But Nelly was a real child. She never thought of anything, except just what a body would put before her in words. She said nothing as she took the letter and read it. There was nothing in it, only about he coming home; and the money he was after getting by the uncle that died.
Then: “Starting the day week this was wrote!” she said. “Well, well! But sure he couldn’t be here yet, this len’th of time...! whether or which....”
And then she gave a look at Christina, but she was as busy as a nailer with one little thing or another about the kitchen, so that she took no notice of the way that Nelly was staring her. And maybe it was as well that Nelly got no encouragements to say, what was on the tip of her tongue, how that Christina appeared noways glad or interested at the thoughts of Jim coming home.
“And the luck that he’s after happening on! And they two that were always the greatest of friends!”
That was what Nelly said to herself. But she never kept anything long in mind, and so things went on at the Flanagans’. The sisters were in a kind of bewilderment. Christina was going about, not speaking only when she couldn’t help it, and she feeling as if she was moving through a black fog, cold and dreadful, and Nelly upset, because she wasn’t used to anything from Christina but petting. She’d wonder for a minute or so what at all should be the matter with Chrissy, and then she’d start her gay little lilt of a song again....
It appeared to Christina as if she had known all her life what was going to happen, when, a few days later, as she was coming in with the milk, what did she see, only Jim Cassidy, and he leaning over the half-door, just as she had often fancied him. Leaning across it he was, and Nelly standing just inside, and they two laughing and chattering together and seeming as if they didn’t think there was another soul in this living world, except their two selves.
Christina started back; and the can of milk dropped out of her hold.
“Oh, Chrissy! here’s Jim!” said Nelly, the words tumbling out over one another and she between laughing and crying ... “and he only just after landing....”
“What else, only just landed?” said Jim, looking from one to the other, very puzzled; “what else would I do, only come on here straight?”
“But sure, didn’t we see you...? Ora, Chriss, look at the milk...!”