to
ask. There's many a one to tell him."

"I was goin' to your Ladyship," said Patsy. "The two frightened things
can't be left their lone in this little place. The heart would jump
out of her. Can't I see it flutterin' there in her side like a bird
caught in your hand."

"I came to ask Susan if she would go down to Waterfall Cottage to look
after Miss Stella Comerford, who is there alone."

Lady O'Gara's eyes fluttered nervously. She was aware of the
strangeness of the thing she said, and she felt shy about the effect of
it on her listeners. She hastened to make some kind of explanation.

"Miss Stella has had a disagreement with Mrs. Comerford and will not
return to her--for the present. She wishes to stay at Waterfall
Cottage, but, of course, she cannot stay alone."

"The poor young lady," said Susan, looking up; she added hopefully:
"Baker would never look for me there. The people would think I was
gone away out of this place. Few pass Waterfall Cottage, and we could
keep the gate locked."

"Where at all is Mrs. Wade gone to?" asked Patsy; not seeming to find
it strange that Miss Stella should be at Waterfall Cottage.

"Could Georgie be very wise and silent?" asked Lady O'Gara.

Georgie flushed under her look and sent her a worshipping glance.

"Georgie would be silent enough if it was likely his father would find
us," said Susan. "Not but what he's quiet by nature. Baker used to
say that Georgie would run into a mouse-hole from him. Not that I let
him knock my Georgie about. I told him if he laid a hand on Georgie
I'd do him a mischief, and he believed me. He knocked me about after
that."

"God help the two o' ye," said Patsy with sharp anguish in his voice.
"If I was to see the rascal I couldn't keep my hands off him."

"He might do _you_ a harm. The hands of him are dangerous strong. He
used to say he'd choked a man once. It isn't likely I wouldn't know
the wicked hands of him when I saw them."

"I'd take my chance," said Patsy with a baleful light in his eyes.
"The one time I seen him I was mad to kill him. I never felt the like
before for any man. 'Twas like a dog I seen when the Master an' me was
in South Africay. He'd found a nest of vipers, and I never seen
anything like the rage o' that dog whin he wint tearin' them to
tatters. I felt the same way with that blackguard that owns you,
Susan, my girl."

Patsy was pale, and in the lamplight little drops of perspiration
showe