"Then I don't see why you come to me," I said. "If you are a good Catholic, I should think that that settled the matter."
"But I thought you'd think of some way of gettin' round it," she responded, beginning to cry. "Me heart is broke for Ran, an' it is himsilf that'll go to the bad if I don't have him."
Poor little ignorant soul! How could one reason with her, or what was there to say? I could only try to show her that she could not be happy if she did the thing that she knew to be wrong.
"But what for is ye tellin' me that, when ye don't belave it's wrong?" she demanded, evidently aggrieved.
"I do think it is wrong to act against a church in which you believe," I said.
I am afraid I did not in the least comfort her, for she went away with an air in which indignation was mingled with disappointment.
February 15. Rosa is all right. She told me to-day, fingering her apron and blushing very prettily, that she saw Dennis Maloney last night, and was engaged to him already. He has, it seems, personal attractions superior to those of Ran, and Rosa added that on the whole she prefers a first-hand husband.
"So I'm obliged to ye for yer advisin' me to give Ran the go-by," she concluded. "I thought yer would."
I do not know whether the swiftness of the change of sweethearts or the amazing conclusion of her remarks moved me more.