The kitchen was soon cleared. Mick saw Lull sitting by the table, her head on her hands. Father Ryan put his hand on her shoulder.
"I've lost my best friend, Lull," he said. Lull looked up; Mick hardly knew her face, it was so small and old.
"God help us, Father," she said, and then began to cry wildly. "Miss Mary, poor Miss Mary; it'll be the death of her."
"You are right, Lull," Father Ryan said; "she'll never get over it. I've just come from her. It will just be the mistress over again—— What are the children doing here?" he added quickly.
"God forgive me, I niver seen them to this minute," said Lull.
Father Ryan called them over to him. "Do you know what's come to you?" he said.
"Somebody's dead," Mick answered.
"It's your Uncle Niel," Father Ryan said; "he was killed in the loney last night."
Father Ryan did not stay long. When he had gone Andy came in. Mick was crouching by the fire.
"Do you call to mind what day it was, Lull?" Andy said in a whisper Mick heard.