Stubbins glanced inquiringly at Cornelia Mary, but she and Sally were busy talking with Mike and Johnnie, while Chinky and Hannah were busy listening to them. Mrs. Mulvaney was thinking, and paid no attention to Tom's nonsense.
"Thay, boy," suggested Stubbins, "leth thop the horthe and go back and get thome pigth now."
"Haven't time," was the reply, "plenty of wild pigs all through the country; you'll want something to do when you get home."
During the rest of the drive, Stubbins hugged his bundle and dreamed of pigs, and after a few minutes' silence Tom entertained Mrs. Mulvaney with stories of the house in which she was to live.
"I wouldn't stay in that house over night for one thousand dollars!" he remarked.
"Land sake, why not?" asked the woman.
In low tones lest Cornelia Mary should overhear, Tom did his best to scare Mrs. Mulvaney. He told nothing but the truth, but he handled the truth in such a way Mrs. Mulvaney felt cold chills going up and down her back in spite of all the clothes she had on. At last she spoke.
"Now that's enough, young man," she said, "and if I ever catch you telling my young ones any of that stuff, I'll shake some sense into you. You'll be more rattled-headed than you are now, if I ever lay hands on you."
"Giddap," remarked Tom, astonished for once in his life.
If Heaven had opened to receive the Mulvaneys, they could scarcely have been more pleased than when the new home was reached.