"I want Phinias. Will you give him to me?"
"Well, now, I'd do most things for ye, alanna, but himself!—I couldn't part with himself. 'Tain't likely now, is it, missie, and he the father of the childer?"
"I only want him for about two or three days at the most," said Margot; "and I'll pay him well," she added. "A pound for every day he's away from you."
"To be sure now, that's powerful big pay," exclaimed Mrs. Maloney. "We could buy another piggeen, and put by for the rint, and tidy up the place a bit."
"So you can," said Margot. "We'd best make it three days."
"To be sure, my blessed mavourneen—to be sartin sure."
"Well, I'm going to speak to him," said Margot. "You're a very noble woman, Annie. He'll be back with you in three days and he'll have three pounds to put into your hand. Now then, don't tell anybody in the world where we have gone."
"Is it a sacret?" exclaimed Annie. "Lor' love us, I dote on a sacret."
"I'll go and see him at once," said Margot. "I trust you, Annie, more than anyone else in all the world; I do indeed."