Biddy began to fear she would have to give him a few pounds to quiet him. But, fortunately, Pat Connex came up the road, and she thought she might escape after all.
"I hear, Pat Connex, you were dancing with Kate Kavanagh, I should say Kate M'Shane, and she went away to America this morning. Have you heard that?"
"I have, your reverence. She passed me on the road this morning."
"And you weren't thinking you might stop her?"
"Stop her," said Pat. "Who could stop Kate from doing anything she wanted to do?"
"And now your mother writes to me, Pat Connex, to ask if I will get Lennon's daughter for you."
"I see your reverence has private business with Pat Connex. I'll be going," said Biddy, and she was many yards down the road before he could say a word.
"Now, Biddy M'Hale, don't you be going." But Biddy pretended not to hear him.
"Will I be running after her," said Pat, "and bringing her back?"
"No, let her go. If she doesn't want to help to make the walls safe I'm not going to go on my knees to her. ... You'll all have to walk to Father Stafford's to hear Mass. Have you heard your mother say what she's going to give towards the new church, Pat Connex?"