"'Sivin or eight dollars! Oh, murther! But yees desarve it, Mr. Mackay. What would the poor do without yees in this town, Mr. Mackay? Only yisterday I was sayin' to the ould man, says I: "Mike, it shows the mercy of God whin money is given to a mon like Mr. John Mackay. It's a Providence he is to the city. God bless him." I did, indade.'
"By this time Mackay began to grow very ristless.
"'What can I do for you this morning, Mrs. McGarrigle?'
"'It's the ould mon, Lord love yees, Mr. Mackay. It's no work he's had for five wakes, and it's mighty little we have aither to ait or to wear. It's work I want for him.'
"'I am sorry, but our mines are full. Indeed, we are employing more men than we are justified in doing.'
"'But Mr. Mackay, it's so poor we are, and so hard it is getting along at all; put him on for a month and may all the saints bless yees.'
"'The city is full of poor people, madam. To determine what to do to mitigate the distress here occupies half our time.'
"'Yis, but ours is a particular hard case intirely. I am dilicate meself. I know I don't look so, but I am; and yees ought ter interpose to help a poor countryman of yees own in trouble.'
"By this time Mackay was half frozen and thoroughly out of patience. In his quick, sharp way he said: 'Madam, we cannot give all the men in the country employment.'
"The mask of the woman was off in an instant. With a scorn and hate unutterable she burst forth in almost a scrame.