Brigid Beg thought for a moment. “I don’t know, sir,” she replied.
“He doesn’t mind us at all,” broke in Seumas Beg, “and so we don’t know whether we love him or not.”
“I like Caitilin,” said Brigid, “and I like you.”
“So do I,” said Seumas.
“I like you also, little children,” said Pan. “Come over here and sit beside me, and we will talk.”
So the two children went over to Pan and sat down one each side of him, and he put his arms about them. “Daughter of Murrachu,” said he, “is there no food in the house for guests?”
“There is a cake of bread, a little goat’s milk and some cheese,” she replied, and she set about getting these things.
“I never ate cheese,” said Seumas. “Is it good?”
“Surely it is,” replied Pan. “The cheese that is made from goat’s milk is rather strong, and it is good to be eaten by people who live in the open air, but not by those who live in houses, for such people do not have any appetite. They are poor creatures whom I do not like.”
“I like eating,” said Seumas.