n queer fashion, the two
had grown to be rather fond of each other.

"Haven't I always given you everything you wanted?" pursued Peter, in
a querulous tone; "everything in reason, anyhow. Look at the beautiful
blue tabinet dress I gave you--sure there isn't the like in the
place--and the new hat ye have, an' kid gloves an' all! Sure, I never
deny you anything! An' you up an' give me them disrespectful answers,
an' refuse to do the only thing I ever axed ye!"

Tears were actually twinkling in the old man's narrow eyes, so much
aggrieved did he feel himself to be. Roseen began to cry too. "It's me
that has me heart broke," she sobbed. "How can I go marryin' Mr. Quinn
wid his ugly red face, an' him an ould widower an' cross-eyed into the
bargain? Sure, if it was anything else now--" A burst of woe
interrupted her utterance.

"Me child," said Peter impressively, "I know more what's for your good
nor you do yourself; but don't distress yourself too much, alanna: Mr.
Quinn says he does not mind waitin' as long as you like, so we'll say
no more about it for a while."

"O--o--o--oh!" groaned Roseen.

Peter prevented further lamentations by assuring her, with various
affectionate pats on the arm, that he knew she would never go annoyin'
her poor ould grandfather, but they'd say no more about it, for a bit
anyhow. He withdrew, leaving Roseen still sobbing amid the fragments
of a broken milk-pan, and perhaps the ruins of a castle in the air.

Presently, however, she dried her eyes, and, being a methodical
person, set to work to repair the disorder around her. When the broken
crockery was removed, the cream wiped up, and the remaining butter
rolled into shape, she went out, closing the dairy door after her and,
giving a hasty glance to right and to left, made her way swiftly
across the "haggard" and down a grassy lane beyond, to a large field,
where a man was to be seen leisurely assembling together a troop of
cows.

Roseen ran quickly across the grass towards him, stopping as soon as
she perceived that he had caught sight of her, and beckoning to him
mysteriously.

"Come here, Mike!" she cried softly, as he hastened towards her, "I've
something to be tellin' ye."

Mike quickened his pace. He was a tall young fellow, but slender, with
an honest, good-humoured face. Without being handsome, there was
something attractive about him--an alertness, a vigour in the
well-knit limbs, a candour and kindliness in the expression o