A general burst of approbation went up from the crowd—the little girls danced, while the boys shouted and threw their hats into the air.
"Have you room for all of them?" inquired the priest
"Room for the girls, I believe."
"Yes," said Bertha, who appeared on the scene; "we can put them all in the dining-room, and have a cover for each."
"Where are the boys going to sleep?" asked Father Byrne, turning to Mr. Howard.
"I have a much better place for them than Bertha has for the girls," answered the farmer, with a laugh.
"Where?"
"In the hayloft."
His words were followed by loud exclamations of joy from the boys, all of whom were delighted at the prospect of sleeping in the big hayloft. They had enjoyed their games of "hide-and-go-seek" there so much during the past days that it had become for them a home.
"I am going to find a good bed!" exclaimed one of the boys.