“It’s a woman you want here, Mr. Heffernan! getting married is what you have a right to be thinking about....”
She felt a trifle awkward in saying that word “married,” seeing the hand she had had in the Dempsey wedding. But Heffernan made her no answer. It appeared really as if he never knew rightly whether to laugh or to be angry at the trick that Moll put Dan and Kitty up to. And, at all events, Moll had been so cute over it, that she never got the share of blame that was hers by right.
Moll began again, when she saw how quiet Mickey took what she said.
“You’re lonesome here, Mr. Heffernan, but I know a girl that’s worse off, even! and faith! I’m thinking it’s what it’s a pity to be spoiling two houses with the pair of yous!” and then she stopped.
Heffernan still said nothing, till he had the pipe filled again, and drawing well. Then, when he had it going to his liking, he appeared to take heart, and he said: “And who might that be? not that I’m one for making up me mind in a hurry....”
“You’re right there, too!” said Moll; “and above all to be cautious, before you tie a knot with your tongue that you can’t unloose with your teeth! But now ... if you were to get word of a nice, decent little girl, with a cow, and a couple of pigs and ... not to mention the calves that ... and as purty a breed of geese as there is in Ireland....”
“Well, and who are you talking about?” said Mickey, his mouth watering, you’d think, to hear of all Marg’s stock.
“Why, who but Marg Molally!”
“I have no acquaintance with the girl,” said Mickey.
“Ay, have ye!” said Moll; “isn’t it her was at Dempsey’s that night ... and brought you over the tay ... and aren’t you after hearing all about her now from me, too!”