"Thank you kindly," replied Billy.
He shook the ashes from his pipe, filled it, and continued his tale.
"On the head of all these things a wonderful thing happened to me."
"That's the way to start," said Patsy approvingly. "You're a good story-teller, mister."
"It isn't so much that," replied Billy, "but it's a good story and a wonderful story."
"The potatoes are nearly done, Mary, a grah?"
"They'll be done in a short while."
"Hold your story for a few minutes until we eat the potatoes and a few collops of the rabbits, for I tell you that I'm drooping with the hunger."
"I didn't eat anything myself," replied Billy, "since the middle of yesterday, and the food there has a smell to it that's making me mad."
"It's not quite done yet," said Mary.