called them, any more than
they like those who disbelieve in them or those who try to know too
much about them. Speak well about them and treat them well, as we do,
and they'll not trouble you; maybe they'll even help you. Didn't you
see, as you came in, how we left something for them to eat and drink
outside the door there? We've not much, but they like fresh milk and
clean water, and we always give them these, and they hold nothing but
friendliness for us. Look and see now if they've taken what we left
there for them after supper."

Peter went to the door and looked. "There's nothing in the dishes
there," he said; "but how do we know it wasn't the pig that ate it, or
some poor dog, maybe?"

"You don't know," said Mrs. O'Brien, "only as I tell you, and you'ld
better be attending to them that know more than yourself. If you did
chance to give a meal to some poor dog, instead of to the Good People,
there'ld be no great harm done, but it's the Good People that get what
we put there. We always leave it for them and they always come and
take it, and it's that makes them friendly, and so they would be to
you, if you did the same. But you do nothing for them, because you say
you don't believe in them, and you do worse than nothing. Didn't I see
Ellen the other evening throwing out some dirty water and never saying
'Take care of the water?'"

"And what if I did?" said Ellen. "Can't I throw out wather when I
plase, widout talkin' about it?"

"You can if you like," said the old woman, "but when you throw out
water without warning, it's as likely as not some of the Good People
may be passing, and they don't like dirty water to be thrown on them;
and so after that your cow gives no milk, your pig is thin, and your
dishes are thrown around the room. Do as you like with your water, or
with anything else, but if you anger the Good People, be sure they'll
do you harm."

"It's superstitious you are. Mrs. O'Brien," said Peter; "I dunno what
it is that's throubling us, but there's no fairies at all."

"Superstitious, is it?" said the old woman. "And so you're not
superstitious at all, and you don't believe in the Good People! Now
tell me, Peter Sullivan, when you came to that door just now and said
'God save all here,' like a decent man, why did you add 'except the
cat?' What did you mean by those words 'except the cat?' Tell me that
now."

"Why, sure, Mrs. O'Brien," Peter answered, just a bit confused, "sure,
we're told that c