Moll knew that scarcely anything was being spoken over still at that time, in all Ardenoo, but the wedding at Dempsey’s; and she didn’t want to let Heffernan hear of that through her.
“And how did ye get this far?” asked Mickey.
“Shanks’ mare,” answers Moll. “Stopping below there at Molally’s I was last night and thought to get carried, with Marg and the ass, when they went off to the fair this morning. But at the last minute, she made up her mind to part them twin calves of hers, if she could get any kind of a price for them. Sure she doesn’t know what way to turn, the crathur, and annoyed she is trying to think what to do, and she having to quit out of her own little place ... so there was only room for the two little bastes in the cart, and her and me had to walk; we parted company a piece off and she went along on to the fair, and I was to wait about.... I had no wish to go any farther, not feeling too well.... And I wonder what luck poor Marg is having, or did she sell at all? I hear there’s a big droop in the price of all stock. But sure, it’s better for a body be moving somewhere, even if it’s only to get you a prod of a thorn in the toe!”
“Marg? that’ll be a dauther of old Molally’s beyant, that is only after dying?” said Heffernan.
“The very person,” said Moll; “nice and even-going and quiet, and the girl the same. And not one in it now, only herself!”
“It’s a poor thing, to be with only a body’s self, then!” said Mickey; “the same as me; I haven’t one about the place inside or out, but meself; and I wanting to go to the fair to look for a couple or three calves and pigs. But how could I and leave the house without one to keep an eye on things here, while I’d be away!”
“Do you tell me that? why, where’s your sarvint boy, Jack Rorke it was you had lastly!”
“Gone!” says Heffernan; “he gave me impidence; said, indeed, that he had no notion of lighting the fire or swinging on a pot to boil ... that it was girl’s work I was expecting of him. So with that, I let out, and hit him a ding in the face. I thought to give him a knuckle in the throat, but it was the jaw-bone I struck; and see the way it left me! But sure I forgot; you can’t see that, or anything else!”
“The Lord help you!” said Moll, very pityingly. “And where is Jack?”
“I never laid an eye on him since,” said Heffernan, indifferently; then, getting confidential, “I’m disappointed and put about, every way! Look at me now, and I after getting all the house whitewashed, and even a fresh load of gravel thrown down before the door ... and a new leg after going into the kitchen table ... and all that trouble and expense gone, for nothing as a body might say!”