“It appears,” Kitty explained, “that this is a man that got out of his health there in America, and was ordered a voyage across the salt water; and he knew people out there, that spoke to him of this place, and how quiet and healthy you could be here. And above all things, he says, he was warned never to sleep under a roof, if he could avoid doing so. Well, you know that little canoe of a place Mrs. Melia has, squeezed on at the back of her house? she keeps a bit of hay in it for the pony, and it’s there the American asked to be let lie down at night; says he has to have the fresh air. He has a bad foot, too, the crature! the size of a pot it is with all the old rags and bandages he keeps on it. Oh, very lame he is, with it, and says he always was, from a child, and had a fortune spent on it, but can find no cure. So there’s the way it is with him; he appears to have all the money any one could require. Stands treat, regular, to the boys that gather in to hear his stories, at Melia’s, and tells the shop-boy to score all up to him. I’d as soon he’d let that part of it alone!” said Kitty; “Dan was a bit too late coming home, a few nights ago, and then....”
Kitty sighed.
“It’s a seldom thing for that to occur with Dan!” said Margaret.
“Oh, ay! there’s not much to fault in Dan!” said his wife; “only a body gets a bit anxious, for fraid he might get the fashion of being late ... maybe begin stravaguing the roads....”
“Well, if the American is the way you say, with the bad foot, they’ll not go far, if they want his company!”
“Ay! that’s only God’s truth! and now speaking of a lame leg and the like, what remedy are you trying for Mickey?”
“Nothing; for there seems no good in anything I can apply to give him ease!” said Marg.
“Did you think of getting the water from the Holy Well?” said Kitty.
“I thought of that, over and over,” said Marg; “but I never got to try it for him yet. Only this evening, and I coming along here, I was intended to bring home a sup of the blessed water in the buttermilk can. And so I will, too, for I can get it easily, on the way back. So as soon as you can have the can readied out, I’ll be shortening the way home,” says Marg.
“I’ll not ask to delay you, so,” said Kitty, “and it Hallow Eve and all; and the daylight beginning to fade. And cold it’s turning, too!”