"And can't he see at all, at all?" she asked Zillah confidentially one Sabbath, when the boy was out of the room.
Zillah shook her head, unable to speak.
"Nebbich!" compassionately sighed the Fire-Woman, who had corrupted her native brogue with "Yiddish." "And wud he be borrun dark?"
"No, it came only a few months ago," faltered Zillah.
The Fire-Woman crossed herself.
"Sure, and who'll have been puttin' the Evil Oi on him?" she asked.
Zillah's face was convulsed.
"I always said so!" she cried; "I always said so!"
"The divil burrun thim all!" cried the Fire-Woman, poking the coals viciously.
"Yes, but I don't know who it is. They envied me my beautiful child, my lamb, my only one. And nothing can be done." She burst into tears.