"You can come with us if you like, and you can stay where you are if you like, or you can go to the devil," and, saying so, he tramped after his daughter.
The woman had just caught sight of Art the cherub, and was regarding him with her steady eyes.
"Whoo!" said she, "I'm not the one to be frightened and I never was, so let us all go along and talk about our sins in the wet weather."
They started anew on the road, Patsy's company in advance, and behind marched the woman and the man and Art the cherub.
The sun had disappeared; wild clouds were piling themselves in rugged hills along the sky, and the world was growing dull and chill. Against the grey atmosphere Art's face was in profile, an outline sharp and calm and beautiful.
Eileen Ni Cooley was regarding him curiously as they walked together, and the strange man, with a wry smile on his lips, was regarding her with a like curiosity.
She pointed towards Patsy Mac Cann, who was tramping vigorously a dozen yards ahead.
"Young boy," said she, "where did you pick up with the man yonder, for the pair of you don't look matched?"
Art had his hands in his pockets; he turned and looked at her tranquilly.
"Where did you pick up with that man," he nodded towards her companion, "and where did the man pick up with you, for you don't look matched either?"