“Never mind now! come and give a hand to wipe it up!” said Christina, and they all were glad of an excuse for doing something, Christina in particular. For she was all of a tremble, and didn’t want that to be seen.
So by this, one thing and another was spoken of, till at last Jim got telling them about a queer dream he had had, while he was on the way home.
“I thought to see the two of you,” he said, “in the Big Meadow, and yous coming towards me, through the sunshine ... it appeared as if it was a Sunday, with yous, and so it was with us in the ship, too ... I remember it well....”
“Sure, if you saw us, we saw you, too!” said Nelly; “Sunday ... sure enough! it was the day old Mickey Heffernan was....”
She stopped herself, and grew very red.
“The day Mickey Heffernan ... what?” said Jim.
“Ah, nothing at all!” said Nelly; “men does be shocking foolish betimes ... and quare conduction you got on with, that same day ... backing away from us, as if you thought we had the scarleteen, or something you’d take from us, that you wouldn’t let us within the bawl of an ass of you...!”
“That was quare and very quare, too!” said Jim; “but I’ll see not to let the like occur again, if I can prevent it!”
He and Nelly began to laugh again. And they two were so taken up with one another, that they never heeded Christina. She slipped away without their knowing.
They didn’t miss her for long enough. Maybe it was bad of them; Jim that had trusted her, and Nelly that she had given up all for. But there’s what happened. And it was only natural, after all. Jim had Nelly; and Nelly couldn’t but be taken up with all he had to say.... And then, Christina was one that no one ever thought wanted looking after. So it wasn’t till it had grown dusk, that they began to wonder where she was, and why wasn’t she there, to be making down the fire, and seeing everything ready, as she always did. They waited a little bit longer, and then another little bit longer ... and the time seemed short enough, to Jim, anyway; till at last they got uneasy, and went looking for Christina.