"Oh, what shall I do! what shall I do!" moaned Ethel.
"Well, ye've got to bear up, so ye have. There's throubles for all of us, an' lots av thim too; an' more'n some av us can bear."
Ethel sat in the darkest and bitterest grief for some time, a prey to thoughts and fears that were perfect agony to her.
At last a thought came to her which made her start, and look up, and cast at the priest a look full of wonder and entreaty. The priest watched her with the deepest sympathy visible on his face.
"We must save them!" she cried.
"Sure an' it's me that made up me moind to that same," said the priest, "only I didn't want to rise yer hopes."
"We must save them," said Ethel, with strong emphasis.
"We? What can you do?"
Ethel got up, walked to the church door, looked out, came back, looked anxiously all around, and then, resuming her seat, she drew close to the priest, and began to whisper, long and anxiously.