' of it 'roun' that yard as
if it was a billiard bawl. She's got no more heart in her brist than
that. Och! bad luck ter her! Shure----"

But again Sarah Maria started to interview the cook, and again Bridget
had a pressing engagement indoors.

"Och! what shall we do now? Shure it's quakin' I am fer fear ivery
minute. I'll see your gory head bouncin' 'roun' the potaty patch an'
her afther it. May the saints defind yez from sich a horrible fate.
Och! look at that, now!" she shrieked as Sarah made another lurch in
Steve's direction. "Perlice! perlice!" she screamed, so loud that she
might have been heard in the city. "Shure I hope I may live ter see
that ould divil hangin' ter the apple tree an' the crows fasteing off
her wicked ould body. There, now, come, Mr. Loveland--she's off! Och!
good luck ter thim bees! Git up now, me darlint! There, rin! rin fer
yer life! Och! she's comin' agin!"

But Steve reached the kitchen door first, and Bridget reached forth a
welcoming hand and snatched him inside, his coat being rent in twain
by the violence of his salvation.

"Shure, now, that's a cow fer a respictable middle-aged woman twilve
years over from Oireland ter sit down an' milk when she's not yit
ready ter die--is it, now? An' a respictable family ter drink the milk
of an' not expect ter be cuttin' up shines an' capers an' all sorts of
wicked things in consequence--is it, I say? Luck at that, now! Haven't
I told yez that cow hasn't the manners ov a leddy, at all, at all!"

Mrs. Maria was at that moment clearing the fence and dancing down the
road, pursued by a hive of bees.

"May the divil claim his own an' sit her up next ter him down where
the both ov thim belongs!" was Bridget's pious wish as she
disappeared.

Steve had hardly more than had time to change his clothes, which
fortunately had received all the damage in the recent scrimmage, when
he saw Nannie hurrying down the road. She was half running, half
walking, and her face was so radiantly happy that Steve went out to
learn the good tidings she evidently bore. So eager was she to impart
her news that she called out before he reached her:

"It's happened! It's happened! It's all over! and it's so little--and
the dearest--oh, Steve----"

She could say no more, for her words were cut short just here and her
excitement found vent in a happy sob.

"Why, my dear," said Steve, taking her gently by the arm and leading
her toward the house.

But Nannie resisted: