almost be termed
dignity. Both felt rebuked; and Nelly, whose face got blanched and pale
at Sarah's words, now turned upon the Prophet with a scowl."

"Would it be possible," said she, "that you'd dare to let out anything
to that madcap?"

"Now," said he, "that the coast is clear, I desire you to answer me a
question that I'll put to you--an' mark my words--by all that s above
us, an' undher us, an' about us, if you don't spake thruth, I'll be apt
to make short work of it."

"What is it?" she inquired, looking at him with cool and collected
resentment, and an eye that was perfectly fearless.

"There was a Tobaccy-Box about this house, or in this house. Do you know
anything about it?"

"A tobaccy-box--is it?"

"Ay, a tobaccy-box."

"Well, an' what about it? What do you want wid it? An ould, rusty
Tobaccy-box; musha, is that what's throublin' you this mornin'?"

"Come," said he darkening, "I'll have no humbuggin'--answer me at wanst.
Do you know anything about it?"

"Is it about your ould, rusty Tobaccy-box? Arrah, what 'ud I know about
it? What the sorra would a man like you do wid a Tobaccy-box, that
doesn't ever smoke? Is it mad or ravin' you are? Somehow I think the
stroll you had wid the vagabone gipsy of a daughter of yours, hasn't put
you into the best of timper, or her aither. I hope you didn't act the
villain on me: for she looks at me as if she could ait me widout salt.
But, indeed, she's takin' on her own hands finely of late; she's gettin'
too proud to answer me now when I ax her a question."

"Well, why don't you ax her as you ought?"

"She was out all yesterday evenin', and when I said 'You idle sthrap,
where wor you?' she wouldn't even think it worth her while to give me an
answer, the vagabone."

"Do you give me one in the manetime. What about the Box I want? Spake
the truth, if you regard your health."

"I know nothing about your box, an' I wish I could say as much of
yourself. However, I won't long trouble you, that I can tell you--ay,
an' her too. She needn't fear that I'll be long undher the same roof wid
her. I know, any way, I wouldn't be safe. She would only stick me in one
of her fits, now that she's able to fight me."

"Now, Nelly," said the Prophet, deliberately shutting the door, "I know
you to be a hardened woman, that has little fear in your heart. I think
you know me, too, to be a hardened and a determined man. There, now,
I have shut an' boulted the door an' by Him that mad