“She’s a bowld wan, that t’ing,” chimed in her sister.
“Yez shud be ashamed av yezselves, both av yez!” cried Mrs. McGlory, reddening with indignation. “Wud yez take away the girl’s ker-act-er!”
“We’re sayin’ nawthin’ bud the truth, sure.”
“Raymimber, yez hav a nace av yer own!”
“An’ I wud have yez till know, Mary Ann McGlory, that she do be a daysint girl!”
“Wud ye say that Bella Nolan is not?”
“Oh, hush!” said Mary, pained beyond expression at this outbreak. “Please do hush!”
When Bella came back into the room she sat down beside Mary, and began twisting a ring about her finger, and giggling.
“I just wanted to see if Mart Kelly was in there,” she said.
The sisters threw glances of triumph at the contractor’s wife, and the other women looked slyly at each other and shook their heads.