"Does she know when he's comin'?" Patsy asked.
"Not her, the black-mouthed Protestant divil," said Teressa.
"Whist!" said Lull, "that's no talk before the chile."
"And a fine child he is," said Teressa, "an' a fine man he'll be makin' one a' these days."
But Patsy had heard enough, and was off to tell the others. They were playing in the schoolroom when he brought the news. Mrs M'Rea was drunk again, and had cursed the Pope on Father Ryan's doorstep, and the devil was coming to take her away if she did not stop drinking. It was bitter news, for Mrs M'Rea kept the one sweetie shop in the village.
"I'll go an' see her," said Jane.
"What good'll that do?" said Mick.
"I'll tell her the divil's comin'," said Jane.
"She won't heed ye," said Mick.
"I know," said Fly, who had said nothing so far but had been thinking seriously; "let's send her a message from the divil to tell her to give over or he'll come for her."