“Now blessings on ye for a handy callant as ye are,” said Biddy, patting his shoulder approvingly. “An’ how is she?”
“Well as ever, mother, and kind-tempered and good too. A power of good things she has sent, and they’re safe hid in the cellar. The money is in me coat pocket, mother. Shall I give it ye?”
“Not now. Kape it till all be gone. Was she sorry or mad, Phelim?”
“Mad? Not at all. Sorry? I don’t know at all. Her voice was all courage and kindness; but I saw big tears on her cheek, for all that.”
The mother and son sat silently looking into the fire for a few moments. At last Phelim spoke. “Mother,” said the boy, “ye’ll not have them abuse her and torment her, just for changing into such a dear crathur?”
“She’s a heretic, lad.”
“What o’ that? She’s good, any way,” said Phelim stoutly. “I would I were a big man. We’d see who would throuble her then. It’s a thrashin’ they’d get, an’ it’s manners they’d learn, and no charges made for the teaching.”
“Whisht, lad! it’s careful and sly we must be. An’ do ye not bother yer poor head wi’ yer sister’s new notions. It’s a nation o’ throuble I’d have with a pair o’ ye at once; and ye’re no earning money, Phelim, boy, to buy off the praste. Kape a still tongue, lad, an’ ye bite it in two; an’ don’t go for to meddle wi’ matters concerning yer sowl. The praste an’ yer poor mother will kape a sharp look-out; an’ it will go hard, shure, if between us ye are not saved at last.”
“But, mother, where is the harm if I look for meself a bit? Who can see Norah, so gentle and loving, so careful o’ you and me, so pleasant to every one, and not want to know more o’ the way she has taken?”
“Yes, yes, lad; but have ye no sense at all? What if ye have been tould a secret, can ye not kape it the same? Now mind, once for all; ye’re not to know it at all, if Norah brings home the Word o’ the Lord to read to her ould ignorant mother (it’s a swate voice she has), and ye shall hear the big Book as well; only mind, Phelim, acushla, ye’re to know nothing at all, let who will spake to ye o’ the same.”