“That’s something like, now!” was all he said. But he was remembering his sister Julia, and how smart and hard-working she had been; too much so, in fact! because there were days when herself and her besom would be too much for Mickey, and he would have no peace anywhere in the house. Still, he didn’t like the dirt and confusion, now that Julia was gone. So that’s why he enjoyed seeing Marg putting the things in order again.
When she had it all finished, it was beginning to grow dusk, and said Heffernan, “It’s a long step for yous to be getting home,” meaning Molally’s, “and it’s middling late, and there’s the chance of people along the road that might be a bit rough and noisy, after the fair. So I’ll just throw the harness, on the ould mare, and drive ye back.”
That took place; but the only word he said that night of what might be in his mind was when Moll and he had a word together, in a whisper, after he had driven them up to the very door of Molally’s and Marg had gone to the back of the house, for the key that she had hidden there under a bunch of thistles.
Said Moll, “She becomes a side-car well!”
And he answered, “It’s a true word you’re saying!” By that, Moll thought things were going as she wished.
No man ever was so tender of a lame ass as Mickey was of Marg Molally’s, keeping her there, and feeding her on the best of hay and even oats. And when Margaret would make inquiries about her, he never would agree that she was fit to travel, yet. So there he kept her, and the two calves; because they had to wait, till the ass would be well enough to bring them back to Marg.
This is how things were, when Margaret got at last the news she had been expecting so long; that the new herd was hired, and that she would have to clear out as soon as she could. She knew, of course, that it had to be. But that did not hinder her from feeling very fretted and lonesome, thinking of the little home she was to leave, where she had lived all her life, and had worked so hard. So she had no great heart for the bride’s-party that was being given for Kitty and Dan Grennan at Big Cusack’s, just about then. But she had promised Kitty that she’d go; and Margaret Molally never was one to go back of her word.
Who was there, only Mickey Heffernan! As it turned out, the party was meant for him, too, to try and bring him and Marg together. Dark Moll had set the notion going, and all she spoke to agreed it would only be right.
Marg was as innocent as the child unborn of what was going on. Her mind was full of other things; between thinking how best she could lend a hand that evening, and wondering what was before herself, and she without a home, when she’d be only a few days older! So she never perceived what Moll and Cusack and others as well were up to, trying to help out Mickey’s courting ... if you could call it so!
“Did j’ever see two so hard to get into hoults with one another?” said Dan to Kitty.