultation, whereat it
was decided that they could not afford to anger the Thin Woman and the
Shee of Croghan Conghaile, so they shook hands with the children and
bade them good-bye. The Leprecaun who had enticed them away from home
brought them back again, and on parting he begged the children to visit
Gort na Cloca Mora whenever they felt inclined.

"There's always a bit of griddle bread or potato cake, and a noggin of
milk for a friend," said he.

"You are very kind, sir," replied Seumas, and his sister said the same
words.

As the Leprecaun walked away they stood watching him.

"Do you remember," said Seumas, "the way he hopped and waggled his leg
the last time he was here?"

"I do so," replied Brigid.

"Well, he isn't hopping or doing anything at all this time," said
Seumas.

"He's not in good humour to-night," said Brigid, "but I like him."

"So do I," said Seumas.

When they went into the house the Thin Woman of Inis Magrath was very
glad to see them, and she baked a cake with currants in it, and also
gave them both stir-about and potatoes; but the Philosopher did not
notice that they had been away at all. He said at last that "talking was
bad wit, that women were always making a fuss, that children should be
fed, but not fattened, and that beds were meant to be slept in." The Thin
Woman replied "that he was a grisly old man without bowels, that she did
not know what she had married him for, that he was three times her age,
and that no one would believe what she had to put up with."

CHAPTER IX

PURSUANT to his arrangement with Meehawl MacMurrachu, the Philosopher
sent