"She's not at home now, is she?" asked Fergus.
"No, thank the—I mean she won't be back for over a week, Mr. Desmond."
"You had best call me Fergus, John," said the other man.
"If you like it, I will, but it don't seem fair. I never set myself up to be one of your class."
"Well, never mind that, you are married to my eldest sister and you are a good man; I can see that by your face."
"I try my best, Mr. Fergus, but we are none of us good. There's a heavy load of sin on us all, and I'm no better than my neighbours."
"You ask Phinias Maloney and he'll tell you a very different story," said Fergus, a grim smile passing over his stern features.
"Ah, Phinias," said John Mansfield. "He always had the heart of the matter in him. But tell me again what you have come about, Mr. Fergus. You don't want to take my girleen from me."
"That's what I do want. Tell me truthfully, does her aunt love the child?"