"I don't know where he is. When we lifted from sleep a morning ago he wasn't in his place, and we haven't seen him since that time."
"What am I going to do at all?" said Eileen in a low voice. "These men have me tormented the way I don't know how to manage."
"What could my father do?" said Mary sternly, "and you playing tricks on him since the day you were born."
"That's between myself and him," replied Eileen, "and it doesn't matter at all. I wanted your father to beat O'Brien for me, for he won't leave me alone day or night, and I can't get away from him."
Mary leaned to her whispering:
"My father couldn't beat that man, for I saw the two of them fighting on the Donnybrook Road, and he had no chance against him."
"He could beat him, indeed," said Eileen indignantly, "and I'd give him good help myself."
"If my father owes you anything," said Mary, "I'm ready to pay it for him, so let us both rise against the man, and maybe the pair of us would make him fly."
Eileen stared at her.
"I hit him once," continued Mary, "and I would like well to hit him again; my people here would keep his friend from joining against us."