Molly looked in despair at Jessie.
Jessie shook her head; suddenly, however, she rose from her seat. “Now, look here, Peggy,” she said. “Molly and I want to be kind to you.”
“Am I sayin’ that ye don’t?”
“Well, we can’t be kind while yon go on in this silly way. Here’s a nice piece of toast which I am going to butter for you. Would you like some salt butter on it, or would you prefer it plain?”
“It’s stirabout I’m wantin’.”
“You can’t have stirabout, there’s none in the house. If you have a craving for it, perhaps there’ll be some ordered to-day. Now, here’s some nice toast. Would you like an egg?”
“Is it an egg laid by a hin? No, I won’t touch it. Poor little doaty things, to ate their eggs! Bedad, thin—I beg yer pardon.”
The girls thought it best to talk to one another, which they did, and Peggy ate a very moderate breakfast, looking at them wistfully from time to time. At last the meal was over, and the girls consulted together. Jessie went out of the room and Molly was left alone with Peggy.
“Now, then, Peg, we’re going to have such a nice morning; and, first of all, we must meet Mary Welsh. I’m not going to praise her, of course, if you don’t wish me to; but we are very fond of her. Will you come with us? We thought of walking up to the gate to see her come along; she’ll drive over in the pony cart.”
“I won’t go with ye—no, thanks.”