me, the bla'guard!"

Bessie had no definite idea what the girl meant by spalpeens and
bla'guards, whose eyes she was to shovel out, but she remembered what
Neil had said about her attracting the notice of the upper deck
passengers, and resolved more fully than ever to keep herself from sight
as much as possible. She had a friend in Jennie, to whom she put
numberless questions as to where she was going, and so forth. But Jennie
could not remember the name of the lady or place. Her cousin, who had
married lately, and lived in New York, was to tell her everything on her
arrival.

"It is a good place," she said, "and if it's companion or the like of
that ye are wishin' to be, I'll spake a good word to the lady, who, me
cousin says, is mighty quare, but very good and kind when she takes a
fancy."

Bessie smiled as she thought of an offer of help coming from this poor
girl, but she did not resent the offer. On the contrary, she felt
comforted because of it, and because of Jennie, whose faithfulness and
devotion knew no stint or cessation during the next twenty-four hours,
when it seemed to Bessie that she must die, both from the terrible
sea-sickness and the close atmosphere of the cabin, where so many were
congregated.

The fourth day out Mrs. Goodnough said Bessie must be taken into the
fresh air, as nothing else would avail to help her, and a stool was
placed for her on the deck, and then Jennie took her in her strong arms,
and carrying her out put her down as gently as if she had been a baby.

"An', faith ye must be covered," she said, as, faint and sick, Bessie
leaned back against the door, thus fully disclosing to view her white,
beautiful face, which made such a striking picture among the steerage
passengers, and began to attract attention from the upper deck.

It had already been rumored through the ship that there was a young lady
in the steerage, and as it takes but little to interest a ship's
company, much curiosity was felt concerning her, and when it was known
that she had come out from the cabin, quite a little group gathered in
the part of the boat nearest to her, and stood looking down at her.

"Och, me honeys," Jennie said, frowning savagely at them, "I'll spile
yer fun for you, an' it's not her blessed face ye shall stare at, though
the sight of it might do ye good," and rushing to her berth she brought
out Mrs. Goodnough's big sun-bonnet, which she tied on Bessie's head,
thus effectually hiding her